The Adventures of a Doodlebug | A Real Bug's Life | National Geographic

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·Nov 10, 2024

After three years devouring roots in the soil, the doodlebug's terrible transformation is complete. From greedy grub to beastly beetle. Aw, he's kinda cute now. But don't be fooled. He only has one thing on his mind: making more crop-destroying doodlebugs. Yep, he's out looking for love.

And those adorable antennae give him his pickup superpower. Mm-hmm, he's feeling the feminine pheromones. They're lifting him higher. Even though he's never flown before, thanks to millions of years of evolution, somehow, he instinctively—

Yo, doodle! Get off your back. The clock's ticking. A female! Gotta make a good first impression. Nice landing. Now, let's just hope she likes him. Oh. Oh, okay. I guess she likes him.

And our little Casanova even has a few moves. Hey, this is a family show. The female will go lay their 80 eggs in the soil. More little root-munchers, ready for next year. But now, this little lover wants more. Classic doodlebug.

Oh, well. Once he's back on his feet, he can mate every night of his short life and become a real player on the pest scene. Or, maybe not.

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