Caitlyn Forster

January 7, 2026

As Australia bakes through an extreme heatwave, even insects aren’t immune to its impact

Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney

Insects have a range of fascinating ways to keep cool. We can help them too.

October 8, 2025

What’s the difference between moths and butterflies? Look at their antennae

Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney

With the warmer weather come more of these fluttering insects – which can be easily confused with each other.

September 22, 2025

Spring air is humming with insects. But we’re blind to what’s happening to them

Eliza Middleton, University of Sydney and Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney

The lack of data about insect life in Australia is already having consequences for plants, animals, and even people.

May 2, 2025

What is iNaturalist? The citizen science app playing an unlikely role in Erin Patterson’s mushroom murder trial

Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney and Melissa Humphries, University of Adelaide

iNaturalist might turn out to be an important part of the murder trial, but how else can observations of plants and animals be used?

December 12, 2024

Decorating your Christmas tree? Try these crafts inspired by Aussie plants and animals

Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney; Euan Ritchie, Deakin University, and Laura Nicole Driessen, University of Sydney

Let’s cast the holly, snowmen and reindeer aside to decorate our homes with Aussie Christmas crafts instead. How about Christmas beetle baubles, paper parrots and ornamental echidnas?

September 9, 2024

Where did all these dragonflies come from?

Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney

All of a sudden, dragonflies are everywhere – but they’ve been waiting a long time for their chance to take to the air.

October 10, 2023

‘Phantom decoys’ manipulate human shoppers – but bees may be immune to their charms

Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney; Eliza Middleton, University of Sydney, and Tanya Latty, University of Sydney

You’re a bee, and your favourite flower is out of nectar. What do you do?

May 19, 2023

Bees can do so much more than you think – from dancing to being little art critics

Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney and Eliza Middleton, University of Sydney

We all know bees are vital pollinators. But they’re also art critics, social learners, dancers and so much more.

March 1, 2023

From deadly jaws and enormous strength to mushroom farming, Ant‑Man is only tapping into a portion of the real superpowers of ants

Tanya Latty, University of Sydney and Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney

Tiny ants might seem like unlikely inspirations and sidekicks for a superhero, but real life ants have astonishing superpowers that make them formidable allies.

January 31, 2023

Enough with the koala cakes – the government’s annual Threatened Species Bake Off seriously neglects fish, plants and other lesser‑loved species

Eliza Middleton, University of Sydney; Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney, and Dieter Hochuli, University of Sydney

Our research looked at data from the government’s annual baking competition. Upon close analysis, we find a dangerous lack of diversity and biases towards cute, cuddly mammals.

November 14, 2022

They’re doing their best: how these 3 neighbourhood ‘pests’ deal with rainy days

Elise Oakman, University of Sydney; Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney; Matthew Hall, University of Sydney, and Mei-Ting Kao, University of Sydney

Brush turkeys, bats, and cockroaches are crucial for the environment – including our gardens. Each have fascinating ways of coping in wet weather.

April 25, 2022

A new $2 coin features the introduced honeybee. Is this really the species we should celebrate?

Eliza Middleton, University of Sydney; Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney, and Don Driscoll, Deakin University

Celebrating the European honeybee is a misplaced opportunity to honour our forgotten native pollinators.

July 26, 2021

How do Olympic athletes stack up against invertebrates? Not very well

Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney and Eliza Middleton, University of Sydney

Usain Bolt can run at about 6 body lengths a second. An arachnid in California can do 322.

June 10, 2021

‘Over the top’: backlash against TikTok’s bee lady not justified, say bee experts

Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney and Eliza Middleton, University of Sydney

Erika Thompson is clearly a competent beekeeper, who’s educating the public about honeybees in her own way on social media.

April 18, 2021

Heroes, villains … biology: 3 reasons comic books are great science teachers

Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney

Science and comic books have been cross-pollinating each other for some time (think Spider-Man). But kids can learn a lot of valuable science information from comics books too.

March 24, 2021

After the floods, stand by for spiders, slugs and millipedes – but think twice before reaching for the bug spray

Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney; Dieter Hochuli, University of Sydney, and Eliza Middleton, University of Sydney

If you find your house overrun by bugs after the floods, go easy on them. Here’s what you can do instead of using pesticides.

January 27, 2021

It’s bee season. To avoid getting stung, just stay calm and don’t swat

Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney and Tanya Latty, University of Sydney

While you may have seen a lot of bees around lately, there’s no reason to be afraid. Some don’t sting, and others might actually be flies.

December 22, 2020

Nature detectives in the backyard: 3 science activities for curious kids this summer

Caitlyn Forster, University of Sydney; Arisa Hosokawa, University of Sydney; Eliza Middleton, University of Sydney, and Ryan Keith, University of Sydney

Summer holidays are a great way to explore local nature. You can grow some slime moulds, become a pollinator analyst, or make caterpillars and find out who is hanging out in your backyard.