How popular are these apparently so aggressive and pest-like praying mantids? They are great pest-controllers, have a huge variety of different species, from flower mantis to giant African “tigers of the cabbage patch;” they make marvellous, quite attentive pets and don’t bother your mother because they die after their short adult span. Now we learn something new about a familiar animal. Those leaps they made as nymphs are actually carefully plotted, either to escape from their cannibalistic siblings, or to jump on tiny flies. The wonder of super-mantis never stops.

Where in the world can we discover new primates? The answer is only in tropical rainforests, but they will certainly be endangered species, like several of the titis and many, many others. We only have one solution to this tragic loss of life, species, habitat and ecosystems. Stop cutting down the last remnants of these once-great forests. It doesn’t even make commercial sense, as this business is never going to be sustainable. Greed is the motive and its result has always been the same.

Where are we going, as climate begins to dominate the year’s news? With Ukraine and Syria big on bad behaviour, the concentration needs to shift to the millions threatened by other events. As Lennon (and not Lenin) said, war is over, except it seems to hang on like an unwanted spectre. Global problems should now begin to occupy our collective thoughts.

Need to save money after the spending boom to end them all? Here are 2 sets of opinions on how to pull out the plugs at night – at least.

When dolphins are 'rescued' in various countries, the car given seems to be ill-considered. We are simply looking at the success rate which is reported to be low, in most places. They could even end up in commercial aquarium shows, but they certainly rarely make it back to the sea.

What is killing bees? Chelsea has the answer here.