Susan Milius

Susan Milius

Life Sciences Writer

Life sciences writer Susan Milius has been writing about botany, zoology and ecology for Science News since the last millennium. She worked at diverse publications before breaking into science writing and editing. After stints on the staffs of The Scientist, Science, International Wildlife and United Press International, she joined Science News. Three of Susan's articles have been selected to appear in editions of The Best American Science Writing.

All Stories by Susan Milius

  1. Invader ants win by losing diversity

    The Argentine ants that are trouncing U.S. species derive much of their takeover power, oddly enough, from losing genetic diversity.

  2. Animals

    The whole beehive gets a fever…

    When bee larvae are fighting off disease, the nest temperature rises, so the whole hive gets a fever.

  3. Animals

    Ear for Killers: Seals discern foes’ from neighbor-whales’ calls

    Harbor seals eavesdrop on killer whales and can tell the harmless neighborhood fish eaters from roving gangs with a taste for fresh seal.

  4. Animals

    Tadpoles kill by supersuction

    A high-speed video shows tiny African tadpoles that catch their prey in a manner unlike that used by any other frog larvae: by shooting out a tubular mouth for superfast suction.

  5. Animals

    Lizard’s Choice: Mating test pits physique versus domain

    When she decides to move in, is it him or is it his real estate?

  6. Red Snow, Green Snow

    It's truly spring when those last white drifts go technicolor as algae bloom in the snow.

  7. Bdelloids: No sex for over 40 million years

    Researchers find the strongest evidence yet for creatures that have evolved asexually for millions of years.

  8. Ant cheats plant; plant cheats back

    An Amazonian tree grows little pouches on its leaves to invite ants to move in and provide guard duty, but the tree drops the pouches from old leaves because ants ravage the flowers.

  9. Animals

    Fish Fraud: Cleaners show off before biting clients

    Some of the reef fish that make their living by nibbling parasites off other fish may be luring clients into scams by offering free massages.

  10. Invaders can conquer Africanized bees

    Bees that can take over even an Africanized-bee colony start by conning their nursemaids into giving them royal treatment.

  11. Buddy power warms tent caterpillars

    Tent caterpillars get more heat and insulation than scientists had expected.

  12. Family success prompts tit divorces

    For the first time, researchers have shown that bird pairs are more likely to divorce after raising young than after losing a nest of offspring.