Micro Monsters with David Attenborough

2013

Seasons & Episodes

  • 1
  • 0

EP1 Conflict Jun 15, 2013

David Attenborough employs the latest technologies to explore the violence, rivalries and deadly weaponry existing within the world of bugs. This first episode examines the survival tactics of its terrifying residents including killer ants, trap-setting spiders and beetles with the ability to shoot boiling chemicals at their enemies.

EP2 Predator Jun 22, 2013

David Attenborough continues his bug-eyed view of the world of creepy-crawlies, revealing how predators defuse the defences of their prey. Highlights include the cockroach wasp, busy preparing a tasty - and very live - treat for its young, the whirligig beetle, which employs a water-based radar system, and the jumping Portia spider, which feeds on other arachnids.

EP3 Courtship Jun 29, 2013

A further selection of creepy-crawly close-ups, focusing on courtship in the bug world. Highlights include scorpions shaking their booty, the perfume-wearing nasonia wasp and the tropical cricket, for whom romance goes out of the window as it uses bribery to seal the deal with would-be partners. One potential partner to steer well clear of, however, is the praying mantis, the female of which is notorious for eating the male just after - or even during - mating. Narrated by David Attenborough.

EP4 Reproduction Jul 06, 2013

A close-up view of sex, bug-style, as David Attenborough talks viewers through the different ways in which creepy-crawlies reproduce. Size matters for the minuscule male orb spider, creepily sneaking up on its intended and trying to mate without her noticing, while there's no rest for the lothario-like butterfly, which has plenty of notches on its proverbial bedpost. However, the harvestman spider has no use for sex at all, and reproduces by cloning itself.

EP5 Family Jul 13, 2013

While most of the series has focused on conflict, this episode is all about co-operation. The suitably named social spiders spin one enormous, 30m web for the whole colony, a queen bee rules her hive with a strict hierarchy and some green ants show great team spirit to help build a nest together. There are no broken societies here. David Attenborough shifts the focus to bugs that prefer cooperation rather than conflict. They include burrowing cockroaches, the suitably named social spiders - which share a 30-metre web.

EP6 Colony Jul 20, 2013

Watching the fascinating display of leafcutter ants at the Natural History Museum in London is one of my favourite ways to while away a few hours, but David Attenborough is operating on a much grander scale here in the last in the series. In Argentina he observes some cousins of the leafcutters who are part of a community so vast it spans an entire continent. It’s one of the mandible-dropping facts in a look at one of the key inventions of arthropods: colonies. From termites and honey bees to the leafcutters, it seems that if you want to get ahead, you move to the big city.
8.4| 0h30m| en| More Info
Released: 15 June 2013 Ended
Producted By: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

It s a small world after all. In this revolutionary new series, David Attenborough reveals the marvellous adaptability of the most successful group of animals on the planet. Using pioneering macroscopic filmmaking techniques, he explores in unparalleled detail the intricate, sophisticated behaviours of these fascinating creatures and the complexity of the environments they build and inhabit, in a world normally hidden from the human eye. From armies of killer ants to spiders weaving silken trap doors, ferocious scorpions with paralysing stings, beetles shooting boiling chemicals at their enemies, bees communicating with a waggle dance and assassin bugs that clothe themselves in their victims corpses; David Attenborough will as never before take viewers deep into the macroscopic world of bugs.

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Reviews

TheLittleSongbird As said many times, David Attenborough is a national treasure. He may apparently dislike the term, but it is hard to not say that about such a great presenter who has contributed significantly to some of the best programmes (of the documentary genre and overall) the BBC (though as mentioned, this and the previous 3D offerings were Sky) has ever aired/produced.It is really hard picking favourites, let alone a definite favourite, among what Attenborough has done because he has done so many gems, it is the equivalent of trying to choose your favourite ice cream flavour or your favourite operatic role (for examples) and finding you can't pick. 'Micro Monsters 3D', along with 'Kingdom of Plants 3D', is one of his best 3D offerings, bugs (any kind) usually give me the heebie jeebies but 'Micro Monsters' helped me learn much more about them and appreciate them more. Is it among his best and most ground-breaking work? No. That doesn't stop it from being any less fascinating and exceptionally well-made. It contains everything that is so good about his work, regardless of whether it's one of his best or not, and seeing 3D this good for a TV series makes me appreciate 3D in general more.'Micro Monsters 3D' looks amazing visually. It is gorgeously filmed, done in a completely fluid and natural, sometimes intimate (a great way of connecting more with the plants) way and never looking static. In fact much of it is remarkably cinematic. The editing is always succinct and smooth and the scenery is spectacular.3D has had very variable execution when used. Sometimes it can enhance the experience and look great, at other times it distracts and is both overused and abused. Luckily, the 3D here in 'Micro Monsters 3D' is of the incredibly well made kind and enhances the experience, allowing one to see the bugs up close. It is a long way from soulless either, helping one to actually care for something that is non-human.The music score fits very well, never overly grandiose while never being inappropriate while also being a beautiful score in its own right.Even if not ground-breaking in terms of information and subject (but very much so in the use of 3D), 'Micro Monsters 3D' is incredibly educational and always maintains interest. Still found myself learning a vast amount about the different kinds of bugs and the hidden world they live in. In terms of the facts there was a very good mix of the known ones and the unknown.Attenborough's presenting as always helps quite a bit. He clearly knows his stuff and knows what to say and how to say it. He delivers it with his usual richness, soft-spoken enthusiasm and sincerity, never talking down to the viewer and keeping them riveted and wanting to know more.To conclude, amazing and despite still not being a big bug fan really it helped me appreciate them more. 10/10 Bethany Cox