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A Real Bug's Life Episode 205 - "Behind The Scenes"

Surviving hordes of army ants, chasing the fastest-running insects on Earth, crawling through muddy mangrove swamps, and climbing to the top of the rainforest canopy, this is how a team of world-renowned scientists, experts and filmmakers armed with the most innovative filming equipment capture the hidden world and untold stories of the planet’s tiniest and most underappreciated animals—Bugs!

  • A jumping spider on a wall is filmed with a probe lens during a shoot for the "The Big City" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Tom Oldridge)

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    A jumping spider on a wall is filmed with a probe lens during a shoot for the "The Big City" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Tom Oldridge)

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  • Animal wrangler Tim Cockerill wrangles bugs on a rooftop table near actor Fazon Gray in New York City, N.Y. during a shoot for "The Big City" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." Grip Heidi Grunwald stands off to the right of the frame. (National Geographic/Joe Craig)

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    Animal wrangler Tim Cockerill wrangles bugs on a rooftop table near actor Fazon Gray in New York City, N.Y. during a shoot for "The Big City" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." Grip Heidi Grunwald stands off to the right of the frame. (National Geographic/Joe Craig)

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  • Assistant producer Euan Smith, animal wrangler Tim Cockerill, and Director of Photography Rob Hollingworth film a praying mantis during a shoot for "The Big City" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Tom Oldridge)

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    Assistant producer Euan Smith, animal wrangler Tim Cockerill, and Director of Photography Rob Hollingworth film a praying mantis during a shoot for "The Big City" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Tom Oldridge)

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  • Animal wrangler Tim Cockerill handles a praying mantis during a shoot for "The Big City" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Tom Oldridge)

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    Animal wrangler Tim Cockerill handles a praying mantis during a shoot for "The Big City" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Tom Oldridge)

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  • Animal wrangler Lucia Chmurova and Director of Photography Rob Hollingworth work on set during a shoot for "The Big City" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Euan Smith)

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    Animal wrangler Lucia Chmurova and Director of Photography Rob Hollingworth work on set during a shoot for "The Big City" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Euan Smith)

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  • Animal wrangler Tim Cockerill preps for a shoot for "The Big City" episode of "A Real Bug's Life."  (National Geographic/Nathan Small)

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    Animal wrangler Tim Cockerill preps for a shoot for "The Big City" episode of "A Real Bug's Life."  (National Geographic/Nathan Small)

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  • A jumping spider rides the elevator during the production of "The Big City" episode of "A Real Bug's Life" in New York. (National Geographic)

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    A jumping spider rides the elevator during the production of "The Big City" episode of "A Real Bug's Life" in New York. (National Geographic)

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  • Director of Photography Alex Jones films army ants and an elephant beetle during a shoot for the "Welcome to the Jungle" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Amy Gilchrist)

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    Director of Photography Alex Jones films army ants and an elephant beetle during a shoot for the "Welcome to the Jungle" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Amy Gilchrist)

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  • Assistant photographer Amy Gilchrist helps Director of Photography Alex Jones minimize sun flare during a shoot for the "Welcome to the Jungle" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Joe Craig)

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    Assistant photographer Amy Gilchrist helps Director of Photography Alex Jones minimize sun flare during a shoot for the "Welcome to the Jungle" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Joe Craig)

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  • Director of Photography Richard Kirby films orchid bees approaching an orchid during a shoot for the "Welcome to the Jungle" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/John Capener)

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    Director of Photography Richard Kirby films orchid bees approaching an orchid during a shoot for the "Welcome to the Jungle" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/John Capener)

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  • In this behind-the-scenes photo, animal wrangler Tim Cockerill and sound engineer Ellie Williams record the sound of jumping spiders in the anechoic chamber for the "Welcome to the Jungle" episode of "A Real Bug's Life."(National Geographic/Annabelle Dawe)

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    In this behind-the-scenes photo, animal wrangler Tim Cockerill and sound engineer Ellie Williams record the sound of jumping spiders in the anechoic chamber for the "Welcome to the Jungle" episode of "A Real Bug's Life."(National Geographic/Annabelle Dawe)

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  • Shooting researcher Katherine Hannaford, production assistant Tilly Bradley, Director of Photography Chris Watts and camera assistant Alex Johnston film extreme close-ups of leaf cutter ants in the studio for the "Welcome to the Jungle" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Elinor Wainwright)

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    Shooting researcher Katherine Hannaford, production assistant Tilly Bradley, Director of Photography Chris Watts and camera assistant Alex Johnston film extreme close-ups of leaf cutter ants in the studio for the "Welcome to the Jungle" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Elinor Wainwright)

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  • Bug wrangler Tim Cockerill works in the studio during a shoot for the "Welcome to the Jungle" episode of "A Real Bug's Life in Costa Rica." (National Geographic/Amy Gilchrist)

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    Bug wrangler Tim Cockerill works in the studio during a shoot for the "Welcome to the Jungle" episode of "A Real Bug's Life in Costa Rica." (National Geographic/Amy Gilchrist)

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  • Bug wrangler Tim Cockerill adjusts equipment for focus in the studio during a shoot for the "Welcome to the Jungle" episode of "A Real Bug's Life in Costa Rica." (National Geographic/Amy Gilchrist)

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    Bug wrangler Tim Cockerill adjusts equipment for focus in the studio during a shoot for the "Welcome to the Jungle" episode of "A Real Bug's Life in Costa Rica." (National Geographic/Amy Gilchrist)

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  • Camera assistant Nick Widdop and camera operator Dale Hudson film during a beach shoot in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo for the "Life's A Beach" episode of "A Real Bug's Life."  (National Geographic/Euan Smith)

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    Camera assistant Nick Widdop and camera operator Dale Hudson film during a beach shoot in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo for the "Life's A Beach" episode of "A Real Bug's Life."  (National Geographic/Euan Smith)

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  • Camera Operator Dale Hudson and animal wrangler Lucia Chmurova film during a beach shoot in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo for the "Life's A Beach" episode of "A Real Bug's Life."  (National Geographic/Euan Smith)

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    Camera Operator Dale Hudson and animal wrangler Lucia Chmurova film during a beach shoot in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo for the "Life's A Beach" episode of "A Real Bug's Life."  (National Geographic/Euan Smith)

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  • Animal wrangler Lucia Chmurova holds her net during a beach shoot for the "Life's A Beach" episode of "A Real Bug's Life."(National Geographic/Euan Smith)

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    Animal wrangler Lucia Chmurova holds her net during a beach shoot for the "Life's A Beach" episode of "A Real Bug's Life."(National Geographic/Euan Smith)

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  • After hours of trying, Lucia Chmurova finally catches a tiger beetle to film for the "Life's a Beach" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic)

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    After hours of trying, Lucia Chmurova finally catches a tiger beetle to film for the "Life's a Beach" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic)

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  • Farmer Vicky Taylor looks at the drone during a shoot for the "The Busy Farm" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Nathan Small)

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    Farmer Vicky Taylor looks at the drone during a shoot for the "The Busy Farm" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Nathan Small)

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  • Alex Johnston wears FPV "goggles," as he mimics the flight of a bumblebee with his racing drone for the "The Busy Farm" episode of "A Real Bug's Life."  (National Geographic/Nathan Small)

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    Alex Johnston wears FPV "goggles," as he mimics the flight of a bumblebee with his racing drone for the "The Busy Farm" episode of "A Real Bug's Life."  (National Geographic/Nathan Small)

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  • Producer-director Nathan Small films close-ups of the barn owl chicks in a nest box featured in "The Busy Farm" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Sean Doyle)

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    Producer-director Nathan Small films close-ups of the barn owl chicks in a nest box featured in "The Busy Farm" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Sean Doyle)

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  • Expert bird handler Rose Buck releases her trained hobby "Henry" during a photo shoot for "The Busy Farm" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Nathan Small)

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    Expert bird handler Rose Buck releases her trained hobby "Henry" during a photo shoot for "The Busy Farm" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Nathan Small)

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  • An adult Texas unicorn mantis stands on the neck of bug wrangler John Abbott on set during the shoot of the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Fernanda Prudencio)

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    An adult Texas unicorn mantis stands on the neck of bug wrangler John Abbott on set during the shoot of the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Fernanda Prudencio)

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  • Director of Photography Alex Jones gets ready to film green June beetle larvae in a compost heap for the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life" (National Geographic/Fernanda Prudencio)

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    Director of Photography Alex Jones gets ready to film green June beetle larvae in a compost heap for the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life" (National Geographic/Fernanda Prudencio)

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  • Director of Photography Chris Watts films common frogs gathering and spawning in a pond during a shoot for the "Once A Pond A Time" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic for Disney/Matt Haworth)

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    Director of Photography Chris Watts films common frogs gathering and spawning in a pond during a shoot for the "Once A Pond A Time" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic for Disney/Matt Haworth)

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  • Director of Photography Chris Watts reviews footage of young actor Menna collecting frogspawn from the pond during a shoot for the "Once A Pond A Time" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Matt Haworth)

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    Director of Photography Chris Watts reviews footage of young actor Menna collecting frogspawn from the pond during a shoot for the "Once A Pond A Time" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Matt Haworth)

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  • A close-up of a firefly is filmed for the "Love In A Forest" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Tom Oldridge)

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    A close-up of a firefly is filmed for the "Love In A Forest" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Tom Oldridge)

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  • Shooting researcher Katherine Hannaford films a firefly during a shoot for the "Love In A Forest" episode of "A Real Bug's Life."  (National Geographic/Tom Oldridge)

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    Shooting researcher Katherine Hannaford films a firefly during a shoot for the "Love In A Forest" episode of "A Real Bug's Life."  (National Geographic/Tom Oldridge)

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  • Assistant Producer Euan McDonald Smith helps with the logistics of filming an ant for the "Love In A Forest" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Ben Cherry)

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    Assistant Producer Euan McDonald Smith helps with the logistics of filming an ant for the "Love In A Forest" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Ben Cherry)

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  • Researcher Tom Oldridge holds a slug during a shoot for the "Love In A Forest" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Euan McDonald Smith)

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    Researcher Tom Oldridge holds a slug during a shoot for the "Love In A Forest" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Euan McDonald Smith)

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  • "Eddie" the koala explores Peter Nearhos' camera during an outback shoot for the "Tiny Heroes Down Under" episode of "A Real Bug's Life" at the Moonlit Sanctuary in Melbourne, Australia. (National Geographic/Alex Godfrey)

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    "Eddie" the koala explores Peter Nearhos' camera during an outback shoot for the "Tiny Heroes Down Under" episode of "A Real Bug's Life" at the Moonlit Sanctuary in Melbourne, Australia. (National Geographic/Alex Godfrey)

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  • Series Director Nat Sharman, Director of Photography Chris Openshaw, Assistant Camera Niall Newport and dung beetle expert Tumi Mathikge film dung beetles in the grass during a shoot for the "Land of Giants" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Amy Gilchrist)

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    Series Director Nat Sharman, Director of Photography Chris Openshaw, Assistant Camera Niall Newport and dung beetle expert Tumi Mathikge film dung beetles in the grass during a shoot for the "Land of Giants" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Amy Gilchrist)

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  • Dung beetle expert Tumi Mathikge and Director of Photography Chris Openshaw kneel in front of an elephant working with David Mupupu from "Adventures with Elephants," during a shoot for the "Land of Giants" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Amy Gilchrist)

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    Dung beetle expert Tumi Mathikge and Director of Photography Chris Openshaw kneel in front of an elephant working with David Mupupu from "Adventures with Elephants," during a shoot for the "Land of Giants" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Amy Gilchrist)

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  • Camera assistant Alex Johnston films in the studio during a shoot for the "Land of Giants" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Elinor Wainwright)

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    Camera assistant Alex Johnston films in the studio during a shoot for the "Land of Giants" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Elinor Wainwright)

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