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A Real Bug's Life Episode 103 - "Braving the Backyard"

It’s spring in a Texan backyard, and a new family is moving in. As they put their stamp on the place, a baby Texas unicorn mantis struggles to come of age in her brand-new world, a colony of invasive fire ants have their survival skills pushed to the limit, and a jet-setting monarch butterfly searches for a lifeline on her mammoth migration north. This is the story of bugs surviving and thriving in one of the most unpredictable places on Earth. 

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  • Fire ants gather inside an electrical box in Deer Creek Trail, Bessemer, Ala. in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Fernanda Prudencio)

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    Fire ants gather inside an electrical box in Deer Creek Trail, Bessemer, Ala. in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Fernanda Prudencio)

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  • A female mantis seen in silhouette stands on a metallic fence in Austin, Texas in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Matt Langbehn)

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    A female mantis seen in silhouette stands on a metallic fence in Austin, Texas in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Matt Langbehn)

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

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  • A monitor shows an adult Texas unicorn mantis on set in Austin, Texas in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Fernanda Prudencio)

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    A monitor shows an adult Texas unicorn mantis on set in Austin, Texas in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Fernanda Prudencio)

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  • A fire ant raft is seen floating on water in an Austin, Texas backyard in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Fernanda Prudencio)

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    A fire ant raft is seen floating on water in an Austin, Texas backyard in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Fernanda Prudencio)

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  • Director of Photography Alex Jones, lighting assistant Matt Langbehn and bug wrangler Sean O'Donnell set a shot of fire ants rafting in a tank in Buda, Texas for the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." A plastic duck is included to provide perspective (showing how small the fire ants are) and a terrace and house are seen in the background backplate. (National Geographic/Alex Hemmingway)

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    Director of Photography Alex Jones, lighting assistant Matt Langbehn and bug wrangler Sean O'Donnell set a shot of fire ants rafting in a tank in Buda, Texas for the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." A plastic duck is included to provide perspective (showing how small the fire ants are) and a terrace and house are seen in the background backplate. (National Geographic/Alex Hemmingway)

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  • Doyle and Matt Langbehn and assistant Alex Jones attempt to drop butterflies through tubes designed to help male and female butterflies lock together at the ends of their abdomens, stay attached and drop down while filming the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life" in Austin, Texas. Photo Director Alex Hemingway observes in the background. (National Geographic/Fernanda Prudencio)

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    Doyle and Matt Langbehn and assistant Alex Jones attempt to drop butterflies through tubes designed to help male and female butterflies lock together at the ends of their abdomens, stay attached and drop down while filming the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life" in Austin, Texas. Photo Director Alex Hemingway observes in the background. (National Geographic/Fernanda Prudencio)

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  • Director of Photography Alex Jones films green June beetle larvae in a compost heap in Austin, Texas for the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life" in Austin, Texas. (National Geographic/Fernanda Prudencio)

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    Director of Photography Alex Jones films green June beetle larvae in a compost heap in Austin, Texas for the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life" in Austin, Texas. (National Geographic/Fernanda Prudencio)

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  • A monitor shows the backyard mini set with monarch butterflies on milkweed in Buda, Texas, which was featured in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Sean Doyle)

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    A monitor shows the backyard mini set with monarch butterflies on milkweed in Buda, Texas, which was featured in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Sean Doyle)

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  • A level three instar Texas Unicorn Mantis is featured in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Alex Jones)

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    A level three instar Texas Unicorn Mantis is featured in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Alex Jones)

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  • A level three instar Texas Unicorn Mantis is featured in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/John Abbot)

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    A level three instar Texas Unicorn Mantis is featured in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/John Abbot)

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  • Monarch butterflies arrive in their winter home after migrating. Monarchs are featured in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic Image Collection/Bianca Lavies)

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    Monarch butterflies arrive in their winter home after migrating. Monarchs are featured in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic Image Collection/Bianca Lavies)

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  • A caterpillar feeds on the underside of a milkweed leaf. (National Geographic Image Collection/Bianca Lavies)

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    A caterpillar feeds on the underside of a milkweed leaf. (National Geographic Image Collection/Bianca Lavies)

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  • A monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) stands on a leaf. Monarchs are featured in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Rich Reid)

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    A monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) stands on a leaf. Monarchs are featured in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Rich Reid)

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  • A "burst" of monarch butterflies flies with blue skies in the background. Monarchs are featured in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Medford Taylor)

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    A "burst" of monarch butterflies flies with blue skies in the background. Monarchs are featured in the "Braving the Backyard" episode of "A Real Bug's Life." (National Geographic/Medford Taylor)

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