Wow in the World – WeWow Creepy Crawly Week, Day 3: Dennis’s Pest-aurant

Release Date: October 29, 2025
Hosts: Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz
Special Guests/Characters: Dennis, Reggie, Mindy's pet cockroach Smokey McDougal, Mr. Fingerling
Episode Theme: Exploring “creepy crawly” insects with a focus on the fascinating talents of the glassy-winged sharpshooter, and discovering the science behind its unique “pee propulsion” superpower.

Episode Overview

Day 3 of “WeWow Creepy Crawly Week” brings comedy and science together as Dennis and Reggie attempt to care for Mindy’s pet cockroach—culminating in a wild culinary adventure and an imaginative trip to a movie theater. The group learns all about a peculiar insect, the glassy-winged sharpshooter, whose claim to fame is its supernatural ability to propel droplets of pee at world-record speeds. The hosts share the real-life science behind this, blending fun storytelling, fact-finding, and the usual Wow in the World zaniness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dennis’s Pest-aurant: “Feeding the Cockroach”

[02:09 – 06:35]

• Dennis and Reggie realize Mindy’s cockroach ('Smokey McDougal') needs to be fed.
• They decide to invent a fancy dish: “Beef Wellington,” made from scavenged old snacks like cracker crumbs, a dried carrot stick (“the beef”), and mushy fruit snacks (“the pate”).
• Quirky cooking segment highlights Dennis’s wild imagination and resourcefulness.
• “Ta da! Beef Wellington.” – Dennis ([05:43])
• The cockroach accepts the meal, inspiring Dennis to imagine opening a “roachstar-aurant.”

2. The Movie Theater Escapade & Insect Heroes

[08:09 – 13:01]

• The gang goes to a movie theater, bringing snacks from home, and causing chaos with their noise and antics.
• Hilarious banter occurs as they await a movie. Dennis drinks from a bucket-sized lemonade and quickly needs a bathroom break.
• They see a (fake) movie trailer: “Super Propulsion: Rise of the Glassy Winged Sharpshooter.”
• Theater staff evict them for noise and outside food, eliciting a classic pun:
  • “Well, we’re inside, so it’s inside food.” – Smokey McDougal ([11:22])
• The concept of insects as superheroes is introduced.

3. Real-Life Science: The Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter

[13:02 – 22:04]

A. The Search for the Insect

• Guy Raz reveals the glassy-winged sharpshooter is a real bug, sparking a group bug-hunting trek armed with “magnifying goggles.”
• “Let’s get into the forest so we can start looking.” – Mindy ([14:31])

B. Science of the Sharpshooter

• They spot the insect: “A bug landed on me! ... It’s trespassing on my shoulder!” – Dennis ([15:56])
• Description: Small and brown, clear “glassy” wings with yellowish base, about 12 mm long.
• The bug’s “superpower” is real: “Not only do they pee…but this particular bug can pee with more power than any other known creature on Earth.” – Mindy ([17:11])
• Science intro: The phenomenon is based on a real study by biophysicist Saad Bamla of Georgia Tech.

4. Story Time Style: The Science in Narrative Form

[18:42 – 25:16]

A. Meet the Biophysicist & the Pee-Shooting Bug

• Mindy and Guy tell the story of Saad Bamla, who discovers the bug’s talent in his backyard.
• “She was peeing.” – Mindy ([20:18])
• Sharpshooters drink xylem sap from plants, which is 95% water; they consume up to 300 times their body weight daily—thus, they “pee” nearly constantly.

B. The Evolution of ‘Butt Flicker’ Propulsion

• Instead of a continuous stream, the bug accumulates droplets, then uses a “butt flicker” (a real anatomical structure) to flick pee away from its body:
  • “When it was time to pee, she would open her butt flicker… twist her butt and produce a single droplet of pee.” – Guy Raz ([22:14])
  • “And just as the droplet grew…the butt flicker would launch that little pee droplet into the air and away from her body.” – Mindy ([22:36])
• Pee droplets travel at super-high speeds, demonstrating “super propulsion”—moving faster than the part flinging it!
• This method is 4-8 times more energy-efficient than a continuous stream.
• “Super propulsion happens when the thing being launched moves faster than the launcher itself.” – Mindy ([25:02])
• Notable quote: “Butt flicking pee is the only way for me.” – Smokey McDougal ([24:36])
• This is the tiniest known case of animal super-propulsion, and it may someday inspire new technology.

5. Science Wrap-Up & Cartoonish Banter

[25:17 – 27:37]

• The real scientific study is dramatized; the bug becomes “rich and famous” ([26:08]).
• The gang jokes about sequels and movie franchises.
• “I want to do the voiceover: Once upon a time, butt-flicking super-propulsion pee became super-duper popular…” – Dennis ([27:13])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I’m the best chef in the world! Reggie, we should open a roachstar-aurant!” – Dennis ([06:14])
• “She may be small, but she never cowers. For the Glassy Winged Sharpshooter is loaded…” – Theater Usher/Staff ([09:46])
• “With pee pee power!” – Reggie ([09:53])
• “Bugs go pee?!” – Dennis ([17:10])
• “Super propulsion happens when the thing being launched moves faster than the launcher itself.” – Mindy ([25:02])
• “Butt flicking pee is the only way for me. Hey!” – Smokey McDougal ([24:36])
• “Hey everyone, get a load of this pee flinging bug. Okay bug, do your trick.” – Reggie as scientist Saad Bamla ([25:44])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:09] — Dennis’s “Pest-aurant” segment
• [06:35] — Cockroach dines / start of “restaurant” comedy
• [08:09] — The group heads to the movie theater
• [09:07] — Theater superhero bug trailer and chaos
• [13:02] — Transition to real science, start of forest bug hunt
• [15:56] — Discovery and description of the glassy-winged sharpshooter
• [17:02] — Introduction of the bug’s “pee powers”
• [18:42] — Science story time: Saad Bamla and research
• [22:14] — Explaining the “butt flicker” and pee propulsion
• [25:02] — Definition and explanation of “super propulsion”
• [26:05] — The bug’s rise to fame, wrap-up

Tone and Style

Playful, pun-filled, and energetic, with the show’s trademark mix of slapstick humor and accessible scientific facts. The hosts and characters shift seamlessly between silly roleplay and real science, keeping the tone light and engaging for kids and adults.

Summary

On Day 3 of Creepy Crawly Week, Dennis’s attempt at fine dining turns into a chaotic, comedic, and surprisingly educational journey featuring a cockroach, a fake superhero movie trailer, and a deep dive into the amazing abilities of the glassy-winged sharpshooter insect. The team learns how this bug uses its “butt flicker” to launch droplets of pee at incredible speeds—an amazing real-world example of super propulsion, now inspiring scientists everywhere. Perfect for bug-lovers, junior scientists, and anyone who likes their science with a healthy dose of glee and giggles.