Insect Resistance to Bt Crops can be Predicted, Monitored, and Managed
Since 1996, crop plants genetically modified to produce bacterial proteins that are toxic to certain insects, yet safe for people, have been planted on more than 200 million hectares worldwide. view more (2009-11-24)
Butterfly proboscis to sip cells
A butterfly's proboscis looks like a straw -- long, slender, and used for sipping -- but it works more like a paper towel, according to Konstantin Kornev of Clemson University. He hopes to borrow the tricks of this piece of insect anatomy to make small probes that can sample the fluid inside of cells. view more (2009-11-23)
New fossil plant discovery links Patagonia to New Guinea in a warmer past
Fossil plants are windows to the past, providing us with clues as to what our planet looked like millions of years ago. view more (2009-11-11)
Well-traveled wasps provide hope for vanishing species
They may only be 1.5mm in size, but the tiny wasps that pollinate fig trees can travel over 160km in less than 48 hours, according to research from scientists at the University of Leeds. The fig wasps are transporting pollen ten times further than previously recorded for any insect. view more (2009-11-10)
Mom was right: Nice guys don't always finish last
Picture it: One jerk in a bar spends the night delivering bad come-ons to women. By the end of the evening, the women aren't receptive to even the nicest guys around. view more (2009-11-06)
Spider web glue spins society toward new biobased adhesives
With would-be goblins and ghosts set to drape those huge fake spider webs over doorways and trees for Halloween, scientists in Wyoming are reporting on a long-standing mystery about real spider webs: It is the secret of spider web glue. view more (2009-10-22)
Panama butterfly migrations linked to El Niño, climate change
A high-speed chase across the Panama Canal in a Boston Whaler may sound like the beginning of another James Bond film-but the protagonist of this story brandishes a butterfly net and studies the effects of climate change on insect migrations at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. view more (2009-10-06)
How the 100th protein structure solved at Diamond impacts our understanding of how insects smell
New research announced today, Wednesday 30th September, by a team of leading scientists working with the UK's national Synchrotron, Diamond Light Source, could have a significant impact on the development and refinement of new eco-friendly pest control methods for worldwide agriculture. view more (2009-09-30)
Scientists discover how to send insects off the scent of crops
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)-funded research, published this week in Chemical Communication, describes how scientists have discovered molecules that could confuse insects' ability to detect plants by interfering with their sense of smell. This could reduce damage to crops by insect pests and contribute to food... view more... (2009-09-24)
Secrets of insect flight revealed
Researchers are one step closer to creating a micro-aircraft that flies with the manoeuvrability and energy efficiency of an insect after decoding the aerodynamic secrets of insect flight. view more (2009-09-18)
Conflict between plant and animal hormones in the insect gut?
Cis-OPDA (12-oxophytodienoic acid) is a highly reactive plant hormone which simultaneously serves as a precursor molecule of the metabolic "master switch" jasmonic acid. view more (2009-09-15)
As ash borer claims more trees, researcher at ISU works for species survival
Mark Widrlechner may someday be known as the modern-day Johnny Appleseed for ash trees. view more (2009-09-11)
Mother knows best
Scientists have found new evidence to explain how female insects can influence the father of their offspring, even after mating with up to ten males. view more (2009-09-09)
Using insects to test for drug safety
Insects, such as some moths and fruit flies, react to microbial infection in the same way as mammals and so can be used to test the efficiency of new drugs, thereby reducing the need for animal testing. view more (2009-09-08)
'Killer spices' provide eco-friendly pesticides for organic fruits and veggies
Mention rosemary, thyme, clove, and mint and most people think of a delicious meal. Think bigger-acres bigger. view more (2009-08-17)
Biological clocks of insects could lead to more effective pest control
Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered that the circadian rhythms or biological "clocks" in some insects can make them far more susceptible to pesticides at some times of the day instead of others. view more (2009-08-13)
Researchers to study rebirth of an island after volcanic eruption
When Alaska's Kasatochi Volcano erupted on Aug. 7, 2008, it virtually sterilized Kasatochi Island, covering the small Aleutian island with a layer of ash and other volcanic material several meters thick. view more (2009-08-07)
Leicester research paves way for first use in Europe of an insect to fight invasive plant
Researchers at the University of Leicester have paved the way for the first ever use in Europe of an insect (biocontrol) to combat an invasive plant species in Britain. view more (2009-07-31)
New insect on Balearic Islands
After 10 years of biochemical and molecular analysis of the Tyrrhenoleuctra plecoptera that live in the Western Mediterranean, Spanish and Italian scientists have now demonstrated that one of the insect populations of this group is a distinct and, therefore, new species. view more (2009-07-16)
Learning from locusts
A similarity in brain disturbance between insects and people suffering from migraines, stroke and epilepsy points the way toward new drug therapies to address these conditions. view more (2009-07-06)
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