A cost-effective system uses off-the-shelf equipment to produce 3D models of medium-to-large insects, enhancing biodiversity discovery and species identification. The compact models have excellent optical resolution and can be shared via documents and web pages.
Researchers discovered that female cave insects, Neotrogla, have evolved elaborate penis-like organs, reversing traditional sex roles during copulation. This unique adaptation may be linked to the resource-poor environment and advantageous mating strategies.
Flowering plants adapt their scent signals to balance attraction of pollinators with protection from herbivore damage. Research shows that infested plants reduce floral scent to lure parasitic wasps, which are then attracted by leaf scents. This complex interaction highlights the trade-offs in plant defense strategies.
Insects' sense of smell crucial for survival; recent study shows odorant receptors emerged long after terrestrial adaptation. The first insects were not yet able to smell well, with their complex olfactory systems evolving after the development of flying ability.
Scientists discovered three fossil specimens of a new stick insect species that mimicked plants for defense, predating twig and bark mimicry. The ancient insects' wings and coloration suggested a plant-mimicking strategy, providing insight into early evolutionary adaptations.
Scientists discover extraordinary diversity and specialization in tropical insects, with each fly having a unique ability to escape parasitic wasp species. This specialization leads to increased niche diversity in the community, revealing that insects are more diverse than thought.
Research reveals stick insects have developed a way to generate massive friction when walking upright through a hierarchy of grip with the slightest pressure, allowing them to grip but not stick. The insect's hairy friction pads employ three main tricks to increase contact area under pressure, creating a scale or hierarchy of grip.
Researchers found that neighbor plants affect the quality and taste of individual plants for insects. This impacts insects' ability to control pest species like ragwort, which can be toxic to horses.
Researchers at UC Riverside have discovered how the common fruit fly detects sweet compounds, revealing a new understanding of taste receptors in insects. The study's findings hold promise for developing strategies to block these receptors, potentially helping to control disease-carrying mosquitoes and other pests.
A new study published in Annals of the Entomological Society of America has found that low temperatures can be used to store eggs of the predatory stink bug Podisus nigrispinus. This allows for greater flexibility in mass rearing and storage, increasing the availability of insects for release in the field at an early opportunity.
A new study tests the effectiveness of color-based traps against major pests in Montana, finding that red and green traps are most effective. The researchers also discovered that insects use chromatic cues to identify colors and will pursue further studies on this topic.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University found that bats rely on vision for navigation and orientation, while using echolocation to detect small prey in low light conditions. This unique combination of senses gives bats a significant advantage in hunting and surviving in the night.
A 115-million-year-old fossilized wasp from Brazil features an ovipositor similar to those of present-day fig wasps, raising questions about the co-evolution of these organisms. The finding highlights the value of studying insect fossils for understanding evolutionary history and plant origins.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered that crop-infecting viruses use aphids as pawns to spread infection to healthy vegetation. By altering plant biochemistry, these viruses repel visiting aphids and force them to move to healthier plants, unwittingly transporting and spreading the virus.
Researchers from UEA compiled a comprehensive review of primate eating habits, finding that smaller primates eat more insects while larger ones consume more leaves. The study also reveals that some monkeys can easily meet their 'five a day' fruit intake within an hour.
University of Minnesota researchers have developed a new approach for identifying potential environmental effects of releasing genetically engineered (GE) insects. The framework evaluates the entire range of potential effects, including those during transitory and steady state phases, providing improved guidance for ecological risk ass...
Scientists have uncovered a 165-million-year-old fossil of copulating froghoppers, providing insight into the earliest record of insect mating. The discovery suggests that froghopper genital symmetry and mating position remained static for over 165 million years.
Research at Tel Aviv University suggests that homosexual behavior in insects and spiders is often a case of mistaken identity. In most cases, males mistake other males for females due to lack of time and energy to inspect their mates' gender. This behavior lacks potential benefits like procreation and can be costly.
Researchers at UC Riverside identified DEET-detecting olfactory receptors, enabling the development of three safe compounds that mimic DEET and could prevent the transmission of deadly vector-borne diseases. The findings offer a major breakthrough in controlling insect-borne diseases worldwide.
Researchers found that three insect species altered their mating behaviors in response to falling air pressure, which may reduce injury and death. The study suggests insects are adapted to respond to potential bad weather, impacting not only individual animals but also ecological communities.
Researchers found insects adjust courtship and calling behaviors in response to changing air pressure, reducing risk of injury during high winds and rain. The study suggests these modifications may help insects predict adverse weather conditions, allowing them to modify their mating behavior accordingly.
A detailed annotated checklist of 275 scale insect species in Iran reveals a diverse range of pests affecting crops. The study's findings highlight the economic importance of these insects and the need for further research to improve pest control management.
A Canadian research team, led by a UC Riverside expert, has won the Hult Prize to develop insect-based meals for impoverished regions. Insects are excellent low-cost sources of protein and essential nutrients.
A team of researchers from the University of Manchester used next generation sequencing techniques to analyze sub-fossilized insects in copal and found no evidence of ancient DNA. The study suggests that DNA survival in resin inclusions is unlikely, raising doubts about claims of DNA extraction from fossil insects in amber.
Researchers identified a neuropeptide named natalisin that controls reproductive ability and interest in mating in insects. The study found that knocking out natalisin in fruit flies reduced their reproductive capacity and decreased their desire for mating.
Moths hear at 80 kHz to detect bats, but this ability also leads to unnecessary sound impressions and energy waste. Researchers found that moths' eardrums are more sensitive than small insects', allowing them to survive in environments with high-frequency bat calls.
Brandeis researchers have discovered a previously unknown molecular temperature sensor in fruit flies, which belongs to a protein family responsible for sensing tastes and smells. The discovery provides insights into how insects respond to temperature and may help scientists develop more effective repellents or traps.
Scientists discovered a new, extinct family of insects in British Columbia and Washington state that helps understand how animals responded to global climate change. The Eorpidae family's extinction raises questions about the impact of evolutionary diversification and climate change on communities.
Researchers found that spider webs are more effective at capturing charged insects, with positively charged insects attracting the negatively charged web. This discovery suggests that electrostatic charges may have driven the evolution of specialized webs.
Researchers genetically engineered mosquitoes, altering their response to odors, including human scent and insect repellent DEET. The study reveals the insects' unique attraction to humans and paves the way for understanding why they are so attracted to humans, potentially leading to new repellants.
Researchers have identified a new gene in the jasmonate pathway that controls plant defenses without affecting growth. This finding could lead to improved crop resistance in agriculture by manipulating the jasmonate signaling pathway.
A WSU study found plantings of sweet alyssum attract spiders and predatory insects that prey on woolly apple aphids, reducing their populations. The discovery is a boon for both organic and conventional tree fruit growers.
Serguei Triapitsyn, an entomologist at UC Riverside, has discovered a new wasp species, Gonatocerus ucri, from the Russian Far East. The wasp is mostly brown in color and has long antennae and wings, with its host unknown but potentially beneficial insects.
A global review reveals a cocktail of pressures contributing to declining pollinator populations, impacting crop yields and wild plant reproduction. Effective habitat networks, pesticide risk assessments, and innovative disease therapies are proposed solutions.
Researchers found that high ozone levels interfere with pollinators finding flowers and predator insects finding host plants. Insects rely on volatile organic compounds to detect odors, but ozone degrades these compounds, leading to confusion.
Research found scale insects were 13 times more abundant on willow oaks in hot areas compared to cooler ones, with higher survival rates in hot greenhouses. The study suggests urban warming may lead to changes in pest abundance as natural forests also warm up.
Scientists used DNA extracted from insects' stomachs to identify the plants they eat, with results matching prior observations and taking significantly less time. This study provides a new method for understanding plant-herbivore interactions and has implications for biodiversity research.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology discovered that insect odorant receptors are self-regulated, allowing them to amplify sensitivity in response to below-threshold odor stimulation. This mechanism enables flies to detect minute amounts of odors, essential for navigation and finding resources.
Certain Australian native flowers have shifted from using insects as pollinators and evolved flower colour to the red hues favoured by birds. The study found that bird-pollinated flowers have spectral signatures that are best discriminated by those birds.
A large-scale study found that wild insects consistently enhance fruit set for a broad range of crops and agricultural practices on all continents. The researchers concluded that losses of wild insects from agricultural landscapes will likely impact both natural heritage and harvests.
Biologists Tiffany Knight and Laura Burkle studied a historic dataset from Charles Robertson's 19th-century naturalist work, revealing a weakened plant-pollinator network. The study found that half of the bee species associated with flowers had disappeared, pollinators were active before plants bloomed, and pollination services declined.
A recent study found that managed honey bees are less successful at pollinating crops than wild insects, highlighting the negative consequences of losing wild insect populations. The research emphasizes the need for integrated management practices to promote long-term agricultural production and enhance global crop yields.
A new discovery allows for expanded use of a mainstay biological pest control method, the sterile insect technique (SIT), which avoids health and environmental concerns. The approach involves mass release of radiation-sterilized insects that mate but produce no offspring, reducing pest populations.
A tiny insect that eats plants has developed a unique strategy to evade its beetle predator: using the plant's trichomes for physical protection. This clever tactic allows the pest to crawl between the plant hairs and feed on cycad sap, while the larger beetle cannot follow suit.
Researchers at North Carolina State University found that insect grooming, particularly antennal cleaning, helps maintain sharp olfactory senses. Grooming removes both environmental pollutants and chemicals produced by insects themselves, enabling them to detect food, danger, and potential mates effectively.
African ball-rolling insects guide themselves along straight paths under starlit skies but lose orientation under overcast conditions. Dung beetles exploit celestial cues like the Milky Way for navigation, suggesting other nocturnal insects might follow suit.
A new study finds that climate warming is allowing bark beetles to thrive in previously inhospitable high-elevation forests, posing a significant threat to whitebark pine ecosystems. The insects are attacking trees with weakened defenses, leading to potential cascading effects on mountain ecosystems.
Scientists found a unique lipid compound that amplifies sound and efficiently transmits it to the ear drums of insects, similar to toothed whales. The discovery opens up possibilities for new systems in ultrasound technologies.
Researchers found high concentrations of gold in termite mounds, indicating a larger deposit underneath. These insects bring up small particles containing gold from the deposit's fingerprint and stockpile it in their mounds.
The US Department of Agriculture is developing public health insecticides and devising improved application technologies to kill insects. Alternative fabrics are being designed for fire-resistant uniforms to improve protection against insects.
A new study reveals that insects prefer exotic plants over natives, maintaining balance in ecosystems. Native plants are less susceptible to these insects and can thrive alongside exotics.
Researchers discovered a new bacterium, human Sodalis, in the infected wound of a man who impaled his hand on a tree branch. The bacterium is related to Sodalis, a genus that lives symbiotically inside insects' guts, and may be used to block disease transmission by insects and prevent crop damage.
Researchers discovered a new bacterium in an Indiana man's infected wound, revealing how insects domesticate bacteria. The strain, HS, has a relatively large genetic blueprint and is closely related to Sodalis-like bacteria that live in many insect species.
Harvard scientists have solved the long-standing mystery of how some insects form germ cells, discovering that a cricket's oskar gene is far older than previously thought. The team found that the gene emerged in their last common ancestor and likely originated in the nervous system before being co-opted for germ cell formation.
Researchers discovered that African dung beetles use dung balls for evaporative cooling, climbing on them when overheating to maintain a cooler body temperature. This behavior is unique among insects and demonstrates the complex strategies insects employ to regulate their body temperature.
A 520-million-year-old fossilized arthropod has revealed a remarkably well-preserved brain structure, challenging the long-standing debate on the origin of insects. The discovery suggests that complex brains evolved earlier than previously thought and have changed little over time.
A new study found that nearly half of all retail firewood sold in the US West is infested with live insects. The research highlights the risks of untreated firewood transporting pests and pathogens to uninfested areas. Heat-treating firewood before sale could help mitigate these risks.
A new study reveals that insects feeding on plants drive genetic variation in their host species across large geographic areas. The researchers found that two aphid species exert pressure on plants to create diverse chemical defenses, leading to changes in the genetic makeup of plant populations.
A study from the University of Toronto Mississauga discovered that insect interaction can cause rapid evolutionary changes in plants, with populations diverging significantly in as few as three to four generations. This suggests that insects play a crucial role in plant evolution and diversity.
A 5-year study found that removing insects from the environment can cause plants to quickly lose defensive traits, such as anti-moth chemicals and temporal blooms. This rapid evolution is driven by natural selection, with successful varieties emerging when moths are absent.