Common insecticides like neonicotinoids significantly reduce populations of predatory insects in North American and European farming systems, posing a threat to crop yields. The use of integrated pest management strategies is recommended to conserve beneficial insect species.
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that large fires create a diverse landscape, making it difficult for bark beetles to launch widespread attacks. This variability protects forests from future outbreaks, as trees take decades to reach their preferred size.
The leaf-mining pygmy moths and white eyecap moths have a rich evolutionary history that dates back to the early Cretaceous period, around 100 million years ago. A new classification system has been established based on DNA analysis, revealing three new genera in South and Central America.
A UT researcher is leading a $3-million grant to develop a user-friendly interface for recording and sharing tree genomic data. The project aims to create an ecosystem of community databases for analyzing tree genomics data, providing tools for researchers and promoting public awareness of healthy trees.
A new species of leggy millipede, named Illacme tobini, has been discovered in a California cave. The species boasts over 414 legs, similar to its cousin Illacme plenipes, but with unique features like poison glands and silk-secreting hairs.
Researchers have discovered that anthranilic diamides can effectively control pests in snap bean crops, rivaling industry standards. The compounds show promise as a replacement for neonicotinoid seed treatments and pyrethroid sprays.
Researchers at UCR are using big data to track mosquitoes, predict outbreaks, and understand insects. The new program will train scientists and engineers to exploit the power of big data to improve human health and alleviate food waste.
A study found that multiple pesticides within colonies closely correlate with colony death, including some 'bee-safe' fungicides. The researchers assessed 91 colonies and found that the number of different compounds was highly predictive of colony death.
Research by Jessica Purcell and colleagues found that individual spiders can outlast their group counterparts when introduced to a new environment. The study suggests that adaptation to local traits is key to survival, rather than individual personality types.
Researchers at Penn State and EPFL developed an AI model to recognize specific plant diseases from images, achieving an accuracy rate of 99.35% in a public dataset. The technology has great potential for supplementing existing disease diagnosis methods and could be implemented on smartphones, especially in developing countries.
A study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers found that exposure to imidacloprid, a popular insecticide, significantly reduces the number of eggs laid by queen bees. This impairment can lead to colony decline and death, highlighting the need for beekeepers to take precautions when using neonicotinoids.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recognized outstanding science communicators with the 2016 Communication Awards. Deborah Cramer won for her book 'The Narrow Edge,' while NPR's Christopher Joyce and Alison Richards took home the award for their film/TV series 'Close Listening: Decoding Nature Through Sound.'
Researchers found that flowers are a hot spot for bacterial transmission to wild bees, with multiple flower and bee species sharing the same types of bacteria. This discovery highlights the importance of understanding wild bees as an alternative pollination option due to declining honey bee populations.
The moth species Heliothis subflexa has a specialized diet of Physalis fruits, which provides it with direct and indirect protection through the presence of withanolides. These compounds increase larval growth and immune system activity while also protecting against bacterial infections caused by Bacillus thuringiensis.
Research from North Carolina State University shows that traveling honey bees have shorter lives and greater oxidative stress levels than stationary bees. Access to readily available food or supplemental nutrition can mitigate these negative impacts, particularly during periods of high flower scarcity.
The National Science Foundation has awarded Vikas Khanna a $259,582 grant to investigate the impact of declining insect-mediated pollination on the US economy. The three-year project aims to expand previous research and explore the economic value of pollination services attributable to managed honeybees and wild insects.
A new study found that sulfoxaflor is as effective as broad-spectrum insecticides in controlling soybean aphids, while causing less harm to beneficial predators like the convergent lady beetle and insidious flower bug. This could improve integrated pest management strategies and reduce the risk of insecticide resistance.
Researchers found that ground-nesting bees were the most abundant insects in corn and soybean fields, accounting for 65% of total pollinators. The study suggests that adopting no-till practices and programs like STRIPS could benefit pollinators, potentially increasing yields by up to 6%.
Researchers reviewed various methods for preventing bites from blacklegged ticks, which transmit Lyme disease. Effective measures include wearing protective clothing, using insect repellent, and controlling tick hosts such as deer and small mammals.
A study by UC Riverside researchers found that bed bug shed skins retain four pheromone compounds that can be used to detect and combat infestations. The findings suggest the development of small, inexpensive monitor traps to catch living bed bugs at early stages of infestation.
Dr. Guanyang Zhang and colleagues describe 24 new assassin bug species from over 10,000 specimens, shedding light on the insects' behavior and taxonomy. The discovery highlights the importance of natural history collections in uncovering new species.
A special collection of articles from the Journal of Medical Entomology provides in-depth research on Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, including its introduction to North America, disease transmission, and control measures. The studies highlight the importance of understanding this invasive insect for effective mosquito management.
Researchers found that bumble bees selectively forage among plant species based on the nutritional quality of their pollen. The study identified specific plant species with high protein-to-lipid ratios as preferred by bumble bees.
The study analyzed 1,297 invasive insect pests on 124 countries, finding the US, China, India, and Brazil to be the highest potential cost impacters. Smaller developing countries like those in sub-Saharan Africa are disproportionately vulnerable due to their reliance on agriculture.
Researchers are studying how microbes control ant behaviors using $2.56 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. The goal is to understand the complex collective behavior of fungi, which can precisely control their hosts' actions.
A team of researchers has discovered a receptor on the legs of mosquitoes that, when activated, makes female mosquitoes fly away. This finding could lead to novel mosquito repellents and potentially disrupt the life cycle of disease-spreading mosquitoes.
A new study maps the geographical ranges of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which transmit dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses, across 183 counties in 26 states and 1,241 counties in 40 states.
Researchers will study pollinators at various sites to identify the insects responsible for spreading mummy berry disease and investigate how variations in insect visitation affect resistance levels among blueberry varieties. The study aims to reduce reliance on fungicides and help growers cope with the disease.
Researchers discovered that stick insects can produce microbial enzymes, including pectinases, which degrade plant cell walls. This 'horizontal gene transfer' occurred between 110 to 60 million years ago, allowing the insects to break free from their microbiome's digestive capabilities.
A study by Purdue University reveals that honeybees collect pollen from non-crop plants contaminated with a wide range of pesticides, including pyrethroids and neonicotinoids. The researchers found that bees are chronically exposed to these chemicals throughout the growing season.
Researchers discovered the optimal temperature of 25 degrees Celsius for Spathius galinae, a host-specific parasitic wasp targeting emerald ash borer. The wasp's unique ability to detect vibrations in bark allows it to locate larvae and is highly host-specific, minimizing the risk of impact on other species.
A study published in Frontiers in Microbiology found that captive giant pandas experience gastrointestinal problems when switching from bamboo stalks to leaves, leading to reproductive issues. The researchers analyzed the bacteria in the pandas' poop and discovered a unique population of microbes associated with digestive dysfunction.
The US saw a significant loss of honey bee colonies, with commercial and small-scale beekeepers losing 44.1% of their colonies over the course of the year. The main cause of these losses is the varroa mite, which can easily spread between colonies.
Researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute discovered that potato plants boost chemical defenses in their leaves when Guatemalan tuber moth larvae feed on their tubers. This response protects against leaf-eating pests like beet armyworms, allowing plants to maintain sugar production and grow more tubers. The study may help reduce pota...
Researchers discovered a key mechanism driving a bacterium that kills male insects, which could be exploited to control pest species. The study found that the bacteria targets the dosage compensation complex, leading to genome-wide misregulation of gene expression.
Entomologists have described a traumatic insemination process in which male twisted-winged parasites inject semen directly into the female's body cavity. The fertilization process is unusually prolonged, lasting up to 30 minutes, and is likely used to reduce sperm competition.
Researchers found high levels of varroa mites and fungal parasites, with severe correlations to viral diseases like Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus. The study provides crucial baseline data for tracking future trends in honey bee health.
Researchers found that bed bugs strongly preferred red and black colors, but avoided green and yellow due to their resemblance to brightly-lit areas. The study's findings may have implications for controlling bed bug populations by using color preference in traps.
A new study found that different strains of bed bugs have varying levels of resistance to insecticides, with some having oxidases and others esterases. The researchers used a synergist called EN16/5-1 to determine which enzyme type was responsible for the resistance.
A new species of black fly, Simulium kalimantanense, has been discovered in Indonesia's Kalimantan state. The newly identified species belongs to the family Simuliidae and is part of a larger group known to carry filariasis-causing parasites.
Researchers found that six known predators, including beetles and lacewings, naturally controlled cochineal scale insects on prickly pear plants, regulating their growth. Autonomous biological pest control may be a viable alternative to chemical pesticides under specific ecological conditions.
Researchers found that ants form rafts with different members occupying specific positions based on experience, demonstrating collective memory and cooperation. This phenomenon has implications for our understanding of social insects and potential applications in robotics and medicine.
Scientists found neonicotinoid seed treatments yield higher results in southern U.S. states, with economic benefits in four out of 10 years studied.
A new genus of flea and its five new species have been described from Indonesian collections. The discovery sheds light on the history of Indonesia and highlights the complexity of male flea genitalia.
A new study reveals that copper sulfate, commonly used as a fungicide in agriculture, is lethal to the native Brazilian bee Friesella schrottkyi. Sublethal exposure also affects its behavior, highlighting concerns for growers and pollinator conservation.
Researchers have developed a new trap to monitor and control Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the primary transmitters of Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. The plastic ovitrap infused with pyriproxyfen has been shown to be 100% effective in preventing larvae from developing into adults.
A recent study by Rutgers University researchers found that approximately 12% of apartments had bed bug infestations, with higher rates in African American homes. Women were more likely to report symptoms and express concern upon learning of infestations.
A study found that commercial bumble bee pollination operations coincided with infections and declines in wild bumble bees. The fungus, N. bombi, was present in the US as early as 1980, well before wild bumble bee species began to decline.
Masked chafer larvae cause root damage to turfgrass, leading to brown and dying blades. Biological approaches like entomopathogens offer promising solutions for reducing grub numbers.
Cornell University has received a $4.8 million USAID grant to improve genetically engineered eggplant production in Bangladesh and the Philippines. The project aims to increase farmers' livelihoods by reducing yield losses and improving food security.
Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks primarily carrying the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. Researchers are exploring four arms of treatment-related research, including a mouse study of a regimen that eradicated the bacteria in the test tube and strategies to discover new drugs selectively targeting the Lyme bacterium. The goal is to pr...
Researchers at NC State University have genetically engineered green bottle fly larvae to produce and secrete human growth factor-BB, a molecule that promotes cell growth and wound healing. The modified maggots show promise for cost-effective wound treatment that could save people from amputation.
A Clemson University study investigates the benefits of diverse agroecosystems in watermelon production. Native bees and wildflowers may complement honeybees to improve crop quality and yield. The research aims to find a simple way for farmers to attract native pollinators, potentially eliminating the need for domesticated honeybees.
Researchers discovered a potent inhibitor of soluble epoxide hydrolase, which plays a key role in modulating inflammation and neuropathic pain in the brain. The compound, TPPU, displayed rapid effects in animal models of depression, with potential as a new therapeutic medication.
New Cornell research reveals genetic cues from male mosquitoes affect female reproductive tract gene expression, influencing blood feeding, egg development, and immune defense. This study aims to develop novel strategies for controlling mosquito populations to fight diseases like Zika virus.
Researchers from Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology discovered that stick insects have enzymes capable of degrading complex plant cell wall components, including xyloglucan. This discovery marks the first known xyloglucanase of any kind to be found in multicellular animals.
Researchers at Kansas State University have validated a model showing the growth of lone star ticks in Kansas, extending their range from eastern third of state to western Colby. Climate change is predicted to favor more tick-borne diseases among people and pets.
Scientists have developed an illustrated key to distinguish between 41 snout moth grass borers using genitalia analysis. This helps identify economically important pests that feed on crops like sugarcane and corn in the Western Hemisphere.
Researchers used three long-term datasets to analyze honey bee population trends, identifying the USDA Census of Agriculture as the most accurate dataset for measuring changes in abundance. However, they acknowledged limitations of the data, including lack of information on colony usage and losses.
Researchers review gene drive systems, analyzing pros and cons, applications, and regulatory issues. They highlight the potential benefits of controlling insect-borne diseases, removing invasive species, and reversing pesticide resistance. Gene drives combine CRISPR technology to enable environmentally friendly solutions.