A new genus of Australian plant bugs, Swiftiephylus, has been named after Taylor Swift, with four insect species classified in honor of the singer. The insects' colors mimic Swift's blonde hair and red lipstick, while their pale yellow and red markings help them evade predators.
A new genus of insects named Swiftiephylus has been discovered, with four species inspired by Taylor Swift's music and life. The insects are herbivorous, plant-feeders that help with camouflage, and their discovery highlights the importance of taxonomy in conservation.
A new global framework for insect conservation tackles the major blind spot in biodiversity conservation, proposing locally led research and collaboration. The framework identifies four major obstacles to tropical insect conservation and proposes combining conventional scientific research with regional and non-English literature.
A new study by Concordia researchers reveals that exposure to wildfire smoke during larval development causes higher rates of wing deformities in spruce budworm and forest tent caterpillar moths. The moths also become heavier, a result that may reflect higher mortality among smaller, weaker individuals.
A new study from the University of Georgia found that Joro spiders eat different insects and a wider variety than native orb weavers, suggesting they don't compete for food. However, Joros are still taking up physical space, but can often be found alongside native spiders in their webs.
Research suggests that insects struggle with hypoxia and hypobaria at higher elevations, limiting their ability to pollinate and survive. Insects with aquatic larval stages and high energy demands are particularly affected, highlighting the need for targeted conservation strategies.
A new stem-insect species, Chosha praecursor, reveals that insects did not immediately become fully terrestrial after colonizing land. Instead, they retained and remodeled ancestral aquatic features and passed through a prolonged semi-aquatic, amphibious phase.
A new navigation system for cyborg insects combines AI-based real-time terrain recognition with the cockroach's natural climbing ability, enabling faster and more efficient navigation. This approach allows the insects to traverse obstacles, climb walls, and cross holes with reduced detours and steering stimulation.
Researchers from Arizona State University challenge a decades-old theory by showing that genetics alone does not explain the origins of eusociality in insects. The study found that haplodiploidy, a genetic system, does not predict the evolution of eusociality across insects more broadly.
Researchers at Oregon State University developed a low-cost, semi-automated camera system using AI to monitor bumblebee populations and other insects. The system recorded six species of bumblebees, closely matching those documented through traditional methods, and identified them automatically using custom-built deep learning models.
A new study from Costa Rica's Área de Conservación Guanacaste found that high-elevation species of rove beetles are poorly equipped for warmer temperatures, while low-elevation insects live close to their heat limits. This suggests that tropical biodiversity may be vulnerable to rapid climate change.
Deep-diving insect larvae have developed sturdy air sacs that control their buoyancy, defying the idea of oceanic insect extinction. Their unique respiratory system uses resilin to adjust air sac volume and pH, allowing them to thrive in extreme depths.
Barton's lab aims to improve strategies for managing invasive insects by investigating juvenile hormones. The project will also train graduate students, undergraduate researchers, and middle school teachers in STEM education.
Researchers successfully edited the genome of Culicoides biting midges using CRISPR-based technique, enabling new research on disease transmission and control. The method provides a practical approach for genetic manipulation in these insects.
Ayano Medo and Takuya Sato discovered that nematomorph parasites induce terrestrial crickets to jump into water, where they nourish endangered fish. The parasites, common globally, drive the transfer of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems.
A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that bumblebees display observable 'liking and disliking' behaviours after consuming different liquids. This suggests that insects can evaluate tastes as pleasant or unpleasant, pushing the understanding of their inner life.
Researchers found that a fungus's metabolic breadth, or range of nutrients it can use, links its ability to kill insects, partner with plants, and thrive in different ecological roles. Strains capable of using a wider range of nutrients were faster and deadlier at killing insects and more effective at colonizing plant roots.
The Insect Calculator web tool uses a formula based on twelve influencing factors to predict the number of insects per square meter. By comparing unmown and mowed meadows, researchers found that mowing reduces insect populations by up to 73%.
Scientists from NTU Singapore and Waseda University have developed a flexible 'diving suit' for cyborg cockroaches, allowing them to survive and move underwater for up to three hours. The suit generates oxygen and delivers it directly to the insect's breathing holes, enabling them to thrive in low-oxygen environments.
Researchers found that even morphologically similar pollinators can differ markedly in the diversity and heterospecificity of pollen they transport. This variation has important implications for understanding how different pollinators influence plant reproduction and evolution.
A study from Hiroshima University identifies enhancer sequences active during worker bee metamorphosis, revealing key genetic mechanisms regulating social caste development in honeybees. The research provides direct evidence of transcription factor binding sites and sheds light on the evolution of honeybee sociality.
A new study by University of Michigan researchers found that smaller tree swallows reproduce less due to declining insect populations. The decline in insects affects the timing of breeding and reproduction, leading to a phenological mismatch, which has significant consequences for bird biology.
A study by researchers at the University of Cincinnati found that insects respond to cycles of humidity in a predictable manner, similar to temperature and daylight. This suggests that organisms may be able to anticipate optimal conditions for survival, such as hydration or energy expenditure, based on humidity cues.
A comprehensive study has identified 100 species with documented migratory behaviour in dragonflies, while another 85 are likely to migrate. Dragonfly migrations reveal an unseen world above our heads, with insects undertaking journeys that can rival those of birds, and provide insights into ecosystem changes and climate shifts.
Researchers discovered that mosquitoes can learn to associate the smell of DEET with food, making them more likely to bite people who smell of DEET. The study found that when exposed to DEET repeatedly, mosquitoes became desensitized to its repellent properties and began to view it as a potential meal source.
A new report from Stockholm Environment Institute challenges the notion that industrial insect farming is a climate solution, citing varying environmental performance depending on production systems and energy use. The sector faces financial headwinds and regulatory barriers limit its potential for low-impact production.
Researchers developed a machine learning model to identify insects based on radar reflection changes from wing flapping. The model achieved high accuracy in distinguishing between species, including bees and wasps, with an accuracy of 96% and 85%, respectively.
Researchers found a 100-million-year-old forest ecosystem's diversity in Kachin region amber. The fossil, a true water bug with striking chelae, is the fourth known case of these structures evolving independently.
Research finds that body size and tracheole count can compensate for low atmospheric oxygen levels, challenging the theory of oxygen-constrained insect maximal size. The study suggests alternative explanations for the existence of giant insects during high-oxygen periods.
A new study reveals snow flies produce bursts of heat and antifreeze proteins to survive freezing temperatures. The insects generate body heat like mammals and produce antifreeze proteins like Arctic fish, allowing them to remain active at -6°C.
A research team found that sweet osmanthus flowers use their intense fragrance to repel honeybees and other pollen feeders, while attracting tiny pollinators like thrips. This 'push–pull' strategy helps the plant filter out unwanted visitors and maintain reproductive success.
A study found that 44% of respondents were open to trying insects, while 27% were willing to include them in their regular diet. Curiosity and perceived health benefits were key motivators, while disgust and fear were major barriers. Presenting insect-based products in a appealing way can help increase acceptance.
A Kobe University study reveals that smaller aquatic insects have a high probability of surviving catfish attacks by resisting ingestion and being spat out alive. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of size-dependent predator-prey relationships in aquatic insects and fish.
A new study reveals that the cockroach Blaptica dubia can efficiently biodegrade polystyrene through a tightly integrated gut microbe–host metabolic system. The insects removed nearly 55% of ingested polystyrene within 42 days, achieving a degradation rate far exceeding those reported for other plastic-feeding insects.
Researchers found that the plant aborts almost all fruits containing larvae, but instead allows larvae to emerge and burrow into soil, promoting a stable balance in the relationship. This 'fallen-fruit compromise' is a novel mechanism that stabilizes nursery pollination mutualism between Sambucus and kateretid beetles.
The Antscan platform combines innovative 3D imaging and AI to digitize over 2,200 ants from museums and private collections. The resulting 3D images enable researchers to investigate biodiversity, shape-genome variation, and environment in a new way.
A recent study reveals that tropical insects have limited ability to adapt to climate change, with many species unable to tolerate high temperatures. The research highlights the threat of far-reaching consequences for entire ecosystems, particularly in regions like the Amazon.
A recent study by UMass Amherst ecologists highlights massive gaps in data on insects and arachnids, which are crucial for ecosystems. The research found that almost 90% of species have no conservation status, with many states lacking protection for even a single species.
A recent study by the University of Konstanz investigated bumblebee decision-making behaviour, revealing that they take a 'shortcut' in information processing to save time. The insects primarily rely on flower colours to remember good food sources, but also recognize shapes and patterns.
Scientists studied six pieces of amber preserving extinct insects, including ants, to understand their roles in past ecosystems. The study found ants interacting with mites and termites in three cases, suggesting symbiotic relationships.
A University of California - Riverside study has identified bed bugs' fear of water and wet surfaces, which affects their behavior and movement patterns. Researchers found that all bed bug ages and genders avoid wet surfaces, with younger insects being more sensitive to moisture.
Researchers identified 255 insect species in perennial grasses, but few in annual grasses, highlighting the importance of unmown refuges for biodiversity
A study by neuroethologists at the University of Konstanz reveals that insect brains process complex light stimuli in different layers of the lamina, enabling efficient signal processing and improved image resolution. The research found that cells in the lamina can perform multiple tasks depending on their location within the layer.
A global study reveals invasive alien species reduce terrestrial insect abundance by 31% and species richness by 21%. Insects are often overlooked victims of invasion, exacerbating population declines and ecosystem disruption.
A recent study found that common flea and tick control medications used in dogs and cats can contaminate ecosystems with toxic chemicals. Isoxazoline antiparasitic drugs, used globally since 2013, may harm dung-feeding insects, including flies and butterflies, which are crucial for nutrient cycling and soil health.
A new University of Stirling study shows that using insects like parasitic wasps to control agricultural pests is safer and more environmentally friendly than using chemical pesticides. Despite some whiteflies developing genetic resistance, the study found that survivors have low reproductive success, limiting widespread resistance.
Researchers estimated that around 100 trillion insects fly above the US every day using weather radar data. Insect populations remained relatively stable over the past decade, but regional fluctuations were observed, with warmer temperatures leading to declines in insect density.
Researchers estimate 100 trillion insects fly in US skies daily, with stability over past decade but regional fluctuations. Winter temperatures significantly impact insect populations, which may hide species sensitive to environmental change.
Forensic researchers at Florida International University have developed a new technique to estimate the time of death by analyzing the genetic markers of maggots. This method, known as a molecular clock, can accurately determine the age of late-stage maggots and revolutionize death investigations worldwide.
The MIT team developed a new AI-based controller that enables the robot to follow gymnastic flight paths, such as executing continuous body flips. The robot's speed and acceleration increased by 450% and 250%, respectively, compared to previous demonstrations, making it comparable to insects in terms of agility.
Researchers found that crickets are unable to distinguish between plastic and food, and will consume large plastic particles if their mouth can fit them. Crickets also break down microplastics into smaller nanoplastics during digestion, which may have negative environmental effects.
A new study found that common noctules hunt disproportionately often in combination with near-natural habitats to find sufficient prey in intensively farmed landscapes. The bats prefer small remnants of these habitats, such as grasslands and water bodies, which contain higher insect biomass due to lower pesticide use.
A new international study published in Insect Science offers a more complex picture of insect populations. High-flying migratory insects have remained largely stable over nine decades, but agricultural pests are on the rise, posing a persistent threat to food security.
A new study from Lund University maps the hidden highways of the sky, revealing how environmental factors and species interaction affect animal distribution in the aerial habitat. The research highlights the importance of understanding the air as a dynamic environment that requires adaptation to preserve flying animals.
David Stern, a Senior Group Leader at Janelia Research Campus, joins Stowers Institute to uncover new avenues of biology with enormous implications. His lab discovered 'bicycle proteins' that trick plants into growing protective homes for aphids, shedding light on the battle between plants and insects.
A new study found no nationwide decline in British insects, but instead detected profound local changes in communities. Climate change and urban development are driving the reshaping of ecosystems.
The discovery of the first Mesozoic amber deposit with preserved insects in South America reveals a tropical rainforest with ferns, cycads, and angiosperm plants. The study provides new insights into the rich biodiversity and Cretaceous ecosystems in the southern hemisphere.
A new study reveals that insect abundance is declining by an average annual rate of 6.6% in relatively undisturbed landscapes, leading to significant losses even in pristine areas. Climate change is identified as a key driver of these declines, highlighting the urgent need for biodiversity conservation.
Researchers found that cyantraniliprole and spinosad seed treatments in snap bean performed as well or better than standard neonicotinoid, while five alternative seed treatments proved effective for sweet corn. However, some alternatives had inconsistent results for dry beans.
Insects rely on carbon dioxide emissions from host plants to identify ideal egg-laying sites. Rising atmospheric CO₂ levels interfere with this natural signal, leading to maladaptive choices that threaten insect survival. The study highlights the urgent need for both emissions reductions and innovative agricultural adaptation.