Articles tagged with Insect Morphology
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Researchers found that termites evolved from cockroach ancestors that became dependent on cooperation and food sharing within colonies. Monogamy and high relatedness were crucial for the evolution of complex social systems in termites, with genes involved in sperm motility being lost due to the absence of sperm competition.
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.
Researchers found that a blend of non-toxic and genetically modified toxic corn can alter the shape of corn earworm moth wings, making them more aerodynamic and able to travel longer distances. This change in wing shape increases the moths' capability to fly long distances and spread resistance to the toxic corn.
A new study reveals that fruit flies have retinal waves of calcium activity during development, shaping their growing eyes and creating a precisely ordered architecture. These waves refine connections in the visual brain while also playing a key role in building the physical architecture of the eye.
Researchers found that treehoppers' unusual morphologies increase their sensitivity to static electricity, potentially helping them detect predators. The study provides a new insight into the possible role of electrostatic sense in driving organismal morphology evolution.
Researchers discovered complex structures in millipede secretions that can modulate specific neuroreceptors in ant brains, shedding light on potential new medications. The newly found alkaloids, named andrognathanols and andrognathines, have shown potent interactions with the Sigma-1 neuroreceptor.
A study by the CSIC-UMH Institute of Neurosciences uncovers how flies' flight stabilizers, the halteres, take shape. The structure is stabilized by a sophisticated cellular system that connects its two surfaces through an internal framework.
A recent study suggests that ladybird colors are produced by a combination of pigments and the physical properties of their wingcase. Researchers have discovered structural mechanisms underlying color production and pigment modulation in these insects.
A new study compares the genome sequence of bed bugs that live with humans and those that don't, finding that human-associated bed bugs recovered and increased in population size over time. The research suggests that humans may have inadvertently led to the emergence of modern bed bug pests.
Researchers have discovered a chemical called bistrifluron that prevents drywood termites from creating new exoskeletons, ultimately killing the colony. This innovative method offers a safer alternative to traditional fumigation methods and has shown promise in reducing toxicity.
Researchers discovered a fossilized wasp from the mid-Cretaceous period with a Venus flytrap-like abdomen, indicating it was a parasitoid insect. The species, Sirenobethylus charybdis, had a unique grasping apparatus that likely targeted highly mobile prey.
Researchers used x-ray microtomography to discover and describe 12 new weevil species from Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan. The technique revealed significant morphological differences between species, which cannot be easily observed using other methods.
Researchers at the University of Washington have uncovered surprising details about mosquito mating, revealing that males can visually lock on to female targets in a crowded swarm. The team's findings could lead to the development of new mosquito traps specific to malaria-carrying species.
Researchers discovered a transient structure in fruit fly leg development that guides its final shape, shedding light on mechanisms determining an organism's body shape. This finding could lead to better understanding of processes shaping insect and other organisms' bodies.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in the developmental biology of Parhyale hawaiensis, a tiny crustacean with unique appendages. By tracking the development of an embryo, they found that cells divide and reorient themselves to maintain alignment with the head-tail axis, resulting in a robust and coordinated body structure.
A study by Shinji Sugiura and Masakazu Hayashi found that bombardier beetles are better defended against pond frogs than assassin bugs. The researchers also showed that both insects benefit from mimetic interactions with the shared predator.
Researchers from Japan discovered that firebrats, an old insect lineage, have a midgut epithelium derived solely from yolk cells. This finding suggests the involvement of bipolar formation likely originated in Pterygota rather than Dicondylia.
Researchers found that male wasp genitalia serve as an effective anti-predator defense, deterring some tree frogs from eating them. Male genital spines are used to pierce and sting predators, preventing them from swallowing the wasps. This study highlights the significance of male genitalia in animal defense.
A new genus of scorpionflies has been discovered in Nepal, characterized by a spindly and extremely elongated abdomen. The males have long grasping pincers for mating, while the females lack these distinctive features, making classification more challenging.
Two closely related Drosophila species, biauraria and triauraria, coexist due to differences in seasonal occurrence and habitat use. Hybridization between the species is possible, despite reproductive interference mechanisms.
Scientists discovered the rarest North American snake, Tantilla oolitica, locked in fatal combat with a giant centipede it swallowed. The CT scan revealed that the centipede's size was the final blow, cutting off the snake's air supply.
Scientists analyzed UK bumblebee populations and found evidence of increasing stress due to climate change, with higher asymmetry in wing shapes linked to hotter and wetter years. The study used ancient DNA methods to determine genetic diversity loss and adaptability of bee genomes over time.
A new study identifies at least 16 distinct wasp species previously grouped as one, Ormyrus labotus, which lays eggs in over 65 insect species. The discovery highlights the importance of seeking out hidden diversity and underscores the need for precise identification to understand ecosystem health.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have discovered a unique jumping behavior in the larvae of a species of beetle, where they curl into a loop and leap forward. The mechanism behind this behavior is distinct from other insects that rely on a latch-mediated spring actuation mechanism.
A new study analyzing nearly 300 morphological traits in bees reveals strong evidence that complex social behavior developed just once in pollen-carrying bees, rather than multiple times. The research suggests a single evolutionary branch for honey bees and stingless bees, contradicting previous molecular genetic analysis.
A recent study led by Shinshu University found that flower size is correlated with pollinator size in different mountain regions, evolving independently in each area. Despite genetic similarity between plants across regions, flower sizes varied greatly, suggesting parallel evolution of this trait among mountains.
A research team led by the University of Bonn has reconstructed four newly found beetle species using computer tomography, providing insights into their morphology and evolutionary history. The study suggests that beetles suffered a decrease in diversity during the Cretaceous period as plants transitioned from gymnosperms to angiosperms.
Researchers have discovered a 99-million-year-old fossil of an ancient 'hell ant' that shows how it hunted its prey with deadly precision. The fossil, which is one of the oldest and most well-preserved ever found, reveals the mechanism behind the hell ant's unique mouthparts and headgear.
Researchers develop biomimetic fog-gathering technologies inspired by Namib desert beetles, which can increase collector efficiency and provide additional freshwater harvesting opportunities. The technology aims to collect fog in coastal areas with little precipitation, making it a reliable water source.
The new special research collection, 'Current Techniques in Morphology,' highlights the impact of advances in technology on the study of insects. The collection features six articles illustrating innovative methods for analyzing insect anatomy and phylogenetics.
A new special issue of the Annals of the Entomological Society of America showcases research on insect agriculture for food and feed. More than 1 million insect species are known, offering room for growth in the field. Insect-based industries could reach $50-100 billion by 2050, bolstering global ag sector while protecting environment.
A study reveals that winged insects likely evolved from a ground-dwelling common ancestor with long antennae and segmented abdominal appendages. The findings suggest that wings did not evolve in aquatic environments, but rather for aerial descent, as the ancestral Pterygota species returned to life on the ground.
A unique switching valve in the sperm-storage organ of Neotrogla insects allows females to receive two capsules of semen at once, leading to fierce competition over mating and eventual evolution of a female penis. The discovery, published in eLife, has potential applications in biomimetics and nanotechnology.
Researchers found fossil Myrmeleontiformia fauna from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, shedding light on the ecological niche and lifestyle of extinct species. Statistical analysis showed a correlation between morphological traits and hunting strategies, including camouflaging and fossoriality.
Scientists have discovered four new fruit fly species in the Himalaya region of India, revealing previously unknown information about their flower visitation habits. The study also revises the descriptions of all Lordiphosa genus representatives in India and highlights a unique sex comb adaptation in one of the newly described species.
Scientists discovered a highly specialized beetle from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, revealing morphological traits for capturing springtails. This finding pushes back the age of such predation by at least 54 million years, providing new insights into Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystems.
Researchers discovered that jumping water striders adjust their leg movements to prevent the water surface from breaking, allowing them to achieve maximum jump speeds. By studying the biomechanics of these near-vertical jumps, scientists built a mathematical model to explain the behavior and verified its predictions with actual data.
Scientists have measured the world's smallest free-living insect, a featherwing beetle species, with a precise length of 0.325 mm. This discovery provides new insights into its distribution and diet, revealing a wider range than previously thought.
Russian scientists confirm Turing reaction-diffusion model's predictions in insect corneas, revealing four main morphological patterns and their universal presence among arthropods. The findings demonstrate a promising future for designing artificial antireflective nanosurfaces.
The Okanagana viridis cicada is a newly studied species found in the temperate deciduous forests of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. Its distinct song features irregular doublet or triplet pulses, lasting for 30 seconds.
Evolutionary biologists combine traditional methods with genetic techniques to identify new species, revealing cryptic species that show little visible difference. The study uses scale insects as a model organism, analyzing over 400 samples to discover four new species.
A York University doctoral student has identified 19 new species of sweat bees in Canada, including one found in downtown Toronto. The study provides valuable insights into bee diversity and the evolution of social behavior in insects.
Scientists at the Phyletic Museum of Jena University are using MicroCT imaging to analyze insect genital morphology. The research aims to shed light on the key-lock principle, which explains how male and female reproductive organs fit together, and instead reveals that it's a result of sexual selection.
A study found that insect feeding by a spruce gall adelgid caused large galls to form, inversely correlated with distance from buds. Chemical stimuli were determined to be the cause of gall formation.