Articles tagged with Insects
A new study published in Nature found that plant diversity can suppress insect pests by being variable, not just low quality on average. Researchers discovered that bugs have narrow ranges of nutrient levels where they flourish, making it easier to control pests.
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.
Researchers have discovered two new species of mayflies in Turkey, expanding the country's known insect diversity. The study, published in ZooKeys, provides an annotated catalogue of 157 mayfly taxa, including 24 endemic species to Anatolia.
Researchers discovered that three citrus plants - Citrus reticulata, Swingle citrumelo, and Murcott mandarin - produce essential oils that repel Diaphorina citri, the insect that transmits huanglongbing. These compounds may act as repellents, making the plants less attractive to D. citri for ovipositing purposes.
A study has found that the North American jewelled spider fly genus, known for its brilliant colouration, is a deadly predator of tarantulas. The flies' larvae are particularly insidious, inserting themselves into tarantula hosts and killing them by bursting out of their abdomens.
The bacterium causing citrus greening disease triggers a gut-wrenching immune response in the insect vector, Asian citrus psyllid. Researchers suggest targeting cell death in the midgut to prevent bacterial spread.
Researchers found that urban warming negatively affects tree growth and photosynthesis, regardless of pest presence. Trees at warmer sites had less trunk growth, accounting for more tree biomass.
A new study reveals that increased temperatures from global warming can collapse symbiotic gut bacteria in insects, leading to severe fitness defects and death. The research highlights the impact of rising temperatures on organisms living in symbiosis, sparking deleterious chain reactions.
A new study estimates that invasive insects globally incur at least US$70 billion in annual costs to goods and services, while also resulting in significant health expenses. The researchers stress that these figures are likely underestimates due to the lack of research on the topic in many regions.
Researchers have developed genetically modified male flies that produce only males when mating, suppressing New World screwworm fly populations. The technique could increase the efficiency of sterile insect technique programs and provide a cost-effective solution for controlling livestock pests in tropical regions.
Researchers at Michigan State University have developed a genetic combination that allows plants to both grow and defend themselves from insects and disease. This breakthrough has significant implications for farmers trying to increase crop yields and feed the world's growing population.
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.
A study published in Nature found that diverse ecosystems populated by many species provide higher levels of ecosystem services, including food production, soil development, pest control, and climate regulation. The research highlights the importance of maintaining species-rich ecosystems for human well-being.
The sequencing of the tobacco hornworm's genome marks a major milestone in understanding insect biology. The genome provides valuable insights into the insect's physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology, with potential applications in developing new methods for insect pest management.
The team's genome sequence will stimulate new research in molecular studies of insects and may lead to improved pest management methods. The sequenced genome provides insights into the tobacco hornworm's physiology, particularly its unique ability to evade insecticides.
Researchers analyzed thousands of insect species records to find areas of endemism, where unique animals and plants reside. The study highlights the importance of considering smaller organisms like insects when categorizing ecosystems.
Researchers have successfully reared the larvae of a parasitic fly on chicken blood, paving the way for a new method to control its population. This breakthrough could be key to saving critically endangered birds like the mangrove finch in the Galapagos Islands.
Researchers found that higher-income neighborhoods had more arthropod species, likely due to the presence of diverse plants. Despite individual homes with minimal outdoor plant life, these households still supported high insect diversity due to surrounding neighborhood features.
A USGS study reveals that video surveillance is the most effective method for detecting animals flying around solar power towers. Most observations involve insects, with only a handful of birds and bats seen near the towers.
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.
Researchers identified a key gene in vinegar flies responsible for their waterproof coating, which could provide a new way to control insect pests threatening agriculture and humans. By knocking out this gene, the insects lose their waxy coating and become more vulnerable to environmental stress.
A rare 50-million-year-old Baltic amber discovery shows an ancient insect, similar to a walking stick, escaping its skin and fleeing into freedom as tree sap flows over the remaining exoskeleton.
Hydroelectric dams can have devastating effects on aquatic insect populations and the food webs they support. Hydropeaking, which generates artificial tides to meet power needs, is a significant contributor to these environmental impacts.
Researchers have developed a new method to observe and identify male and female tsetse flies using near infrared still photographs and time-lapse video. This technique could make the Sterile Insect Technique more efficient by sorting males and females earlier, allowing for easier sterilization and control of the fly population.
Flying insects have been found to move through the air in ways that contradict traditional aerodynamic theories used for airplane flight. Researchers at New York University discovered a new law that explains how insects generate thrust and manage drag, allowing them to double their flight speed with less effort.
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.
Researchers discovered that fungal blastospores can kill mosquito larvae rapidly, with specific characteristics contributing to their virulence. The study found that blastospore invasion can occur even in the presence of drugs inhibiting protease activity, making them a promising alternative to chemical pesticides.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have identified a new type of filament-forming protein in fruit flies that shares similarities with intermediate filaments in human cells. This discovery may provide insights into how insects survive without traditional IF proteins.
Research reveals that a fly species uses cicada sounds to locate hosts, attracting both females and males for potential mating. The study found that hearing may have originated as a means of finding a host but has become useful in another way.
A new, rare blind planthopper species has been discovered exclusively in a Brazilian cave. The species, Iuiuia caeca, is a small, yellowish insect that measures only 3mm, and its unique characteristics make it essential for understanding subterranean biodiversity.
Fossil record reveals ancient insect behavior of debris-carrying and camouflage, providing insight into early evolution. Convergent evolution led to diverse adaptations in morphological characteristics.
A new study by Lund University finds that assortative mating actually breaks down the sexual barrier between closely related species, leading to potential hybridization and extinction. Large females' reproductive capacity explains their attractiveness to smaller males' species.
Researchers at Aarhus University have developed individual profiles of allergy reactivity in patients who are not protected after immunotherapy. They created artificial allergens that perfectly mimic the allergens in insect venom, which can be used to improve medical treatment for people allergic to insect stings.
A study by Colorado State University researchers reveals that tropical mayflies have a higher number of distinct species than their temperate-zone counterparts. The distinctions between these species consist of subtle, genetic differences that aren't readily visible to the naked eye.
Scientists have developed a new method to classify praying mantises by analyzing female genital characters. The research identified a new species from Madagascar and resurrected the genus Ilomantis, which was previously extinct. The discovery is significant as it sets a precedent for using female specimens in insect classification.
Researchers observe thousands of Hemiphlebia mirabilis in Australia, revealing a unique mating system and high sperm competition mechanisms. The species displays elaborate abdominal flicking displays, suggesting an advanced courtship behavior.
Researchers Richard Benton and Ben Lehner received the 2016 EMBO Gold Medal for their groundbreaking work on insect olfaction and developmental biology. They discovered novel genes in odorant receptors, shedding light on the evolution of scent perception, and revealed stochastic variances in gene expression driving phenotypic diversity.
Researchers found that birds learn to distinguish distasteful prey from tasty ones using sudden displays of conspicuous color. This strategy helps the distasteful prey avoid predation by making it harder for sensitive predators to spot them.
Researchers found that carnivorous bats evolved distinctive skull shapes and strong bite forces to consume vertebrate prey. Larger animal-munching bats had longer snouts for bigger prey, while fish-eating bats had optimized jaws for a narrow gape to break down sharp bones.
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...
The Venus flytrap's carnivorous lifestyle is built on herbivore defense strategies, utilizing sensory hairs to capture prey. The plant's genes show a mix of leaf and root characteristics, with glands that supply digestive enzymes and nutrients.
Researchers studied how tree crickets adjust their ears to match the changing frequency of their song with rising temperatures. By analyzing nerve cell reactions and ear vibrations, they found that tree cricket ears can adapt at a cellular level to recognize specific frequencies.
Researchers discovered Venus flytraps exploit common plant defense systems to capture insects, utilizing touch-sensitive trigger hairs and glands that promote insect digestion. The traps' gene expression patterns resemble those of roots, suggesting a nutrient uptake mechanism.
A new study by the USGS reveals that hydropeaking, a widespread practice in hydroelectric dam operations, can disrupt river food webs and harm aquatic insects. Alternative hydropower practices, such as leaving river levels low and stable during periods of minimal power production, may help mitigate these negative effects.
Hydroelectric dams devastate aquatic insect populations and food webs by creating an 'extensive intertidal zone' along river shorelines. Citizen science data show that species with river-edge egg laying behaviors have been largely extirpated from the Grand Canyon.
A recent study found that hydropeaking, or the daily raising and lowering of river flows, has a devastating impact on aquatic insect abundance. The researchers discovered a clear correlation between hydropeaking and the number of insect species present, with certain insects being nearly absent in areas where they should have been present.
Research at the University of Bristol reveals that plant viruses can alter leaf surface properties to attract insects like greenfly. Infected leaves reflect less polarized light, making them more visible to bugs.
Research has identified molecular clues driving the effectiveness of scorpion toxins, including the tuning that makes them more toxic to insects. The study found eight protein hot spots indicative of adaptive evolution, which could lead to promising new candidates for insecticides.
A new study by Swiss zoologists found that urban moths have learned to avoid light due to high mortality rates in rural populations. The researchers observed a significant decrease in flight-to-light propensity among moths exposed to heavy light pollution.
A newly discovered insect, Asiagomphus reinhardti, has been found in remote mountainous regions of Cambodia and Laos. The dragonfly, named after TU Dresden researcher Klaus Reinhardt, is characterized by a black body with yellow spots and green eyes.
A new Bt technology could provide improved control of thrips and plant bugs in cotton, reducing the need for insecticide applications. The treatment has shown better plant protection than alternative strategies in field tests.
A low-cost, eco-friendly trap lures female mosquitoes to lay eggs in a specially designed 'ovillanta' made from recycled tires. The system has been shown to reduce virus-carrying mosquito populations by capturing and destroying their eggs.
Global research collaborations study harlequin ladybird's invasion history and ecology, highlighting its ability to thrive in various habitats. Citizen science projects provide valuable information on the spread of invasive alien species, inspiring new approaches to surveying and monitoring.
A new analysis suggests that malaria evolved in insects over 100 million years ago, with the first vertebrate hosts being reptiles and later dinosaurs. Understanding this ancient history may hold clues to interrupting malaria transmission through its most common vector, the Anopheles mosquito.
A Dartmouth-led study found that stream insects consumed by spiders transfer methylmercury to terrestrial predators, highlighting the importance of dissolved organic carbon in mediating mercury bioavailability. The research reveals a broader reach of mercury contamination than previously recognized.
Researchers have discovered a complex alarm signaling system in Western Flower Thrips, which varies depending on the level of danger faced. The study found that the composition of the alarm pheromone changes when a predator is present but not attacking versus when attacked.
Researchers designed a contact lens that adjusts its focus using a bioinspired retina structure, inspired by the elephant nose fish's ability to spot predators. The lens is powered by a small solar cell and can capture images under low-light conditions, offering a potential solution for people with presbyopia.
The UMass Amherst entomologist is documenting the spread of the insect in Mexico to assess its impact on native plant diversity. The cycad aulacaspis scale threatens Mexico's 55 species of cycads, which are culturally important and vulnerable to extinction.
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.
The African Postharvest Losses information System (APHLIS) will be upgraded to monitor other crops, improving postharvest management. The new system will provide data on crop quality, income, and nutrition, enabling strategic targeting of investment in loss mitigation and R&D programmes.