Research on insects and their role in nature. Covers disease-carrying bugs, insect evolution, wildfire effects, and sensory circuitry.
Researchers found that glycosidase-silenced larvae are more susceptible to predators and have reduced survival rates, indicating the importance of detoxification. The study reveals a novel mechanism where removing a sugar molecule from a plant's defensive compound can result in detoxification.
Scientists at Jena University have discovered how bacteria infect plants by hijacking the regulation of flower development, preventing normal growth and sexual reproduction. The study sheds light on the molecular reasons behind this phenomenon, where infected plants 'become the living dead'.
Insects like stick insects can walk up vertical surfaces using adhesive pads on their feet, but scientists long believed that wet and dry feet required different mechanisms to adhere. New research reveals that the fluid on their feet plays a crucial role in controlling adhesion, with potential applications in modern devices.
Scientists at UC Riverside have sequenced the genomes of five nematodes to understand parasite biology and evolution. The study identified gene families involved in parasitism and found instructions for turning genes on and off, shedding light on biological mysteries.
The South American tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta, threatens US tomato crops with potential crop loss of up to 100%, prompting Virginia Tech-led recommendations for quarantine measures and monitoring programs. World production of tomatoes is approximately 163 million tons annually.
Research on the native ifit tree highlights the trade-off between increasing tree growth and reducing wood density due to insect damage. Conservation efforts may compromise the ecosystem's balance, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach.
Entomologist Dr. George Poinar Jr. discovers a previously unknown flea genus and species in fossilized Dominican amber, characterized by unique features such as five-segmented maxillary palps. The discovery also reveals the presence of pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria similar to plague-causing pathogens and trypanosomes.
A caterpillar's feces induces corn plants to lower their defenses against insect predators, allowing the caterpillar to eat more and grow faster. This deception has likely evolved over thousands of years and may lead to the development of organic pesticides.
A study by University of Texas at El Paso researchers found that 61% of kissing bugs in west Texas are infected with the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, which causes Chagas disease. The disease can lead to life-threatening symptoms like heart rhythm abnormalities and difficult eating or passing stool.
Researchers discovered that nocturnal moths rely on turbulent fluctuations in the airstream to determine wind direction, whereas songbirds do not. This ability helps them cope with wind when traveling at high altitudes and allows for more accurate navigation.
A new stink bug has been identified as the primary pest problem for soybean crops in Texas, causing economic damage. Entomologists are developing targeted control methods, including using trap crops and resistant varieties, to mitigate the issue.
New research from Wake Forest University reveals little difference in the force delivered by archerfish's water jets to targets at different distances. In a surprising twist, fish prefer closer targets when given the choice, likely due to time constraints for prey capture.
Researchers have identified phytol and coumarin as key compounds responsible for repelling mosquitoes in traditional sweetgrass. The study, presented at the American Chemical Society meeting, demonstrates a scientific basis for the folklore of using sweetgrass to deter biting insects.
Researchers discovered that chitosan, derived from insect and crustacean shells, can effectively destroy up to 90% of pathogens in selected cell cultures. This biopolymer has been found toxic to pathogenic microorganisms, disrupting their membranes without harming healthy cells.
A team of biologists observed and analyzed the jumping behavior of water striders, revealing two phases: a dimple creation phase and a leg movement phase. Mathematical models were created to understand the surface tension forces involved in the jump, predicting optimal jumping performance.
A Japanese wasp has been found to control its zombie spider host to build a reinforced cocoon web for pupa development. The spiders were manipulated to remove their sticky spiral, reinforce radial and frame threads, and add decorative fibrous structures.
Researchers found that a brown variation of the Timema cristinae insect species prevents strong divergent adaptation and speciation by carrying genes between green populations. The study highlights how natural selection can sometimes impede the formation of new species.
An international team of scientists developed a robotic insect that can jump on water using the natural mechanics of water striders. The robot exerts up to 16 times its own body weight on the water's surface, mimicking the insects' ability to perform extreme maneuvers like jumping and flying with ease.
A six-year study found that using narrow vegetation-free strips under trees can reduce damage from hemipteran insects, increasing tree growth and fruit yield. Supplemental irrigation also showed benefits in three of five years, with trees grown with irrigation having larger trunk cross-sectional areas.
A new species of insect has been discovered in South East Queensland, exhibiting sexual dichronism and intersexual phoresy. The newly recognized species, Cystococcus campanidorsalis, was identified by a University of Queensland graduate through physical characteristics and DNA sequence data.
Researchers at Clemson University are studying Bt toxin hybrids to control pest populations in corn. They found that some resistant insects have developed changes in susceptibility to the toxins, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and management strategies.
Researchers observed azure damselflies mating for two years, finding that older females and males were equally successful at finding mates and reproducing. The study provides insights into aging and population dynamics in insects, with potential implications for understanding mosquito and tsetse fly populations.
Insect-based food production could alleviate childhood malnutrition and provide a sustainable alternative to traditional livestock sources. The use of insects as food requires strict regulations and sanitary conditions due to disease and pesticide risks, according to the FDA.
The study, published in International Journal of Plant Sciences, reveals that Guam's trade winds play a vital role in fadang tree pollination. This discovery contradicts existing knowledge that all cycad species rely solely on insects for pollination.
A previously unknown leafhopper species has been found in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, threatening a listed threatened pinebarren smokegrass species. This discovery highlights the impact of climate change and human activities on ecosystems.
Two species of dengue and chikungunya-carrying mosquitoes are spreading rapidly across the globe, with new areas identified as suitable for their survival. The expansion threatens communities worldwide, particularly in Africa where records are sparse.
A new study reveals that hawkmoths' vision is finely attuned to the swaying of flowers in the breeze, enabling them to track wind-tossed flowers under low-light conditions. The researchers found that the moth's tracking responses were slower in dark conditions, but only when the artificial flower moved at high frequencies.
Researchers apply insect vision principles to develop an 'active vision' system, which locks onto the background and lets the target move against it. This bio-inspired algorithm performs robustly, running up to 20 times faster than state-of-the-art engineering algorithms.
Scientists discovered that acquiring a group of bacterial symbionts enabled firebugs to feed on plant seeds, previously inaccessible to them. This adaptation led to the diversification of firebug species within a new ecological niche.
Vanderbilt University has been awarded a Grand Challenges Explorations Grant to develop a wearable insect-repellent device that creates a personal no-fly zone. The device aims to prevent mosquito-borne diseases by emitting a protective shield around the wearer.
Researchers from the University of the Basque Country have identified key volatile compounds in damaged walnuts that attract insect pests, threatening California's walnut harvests. The team has developed a blend of these aromatic compounds to control pests sustainably and reduce pesticide use.
Scientists at the University of Bonn discovered two new groups of viruses, Jonchet and Ferak, which are believed to have originated from insect viruses. The researchers found that these viruses are phylogenetically independent and do not multiply above 32 degrees Celsius, making human infection unlikely.
A study by UC Riverside researchers used a computer model to simulate observed behavior in moths, finding that random walks can create the most efficient paths for discovering odor plumes. The simulations suggest that airborne robots programmed to contact an odor plume need not involve wind flow detection.
In 2013, godwits postponed arrival by over three weeks due to unseasonable weather, but still raised more young than usual. The birds' ability to cope with extreme weather may be beneficial for climate change mitigation.
Researchers found that fruit flies can learn to connect different scents with sugar rewards depending on the hour. The insects' ability to tell time remained as long as events were separated by at least four hours.
The harlequin ladybird's arrival in Britain has led to declines in seven native ladybird species due to its predatory behavior. Research on the invasive species has provided new insights into biological invasions and their impact on ecosystems.
Researchers at the University of Montana have discovered evidence of non-adaptive evolution within cicadas, where a single bacterium has split into dozens of species, complicating the insect's symbiotic relationship. This complexity may be detrimental to the cicada's survival, as it relies on the bacteria for essential nutrients.
A new device developed by French researchers can efficiently collect bed bugs without damaging them. The modified Dyson hand vacuum is effective in collecting adults, larvae, and eggs, and has the potential to increase monitoring and control levels of this pest insect.
Researchers aim to create a computational model for flying robots to detect specific odors in natural environments. Insect behavior and molecular work will focus on separating target odors from background scents.
Researchers from Cardiff University and Rothamsted Research created tiny molecules that replicate a natural insect-repelling smell, offering a potential alternative to pesticides. The team's breakthrough uses an enzyme to create similar smelling insect repellent molecules, with some exhibiting attractive behavior.
A study on identical and non-identical twin pairs found that genetic mechanisms may play a role in human attractiveness to mosquito bites. The level of heritability was similar to height and IQ, indicating a strong genetic component.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London discovered that neuropeptide molecules in humans and insects share a common origin, linking anxiety and molting processes across species. The study used sea urchins as an evolutionary link between these disparate functions.
The use of neonicotinoid insecticides increased dramatically in the US, primarily driven by corn and soybean seeds treated with the pesticides. Researchers found that at least a third of all soybean acres and over 79% of all corn acres were planted with neonicotinoid-coated seed by 2011.
Male damselflies employ various strategies to decide whether to fight, including assessing wing pigmentation and choosing non-contact aerial display fights. Stronger males use aggressive tactics like chasing and biting to wear down weaker opponents.
Researchers at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County have made a groundbreaking discovery of 30 new insect species in a single genus, all from urban Los Angeles. The BioSCAN project, which enlisted local residents as 'site hosts,' yielded an unprecedented biodiversity collection.
Brown planthoppers develop short wings for breeding and long wings for travel due to insulin receptor silencing, a major factor in their pest status. Researchers found that two insulin receptors determine alternative wing morphs in planthoppers.
Insects' wings may provide a gyroscopic function, helping them perform aerial acrobatics and maintain stability. Researchers developed a computational model of a flapping wing and discovered that the wing's twisting motion could stimulate sensors, similar to those in halteres.
A recent study by University of Chicago researchers found that trees' defensive responses to insect attacks have downstream effects on nearby streams, impacting aquatic ecosystems. The simulation showed that stressed trees funneled valuable nutrients away from leaves, affecting leaf chemistry and decomposition rates.
Researchers found that bat activity was lower in street-lit areas than dark locations with similar habitat. Only Leisler's bat showed a positive association with street lighting, highlighting the need to reconsider urban planning strategies.
A study by University of Exeter researchers found that artificial light at night inhibits flowering in certain plants and suppresses aphid populations. The low-intensity amber light was more detrimental to the pea aphid population than white light, highlighting complex interactions between predators and resources.
Researchers observed young praying mantises jumping to a target with precision and accuracy, rotating their bodies at 2.5 times per second. The insects' unique ability to maintain stability and control during flight has implications for the development of tiny robots.
Researchers discovered baby mantises deliberately create spin and harness it in mid-air to rotate their bodies for precise target landing. By controlling angular momentum, they achieve remarkable accuracy in a fraction of a second.
Researchers found that bigmouth sleepers adapt by changing their behaviors, sex ratio, and physical appearance to survive on insects, snails, and crustaceans when isolated from their normal prey. The study suggests that evolution may be occurring in a predictable way, with the ability to anticipate ecological changes.
Scientists at China University of Petroleum and Liaoning University of Technology studied mosquito legs to understand their unique adaptation to float on water. They found that the tarsus's buoyant horizontal contact with the surface generates an upward force twenty times the insect's body weight.
A new study reveals that insect-eating bugs reduce forests' capacity to take up elevated levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Insects' increased feeding and nutrient cycling alter forest ecosystem dynamics.
Researchers sequenced Hessian fly genome, discovering rapidly evolving genes that hijack plant biochemistry. The study sheds light on the insect's ability to create growth-stunting galls in wheat by mimicking normal proteins in plant cells.
Researchers Valerie Stull and Rachel Bergmans are introducing insect farming kits to sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to address the region's protein deficiency. The kits, developed in partnership with Tiny Farms, provide a sustainable and culturally appropriate way for rural women's cooperatives to produce mealworms as a source of protein.
Researchers at the University of Basel have discovered a new singing cicada species in Italy and southern Switzerland with a four-centimeter wingspan and high-pitched song. The 'Italian Mountain Cicada' has been identified through its distinctive song pattern, which includes slow phrases alternating with fast and rhythmic ones.
Scientists at Natural History Museum London have invented a creative, functional, and affordable pinned insect manipulator using LEGO bricks.
The Asian citrus psyllid can travel at least two kilometers in a twelve-day period, infesting neighboring groves and exacerbating citrus greening disease. Area-wide management practices are recommended to control the insect and prevent further losses.