Articles tagged with Insects
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
A team of scientists has discovered potent natural compounds in plants that can counteract the action of juvenile hormone in insects, making them effective against mosquitoes and other pests. The newly identified compounds could lead to the development of a new class of safe and effective pesticides.
A new study led by University of Arizona scientists found that transgenic crops producing two or more Bt toxins do not effectively delay pest evolution. In reality, the actual efficacy against pests often does not live up to computer simulation models, leading to inadequate management guidelines.
Researchers have developed a fluorescent hormone biosensor that reveals the dynamics of jasmonate signalling in plants, allowing for the imaging of plant defence mechanisms in real time. This breakthrough enables the study of how plants coordinate their defence responses to mechanical damage and disease.
In 19th century New Zealand, yellowhammers were introduced to control insect pests but became a nuisance themselves. A new study reveals how they went from welcome guest to public enemy in just 15 years through careful analysis of historical documents and newspaper articles.
A study suggests that dry forests in the western US are more threatened by insect outbreaks and droughts than wildfires. Historically, these forests had a mix of large and small trees, providing 'bet-hedging' insurance against multiple disturbances.
Researchers at Simon Fraser University have created a highly effective and affordable bait and trap for detecting and monitoring bedbug infestations. The innovative technology uses pheromones to lure bedbugs into traps, keeping them contained.
A new species of assassin bug, Sinea incognita, has been discovered in the Midwestern United States after remaining undiscovered for over 100 years. The new species was identified by Dr. J.E. McPherson and is distinct from its close relatives, Sinea complexa and Sinea integra.
A new study suggests that biotechnology and traditional agriculture can be compatible approaches toward sustainable agriculture. Combining computer modeling and field research, the international team found that diverse patchwork of crops in northern China slowed adaptation to genetically engineered cotton by a wide-ranging insect pest.
Aristolochia rotunda uses mimicked insect compounds to lure flies that feed on insect secretions, a unique pollination strategy discovered by researchers. This system challenges the long-held assumption that these plants mimic egg-laying sites of fly pollinators.
Scientists have discovered that dragonflies employ a sophisticated system of movement and prediction to catch their prey. By analyzing the intricate movements of their heads and bodies, researchers found that dragonflies use internal models to guide their behavior and anticipate the movements of their prey.
Scientists found that firebug gut bacteria produce essential B vitamins, which are then used by the host to survive. The symbiotic relationship is not harmonious, as insects actively harvest the vitamins from their bacterial partners by bursting open cell walls.
A recent study has sequenced the centipede genome, providing insight into how life developed on Earth. The research found that centipedes adapted to dry air by expanding gene families not present in insects.
A new simulation demonstrates that hummingbirds generate lift and thrust using unsteady airflow mechanisms, creating invisible vortices of air. This unique approach sets them apart from larger birds and is more closely aligned with insect flight.
Research from North Carolina State University found that warmer urban temperatures limit the impact of parasitoid wasps on scale insect populations, allowing them to thrive and produce more eggs. This phenomenon, known as phenological mismatch, is a result of changing life cycles between species.
Researchers found that bed bugs can acquire and transmit the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, causing Chagas disease. The study demonstrated bi-directional transmission of the parasite between mice and bed bugs, highlighting a potential emerging problem.
Researchers found that mosquitoes acquired a love for human body odor and key genes drive this preference. The study suggests that humans provide an ideal lifestyle for mosquitoes, with access to water and large groups, contributing to their evolution as disease vectors.
A landmark study published by an international team of over 100 researchers reconstructs the insect tree of life, answering longstanding questions about their origins and evolution. The study reveals that insects originated at the same time as early terrestrial plants and developed wings 400 million years ago.