Research on insects and their role in nature. Covers disease-carrying bugs, insect evolution, wildfire effects, and sensory circuitry.
University of Miami researchers found that an amino acid transporter regulates glutamine supply to symbiotic bacteria in pea aphids, enabling the exchange of essential nutrients. This simple mechanism allows the insect-bacteria partnership to adapt to changing demand for nutrients.
Goldenrod gall fly larvae produce a novel class of lipids that remain fluid at low temperatures, allowing them to survive freezing winters. These acetylated triacylglycerols are less energy dense than standard lipids and have antifreeze characteristics.
UC Riverside researchers created a method to classify different species of insects with up to 99% accuracy using inexpensive wireless bug sensors. The sensors track multiple insect flight behavior patterns and generate large amounts of data for classification algorithms.
Biologists at Newcastle University use 'confusion effect' to temporarily disorient whiteflies, reducing their ability to feed on tomato plants. The study suggests a potential new method for sustainable pest control, using harmless plant volatiles to give plants time to defend themselves.
A cost-effective system uses off-the-shelf equipment to produce 3D models of medium-to-large insects, enhancing biodiversity discovery and species identification. The compact models have excellent optical resolution and can be shared via documents and web pages.
Researchers discovered that female cave insects, Neotrogla, have evolved elaborate penis-like organs, reversing traditional sex roles during copulation. This unique adaptation may be linked to the resource-poor environment and advantageous mating strategies.
Flowering plants adapt their scent signals to balance attraction of pollinators with protection from herbivore damage. Research shows that infested plants reduce floral scent to lure parasitic wasps, which are then attracted by leaf scents. This complex interaction highlights the trade-offs in plant defense strategies.
Insects' sense of smell crucial for survival; recent study shows odorant receptors emerged long after terrestrial adaptation. The first insects were not yet able to smell well, with their complex olfactory systems evolving after the development of flying ability.
Researchers discovered that male big brown bats use uniquely distinctive calls to signal they want a meal, while females primarily forage near family members. These social calls were previously unknown and have been found in over 96% of recorded instances.
Scientists discovered three fossil specimens of a new stick insect species that mimicked plants for defense, predating twig and bark mimicry. The ancient insects' wings and coloration suggested a plant-mimicking strategy, providing insight into early evolutionary adaptations.
Researchers at Penn State have identified major protein components in brown marmorated stink bug saliva, revealing distinct profiles for watery and sheath salivas. This breakthrough may lead to new pest control methods by targeting specific factors essential to feeding behavior.
Researchers have developed a method of insect control using plants that emit sex pheromones mimicking those naturally produced by moths. The study, published in Nature Communications, shows that plants can be engineered to produce these pheromones, attracting male moths and effectively trapping them.
Tc toxin complexes, used by bacteria like Yersinia pestis and Photorhabdus luminescens, have been imaged with atomic detail. The complexes use an elastic band-like protein chain to penetrate cell membranes, depositing toxic enzymes. This mechanism has potential applications in medicine, including selectively targeting cancer cells.
Researchers found that neighbor plants affect the quality and taste of individual plants for insects. This impacts insects' ability to control pest species like ragwort, which can be toxic to horses.
Fred Gould will deliver a lecture on Dr. Robert L. Rabb, a pioneer in developing ecologically sound approaches to insect pest management. Gould's research has profoundly influenced global crop management and vector-borne disease control.
Biologists discovered a new plant species, Piper kelleyi, that is home to an estimated 40-50 insect species, most of which are entirely dependent on the plant for survival. The study highlights the importance of unique plant compounds in driving evolution and biodiversity.
A new protocol allows researchers to investigate feeding patterns and detect plant DNA in grasshoppers, providing insights into insect-plant interactions. The method enables tracking of plant food movement during consumption and can be completed in under three hours.
Two new studies have found that genetically modified, insect-resistant crops have no negative effects on beneficial insect predators or a beneficial, entomopathogenic nematode. The research demonstrated that Bt proteins used in corn and cotton crops do not harm two important insect predators that help suppress pest populations.
A new recording system at the University of Southern Denmark has revealed two bat species not believed to live in the area, including Nathusius' pipistrelle and the Danish pond bat. The monitoring system also found that bats often fly in the rain and their activity slows down when weather is clear and cool.
Three new extinct fossil species of big-headed flies were discovered in Eocene epoch fossil beds, dating back 49-52 million years. These finds show early evolution parallels a significant ecological revolution, which formed modern natural communities.
A new IU study explores social learning dynamics and finds that being surrounded by copycats can lead to better problem-solving success. The researchers created a virtual problem landscape using a computer game and found that imitators often make their own improvements, which are then adopted and improved upon by others.
Researchers analyzed α-KTx family sequences to identify conserved amino acid sites associated with neurotoxin structure and function. A single genetic deletion event can convert an STS-containing insect defensin into a scorpion-like neurotoxin.
A new study found that bed bug infestations in Philadelphia increased by 4.5% per month from 2008 to 2011, with reports peaking in August and lowest in February. The researchers mapped hotspots and suggest treating during warmer months or winter when numbers are down.
A new species of cockroach discovered in Colorado's Green River Formation reveals that the genus Ectobius originated in the New World over 49 million years ago. The finding challenges a long-held assumption about the cockroach's evolutionary history, instead suggesting a complex migration history between the Old and New Worlds.
A new study published in Annals of the Entomological Society of America has found that low temperatures can be used to store eggs of the predatory stink bug Podisus nigrispinus. This allows for greater flexibility in mass rearing and storage, increasing the availability of insects for release in the field at an early opportunity.
The Norwegian Taxonomy Initiative has identified nearly 60% of the newly discovered species as insects or small terrestrial invertebrates. DNA analysis has also revealed new insights into fungal and marine species, providing a better understanding of Norway's ecosystems.
A study found that orb web spiders make up 25% of their diet with pollen, consuming aerial plankton like fungal spores. Spiders that ate both pollen and flies gained optimal nourishment.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed genetically modified poplar trees that grow faster, resistant to insect pests and retain genes for up to 14 years. These traits could be particularly valuable in the paper and pulp industries and emerging biofuel sector.
Researchers discovered that the Pallas long-tongued bat uses stealth echolocation to catch moth prey, employing high-frequency but low-intensity calls that evade the insects' auditory systems. This finding suggests that more bats may benefit from this stealthy approach, previously only known in the European barbastelle bat.
A study published in Springer's journal found that a long-proboscid fly can suck up almost all nectar available in a flower in one go due to more efficient suction pumps in its head. This allows the insect to gain an advantage over other flies with average-sized mouth parts.
The buff-tailed bumblebee, introduced to Chile in 1998, has spread rapidly throughout South America, outcompeting native species and potentially disrupting the ecosystem. The parasite Crithidia bombi is a key factor in the decline of native bumblebees.
Rutgers researchers confirm presence of Periplaneta japonica, a species well-documented in Asia, which can survive freezing temperatures and outdoor conditions. The new species was first spotted in New York in 2012 and is not expected to pose an alarm, but may compete with existing cockroach species for space and food.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered that crop-infecting viruses use aphids as pawns to spread infection to healthy vegetation. By altering plant biochemistry, these viruses repel visiting aphids and force them to move to healthier plants, unwittingly transporting and spreading the virus.
Researchers from UEA compiled a comprehensive review of primate eating habits, finding that smaller primates eat more insects while larger ones consume more leaves. The study also reveals that some monkeys can easily meet their 'five a day' fruit intake within an hour.
A team of scientists found that male katydids can synchronize their chirps in the presence of a masking trill, with the ability to detect low-frequency components. The researchers used tiny hook electrodes to study the neural activity of katydids and discovered that an auditory neuron was involved in detecting these frequency components.
John Trumble, a renowned entomologist at UC Riverside, has been awarded the 2013 Oscar Lorenz Award for his outstanding contributions to research and extension education in the California vegetable industry. He has developed effective integrated pest management programs and strategies to reduce the use of toxic insecticides.
University of Minnesota researchers have developed a new approach for identifying potential environmental effects of releasing genetically engineered (GE) insects. The framework evaluates the entire range of potential effects, including those during transitory and steady state phases, providing improved guidance for ecological risk ass...
Researchers analyzed 143 billion pixels in 654,000 Landsat images to compile maps of forest loss and gain between 2000 and 2012. During this period, 888,000 square miles of forest were lost, while 309,000 square miles regrew.
A new study from the University of Colorado Denver estimates that wind turbines killed over 600,000 bats in 2012, a significant blow to pollination and insect control. The study found that areas near the Appalachian Mountains had the highest bat fatality rates, with some species experiencing fatalities of up to 40%.
A new experiment in Pennsylvania reveals insight into how insects fly and how to design tiny flying robots. The analysis improves understanding of insect flight and informs the design of small flying robots for various purposes.
Scientists have uncovered a 165-million-year-old fossil of copulating froghoppers, providing insight into the earliest record of insect mating. The discovery suggests that froghopper genital symmetry and mating position remained static for over 165 million years.
Research at Tel Aviv University suggests that homosexual behavior in insects and spiders is often a case of mistaken identity. In most cases, males mistake other males for females due to lack of time and energy to inspect their mates' gender. This behavior lacks potential benefits like procreation and can be costly.
A detailed annotated checklist of 275 scale insect species in Iran reveals a diverse range of pests affecting crops. The study's findings highlight the economic importance of these insects and the need for further research to improve pest control management.
A Canadian research team, led by a UC Riverside expert, has won the Hult Prize to develop insect-based meals for impoverished regions. Insects are excellent low-cost sources of protein and essential nutrients.
A new Dartmouth-Finnish study found that high-latitude moth populations are less susceptible to temperature changes, suggesting they may be partly buffered from the effects of rapid climate warming. The findings are important because moths are a key food source for birds and other predators.
Scientists tap into bug biology to design new materials, such as artificial ligaments and chemical-free pest control methods. The study of caddisfly silk reveals its unique properties, including water resistance and collagen-like behavior. Additionally, researchers use X-ray technology to better understand human muscle mechanics and po...
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have identified curved cog-like strips of opposing 'teeth' in the hind-leg joints of a plant-hopping insect, demonstrating precise synchronicity in leg movement. This natural gear mechanism bears remarkable engineering resemblance to those found on bicycles and car gear-boxes.
A team of researchers from the University of Manchester used next generation sequencing techniques to analyze sub-fossilized insects in copal and found no evidence of ancient DNA. The study suggests that DNA survival in resin inclusions is unlikely, raising doubts about claims of DNA extraction from fossil insects in amber.
A new protein in Australian tarantula venom has been found to be highly toxic to the cotton bollworm, a major pest affecting crop yields. The orally active insecticidal peptide-1 (OAIP-1) shows potency similar to synthetic insecticides, offering potential for bioinsecticide applications.
Moths hear at 80 kHz to detect bats, but this ability also leads to unnecessary sound impressions and energy waste. Researchers found that moths' eardrums are more sensitive than small insects', allowing them to survive in environments with high-frequency bat calls.
Brandeis researchers have discovered a previously unknown molecular temperature sensor in fruit flies, which belongs to a protein family responsible for sensing tastes and smells. The discovery provides insights into how insects respond to temperature and may help scientists develop more effective repellents or traps.
Researchers develop fast and accurate method to monitor biodiversity changes using crushed insect 'soup', comparable to traditional labor-intensive approaches. This breakthrough enables rapid detection of environmental shifts and endangered species, informing policy and conservation decisions.
Jocelyn Millar, a professor of entomology at UC Riverside, has been elected a fellow of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) for his outstanding contributions to entomology. He is recognized internationally as an expert in chemical ecology and has developed practical applications for detecting and managing insect populations.
Researchers studied temperature-driven changes in tea tortrix population dynamics, finding that desynchronization leads to more synchronous outbreaks. A mathematical model predicts population cycles under constant and seasonally driven temperature regimes, shedding light on how temperature influences insect populations.
The study highlights how digital macro photography and photo sharing websites are democratizing the study of biodiversity, allowing for more efficient identification and conservation efforts. The platform provides valuable metadata, such as date and location, which contribute to insect biology, taxonomy, and species conservation.
A recent study published by the USDA Forest Service found that the northeastern United States is a high-risk area for invasive forest pest invasions. The study used spatial data to demonstrate a highly aggregated geographical distribution of forest pest invasions in the region, with over 70% of species detected before 1940.
A new species of snow scorpionfly was discovered in Alaska, providing insights into the evolutionary origin of fleas. The insect belongs to a group that dates back over 145 million years, with fossil evidence supporting its Jurassic-era origins.
Researchers discovered that grocery store produce continues to perceive light and alter its biology in response to circadian rhythms. This affects nutrient levels and phytochemicals, which have anti-cancer properties.
Scientists found they could use light to coax postharvest vegetables to produce more cancer-fighting antioxidants at certain times of day. This study suggests that storing fruits and vegetables in dark conditions may reduce their ability to keep daily rhythms.
A global assessment of genetically modified crops reveals why some pests have adapted to Bt proteins in a few years, while others resisted for over 15 years. The study found conditions favoring sustained efficacy include rare resistance genes and abundant refuges.