Research on insects and their role in nature. Covers disease-carrying bugs, insect evolution, wildfire effects, and sensory circuitry.
A recent literature review published in Journal of Integrated Pest Management found that complaints about wild turkeys causing crop damage are often exaggerated. The study revealed that while wild turkeys can cause minor damage to certain crops and specialty operations, their impact is typically overstated.
Researchers have studied cicadas to understand their sound production, which is unique in the insect world. The cicada's chirp is nonlinear and involves a ribbed membrane that vibrates when its body deforms.
Researchers have identified a new gene in the jasmonate pathway that controls plant defenses without affecting growth. This finding could lead to improved crop resistance in agriculture by manipulating the jasmonate signaling pathway.
A WSU study found plantings of sweet alyssum attract spiders and predatory insects that prey on woolly apple aphids, reducing their populations. The discovery is a boon for both organic and conventional tree fruit growers.
Researchers at Harvard University have successfully demonstrated the first controlled flight of a robotic insect, weighing less than a tenth of a gram, which achieves vertical takeoff, hovering, and steering. The achievement marks the culmination of over a decade's work in micromanufacturing and control systems.
In a surprising finding, researchers found that pikas prefer vegetation grazed on by caterpillars, which acts as natural fertilizer. This unusual partnership could have long-term implications for competition and food resources in northern mountain environments.
A global review reveals a cocktail of pressures contributing to declining pollinator populations, impacting crop yields and wild plant reproduction. Effective habitat networks, pesticide risk assessments, and innovative disease therapies are proposed solutions.
Scientists at UC Irvine and the University of Kentucky have created synthetic materials that mimic the geometry of kidney bean leaves, trapping bedbugs in seconds. The technology has the potential to provide a non-toxic solution for bedbug infestations, which can cause significant discomfort and distress.
Research found scale insects were 13 times more abundant on willow oaks in hot areas compared to cooler ones, with higher survival rates in hot greenhouses. The study suggests urban warming may lead to changes in pest abundance as natural forests also warm up.
Researchers have developed a new method for assessing biodiversity using DNA-soup from crushed-up insects and next-generation sequencing technology. This bulk-collected insect goo reveals diverse and poorly characterized insect communities, even in small areas.
Researchers discovered distinct gene expression patterns in Antarctic midge and Arctic springtail species, revealing unique strategies for coping with dehydration. The findings highlight the power of genomics in advancing polar science and uncovering previously undetected differences between these extreme ecosystems.
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.
Researchers at Simon Fraser University have unearthed a diverse group of fossilized green lacewing insects, revealing at least 10 new species. The findings provide valuable insights into ancient life and the formation of modern natural communities.
Research finds that mosquitoes' odor receptors become less sensitive to DEET after brief exposure, allowing them to seek out attractants despite the presence of the repellent. The effect lasts up to three hours and is thought to be a form of habituation similar to human olfactory adaptation.
Researchers have identified two alarm pheromones and 17 compounds in the outer protective layer of bed bug skin, which may play an important role in aggregation behavior. These findings suggest that alarm pheromones could be used to increase the likelihood of bed bugs coming into contact with control agents.
A small robot was driven by a male silkmoth to track down its sex pheromone, demonstrating the potential for insect-inspired odor tracking. The researchers hope to apply this technology to autonomous robots that can detect environmental spills and leaks.
Researchers found that the amino acid composition of red oak and sugar maple leaves is strikingly similar, contradicting conventional wisdom. Protein quality in oak leaves was higher than in maple leaves, partly explaining why maple trees are less nutritious.
Researchers found a unique social structure in a small town where males and females coexist in the same roosts. This arrangement allows females to conserve energy and ensures faster growth of their young. In contrast, lowland areas have female-only childrearing colonies.
A Kansas State University doctoral student has received a USDA grant to research the relationship between the tomato spotted wilt virus and its vector, the western flower thrip. The goal is to develop a genetic tool to silence the thrip's protective genes, potentially stopping the disease's transmission.
The US Department of Agriculture is working on a biocontrol method for the brown marmorated stink bug, which has caused significant damage in homes and gardens. Researchers have identified an aggregation pheromone that attracts males, females, and nymphs to feeding sites.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide discovered that dragonflies can lock onto one visual target while ignoring others, a phenomenon similar to selective attention in humans. This finding has significant implications for neuroscience and engineering applications.
Scientific Animations Without Borders (SAWBO) delivers narrated, animated videos to a global audience, addressing pressing issues like food waste, insect damage, and infectious diseases. The initiative has received feedback from its audience, allowing it to improve its message and expand its content.
Scientists found a unique lipid compound that amplifies sound and efficiently transmits it to the ear drums of insects, similar to toothed whales. The discovery opens up possibilities for new systems in ultrasound technologies.
Four Kansas State University researchers, John Blair, Ruth Welti, Kun Yan Zhu and Ron Trewyn, have been named fellows by the American Association for the Advancement of Science for their distinguished contributions to science. The university celebrates this prestigious recognition as a testament to its commitment to scientific excellence.
The US Department of Agriculture is developing public health insecticides and devising improved application technologies to kill insects. Alternative fabrics are being designed for fire-resistant uniforms to improve protection against insects.
Researchers discovered pygmy mole crickets use oar-like paddles to jump from water, exploiting water's stickiness to their advantage. The crickets' resilient protein-filled paddles fan out as they penetrate the water, allowing them to 'grab' a ball of water and propel themselves to safety.
A new study reveals that insects prefer exotic plants over natives, maintaining balance in ecosystems. Native plants are less susceptible to these insects and can thrive alongside exotics.
Scientists have discovered several toxins in sea anemones that could be used as new generation of insecticides. These toxins disable ion channels, potentially leading to the development of pain and cardiac disorder treatments.
Researchers discovered a new bacterium, human Sodalis, in the infected wound of a man who impaled his hand on a tree branch. The bacterium is related to Sodalis, a genus that lives symbiotically inside insects' guts, and may be used to block disease transmission by insects and prevent crop damage.
Researchers are using an insect growth regulator called pyriproxyfen to prevent the maturation of house fly larvae. This technology has shown promise in controlling the spread of bacteria through these insects.
Researchers at Penn State have discovered a natural fungus, Beauveria bassiana, that can effectively control bed bugs. The study found that the fungus infects and kills bed bugs within five days, even when they are in close proximity to uninfected individuals.
Scientists identify a novel structure that converts sound waves to mechanical energy, enabling insects to hear at remarkable frequencies. The discovery could lead to breakthroughs in acoustic sensor design and development.
Scientists discovered a species of South American bush cricket has hearing that rivals human hearing, using an entirely different machinery. The insect's auditory system performs all three stages of mammalian hearing and converts air-borne sounds into liquid-borne vibrations.
Researchers discovered a new bacterium in an Indiana man's infected wound, revealing how insects domesticate bacteria. The strain, HS, has a relatively large genetic blueprint and is closely related to Sodalis-like bacteria that live in many insect species.
A study published in Functional Ecology found that grasshoppers living beside noisy roads produce different songs with elevated frequency components. This adaptation helps them make themselves heard above road traffic, potentially disrupting the grasshopper's mating system.
Harvard scientists have solved the long-standing mystery of how some insects form germ cells, discovering that a cricket's oskar gene is far older than previously thought. The team found that the gene emerged in their last common ancestor and likely originated in the nervous system before being co-opted for germ cell formation.
Research estimates that European countries with weak agricultural import controls are more vulnerable to exotic insect pests. The study provides new metrics to evaluate and improve border controls, highlighting the need for better biosecurity measures to prevent invasive insects from entering the continent.
Researchers found that archer fish modulate water jet velocity to create a single large drop that hits prey with great force. This approach avoids the need for specialized internal structures, allowing the fish to achieve powerful impact without significant evolutionary costs.
A 16-million-year-old amber fossil reveals a surprising interaction between springtails and mayflies. The study, published in PLOS ONE, shows that springtails may have travelled on the wings of flying insects like mayflies, a previously unknown mode of transport.
A 520-million-year-old fossilized arthropod has revealed a remarkably well-preserved brain structure, challenging the long-standing debate on the origin of insects. The discovery suggests that complex brains evolved earlier than previously thought and have changed little over time.
A new rearing technique for the parasitoid wasp Habrobracon hebetor has shown promise in conditioning the insects to survive storage at 41 degrees Fahrenheit. This method, which involves simulating reproductive diapause, could give commercial insectaries greater flexibility and reduce costs.
Researchers found a 100 million-year-old fossil of an ancient spider attacking its prey caught in its web. The discovery provides the oldest evidence of social behavior in spiders and offers a unique glimpse into the distant past.
A new study by Ohio State University graduate student Kellen Calinger reveals that non-native plant species are more adaptable to climate change, while native wildflowers show a weaker response. This difference in adaptability could lead to the displacement of native species and alter ecosystem balances.
A study from the University of Toronto Mississauga discovered that insect interaction can cause rapid evolutionary changes in plants, with populations diverging significantly in as few as three to four generations. This suggests that insects play a crucial role in plant evolution and diversity.
A new viral outbreak in Africa has been linked to the Bas-Congo virus, a previously unknown microbe that causes deadly acute hemorrhagic fever. Genetic analysis reveals the virus is distinct from other rhabdoviruses, including those causing rabies.
A new study reveals that sundew plants use catapulting snap tentacles to propel prey into their leaf trap, enhancing digestion and capture efficiency. This unique mechanism increases the plant's ability to capture larger insects and improves overall carnivory capabilities.
The green stink bug is a significant native species causing cosmetic damage and yield reduction in various crops. The article offers management options, including neonicotinoids, trap cropping, and biological control, to address this pest's impact on integrated pest management systems.
Researchers have successfully used papaya as a banker plant to control silverleaf whiteflies, reducing pesticide use and promoting environmentally friendly pest management. The system involves using non-stinging wasps to feed on the whiteflies and is being tested in commercial greenhouses.
Researchers at Duke University have identified the genetic variation behind wild mustard plants' varying levels of spicy chemical production. This difference affects their ability to survive in environments with changing conditions. The study sheds light on how complex traits are shaped over thousands of years.
The Entomological Society of America has selected three new entomologists, Dr. Elizabeth F. Beckmeyer, Dr. Steve Clement, and Dr. Victoria Y. Yokoyama, as Honorary Members for their 20+ years of significant involvement in the Society's affairs. They will be honored at the Awards Ceremony in Knoxville, Tennessee this November.
Researchers have identified an enzyme responsible for forming the 'mating plug' in male Anopheles mosquitoes, which can be inhibited to prevent reproduction. The approach uses a chemical compound that targets this enzyme, making it a potential tool against malaria transmission.
A new species of green lacewing, Semachrysa, was discovered in the Malaysian rainforest using online images. The insect's distinctive wing pattern was its most notable feature.
A series of 18 articles in ZooKeys examines recent advances in imaging systems, data gathering techniques, and collaborative approaches to digitization. These efforts aim to create a global virtual natural history museum, providing unprecedented access to biodiversity records and research opportunities.
Researchers discovered that vampire jumping spiders prefer female mosquitoes with blood-fed abdomens over other insects due to their distinctive antennae. The spiders can identify the females by their antennae even when they are too small to be seen, and this unique ability may play a crucial role in their prey classification process.
Scientists found that giant insect sizes decreased after birds evolved around 150 million years ago. Insect size was linked to oxygen levels over hundreds of millions of years, with high oxygen concentrations allowing larger insects during the late Carboniferous period.
Researchers at Georgia Tech discovered that mosquitoes can fly through rain due to their strong exoskeleton and low mass. The insect's ability to absorb impact forces from raindrops allows it to survive collisions, with the help of its legs and wings.
Researchers discovered that hawkmoths can detect minuscule differences in humidity near flowers to determine if they have enough nectar. This allows the moths to quickly evaluate flowers and avoid wasting energy on unprofitable ones.
The John Innes Centre receives Grand Challenges Explorations grant for a groundbreaking research project aimed at developing new ways of protecting crops from insects and associated diseases. The project, led by Dr Saskia Hogenhout, involves generating whitefly-resistant plants using RNAi molecules.
Scientists at FAO and IAEA developed a larval rearing unit for efficient mosquito mass-rearing, promising to boost the Sterile Insect Technique's effectiveness. The new system maintains water temperature stability and minimizes evaporation, allowing normal larval development and reducing labor costs.
Fossil discovery reveals ancient flea-like animals that could feed on dinosaur skin, leading to a painful bite experience. The creatures, similar to modern fleas but much larger, had flat bodies and long claws.