Research on insects and their role in nature. Covers disease-carrying bugs, insect evolution, wildfire effects, and sensory circuitry.
Researchers found that female moths outgrow their male counterparts by initiating a developmental change later in life, resulting in larger adult moths. This study provides insight into the evolution of sexual size dimorphism in moths, highlighting the importance of early developmental stages in determining adult body size.
Researchers at Cornell University have discovered how fruit flies employ a stabilizer reflex to right themselves after being disturbed by wind gusts. By studying the insects' aerial maneuvers, the team aims to develop more efficient and stable flapping-wing aircraft designs.
A new assay developed by USDA researchers can safely and reliably mark termites and other insects over vast acreage, allowing for their movements to be tracked. The method uses egg white, cow milk or soy milk proteins and has been shown to be effective in tracking the desert subterranean termite.
A new study has created a more accurate family tree for arthropods, including insects, crustaceans, and others. The research identified five newly discovered groupings, including remipedes as the closest living relatives of insects.
A common plant virus attracts aphids by elevating the odor cue of infected plants without changing it. The insects transmit the disease efficiently despite leaving quickly, implying a persistent mode of transmission beyond agriculture.
Scientists have documented unprecedented biodiversity in Yasuní National Park, including 596 bird species, 150 amphibian species, and over 1,100 tree species. The park's extraordinary diversity is threatened by proposed oil development projects.
Yasuní National Park is home to an array of plant and animal groups, harboring extremely high numbers of animals and plants in small areas. The park's extraordinary diversity makes it a crucial area for sustaining biodiversity in the long term, with scientists recommending a moratorium on new oil exploration or development projects.
Scientists have decoded the genome of Nasonia, a parasitic wasp that eliminates agricultural pests by infesting fly pupae. The study reveals insights into the wasp's ability to prevent host death and its potential for genetic engineering to improve biological pest control.
The study provides new insights into pest control and genetics by sequencing the genomes of three parasitoid wasp species. The findings suggest that harnessing the full potential of parasitoid wasps could be a more effective alternative to chemical pesticides.
Researchers at Oregon State University are developing a legged robot that can run stably over rough terrain using principles found in insects like cockroaches and guinea hens. The goal is to create robots that can perform difficult jobs, such as military operations or space exploration, with minimal computing power.
The industry is shifting towards organic methods, with growers citing environmental concerns and a desire to reduce their ecological footprint. Organic bedding plant producers face challenges such as insect and disease management, fertility issues, and substrate problems, highlighting the need for future research in this area.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered how a brain hormone controls insect metamorphosis, allowing scientists to develop new and more environmentally safe ways to control agricultural pests. The study sheds light on human development as well, as both puberty and metamorphosis involve similar biological processes.
Assessing biological processes under global warming requires accurate estimates of temporal changes in species. Long-term studies show that neglecting increasing seasonal climate lag can lead to distorted results.
A new study analyzes data from five continents to conclude that existing strategies can be used to predict, monitor and manage insect resistance. By understanding what accelerates and delays resistance, farmers can more effectively thwart pest resistance using tactics like refuge strategy and pyramided crops.
A new supplement reviews the history and application of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) in eliminating malaria. SIT involves releasing sterile male mosquitoes to wipe out a pest population, which can be effective against Anopheles mosquitoes that spread malaria.
A fossil plant discovery by Peter Wilf and colleagues has reassigned the species Libocedrus prechilensis to Papuacedrus, indicating that Patagonia was once a warm, wet tropical place. This find also establishes a connection between tropical West Pacific regions and Australia via a forested Antarctic land bridge during the Eocene.
Scientists tracked the movement of pollen between African fig trees using genetic tests and field work. The research found that trees pollinated by similar insects can survive if isolated through deforestation due to their increased resistance to forest fragmentation.
Researchers at Binghamton University found that when water striders have the freedom to move between groups, females prefer to cluster around non-aggressive males. This suggests that a 'gentleman' approach to mating is beneficial for group productivity. In contrast, male psychopaths disrupt the group's dynamics and reduce fertility.
A recent study found that female water striders prefer non-aggressive males over highly sexually aggressive ones when it comes to mating. In contrast, groups of low-key male water striders mated with more females than did groups of highly aggressive males.
Researchers are using two tiny insects, the predatory mite and the lady bug, to control European red mites and two-spotted spider mites in Pennsylvania apple orchards. By reducing pest mite numbers, biological control saves growers millions in integrated pest management costs.
A new species of fly discovered in Burmese amber had a unique horn and three eyes on top, suggesting it was an evolutionary dead end that later disappeared. It likely fed on tiny flowers and had other unusual characteristics.
Scientists used novel DNA sequencing technology to analyze bug splatters on car windshields, estimating insect diversity in the region. The study's metagenomic pipeline accurately identified sequences corresponding to various insect taxa, including significant differences between two trips.
Three UC Riverside entomologists, Timothy Paine, Bradley Mullens and Allison Hansen have won prestigious awards from the Entomological Society of America. Paine received the Distinguished Achievement Award in Horticultural Entomology for his work on improving integrated pest management of woody ornamental plants.
Researchers have discovered molecules that can interfere with insects' sense of smell, confusing them and reducing crop damage. The findings could contribute to food security by preventing damage from insect pests.
Researchers found that a specific glutathione S-transferase in the insect gut converts plant hormone cis-OPDA into iso-OPDA, which is then used by caterpillars to survive on host plants. This adaptation allows generalist caterpillars to thrive on diverse plant species.
Researchers found female crickets store more sperm from unrelated males and choose the best father for their offspring. This study challenges common behaviors among insect species and sheds light on the complex mating strategies in the insect world.
Researchers have discovered new mosquito repellents that last up to three times longer than DEET, the current gold standard. The repellents do not cause skin irritation or unpleasant odors, making them a promising alternative for people sensitive to DEET.
Researchers investigated deet's mode of action and toxicity, finding it inhibits the activity of a key central nervous system enzyme, acetycholinesterase, in both insects and mammals. This discovery questions the safety of deet, particularly when used with other chemicals.
Research at the ESA annual meeting reveals that urban stream pollution can be beneficial to mosquitoes, while lakefront development reduces food supplies for fish. Greenroofs, on the other hand, can absorb significant amounts of stormwater, saving cities millions of gallons of water.
Researchers found that blocking octopaminergic and dopaminergic neurons prevents crickets from recalling rewarding or punishing stimuli. This suggests a 'cognitive' account of classical conditioning applicable to insects.
Researchers at the University of Leicester have identified a sap-sucking psyllid called Aphalara itadori as a potential biocontrol agent to combat Japanese Knotweed. The plant, which costs £1.5 billion to control in Britain, is a single clone and lacks population resistance.
Scientists have identified a distinct new species of insect, Tyrrhenoleuctra antoninoi, living on the Balearic Islands. The study reveals genetic differences between this population and others found in the Western Mediterranean region.
A study by French and American scientists found that enzyme synthesis of steroids in humans is unrelated to those in insects, snails, octopuses, and corals. This discovery suggests a 'snail-centered viewpoint' for understanding the effects of environmental chemicals on steroid synthesis.
Researchers at the University of Washington have found that flexible moths' wings are better suited for flight due to their ability to generate more lift and airflow velocity. This discovery challenges traditional assumptions about wing structure and function in insects.
In a study on female water striders, researchers found that females use morphological shields to protect their genitalia from male attempts at copulation. In response, males produce a courtship song by tapping the water surface, allowing females to expose their genitalia only after receiving the signal.
A new species of pink-winged moth, Lithophane leeae, has been identified by University of Arizona biologist Bruce Walsh in the Chiricahua Mountains. The discovery highlights the region's vast biodiversity and suggests that more individuals may exist, considering the moth's habits.
Researchers found that combining bed bugs' alarm pheromones with desiccant dusts made treatment more effective at killing the bugs. The blend of two pheromones applied in concert with a silica gel desiccant dust proved to be the most lethal combination.
A new study reveals the source of silkworms' attraction to mulberry leaves is a jasmine-scented chemical called cis-jasmone. The potent attractant triggers a highly tuned olfactory receptor in the silkworms' antennae, guiding them towards the food source.
Researchers at UC Riverside will explore the development of novel olfactory repellents to prevent mosquito-human contact and reduce malaria transmission. The project aims to identify odors that inhibit mosquitoes' ability to detect human hosts, potentially leading to effective and environmentally safe insect repellents.
A parasitic bacterium may reduce mosquito lifespan and limit dengue fever transmission. Infected mosquitoes become more active as they age, but their activity levels don't increase further.
Research found that tiny mites living on Madagascar hissing cockroaches decrease the presence of molds, reducing allergic responses. The mites eat saliva and debris, eliminating material that fosters mold growth on the insects' bodies.
Research by UC Riverside biologists reveals that female field crickets learn to recognize attractive male characteristics through song, influencing their mate selection. This finding underscores the importance of social effects in models of evolution, suggesting that insects possess complex cognitive capacities.
Grapevine flowers' fragrance comes from pollen grains stored in anthers, contrary to common perception that petals produce perfume. The scent serves as a defense mechanism to protect male reproductive tissues from predatory insects.
A recent review of published articles suggests bed bug bites are unlikely to transmit disease, but may cause skin reactions. Effective treatments for symptomatic bed bug bites have not been established, and eradication is complicated by insecticide resistance.
Charles Summers, a University of California entomologist, has won the prestigious Woodworth Award for his contributions to entomology. He developed economic thresholds and management strategies for various crops, reducing pesticide use and improving yields.
Removing non-native trout from mountain lakes reverses their impact on aquatic insect populations. Aquatic insect abundance increases quickly after trout removal, but suspension of stocking alone is ineffective in restoring insect numbers.
Dr. G. V. P. Reddy's $60,000 SARE grant will educate agricultural professionals on semiochemicals for monitoring and controlling pests like banana root borer and New Guinea sugarcane weevil.
A new study forecasts the likelihood of climate factors matching at geographically distant airline departure and destination points, enabling more efficient detection and interception of invasive species. The model uses recent forecast data for climate change and air traffic volumes, predicting a peak risk in June 2010.
Researchers found that reduced light quality leads to decreased sensitivity to jasmonic acid, a hormone involved in plant defense. This allows plants to redirect resources away from defense and towards growth, but may increase vulnerability to herbivores in densely planted crops.
A new study forecasts when climate factors will match at geographically distant airline departure and destination points, helping to detect and intercept invasive species. The findings provide a framework for monitoring airline flights and planning more efficiently.
Researchers used color infrared photography to detect diseases in greenhouse plants, identifying common ailments like sooty mold and powdery mildew through image analysis. The study found that certain diseases can be detected early on by analyzing the ratios of light reflection, with high NIR values indicating healthy vegetation.
A new species of fruit fly emerged after changing its mating behavior, while parasitic wasps evolved to prey on the flies' larvae. This study shows biodiversity feeds on itself, opening up niches for other species.
Researchers have created gene-engineered male flies that die as embryos, outcompeting wild pests and reducing crop damage. This new method of pest control eliminates the need for radiation, increasing safety and effectiveness.
Researchers Annemarie Surlykke and Elizabeth Kalko measured the volume of two 'whispering' bat species' calls, discovering they were actually shrieking at levels up to 110 decibels. The findings suggest that these bats use high-volume calls for echolocation in complex forest environments.
Scientists are working on a new strategy to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases by disabling insects from transmitting viruses. The approach targets ticks, sand flies, and mosquitoes, which are responsible for most deaths worldwide.
A new study at the University of Melbourne discovered that rare insect clones are favored by evolution, leading to increased genetic variation. This phenomenon, known as frequency-dependent selection, allows rare clones to become more common and produce more offspring.
Researchers found that midges prefer ponds with high polarization levels, which may be related to nutrient content. This discovery could help control midge numbers and minimize cholera transmission by offering alternative, polarized light-reflecting water sources.
Walter Leal, a UC Davis professor, received the ESA award for his groundbreaking research on mosquito repellent DEET. His lab discovered the mode of action for DEET, which doesn't mask the host's smell but rather repels mosquitoes through direct detection.
A new article in American Entomologist reveals that Formosan subterranean termites played a significant role in the destruction of New Orleans' floodwall system. The termite species, originating from China, was found to have caused major breaks in the levees by digging networks of tunnels and undermining the structure.
Scientists trained a species of moth to link specific scents with sugar water rewards, discovering that the interval between odor presentation and reward is crucial for learning. This process allows integration of neural activities and represents a key finding in understanding how associations are built between stimuli and behavior.