Entomological Storytelling: Why We Wrote an Opera About Locusts (Really!)
Entomologist-turned-author Jeffrey Lockwood shares the experience of his latest science-communication effort, adapting the story of the Rocky Mountain locust to the lyrical stage.
Organic Dust Takes a Bite Out of Ticks
Researchers at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service find promising results using clay and silicate dusts to combat lone star ticks. They hope the dusts could be a useful tool against tick species that transmit deadly pathogens to livestock.
Bees Stopped Buzzing During the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
A study conducted during the 2017 total solar eclipse in North America found that bees remained active during partial-eclipse phases, but they essentially ceased flying during totality.
Boric Acid Kills Bed Bugs, But Only When They Eat It
Boric acid dust is a common tool in urban pest management, but a new study shows external exposure is minimally effective against bed bugs. When bed bugs ingest boric acid, though, few survive.
How Top Teams Hone Their Entomology Expertise for the Linnaean Games
Since 1983, the Linnaean Games have tested the entomological smarts of student teams at Entomological Society of America meetings. Find out how teams headed to the 2018 national competition are preparing.
High Temperature, Grasshopper Diet Boost Venom Production in Lab-Reared Scorpions
Researchers in Pakistan evaluated the factors that influence venom production in scorpions, with the aim to maximize venom extraction for research and medical uses.
Symposium to Highlight Global Challenge of Managing Insecticide Resistance
Organized by the ESA Student Affairs Committee, this symposium at Entomology 2018 will gather a variety of perspectives on the latest research and strategies for managing insecticide resistance in mosquitoes, bed bugs, moths, and more.
A Year Older, A Year Wiser: 5 More Things I’ve Learned About a Career in Extension
Extension entomologist David R. Coyle, Ph.D. shares another round of advice for success in the extension career, a role that requires efficiency, flexibility, and customer service.
In the Southern U.S., Young Blacklegged Ticks’ Habitat is a Mystery
In the southern U.S., blacklegged tick larvae and nymphs can be found on hosts, but they don't otherwise show up in vegetation or—as a new study finds—in leaf litter or soil either. So where are they hiding?
Train-the-Trainer Program Multiplies Reach of IPM Knowledge
In Missouri, a series of "train-the-trainer" workshops have provided extension educators with the latest knowledge in integrated pest management to share with growers throughout the state.
Small Creatures, Complex Behaviors: How One Scientist Got Hooked on Entomology
Meet Tolulope Morawo, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow at Auburn University, insect chemical ecologist, and the subject of the next installment of our "Standout Early Career Professionals" Series.
Array of Management Methods Needed to Curb the Pesky Squash Vine Borer
The larva of the squash vine borer burrows into the stems and crowns of squash, zucchini, and pumpkin plants, causing wilting damage. A new guide in the open-access Journal of Integrated Pest Management outlines a variety of management methods to combat the squash vine borer.
Could Insecticide Netting Help Manage Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Infestations in Homes?
New research on brown marmorated stink bug behavior indicates they prefer darker surfaces, doorways, and the north and east sides of homes—and that insecticide-treated netting offers potential as a means of nuisance control.
Busy Bees: An Up-Close Look at One Bee Species’ Scramble to Mate
With high-speed, high-definition cameras, researchers at the University of Arizona got an unprecedented look at the mating habits of the solitary bee species Diadasia rinconis and gained new insights into their courtship behaviors and the selective pressures those behaviors produce.
Fighting Nature With Nature: Scientists Mobilize Biological Control Against Devastating Fall Armyworm
Researchers at Virginia Tech's Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Integrated Pest Management are looking to biological control for the fall armyworm, with plans to deploy native, mass-reared parasitoid wasps in Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia in the coming year.
Field Tour Offers Close-Up Look at Invasive Species Security
In August 2018, a diverse group of stakeholders gathered for the Entomological Society of America Plant-Insect Ecosystem Section's Science Policy Field Tour, "Invasive Species Security: Protecting Our National Health, Food Supply, and Environment."
Amazing Insects ›
Bees Stopped Buzzing During the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
A study conducted during the 2017 total solar eclipse in North America found that bees remained active during partial-eclipse phases, but they essentially ceased flying during totality.
Busy Bees: An Up-Close Look at One Bee Species’ Scramble to Mate
With high-speed, high-definition cameras, researchers at the University of Arizona got an unprecedented look at the mating habits of the solitary bee species Diadasia rinconis and gained new insights into their courtship behaviors and the selective pressures those behaviors produce.
Butterfly Pupae Make Sounds In Never-Before-Known Ways
New research explores how pupae of certain butterfly species make a "twittering" noise—via a wiggling movement that triggers sound from tiny structures in the membranes between their abdominal segments.
A Night With the Synchronous Fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains
Pest management pro Pamela Blauvelt recounts a trip with colleagues to witness the annual synchronous fireflies phenomenon at night in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Science Policy and Outreach ›
How Two Entomologists Landed on TV With Bill Nye
What started with one entomologist's Twitter hashtag turned into a segment on the Netflix show Bill Nye Saves the World, and two entomology graduate students appeared on the show to share their work with the world.
Fighting Nature With Nature: Scientists Mobilize Biological Control Against Devastating Fall Armyworm
Researchers at Virginia Tech's Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Integrated Pest Management are looking to biological control for the fall armyworm, with plans to deploy native, mass-reared parasitoid wasps in Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia in the coming year.
Field Tour Offers Close-Up Look at Invasive Species Security
In August 2018, a diverse group of stakeholders gathered for the Entomological Society of America Plant-Insect Ecosystem Section's Science Policy Field Tour, "Invasive Species Security: Protecting Our National Health, Food Supply, and Environment."
Online and On Tour: How One Entomologist Shares Her Passion for Insects With the World
Meet entomologist Nancy Miorelli, co-founder of the Ask an Entomologist blog, tour guide in the Ecuadorian cloud forest, and insect-inspired jewelry maker, in the next installment of our "Standout Early Career Professionals" series.
Research News ›
Organic Dust Takes a Bite Out of Ticks
Researchers at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service find promising results using clay and silicate dusts to combat lone star ticks. They hope the dusts could be a useful tool against tick species that transmit deadly pathogens to livestock.
Bees Stopped Buzzing During the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
A study conducted during the 2017 total solar eclipse in North America found that bees remained active during partial-eclipse phases, but they essentially ceased flying during totality.
Boric Acid Kills Bed Bugs, But Only When They Eat It
Boric acid dust is a common tool in urban pest management, but a new study shows external exposure is minimally effective against bed bugs. When bed bugs ingest boric acid, though, few survive.
High Temperature, Grasshopper Diet Boost Venom Production in Lab-Reared Scorpions
Researchers in Pakistan evaluated the factors that influence venom production in scorpions, with the aim to maximize venom extraction for research and medical uses.
The Entomology Profession ›
Symposium to Highlight Global Challenge of Managing Insecticide Resistance
Organized by the ESA Student Affairs Committee, this symposium at Entomology 2018 will gather a variety of perspectives on the latest research and strategies for managing insecticide resistance in mosquitoes, bed bugs, moths, and more.
A Year Older, A Year Wiser: 5 More Things I’ve Learned About a Career in Extension
Extension entomologist David R. Coyle, Ph.D. shares another round of advice for success in the extension career, a role that requires efficiency, flexibility, and customer service.
Train-the-Trainer Program Multiplies Reach of IPM Knowledge
In Missouri, a series of "train-the-trainer" workshops have provided extension educators with the latest knowledge in integrated pest management to share with growers throughout the state.
Small Creatures, Complex Behaviors: How One Scientist Got Hooked on Entomology
Meet Tolulope Morawo, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow at Auburn University, insect chemical ecologist, and the subject of the next installment of our "Standout Early Career Professionals" Series.
Get Certified!
Why Smoking Soothes the Stressed-Out Bee Hive
A new study that explores the effect of smoke on honey bee (Apis mellifera) behavior finds that it reduces the instance of bees releasing a venom droplet in their signaling of danger to other bees, which researchers speculate may thereby reduce the amount of alarm pheromone released.
Boric Acid Kills Bed Bugs, But Only When They Eat It
Boric acid dust is a common tool in urban pest management, but a new study shows external exposure is minimally effective against bed bugs. When bed bugs ingest boric acid, though, few survive.
Could Insecticide Netting Help Manage Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Infestations in Homes?
New research on brown marmorated stink bug behavior indicates they prefer darker surfaces, doorways, and the north and east sides of homes—and that insecticide-treated netting offers potential as a means of nuisance control.
Butterfly Pupae Make Sounds In Never-Before-Known Ways
New research explores how pupae of certain butterfly species make a "twittering" noise—via a wiggling movement that triggers sound from tiny structures in the membranes between their abdominal segments.
In the Southern U.S., Young Blacklegged Ticks’ Habitat is a Mystery
In the southern U.S., blacklegged tick larvae and nymphs can be found on hosts, but they don't otherwise show up in vegetation or—as a new study finds—in leaf litter or soil either. So where are they hiding?
Entomological Storytelling: Why We Wrote an Opera About Locusts (Really!)
Entomologist-turned-author Jeffrey Lockwood shares the experience of his latest science-communication effort, adapting the story of the Rocky Mountain locust to the lyrical stage.
Watch the Five Finalist Videos in the 2018 YouTube Your Entomology Contest
Check out the five finalist videos in the Entomological Society of America's 2018 YouTube Your Entomology Contest. Winner, runner-up, and honorable mentions will be announced at Entomology 2018.
What Five Entomologists Learned at the March for Science Summit
Five entomologists, participating on behalf of the Entomological Society of America, attended the March for Science summit "Science | Government, Institutions & Society" in Chicago, July 6-8. Here's a glimpse at how the event motivated them to "stand up for science."
Water Mites Discovered Parasitizing Two Mosquito Species in Pennsylvania
A survey of mosquitoes in Pennsylvania discovered 12 mosquitoes parasitized by larval mites. Water mites can reduce the survival and reproductive success of mosquitoes, and entomologists are investigating such parasitism to evaluate its potential as a method for biological control efforts.