Hungry, Hungry Larvae: How Entomologists Design the Diet for Mass-Reared Screwworm Flies
Ever wondered how one might feed 20 million fly larvae every week? Get a glimpse into the work of entomologists who fine-tune the diet for mass-reared screwworm flies at the Panama – United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm.
Insecticide Netting Could Keep Beetles Out of Your Breakfast Cereal
A new study shows that long-lasting insecticide netting could have promising applications in stored-product facilities to protect foods like wheat, corn, and soybeans from insect pests.
The Sting of Defeat: A Brief History of Insects in Warfare
In the course of history, entomology has at times intersected with humanity's militaristic motives. From deploying harmful insects against enemies to modeling technological advances on insect biomechanics, explore some of the ways insects have been used in human warfare.
After 17 Years and 1,800 Tests, Researchers Find Cat Flea Pesticide Remains Effective
A 17-year study that monitored for resistance among cat fleas to the insecticide imidacloprid finds no evidence of decreased susceptibility. The study involved researchers in 10 countries, who tested more than 1,800 cat flea egg samples.
Insect Identification: Experts and Guides to ID That Bug You Found
So, you want to know what that bug is. Here at the Entomological Society of America, we know the experts. Check out this list for a variety of resources for bug and insect identification.
Bugs and Beats: Meet the UC Davis Entomology Band
Graduate students in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of California, Davis, performed original tunes incorporating entomology themes at the 2018 UC Davis Picnic Day.
Stinking Here and There: The Painted Bug Bagrada hilaris Goes From Crops to Homes
The sting bug species Bagrada hilaris, sometimes known as the painted bug or bagrada bug, arrived in Chile in 2016 and has quickly become a pest of crops—but, for the first time, it has also begun to infest homes, as reported this month in the Journal of Medical Entomology.
Study of Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes Finds No Evidence of Natural Wolbachia Infection
A new study of genetic samples from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from around the world finds no evidence of naturally occurring infection with Wolbachia bacteria, a positive sign for efforts that artificially introduce Wolbachia to mosquito populations to reduce their numbers or interrupt their ability to transmit disease-causing pathogens.
Researchers Aim to Cut Through the Complexity of Managing Early-Season Crop Pests
Assessing the potential risk of minor, sporadic early-season pests is challenging. A new collection of profiles in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management aims to help growers and IPM professionals make more-informed decisions about whether methods such as preventative insecticide seed treatments are warranted.
A New Stink Bug Species Named After a Stink Bug Person
A newly described species of stink bug is named in honor of distinguished entomologist and stink-bug expert Jay McPherson, Ph.D., whose advice to an early-career entomologist led to the specimen being deemed its own species rather than a subspecies.
Invasive Insects: The Top 4 “Most Wanted” List
The list of invasive insects in the United States is a long one, but one entomologist offers his list of the top four "most wanted"—plus a note about how entomologists are working to better manage the challenge of invasive insect species.
Got Spotted Lanternfly Eggs on Your Tree? Send ‘Em Through the Wood Chipper
The invasive spotted lanternfly often lays its eggs on tree limbs and trunks. A new study finds that putting infested wood through a wood chipper effectively destroys spotted lanternfly egg masses, and researchers recommend the practice for reducing the potential spread of the pest.
When the Path Less Traveled Leads to Hissing Cockroaches for a More Inclusive Tomorrow
Get to know Alex Bryant, extension agent and 4-H educator, whose curriculum using Madagascar hissing cockroaches has introduced more than 2,400 Kentucky middle school students to entomology and science.
More Research Needed to Better Balance Honey Bees and Native Bees
A review of existing research on floral resource competition between managed honey bees and wild bees shows gaps in our knowledge about such interactions and calls for further research to better inform decisions on honey bee management and pollinator protection.
New Research Showcases the Best and Brightest Fathers of the Insect World
To celebrate Father's Day, check out some fascinating insights on insect fathers providing exceptional paternal care revealed via recent entomological research.
How Entomology Students With ‘Graduphobia’ Can Face Their Fear of the Unknown
Entomology students face plenty of pressure, from conducting research to getting published to presenting at conferences. And, perhaps most daunting: embarking upon a career after graduation. Ph.D. student Lina Bernaola calls the stress of the final stages of academic coursework "graduphobia."
Amazing Insects ›
The Sting of Defeat: A Brief History of Insects in Warfare
In the course of history, entomology has at times intersected with humanity's militaristic motives. From deploying harmful insects against enemies to modeling technological advances on insect biomechanics, explore some of the ways insects have been used in human warfare.
Is This Caterpillar Trying to Look Like a Velvet Worm?
A team of researchers from Western University in Ontario reports the discovery of velvet worms living in tree mosses in Amazonian cloud forest in Ecuador as well as a caterpillar of unknown species that they propose to be a Batesian mimic of the velvet worm.
Invasive Insects: The Top 4 “Most Wanted” List
The list of invasive insects in the United States is a long one, but one entomologist offers his list of the top four "most wanted"—plus a note about how entomologists are working to better manage the challenge of invasive insect species.
New Research Showcases the Best and Brightest Fathers of the Insect World
To celebrate Father's Day, check out some fascinating insights on insect fathers providing exceptional paternal care revealed via recent entomological research.
Science Policy and Outreach ›
Team Develops New Protocol for Embedding Insects in Resin
Insect and arthropod specimens set in clear resin are a valuable tool for teaching entomology both in the classroom and in public outreach. A team at Texas A&M University has developed an efficient, cost-effective process for resin casting and shares the instructions with the entomological community.
Entomologists Urge Action, Advocacy After 2018 March for Science
Entomologists Ashley Kennedy and Lina Bernaola participated in the 2018 March for Science in Washington, DC, on April 14. Kennedy and Bernaola say that, though the March was smaller than the 2017 edition, it left them inspired to "continue taking steps forward to enhance advocacy for science."
Fighting Flies With Flies: An In-Depth Look at the 2016 Screwworm Outbreak Response in Florida
The return of the screwworm to Florida in 2016 was a surprise, but entomologists with the USDA and local, state, and international partners were prepared to respond. A new, in-depth report in the Journal of Medical Entomology shares a detailed account of their work re-eradicating the pest via the sterile insect technique—plus new lessons learned along the way.
Eastern Larch Beetle Outbreak Just Keeps Going When Winter’s Not So Cold
The current outbreak of eastern larch beetle in northern Minnesota is going into its 18th year, and researchers have found that at least some eastern larch beetles are able to reach maturity without requiring an overwintering period. In short, warmer winters mean eastern larch beetle is killing trees faster than it can be managed.
Research News ›
Hungry, Hungry Larvae: How Entomologists Design the Diet for Mass-Reared Screwworm Flies
Ever wondered how one might feed 20 million fly larvae every week? Get a glimpse into the work of entomologists who fine-tune the diet for mass-reared screwworm flies at the Panama – United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm.
Insecticide Netting Could Keep Beetles Out of Your Breakfast Cereal
A new study shows that long-lasting insecticide netting could have promising applications in stored-product facilities to protect foods like wheat, corn, and soybeans from insect pests.
After 17 Years and 1,800 Tests, Researchers Find Cat Flea Pesticide Remains Effective
A 17-year study that monitored for resistance among cat fleas to the insecticide imidacloprid finds no evidence of decreased susceptibility. The study involved researchers in 10 countries, who tested more than 1,800 cat flea egg samples.
Kissing Bugs Kiss Their Hiding Spots Goodbye, Thanks to Tiny Radio Transmitters
In a new pilot study, researchers in Texas used miniature radio transmitters to track the secretive movements of kissing bugs, a method that could provide new advances in reducing kissing bugs' impact as a vector of Chagas disease.
The Entomology Profession ›
A New Stink Bug Species Named After a Stink Bug Person
A newly described species of stink bug is named in honor of distinguished entomologist and stink-bug expert Jay McPherson, Ph.D., whose advice to an early-career entomologist led to the specimen being deemed its own species rather than a subspecies.
When the Path Less Traveled Leads to Hissing Cockroaches for a More Inclusive Tomorrow
Get to know Alex Bryant, extension agent and 4-H educator, whose curriculum using Madagascar hissing cockroaches has introduced more than 2,400 Kentucky middle school students to entomology and science.
How Entomology Students With ‘Graduphobia’ Can Face Their Fear of the Unknown
Entomology students face plenty of pressure, from conducting research to getting published to presenting at conferences. And, perhaps most daunting: embarking upon a career after graduation. Ph.D. student Lina Bernaola calls the stress of the final stages of academic coursework "graduphobia."
Donna Leonard: At the Helm of a World-Renowned Forest Insect Management Program
Donna Leonard, forest entomologist at the U.S. Forest Service, has piloted one of the most successful forest insect-management programs in the world for over 20 years running, all while navigating a career in a male-dominated field.
Get Certified!
New CDC Tick Study Adds to Promise of Permethrin-Treated Clothing
Experiments conducted at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed clothing treated with permethrin had strong toxic effects on three primary germ-carrying tick species, interfering with the ticks’ ability to move properly and likely interfering with their ability to bite.
More Research Needed to Better Balance Honey Bees and Native Bees
A review of existing research on floral resource competition between managed honey bees and wild bees shows gaps in our knowledge about such interactions and calls for further research to better inform decisions on honey bee management and pollinator protection.
Insecticide Netting Could Keep Beetles Out of Your Breakfast Cereal
A new study shows that long-lasting insecticide netting could have promising applications in stored-product facilities to protect foods like wheat, corn, and soybeans from insect pests.
Insect Identification: Experts and Guides to ID That Bug You Found
So, you want to know what that bug is. Here at the Entomological Society of America, we know the experts. Check out this list for a variety of resources for bug and insect identification.
Research Confirms: (Insect) Moms Are the Best
In honor of Mother's Day, catch up on some recent research highlighting insect mothers that go to awe-inspiring lengths to care for their babies.
The Sting of Defeat: A Brief History of Insects in Warfare
In the course of history, entomology has at times intersected with humanity's militaristic motives. From deploying harmful insects against enemies to modeling technological advances on insect biomechanics, explore some of the ways insects have been used in human warfare.
Bugs and Beats: Meet the UC Davis Entomology Band
Graduate students in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of California, Davis, performed original tunes incorporating entomology themes at the 2018 UC Davis Picnic Day.
Fighting Flies With Flies: An In-Depth Look at the 2016 Screwworm Outbreak Response in Florida
The return of the screwworm to Florida in 2016 was a surprise, but entomologists with the USDA and local, state, and international partners were prepared to respond. A new, in-depth report in the Journal of Medical Entomology shares a detailed account of their work re-eradicating the pest via the sterile insect technique—plus new lessons learned along the way.
Invasive Insects: The Top 4 “Most Wanted” List
The list of invasive insects in the United States is a long one, but one entomologist offers his list of the top four "most wanted"—plus a note about how entomologists are working to better manage the challenge of invasive insect species.