How Ants’ Individual Encounters Influence Colony-Wide Behavior, and Vice Versa
A new review of ant research illuminates how ant behavior is driven by a cascade of individual decisions among colony members. Insights on ant movement and encounter rates also suggest parallels to collective behavior in another population under the microscope in 2020: humans.
Frantic About Residential Tick Management? This Film Series is Just for You
Tick researchers in Connecticut turn their eye toward their local community with an educational film series about backyard tick management. Learn how the project came together and why it could be a useful model for other entomology-outreach efforts.
Entomology 2020: Attendees Note Favorites From Live Sessions
Entomology 2020 continued this week, with four days of live symposia and programming taking place Monday through Thursday. Once again, Entomology Today asked participants to share some of their favorites from the live events, plus more on-demand content they may have watched. Find out what has #EntSoc20 participants buzzing!
Diminutive Dragonfly Makes New Appearance in Michigan
Ophiogomphus howei, the smallest dragonfly of its genus and known to inhabit ranges primarily in Appalachia and Wisconsin in the United States, has been discovered by Odonata enthusiasts in southern Michigan, in a setting that may prompt a rethink of the species' habitat preferences.
Amazing Insects ›
These Insect Costume Designers are Dressed to Impress
Trick or treat? From colorful ornaments to foamy bubbles to piles of "junk," a variety of insects wear clever disguises that protect or hide them from predators. Learn about several of these insect ensembles—and perhaps find some inspiration for your next Halloween costume.
These Beetles Withstand Cyanide Blasts to Eat Millipedes
Flat-backed millipedes that defend themselves with cyanide have a fearsome foe in Promecognathus beetles, which are unfazed by the potent poison. A new study shows the beetles have evolved a unique tolerance for cyanide—rather than avoidance behavior or some other countermeasure—but the underlying mechanism remains unclear.
Limb Regeneration in Lady Beetles: Product of Selection or Developmental Byproduct?
Researchers studying the ability of several lady beetle species to regrow detached limbs during their pupal stage say the trait may be linked to genes that offer survival advantages when activated, but more research is needed.
Little Organisms, Big World: Insect Gut Bacteria Partnerships
A recent review in the open-access Journal of Insect Science shines a light on the diversity of host-symbiont relationships among holometabolous insects.
Science Policy and Outreach ›
Vector-Borne Disease: CDC Report Outlines Key Steps for Prevention and Control in U.S.
Perhaps overlooked in the public eye upon its release in September, a new "framework" report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is none the less a vital step forward in the nation's efforts to better support and coordinate the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases. Here's a closer look at the report and what's next in this critical public-health pursuit.
Watch the Four Finalist Videos in the 2020 YouTube Your Entomology Contest
Check out the four finalist videos in the Entomological Society of America's 2020 YouTube Your Entomology Contest. Final results will be announced in October and acknowledged during Entomology 2020.
Tick Surveillance and Control Lagging in U.S., Study Shows
The first-ever survey of the nation's tick-management programs reveals an inconsistent and often under-supported patchwork of programs across the country.
Learning at Home With Bugs
Stuck at home with kids because of COVID-19? Check out this list of suggestions from bug experts about what you can do to keep kids engaged and learning.
Research News ›
Frantic About Residential Tick Management? This Film Series is Just for You
Tick researchers in Connecticut turn their eye toward their local community with an educational film series about backyard tick management. Learn how the project came together and why it could be a useful model for other entomology-outreach efforts.
Diminutive Dragonfly Makes New Appearance in Michigan
Ophiogomphus howei, the smallest dragonfly of its genus and known to inhabit ranges primarily in Appalachia and Wisconsin in the United States, has been discovered by Odonata enthusiasts in southern Michigan, in a setting that may prompt a rethink of the species' habitat preferences.
Shut the Front Door! Researchers Find ‘Endangered Living Fossil’ Trapdoor Spider
Meet Cryptocteniza kawtak, a newly described genus and species of trapdoor spider that likely dates to the Cretaceous. The researcher who found it first spotted it in 1997 but was finally able to enter it in the scientific record after finding another specimen two decades later.
Plum Curculio: New Guide Gathers IPM Recommendations for North American Fruit Pest
The plum curculio has a long history as a pest of fruit in North America, but it has gone somewhat understudied. A new article in the open-access Journal of Integrated Pest Management reviews the plum curculio’s biology, life history, and behavior and IPM options for growers.
The Entomology Profession ›
Entomology 2020: Attendees Note Favorites From Live Sessions
Entomology 2020 continued this week, with four days of live symposia and programming taking place Monday through Thursday. Once again, Entomology Today asked participants to share some of their favorites from the live events, plus more on-demand content they may have watched. Find out what has #EntSoc20 participants buzzing!
Entomology 2020: Attendees Share Early Reactions to On-Demand Presentations, Posters
Entomology 2020 began Wednesday, and Entomology Today asked some participants to share some of their favorite symposia, presentations, and posters they've seen thus far. Get a glimpse into the wealth of knowledge available at the ESA Virtual Annual Meeting, happening now through November 25.
A New Guide for Tick Researchers on Working With Mice
Entomologists studying ticks and the disease pathogens they carry must also become adept at handling the host animals that ticks feed on, such as mice. A new article in the open-access Journal of Insect Science offers a guide to do just that, part of a new special collection on protocols in medical and veterinary entomology.
Residential Pest Management: What Do Homeowners Know, and What Do They Do?
Massive quantities of pesticides are applied by homeowners on residential lawns and gardens each year. While some have an understanding of integrated pest management concepts and practice them on their property, many do not and indiscriminately apply pesticides. There is an opportunity for cooperative extension personnel to address this need by providing residential IPM and pesticide education programs.
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How Mitochondrial DNA Offers Clues to Giant Hornets’ Invasion
When scientists discovered specimens of the invasive giant hornet Vespa mandarinia on both sides of the border between Washington and British Columbia in 2019, they sought to find out how they arrived from Asia. Analysis of their mitochondrial DNA provided an interesting twist: The hornets on each side of the border likely did not come from the same location in Asia.
Shut the Front Door! Researchers Find ‘Endangered Living Fossil’ Trapdoor Spider
Meet Cryptocteniza kawtak, a newly described genus and species of trapdoor spider that likely dates to the Cretaceous. The researcher who found it first spotted it in 1997 but was finally able to enter it in the scientific record after finding another specimen two decades later.
These Insect Costume Designers are Dressed to Impress
Trick or treat? From colorful ornaments to foamy bubbles to piles of "junk," a variety of insects wear clever disguises that protect or hide them from predators. Learn about several of these insect ensembles—and perhaps find some inspiration for your next Halloween costume.
Research Examines Potential of Alternate Host Plant as a Trap Crop for Asian Citrus Psyllid
The Asian citrus psyllid is a major insect pest of citrus cultivars and vectors the bacteria that causes citrus greening disease. Recent research on a newly identified alternate host plant for Asian citrus psyllid examines the plant's potential as a trap crop for use in management of the pest.
List of Known Host Plants Grows for Spotted Lanternfly
Two researchers compile existing research and additional observations to update the list of potential host plants for the invasive spotted lanternfly, bringing the worldwide total of plants the insect will feed on to 103—of which 56 are present in North America.
Little Organisms, Big World: Insect Gut Bacteria Partnerships
A recent review in the open-access Journal of Insect Science shines a light on the diversity of host-symbiont relationships among holometabolous insects.
Watch the Four Finalist Videos in the 2020 YouTube Your Entomology Contest
Check out the four finalist videos in the Entomological Society of America's 2020 YouTube Your Entomology Contest. Final results will be announced in October and acknowledged during Entomology 2020.
Limb Regeneration in Lady Beetles: Product of Selection or Developmental Byproduct?
Researchers studying the ability of several lady beetle species to regrow detached limbs during their pupal stage say the trait may be linked to genes that offer survival advantages when activated, but more research is needed.
Time Management Tips for Entomology Graduate Students
Feeling rushed? The demands of pursuing a graduate degree can be daunting. Check out these tips and suggestions for optimizing time management—and reducing stress—for graduate students in entomology and related areas of study.