ICE 2022: A Graduate Student’s Perspective
With the first International Congress of Entomology of the COVID-19 era finally in the books, a Ph.D. student in entomology who participated in Helsinki shares his experience and the value he found in attending the (usually) quadrennial gathering of global entomologists.
New Insight Into the Eye-Popping Biology of Stalk-Eyed Fruit Flies
In a new study, researchers reveal how the unique stalk-eyed fruit flies develop, reproduce, and interact with each other—and their work may shed light on eye-stalk evolution among arthropods.
New Study Finds Tick-Repelling Potential in Three Botanical Compounds
A new study finds three compounds derived from flowers show significant tick-repellent properties in field trials. While further evaluation for safety and effectiveness remains, the compounds could provide viable new options for products to prevent tick bites.
Fall Armyworm in Nepal: The Importance of Early, Targeted Intervention
As the fall armyworm has expanded its range in Asia and Africa, international collaborations are at work to respond. In Nepal, early warnings and training prepared the country's agricultural community well ahead of time.
Amazing Insects ›
Catch a Glimpse of Caterpillars During National Moth Week
The 11th annual National Moth Week begins July 23, with a theme this year highlighting the small but mighty caterpillar. Take a moment to learn more about the larvae of Lepidoptera and their fascinating forms, habitats, and behaviors.
Silk, Dyes, Jewelry, and More: Insect-Derived Art Through the Ages
A recent review showcases the myriad ways insects can serve as an artistic medium. Explore some of these examples, ranging from beeswax sculptures to scale-insect dyes.
Study Sheds Light on Origins of Unique Silkworm Strain
Dubbed a "living fossil" by researchers, the Yao silkworm has been domesticated in virtual isolation for a millennium by the Baiku Yao ethnic group in China. New genetic research on the strain finds that the Yao silkworm is a primitive form of the domestic silkworm species Bombyx mori and more distantly related to other wild silkworm species.
Hidden Diversity: When One Wasp Species is Actually 16
A tiny parasitoid wasp species, long considered a generalist with more than 65 different host species, is revealed in a new study to actually comprise at least 16 different species, identical in appearance but genetically distinct.
Science Policy and Outreach ›
Successful Science Communication Starts With a Strategy
No matter the setting, communicating about science requires an understanding of both your audience and your goal and adapting your message and approach accordingly. Here's a simple framework for creating your science-communication strategy.
U.S. Policy Leaves Country Vulnerable to Arthropod-Borne Diseases
A new study highlights problems with current government policy for managing vector-borne disease and the insects and arthropods that carry them and offers several recommendations for improvement.
The Unique Challenges of Responding to Desert Locust Outbreaks
The recent plague of desert locusts in Africa and the Middle East cost $1.3 billion in damage in 23 countries. A report from Pakistan describes the difficult logistical and social hurdles to adequately managing this fast-moving entomological threat.
New Project Aims to Build Equity for Indigenous Scholars in Biological Sciences
Science societies including the Entomological Society of America are partnering on a new project funded by the National Science Foundation to address the underrepresentation of Native Americans in biological sciences.
Research News ›
New Study Finds Tick-Repelling Potential in Three Botanical Compounds
A new study finds three compounds derived from flowers show significant tick-repellent properties in field trials. While further evaluation for safety and effectiveness remains, the compounds could provide viable new options for products to prevent tick bites.
Eye Doctor’s Tool Offers New Look at Marvel of Moth Eyes
A tool commonly used in ophthalmology finds a new use in entomology: Observing how a moth's eye adjusts to see in both light and dark environments.
Could Carbon Dioxide Be a New Tool Against Varroa Mites?
A new study shows storing honey bee colonies with elevated levels of carbon dioxide reduces levels of Varroa mites, a method that might prove useful in reducing beekeepers' winter colony losses.
Less Than 10% of Mosquito Species Spread Human Disease
A new study examining the associations between mosquito species and the germs they carry finds just 9.3 percent of species transmit human disease-causing pathogens—but those associations are strong and likely resilient to the removal of individual species from the vector network.
The Entomology Profession ›
ICE 2022: A Graduate Student’s Perspective
With the first International Congress of Entomology of the COVID-19 era finally in the books, a Ph.D. student in entomology who participated in Helsinki shares his experience and the value he found in attending the (usually) quadrennial gathering of global entomologists.
Fall Armyworm in Nepal: The Importance of Early, Targeted Intervention
As the fall armyworm has expanded its range in Asia and Africa, international collaborations are at work to respond. In Nepal, early warnings and training prepared the country's agricultural community well ahead of time.
HyFlex and Insects: Student Learning and Community Engagement
In the new normal for education after the arrival of COVID-19, hybrid and flexible (or "HyFlex") teaching models are growing in use—including in entomology.
How One Entomologist Followed a Passion to Understand Insect Interactions
Meet Jocelyn Holt, Ph.D., faculty fellow in ecology and evolutionary biology at Rice University, expert in insect-plant-microbe interactions, and subject of the next installment of our "Standout Early Career Professionals" series.
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New CDC Study Details County-Level Distribution of Seven Diseases Spread by Blacklegged Ticks
As surveillance for ticks and the disease-causing germs they spread improves, so does Americans’ access to knowledge about where the risk of tickborne disease is greatest. New data from the CDC offers up-to-date county-level maps of where blacklegged ticks are prevalent and where they’ve been found infected with any of seven different pathogens.
Essential Oils: An Untapped Resource for Managing Urban Insect Pests
A new research review outlines current knowledge on essential oils as alternatives to synthetic insecticides for managing insect pests such as ants, termites, and cockroaches. Essential oils show a lot of promise, but more research on real-world applications is sorely needed.
Organic Coating Gives Cherries a Chance to Fend Off Fruit Flies
With an organic, food-grade coating sprayed on cherries in the orchard, western cherry fruit flies have difficulty gripping the fruit surface to lay eggs. Ongoing research is fine-tuning the coating formulation in hopes of creating a new tool for integrated pest management in cherries.
What’s the Best Way to Measure Pollinator Attractiveness of Cultivated Flower Varieties?
What makes a flower worthy of "pollinator friendly" status? And how is that measured? A new study makes strides toward a more standardized and scalable approach for measuring plants' pollinator attractiveness.
Eye Doctor’s Tool Offers New Look at Marvel of Moth Eyes
A tool commonly used in ophthalmology finds a new use in entomology: Observing how a moth's eye adjusts to see in both light and dark environments.
HyFlex and Insects: Student Learning and Community Engagement
In the new normal for education after the arrival of COVID-19, hybrid and flexible (or "HyFlex") teaching models are growing in use—including in entomology.
New Study Pegs Yellow Fever Mosquito’s Average Flight Range at 106 Meters
A new meta-analysis indicates that the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) travels an average distance of 106 meters in mark-release-recapture studies, a figure that could play an important role in mosquito-management efforts.
Another Pest of Pollinators: Small Hive Beetle Management in Honey Bee Colonies
Small hive beetles (Aethina tumida) can cause substantial damage in commercial honey bee colonies in North America. Both larval and adult beetles consume hive products and honey bee eggs and larvae, creating a slimy waste in the process. A new guide discusses the biology and management of these pests and highlights current gaps in our knowledge.
Silk, Dyes, Jewelry, and More: Insect-Derived Art Through the Ages
A recent review showcases the myriad ways insects can serve as an artistic medium. Explore some of these examples, ranging from beeswax sculptures to scale-insect dyes.