Mentoring Undergraduates: How to Be a Guide for Genuine Research Experiences
Many graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in entomology and other sciences are in position to mentor undergraduate students as they earn their early experiences in research settings. Here's advice on how to foster successful up-and-coming scientists.
New Citizen-Science Project Explores Little-Known Behavior in Monarch Butterflies
Think you know monarch butterflies? Think again! A gardener's observation has spurred a new study examining how and when monarchs feed on plants rich in compounds known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Surprisingly little is known about the behavior, and researchers are asking citizen scientists for help to learn more.
IPM Packages Streamline Crop-Pest Solutions in Developing Countries
Integrated pest management pros working in developing countries are finding success with IPM "packages," which bundle a range of solutions for multiple crop pest issues, from the time of soil preparation to harvest and tailored to local conditions—making IPM adoption easier for farmers with limited training or resources.
Inducing Mosquitoes to Lay Eggs Aids in Insecticide Resistance Testing
Testing field-caught mosquitoes for insecticide resistance is a critical effort in the fight against malaria and other vector-borne diseases. Researchers in Thailand say a "forced oviposition" method has proven successful in inducing field-caught Anopheles mosquitoes to lay eggs and spawn lab populations big enough for insecticide-resistance testing.
Amazing Insects ›
Superworms: The Bigger, Brawnier, Hungrier Cousins of Yellow Mealworms
Larvae of the darkling beetle species Zophobas morio have earned the nickname "superworms" for their larger size and increased nutritional potential as food and feed compared to yellow mealworms. And yet less research and regulatory consideration has focused on Z. morio, something a pair of researchers in Greece hope to change.
Brood’s Clues: New Mapping Approach Puts Cicadas in Focus
More than 20 broods of periodical cicadas inhabit the eastern United States, and researchers are refining their mapping of brood ranges with increasing precision at every new emergence. A new report in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America details new advances in mapping cicadas from researchers who studied Brood VI in 2000 and 2017.
Got Cicadas? Take a Picture and Help Entomologists Map Their Arrival
Scientists are looking to the public for help in mapping 17-year cicadas in the massive Brood X due to emerge from the ground this spring in the eastern U.S. The citizen-science effort, powered by a smartphone app, could generate the biggest-ever observation data set in the history of cicada research. Here's how you can participate.
Flexible Reproduction ‘Mite’ Explain Invasion Success
Spider mites may adapt to uncertain environments by successfully inbreeding and by adjusting reproductive resources, a new study shows. The findings may help entomologists better understand and manage invasions by other haplodiploid arthropods.
Science Policy and Outreach ›
Pollinator Conservation on Solar Farms: The Entomology Perspective
Amid the steady growth of solar energy production in the United States, pollinator conservation at solar installations has become an appealing secondary pursuit, but the long-term success of such efforts remains to be seen. In a new article published today in the journal Environmental Entomology, a group of entomologists say pairing solar energy with pollinator habitat offers great promise, but scientific evaluation and meaningful standards will be key to making it a true win-win combination.
Got Cicadas? Take a Picture and Help Entomologists Map Their Arrival
Scientists are looking to the public for help in mapping 17-year cicadas in the massive Brood X due to emerge from the ground this spring in the eastern U.S. The citizen-science effort, powered by a smartphone app, could generate the biggest-ever observation data set in the history of cicada research. Here's how you can participate.
Planting a Tree? Choose a Native Species and Save Some Insects
Every invasive tree in the United States was intentionally introduced, and these plants often out-compete native plants while negatively affecting insects and other animals that depend on native species. You can do your part to help insects and protect local ecosystems by choosing native plants in your landscaping plans.
From the Bench to a Broader Impact: Traveling a Non-Traditional Path for Science to Benefit the World
Meet entomologist Shavonn R. Whiten, Ph.D., who translated her academic experience in vector-borne disease management into a career in public policy and international development. Learn what it takes to turn scientific training into real-world capacity building—and how Whiten made the leap.
Research News ›
Inducing Mosquitoes to Lay Eggs Aids in Insecticide Resistance Testing
Testing field-caught mosquitoes for insecticide resistance is a critical effort in the fight against malaria and other vector-borne diseases. Researchers in Thailand say a "forced oviposition" method has proven successful in inducing field-caught Anopheles mosquitoes to lay eggs and spawn lab populations big enough for insecticide-resistance testing.
Try as One Mite: New Guide Reviews Management for Little-Known Turfgrass Pests
Eriophyid mites are a challenging pest for turfgrass managers due to their small size and poorly understood biology. A new guide in the open-access Journal of Integrated Pest Management outlines what is known about eriophyid mites, available management options, and avenues for future research.
Inch by Inch, Fall Cankerworms Will Eat Your Trees
The fall cankerworm is a common, native defoliator of hardwood trees throughout North America. Prone to outbreaks, this insect can cause severe damage on trees and be a public nuisance. Landscape-level management is rarely necessary, but control measures may be worthwhile on individual trees.
New Study Revisits 2013 Pesticide Bee Kill in Oregon
In June 2013, a pesticide application on ornamental trees in a shopping-center parking lot in Wilsonville, Oregon, led to the largest documented mass fatality of bumble bees in North America. A new analysis of the incident estimates more than 100,000 bees from nearly 600 colonies were killed, which researchers cite as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pesticides to native bee populations.
The Entomology Profession ›
Mentoring Undergraduates: How to Be a Guide for Genuine Research Experiences
Many graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in entomology and other sciences are in position to mentor undergraduate students as they earn their early experiences in research settings. Here's advice on how to foster successful up-and-coming scientists.
IPM Packages Streamline Crop-Pest Solutions in Developing Countries
Integrated pest management pros working in developing countries are finding success with IPM "packages," which bundle a range of solutions for multiple crop pest issues, from the time of soil preparation to harvest and tailored to local conditions—making IPM adoption easier for farmers with limited training or resources.
A Proposal for Early Career Representation on the ESA Governing Board
This month, ESA members will vote on a proposal to add an Early Career Professional Representative to the ESA Governing Board. The chair of ESA's ECP Committee explains why this change could benefit ESA and entomology at large.
How Five Entomologists Advanced Their Careers at an ESA Annual Meeting
"It all started at an ESA Annual Meeting … ." With Entomology 2021 on the way, five entomologists share their stories of research and career advancements sparked by interactions at past ESA Annual Meetings—plus their advice for making the most of your time at a scientific conference.
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Passion or Profession? Mid-Career Reflections of a Medical Entomologist
Ary Faraji, Ph.D., BCE, traces his career arc from class clown to executive director of a major metropolitan mosquito control district. He credits his success to a willingness to take on new challenges, a focus on teamwork, and a passion for entomological adventures. Read Ary’s story and find out his advice for success in medical entomology.
In Search for Effective Cockroach Lures, Apple and Blueberry Come Out on Top
Monitoring for cockroach infestations in homes and buildings is hindered by a lack of effective and practical attractants, but researchers at Rutgers University say a mix of extracts from apple and blueberry has proven highly effective in lab and field settings and could lead to more successful cockroach integrated pest management programs.
New Citizen-Science Project Explores Little-Known Behavior in Monarch Butterflies
Think you know monarch butterflies? Think again! A gardener's observation has spurred a new study examining how and when monarchs feed on plants rich in compounds known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Surprisingly little is known about the behavior, and researchers are asking citizen scientists for help to learn more.
Reference Generators: An Entomology Student’s Review
As entomology students advance toward their degrees, the reference sections of their research papers grow and grow with each new project. One entomology graduate student tested out two free reference generator programs and offers her review of each.
Crowdsourced Photos Show Expanding Ranges for Ticks
Analysis of tick photos submitted to the TickSpotters program finds three tick species that transmit Lyme and other human diseases are present in hundreds of U.S. counties where previous surveillance had not yet documented them.
New Study Revisits 2013 Pesticide Bee Kill in Oregon
In June 2013, a pesticide application on ornamental trees in a shopping-center parking lot in Wilsonville, Oregon, led to the largest documented mass fatality of bumble bees in North America. A new analysis of the incident estimates more than 100,000 bees from nearly 600 colonies were killed, which researchers cite as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pesticides to native bee populations.
Believe It or Nut: Bugs Like Almonds, Too
A wide variety of insects in the order Hemiptera are known pests of almonds. A new guide in the open-access Journal of Integrated Pest Management details the biology, ecology, and management options for "true bugs" in almond orchards.
Superworms: The Bigger, Brawnier, Hungrier Cousins of Yellow Mealworms
Larvae of the darkling beetle species Zophobas morio have earned the nickname "superworms" for their larger size and increased nutritional potential as food and feed compared to yellow mealworms. And yet less research and regulatory consideration has focused on Z. morio, something a pair of researchers in Greece hope to change.
How One Scientist is Making Entomology a More Welcoming Place
Meet Avery Russell, entomologist and assistant professor at Missouri State University, behavioral and evolutionary ecologist, and subject of the next installment of our "Standout Early Career Professionals" series.