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.
A Day in the Life of an Urban Insect Ecologist
Meet Sarah Parsons, urban insect ecologist and Ph.D. candidate at NC State University. Parsons offers a glimpse into her work studying the mechanisms that drive urban ecosystems.
Mites Emerge as Key Vector in Encephalitis Outbreaks in India
Larval mites, known as "chiggers," from the family Trombiculidae are vectors of the bacteria that causes scrub typhus. The infection has been implicated as a common cause of acute encephalitis syndrome in India, where public health professionals are looking to better understand the variety of mite species present on rodents and their rates of infection.
Beyond the Honey Bee: How Pesticides Affect Solitary, Cavity-Nesting Bees
Solitary bees face different—and less well-understood—challenges from pesticide exposure than their colony-dwelling honey bee cousins. A pair of entomologists encourage colleagues to dedicate more research to these important pollinators.
Gut Microbes Can Help Insects Beat Pesticides
Insects have evolved a variety of mechanisms to try to overcome the effects of insecticides—including, in some cases, help from the bacteria and other microbes living in insects' guts. A growing number of studies indicate a link between symbiotic microbes and insecticide resistance in a diverse range of insects.
A Better Picture of Head-Lice Transmission, Aided by Math and a Fine-Toothed Comb
Researchers in Argentina compared mathematical models of head lice transmission with analysis of infestations in school children and found that head lice infestations across a classroom likely require at least one severely infested child serving as a "superspreader."
Mosquito Sculpture Delivers Entomology, STEAM Education at Maryland Middle School
Meet "Wiley" the mosquito, a sculpture at Bates Middle School in Annapolis, Maryland, part of a school-wide integrated education program supported by the Entomological Foundation.
Young Entomologist’s Project on Display at ESA Branch Meeting
Chloe Weingarten, 13, a budding entomologist from Rochester, Minnesota, presented her poster titled "Bee-searching for a solution: using an antifeedant to conserve bees" at the annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America's North Central Branch in March.
Landscape Terrain Provides New Angle for Measuring Tick Abundance
A study of lone star ticks in the forested Missouri Ozarks found that nymphs and adults were more abundant in valleys and on north-facing hills than in other areas. Meanwhile, nymphs appeared less often in the areas of greater temperature variability, while adults were less prevalent with increased elevation.
Study Shines a (Fluorescent) Light on Invasive Fruit Fly Trapping
To estimate the catch rate of traps for invasive spotted-wing drosophila fruit flies in tart cherry orchards, researchers at Michigan State University first marked thousands of flies with fluorescent dust and released them. Then they counted the recaptured flies under ultraviolet light.
Study Shows Common Fungicide Impairs Silkworm Silk Production
A study in Brazil finds that a common fungicide can impair the oxygen consumption and silk production of silkworms if applied to their preferred food source, mulberry leaves.
The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper: Hard to Miss, But Only an Occasional Pest
Despite its large size, often bold coloration, and ostentatious defensive behaviors, the eastern lubber grasshopper is harmless to humans and is only rarely a pest of concern to plants.
How One Entomologist Puts His Creative Side to Work
Edwin "Ted" R. Burgess, Ph.D., an entomologist at Norther Illinois University, says his favorite aspect of his entomological research is that it encourages creativity to solve difficult problems.
How Scratch-Off Cards Can Boost Learning in Entomology Extension
Immediate Feedback Assessment Technique scratch-off cards offer a low-tech (and low-budget) option for evaluation of participant knowledge and learning in entomology extension programs.
Bt Corn Adoption Benefits Other Crops, Too
A new study of 40 years' worth of data from the mid-Atlantic region of the United States finds that widespread adoption of insect-resistant Bt corn has reduced pest damage and the need for insecticide applications in offsite, non-Bt crops such as pepper, green beans, and sweet corn, as well.
Got Aphids? Call in the Reinforcements With Banker Plants
To manage pest infestations in greenhouses, banker plants draw in different insect species that don’t feed on the main crop but do serve as hosts for predator insects that will also attack the pest on the main crop—a useful (and green) tool for integrated pest management.
Amazing Insects ›
The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper: Hard to Miss, But Only an Occasional Pest
Despite its large size, often bold coloration, and ostentatious defensive behaviors, the eastern lubber grasshopper is harmless to humans and is only rarely a pest of concern to plants.
This is What 2,000 Termites Eating a Model House Looks Like
A visual analogy created by termite researcher Thomas Chouvenc, Ph.D., illustrates the damage termites can wreak upon a house. Given a small, two-dimensional wooden replica of a house (30x20 cm, 2 mm thick), a colony of 2,000 Formosan subterranean termites took only three weeks to consume it.
Tick Bites Tick: A Rare Case of Hard-Tick Hyperparasitism
A scanning electron micrograph shows an engorged female Ixodes angustus tick with a male I. angustus attached to its underside in typical feeding mode—a case of hyperparasitism presumed uncommon in the species.
Spotted Lanternfly: States Urge Citizens to Report Sightings of Invasive Insect Hitchhiker
First encountered in the United States in Pennsylvania in 2014, the spotted lanternfly had spread to New York, Delaware, and Virginia by early 2018. The invasive insect threatens Tree of Heaven as well as grapes, hops, and fruit trees, and it has a penchant for hitchhiking. Anyone sighting spotted lanternfly is urged to report it to their state agriculture department or local extension office.
Science Policy and Outreach ›
Mosquito Sculpture Delivers Entomology, STEAM Education at Maryland Middle School
Meet "Wiley" the mosquito, a sculpture at Bates Middle School in Annapolis, Maryland, part of a school-wide integrated education program supported by the Entomological Foundation.
How Bee Hotels Support Urban Pollinators and Educate Locals on One College Campus
Bee hotels provide nesting habitat for a range of native, solitary, cavity-nesting bees. At North Carolina State University, several bee hotels installed on campus support local pollinators and are accompanied with information for campus residents about native bees and the important role they play.
Spotted Lanternfly: States Urge Citizens to Report Sightings of Invasive Insect Hitchhiker
First encountered in the United States in Pennsylvania in 2014, the spotted lanternfly had spread to New York, Delaware, and Virginia by early 2018. The invasive insect threatens Tree of Heaven as well as grapes, hops, and fruit trees, and it has a penchant for hitchhiking. Anyone sighting spotted lanternfly is urged to report it to their state agriculture department or local extension office.
Mary Roach: A “Gateway Drug” for Science
Highlights of the 2017 Annual Meeting Plenary Session with Mary Roach and Gwen Pearson
Research News ›
Mites Emerge as Key Vector in Encephalitis Outbreaks in India
Larval mites, known as "chiggers," from the family Trombiculidae are vectors of the bacteria that causes scrub typhus. The infection has been implicated as a common cause of acute encephalitis syndrome in India, where public health professionals are looking to better understand the variety of mite species present on rodents and their rates of infection.
Beyond the Honey Bee: How Pesticides Affect Solitary, Cavity-Nesting Bees
Solitary bees face different—and less well-understood—challenges from pesticide exposure than their colony-dwelling honey bee cousins. A pair of entomologists encourage colleagues to dedicate more research to these important pollinators.
Gut Microbes Can Help Insects Beat Pesticides
Insects have evolved a variety of mechanisms to try to overcome the effects of insecticides—including, in some cases, help from the bacteria and other microbes living in insects' guts. A growing number of studies indicate a link between symbiotic microbes and insecticide resistance in a diverse range of insects.
A Better Picture of Head-Lice Transmission, Aided by Math and a Fine-Toothed Comb
Researchers in Argentina compared mathematical models of head lice transmission with analysis of infestations in school children and found that head lice infestations across a classroom likely require at least one severely infested child serving as a "superspreader."
The Entomology Profession ›
A Day in the Life of an Urban Insect Ecologist
Meet Sarah Parsons, urban insect ecologist and Ph.D. candidate at NC State University. Parsons offers a glimpse into her work studying the mechanisms that drive urban ecosystems.
Young Entomologist’s Project on Display at ESA Branch Meeting
Chloe Weingarten, 13, a budding entomologist from Rochester, Minnesota, presented her poster titled "Bee-searching for a solution: using an antifeedant to conserve bees" at the annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America's North Central Branch in March.
How One Entomologist Puts His Creative Side to Work
Edwin "Ted" R. Burgess, Ph.D., an entomologist at Norther Illinois University, says his favorite aspect of his entomological research is that it encourages creativity to solve difficult problems.
How Scratch-Off Cards Can Boost Learning in Entomology Extension
Immediate Feedback Assessment Technique scratch-off cards offer a low-tech (and low-budget) option for evaluation of participant knowledge and learning in entomology extension programs.
Get Certified!
Spotted Lanternfly: States Urge Citizens to Report Sightings of Invasive Insect Hitchhiker
First encountered in the United States in Pennsylvania in 2014, the spotted lanternfly had spread to New York, Delaware, and Virginia by early 2018. The invasive insect threatens Tree of Heaven as well as grapes, hops, and fruit trees, and it has a penchant for hitchhiking. Anyone sighting spotted lanternfly is urged to report it to their state agriculture department or local extension office.
Got Aphids? Call in the Reinforcements With Banker Plants
To manage pest infestations in greenhouses, banker plants draw in different insect species that don’t feed on the main crop but do serve as hosts for predator insects that will also attack the pest on the main crop—a useful (and green) tool for integrated pest management.
Brown Recluse: Pest Management Tips for the Spider That’s Not as Common as You Think
Sightings of the brown recluse are rare outside its known range, but if its presence is confirmed, here's what to do about it.
The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper: Hard to Miss, But Only an Occasional Pest
Despite its large size, often bold coloration, and ostentatious defensive behaviors, the eastern lubber grasshopper is harmless to humans and is only rarely a pest of concern to plants.
How Bee Hotels Support Urban Pollinators and Educate Locals on One College Campus
Bee hotels provide nesting habitat for a range of native, solitary, cavity-nesting bees. At North Carolina State University, several bee hotels installed on campus support local pollinators and are accompanied with information for campus residents about native bees and the important role they play.
Mites Emerge as Key Vector in Encephalitis Outbreaks in India
Larval mites, known as "chiggers," from the family Trombiculidae are vectors of the bacteria that causes scrub typhus. The infection has been implicated as a common cause of acute encephalitis syndrome in India, where public health professionals are looking to better understand the variety of mite species present on rodents and their rates of infection.
Study Offers Further Evidence of Bed Bugs’ Ability to Transmit Chagas Disease Pathogen
Researchers at New Mexico State University have found that bed bugs are capable of hosting the pathogen that causes Chagas disease for up to 97 days, and the pathogen can persist even through the bed bug's molting process.
A New Tool for Picking the Right Pesticide for an IPM Program
A new "IPM Criteria Guidance Document" provides integrated pest management professionals, extension entomologists, and growers a common set of criteria to compare pesticides and make a selection based on compatibility within a given IPM plan.
How an “Insect Ecologist at Heart” Got Focused on Pest Management Research
Lauren Diepenbrock, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University and soon to be an assistant professor at the University of Florida, says she enjoys "figuring out how insects, particularly invasive species, make use of the available resources to be successful."