

Rising Temps Put Foraging Bees at Risk of Overheating
The more pollen a bumble bee carries, the higher its body temperature rises, a new study confirms. As average temperatures rise amid climate change, bees and their pollination services in natural ecosystems could be threatened.

Hot Competition: Climate Change, Invasive Fly Displace a Native Blueberry Pest
Life cycle traits give the invasive spotted-wing drosophila a competitive edge over the native blueberry maggot fly—and also make it harder for growers to manage. That advantage will only grow as temperatures rise, a new study shows.

International Cooperation Boosts Prep for Invasive Insects Before They Arrive
New research shows how emphasizing collaboration and local knowledge in China can advance preparation for responding to invasive insects that could threaten North American tree species.

How One Urban Entomologist Persisted Through Pandemic Challenges
Meet entomologist Sang-Bin Lee, Ph.D., a postdoctoral scientist at the University of Florida, termite expert, national park explorer, and subject of the next installment of our "Standout Early Career Professionals" series.
Amazing Insects ›


Spider Solidarity: Scientists Discover New Species With Unprecedented Social Behavior
Sociality in spiders is quite rare, but a new species found in Madagascar takes it a step further. Isoxya manangona kite spiders build large colonies of webs, all connected by a central silk line where multiple adult males gather harmoniously. Researchers suggest the males could be "lekking," gathering in a group to perform mating displays for females, a behavior never before seen in spiders.

In Defense of Clothes Moths, Marvels of Evolution
Though they cause headaches for dining on your wardrobe, webbing clothes moths are unique creatures with fascinating specialized biology. They can eat hair and metabolize their own water. They can chew through plastic and digest mercury. And that's not all. An entomologist studying these moths makes a case for appreciating their evolutionary feats.

Brown Widow Spiders’ Aggression Likely Driver of Black Widow Decline
Black widow spiders have earned a fearsome reputation for their venomous bite. But in parts of the southern U.S. these spiders have much to fear themselves—from spider relatives who really don't like their company. A new study shows that brown widow spiders, of a species in the same genus, have a striking propensity to seek out and kill nearby black widows.

Nitro-Nosh: Why Termites’ Molted Exoskeletons Never Go to Waste
Termites' wood-heavy diet offers little nitrogen, a critical nutrient for growth and reproduction. But their exoskeletons are nitrogen rich, and new research shows that eating shed exoskeletons after molting is a core strategy for recycling nitrogen throughout the termite colony and boosting the queen's egg-laying.
Science Policy and Outreach ›


Tick Blitz: How Community Science is Helping New York State Monitor Ticks
With a little bit of training, 59 citizen scientists in New York collected more than 3,700 ticks across 15 counties in a two-week period in the summer of 2021, greatly expanding the reach of professional tick researchers at the Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases. The "New York State Tick Blitz" is now an annual project and a model that tick-surveillance programs elsewhere can follow.

Why Entomology Students Should Get Active in Education and Outreach
Getting people excited about insect science and inspiring the next generation of entomologists are worthy goals on their own, but leading education and outreach programs can be a valuable professional experience for any entomology student, as well. One entomology master's student shares her experience and advice on getting involved in community education and outreach.

An Entomologist’s Guide to the Convention on Biological Diversity
Entomologist Emily Sandall, Ph.D., reports her perspectives from attending the most recent meeting of the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. It's a critical international effort to preserve Earth's biodiversity, but insects at times take a backseat to other fauna in the negotiations.

CDC Internship, Fellowship Program Enlightens Mentors and Mentees Alike
The first cohort of interns, fellows, and mentors in ESA and CDC's Public Health Entomology for All program are learning from each other and looking at public health entomology in a new light.
Research News ›


Hot Competition: Climate Change, Invasive Fly Displace a Native Blueberry Pest
Life cycle traits give the invasive spotted-wing drosophila a competitive edge over the native blueberry maggot fly—and also make it harder for growers to manage. That advantage will only grow as temperatures rise, a new study shows.

International Cooperation Boosts Prep for Invasive Insects Before They Arrive
New research shows how emphasizing collaboration and local knowledge in China can advance preparation for responding to invasive insects that could threaten North American tree species.

For Large-Scale Pest Insect Detection, Traps in Parallel Lines More Efficient Than Grids
Detecting pest insects across large areas means placing vast numbers of traps, with associated costs to set them up and check them regularly. Grid patterns have been the traditional choice, but a new study shows trap-placement patterns using parallel lines could be just as effective with much lower servicing requirements.

Tick Blitz: How Community Science is Helping New York State Monitor Ticks
With a little bit of training, 59 citizen scientists in New York collected more than 3,700 ticks across 15 counties in a two-week period in the summer of 2021, greatly expanding the reach of professional tick researchers at the Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases. The "New York State Tick Blitz" is now an annual project and a model that tick-surveillance programs elsewhere can follow.
The Entomology Profession ›


International Cooperation Boosts Prep for Invasive Insects Before They Arrive
New research shows how emphasizing collaboration and local knowledge in China can advance preparation for responding to invasive insects that could threaten North American tree species.

How One Urban Entomologist Persisted Through Pandemic Challenges
Meet entomologist Sang-Bin Lee, Ph.D., a postdoctoral scientist at the University of Florida, termite expert, national park explorer, and subject of the next installment of our "Standout Early Career Professionals" series.

For Large-Scale Pest Insect Detection, Traps in Parallel Lines More Efficient Than Grids
Detecting pest insects across large areas means placing vast numbers of traps, with associated costs to set them up and check them regularly. Grid patterns have been the traditional choice, but a new study shows trap-placement patterns using parallel lines could be just as effective with much lower servicing requirements.

Curious About Edible Insects? There’s a Free Online Course for That
The first-ever massive open online course (MOOC) on edible insects was launched in March, based on one entomologist's popular university course. Learn more about the development of the "Edible Insects" MOOC and what it offers to online learners around the world.
In Defense of Clothes Moths, Marvels of Evolution
Though they cause headaches for dining on your wardrobe, webbing clothes moths are unique creatures with fascinating specialized biology. They can eat hair and metabolize their own water. They can chew through plastic and digest mercury. And that’s not all. An entomologist studying these moths makes a case for appreciating their evolutionary feats.
Another Non-Native Mosquito Species Adds to Growing List in Florida
Mosquito researchers in Florida report the presence in the state of Culex lactator, a species previously known from Central and South America. The arrival adds to the growing list of non-native mosquito species finding their way into Florida—a worrying trend for public-health entomologists.
Next Time You Eat a Kiwifruit, Don’t Thank a Bee
Honey bees and bumble bees excel at pollinating wide varieties of plants and crops, but kiwifruit is not one of them. A study investigating kiwifruit pollination methods found fruit developed on barely 3 percent of bee-pollinated flowers, leaving artificial pollination (by human hand) as the primary choice for kiwifruit growers.
Mosquito Migration: Study Finds More High-Altitude Dispersal of Disease Vectors in Africa
Following the discovery that mosquitoes can ride high-altitude winds to travel long distances, further research is adding to both the scope and variety of species engaged in such migrations—factors sure to complicate efforts to curb transmission of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases in Africa.
Is This Non-Native Mason Bee an Invasive Species?
What makes a non-native species "invasive"? And can a typically beneficial insect like a bee be deemed a threat to native species? Researchers explore these questions in a new review of the expansion of the non-native mason bee Osmia taurus since its U.S. arrival in 2002 and its effects on closely related native species.
What’s in a Nest: Scavenger Turns Major Pest in Chicken Houses
Lesser mealworm beetles (Alphitobius diaperinus) evolved to live in bird nests, and in broiler chicken houses their populations explode. A new pest profile in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management outlines why lesser mealworms are exceptionally challenging to manage in chicken houses and identifies key research needs for future progress.
Nitro-Nosh: Why Termites’ Molted Exoskeletons Never Go to Waste
Termites' wood-heavy diet offers little nitrogen, a critical nutrient for growth and reproduction. But their exoskeletons are nitrogen rich, and new research shows that eating shed exoskeletons after molting is a core strategy for recycling nitrogen throughout the termite colony and boosting the queen's egg-laying.
The State of Insect Resistance to Transgenic Bt Crops
Crops engineered to produce insecticidal proteins from the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have had many noteworthy successes in the past 25 years, but resistance to Bt crops has evolved in numerous instances, as well. A new research review examines global patterns of resistance to Bt crops and outlines strategies for maximizing sustainability of this important tool for pest management.
Honey Bee Virus Found in Mosquitoes
While analyzing genetic signatures of microbes found in mosquitoes, researchers in Canada were surprised to find black queen cell virus, a common scourge of honey bees. The mosquitoes likely acquired it while foraging for nectar at the same plants as bees, but it's unclear if mosquitoes have any role in spreading it among bees.