Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) featured prominently in Entomology Today and ESA’s most-read content in 2019. Photo credit: Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org.

As 2019 draws to a close, we want to take a moment to look back at our best-read posts on Entomology Today (and perhaps give you some reading for the year-end holiday break). Below, we take a look back at what got the most buzz this year, both here on the blog and on ESA’s social media channels. We’ll also list the top five research articles in ESA’s family of journals based on their Altmetrics scores.

After some time off for the holidays, we’ll be back beginning January 6. As always, thanks for reading. See you in 2020!

2019’s Top 10 Most Viewed Entomology Today Posts

(Among posts published in 2019)

Fossilized Insect Discovered Not in Amber, But in Opal

An opal discovered in Indonesia exhibits a rare inclusion: a preserved insect embedded within.

An Inside Look at How the Varroa Mite's True Diet Was Discovered

Some researchers willing to question conventional wisdom, some crafty experimentation, and some high-tech microscopic imagery all add up to a discovery about the Varroa destructor mite that upends years of understanding about how it parasitizes honey bees.

How Milkweed Location Influences Monarch Egg-Laying and Survival

A study examining monarch butterflies' preferences for laying eggs on milkweed in cropland, open ground, or prairie—as well as predation rates on eggs in those settings—offers some mixed signals for monarch-conservation efforts.

Large-Scale Study Points to Simpler Trap for Monitoring Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs

Tested in more than 100 locations across the U.S., a clear sticky-panel trap proves effective in attracting brown marmorated stink bugs, putting an easier-to-use tool in the hands of growers and IPM professionals for monitoring populations of the invasive pest.

Colony Size Drives Honey Bees' Overwinter Survival

Research in Pennsylvania shows that overall colony weight and the number of worker bees to be the leading factors in determining overwintering survival of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies. For colonies in which the combined weight of adult bees, brood, and food stores exceeded 30 kilograms, overwinter survival rates were about 94 percent.

Spotted Lanternfly: Large Potential Range in U.S. and Beyond

A new study published today in the Journal of Economic Entomology models potential suitable habitat for the invasive spotted lanternfly and shows large swaths of the United States and beyond are likely to be vulnerable should the spotted lanternfly continue to spread.

Yellowjackets: A Look at Opportunistic Raiders of Honey Bee Hives

Yellowjackets are nuisance predators of honey bees, preying on them and pillaging their honey. But bees fight back, and healthy hives are rarely at risk. Learn more about yellowjackets, their interactions with bees, and what sets yellowjackets apart from hornets and other fellow wasps.

Survey Shines Light on Beekeepers' Efforts to Manage Varroa Mites

Nonchemical Varroa-management methods are more common among small-scale beekeepers, but chemical varroacides show wide use among all types.

Not a Kissing Bug: Invasive Western Conifer-Seed Bug Causes Undue Alarm

As the western conifer-seed bug has arrived in South America, its resemblance to kissing bugs has caused a stir, as members of the public have readily mistaken the two. Researchers in Chile recommend accessible identification keys and educational materials to better inform both health professionals and the public.

Impact of Invasive Japanese Barberry Cascades Through Local Food Webs

Dense thickets of invasive Japanese barberry significantly reduce the diversity and numbers of insects and arthropods in forests, according to new research. The ripple effects can extend upward throughout local ecosystems, even affecting human health via an increased presence of Lyme disease.

2019’s Top 5 Evergreen Entomology Today Posts

(Most views in 2019 for posts published in a previous year)

Mosquito Hawk? Skeeter Eater? Giant Mosquito? No, No, and No

August 17, 2015

Insect Identification: Experts and Guides to ID That Bug You Found

So, you want to know what that bug is. Here at the Entomological Society of America, we know the experts. Check out this list for a variety of resources for bug and insect identification.

How to Keep Honey Bees from Nesting in your Home

Structures, buildings, and other objects that provide shelter on a property can become new homes for bee colonies. Some prevention tips.

How to Survive a Massive Mayfly Swarm

Late spring and early summer there is a short-lived but massive mayfly invasion. Millions and millions of the fluttering insects rise up from the lake and into the air in thick clouds.

The Spotted Lanternfly: An Invasive Insect that is Beautiful but Threatening

This insect is not a fly -- it's a planthopper in the family Fulgoridae. The spotted lanternfly is native to Asia, and it is known to attack many different plants, including grapes, apples, fruit trees, ornamental trees, and pines

2019’s Top ESA Social Media Posts

(Both of ESA’s top social media posts in 2019 related to Entomologist Barbie, so below we’ve shared the @EntsocAmerica tweet with the most impressions and the ESA Facebook Page post with the second most impressions in 2019.)

There is going to be an Entomologist Barbie.

“Barbie And National Geographic Announce Global Licensing Agreement”https://t.co/KH5m0ATrxo pic.twitter.com/aRBKSmMDES

— Entomological Society of America (@EntsocAmerica) February 1, 2019

2019’s Top ESA Journal Article Altmetric Scores

(Highest scores on Altmetrics as of December 18, 2019, for articles published in 2019 in the ESA family of journals)