Entomologists at Purdue University have developed a reliable and cost-effective scouting technique for striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) in watermelon fields. Researchers working with watermelon growers say the method could significantly reduce the unnecessary use of insecticides to manage the pest.
A bed bug infestation hadn't been seen in Costa Rica since the late 1990s—until now. Researchers at the University of Costa Rica have confirmed that specimens collected from a home near San Jose in 2017 are indeed bed bugs and, surprisingly, of the temperate-zone species Cimex lectularius and not the tropical bed bug, Cimex hemipterus.
A trailblazer for women in forestry, the U.S. Forest Service's Iral Ragenovich has worked on managing more than a dozen different forest pests in her 46-year career. Get to know Ragenovich in the next installment in Entomology Today's "Behind the Science" series.
The wheat bug Nysius huttoni is a significant pest of wheat and cereal crops as well as a variety of brassica plants, and it is widely distributed in New Zealand. In a new profile in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management, two New Zealand researchers offer guidance on IPM practices for managing the wheat bug while minimizing potential nontarget impacts.
The Kamehameha butterfly, once widespread across its native Hawai'i, has been displaced by human incursion to its habitat. The Hawai'i Invertebrate Program is on a mission to bring the butterfly and its host plants back to their former glory.
Though studied for decades as a model organism, the tobacco hornworm's lack of silk production has never been thoroughly researched, until now. A team of researchers combining high-tech microscopic imaging with genomic techniques have captured in new detail the caterpillar's first instar silk-producing anatomy and subsequent loss of that capability as it molts to later instars.
Grayson Brown, Ph.D., executive director of the Puerto Rico Vector Control Unit and a past president of the Entomological Society of America, reports that conditions in Puerto Rico are ripe for a potential dengue outbreak, as recent earthquakes have driven residents out of their homes, increasing their exposure to mosquitoes. The PRVCU is working with ESA and other organizations to quickly procure approximately 5,000 bed nets to help protect residents from mosquitoes.
In the wetlands of the southern plains of the United States, the damselfly Enallagma civile thrives, but a new study shows rising temperatures could affect the growth, development, and survival of the species in the region.
Researchers used CRISPR to cut out major wing patterning genes in Heliconius butterflies and discovered there's more than one pathway to rewind evolutionary time in butterfly co-mimics.
The documentary film about entomologists Charlie and Lois O'Brien, who donated their 1.25 million-specimen insect collection to Arizona State University in 2017, will be screened for attendees at Entomology 2019 in November. The film's directors spoke with Entomology Today about the documentary, the messages it shares, and what they learned about entomology along the way.
Seven years' worth of trapping data for the invasive spotted-wing drosophila in Michigan offer an enhanced view of the pest's seasonal activity and abundance patterns, a boon for fruit growers and integrated pest management pros in temperate regions.
A new report in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management shows that a beetle species released into the wild as a natural enemy of the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid appears to be successfully establishing in urban environments in addition to forest settings.
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.
Though tick populations tend to decrease in areas where predatory ants are present, a new study reveals that it's not because the ants prey on the ticks. In fact, predatory ants such as fire ants ignore ticks completely.
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.
Native to Central and South America, the conehead termite has been found in just two places in the United States: Dania Beach and Pompano Beach, Florida. A new genetic analysis of these two populations suggests they arose from a single invasion.
At every career stage, we need mentors to help us improve our personal and professional skillsets and provide insights on areas such as research, teaching, time management, writing, and more. Entomology Ph.D. candidate Jocelyn Holt shares tips on how to find, identify, and begin a working relationship with a career mentor.