Closeup of a elm zigzag sawfly larva, light green and slightly translucent in color, feeding on a green leaf. The larva has eaten a gap into the leaf from the edge that is roughly the shape of the larva but wider. The leaf and sawfly are photographed against a white background.

Here We Go Again: Meet the Elm Zigzag Sawfly, Another Non-Native Forest Pest

The elm zigzag sawfly (Aproceros leucopoda) is now established in several places in North America. This non-native forest pest can be a threat to elm species and hybrids and is capable of large defoliation events. Will it turn into a full-blown invasive species, or simply co-exist with native herbivores in natural and urban forests? At this point, we don't know. A new review highlights elm zigzag sawfly biology, ecology, and management strategies in the U.S.

Side-by-side image of a honey bee (left) and bumble bee (right). The honey bee is perched on a white flower in front of a blurry green background. The bumble bee is perched on a yellow flower against a similar background.

Do Common Methods for Protecting Bees From Pesticides Actually Work?

Responsible use of pesticides includes striving to avoid negative effects on the environment, often with an emphasis on protecting bees and other pollinators. A new study, however, finds that many common methods for minimizing pesticides' impact on bees—even some recommendations on product labels—are backed by minimal scientific evidence.

Overhead view looking into a cylindrical container with thousands of newly emerged mosquitoes.

New Study Improves Sterile Insect Technique for Mosquitoes

Researchers in Florida find that male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes live longer when irradiated as adults rather than pupae, an important advance in protocols for deploying the sterile insect technique to manage wild populations of disease-transmitting mosquitoes.