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.
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.
Coffee berry borer is a key threat to Hawaiian coffee production. A new study shows that frequent harvesting, while more labor intensive than frequent pesticide applications, is worth the effort, resulting in higher yields, better-quality coffee, and greater profits for growers.
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.
Arthropods that aren't of medical or economic concern can often still be a nuisance in homes, but they're comparatively under-studied. New research on such "nuisance arthropods" in homes shows the utility of sticky traps in detection—and stark differences in what residents might report observing versus the arthropods that are actually there.
