New Method Makes for Faster Genetic ID of Eastern U.S. Termites
With multiple species of termites responsible for structural damage in the U.S., rapid identification is a critical part of management efforts. A team of researchers has developed a faster ID method that uses a genetic tool called inter-simple sequence repeats.
Where Dung Beetles Perch Says a Lot About Community Evolution
Research on dung beetle behavior shows many species, especially smaller ones, choose a "sit and wait" strategy for finding food, while only larger ones actively search for food by following animals. A pair of biologists suggest this behavior is a resource-partitioning strategy to reduce competition for scarce food.
Pierce’s Disease: Areawide Project Shows IPM Success for 20 Years
A new case study in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management chronicles the challenges and successes of a two-decade effort to manage the glassy-winged sharpshooter and the bacterial disease it spreads in California vineyards.
Can Cuticle Compounds Be Extracted From Insects Preserved in Ethanol?
Researchers studying hydrocarbons in insect cuticles typically avoid specimens preserved in ethanol, for fear the solvent may interfere with chemical analysis. A new study, however, finds ethanol has little effect—at least in the case of one wasp species tested—and opens the possibility that ethanol-preserved insects can indeed be used for the analysis of cuticular chemical compounds.