How Some Insects Turn Plants Into Pollution Detectors
A wide variety of insects cause their host plants to form protective galls. These abnormal growths are rich in nutrients—as well as contaminants the plant might absorb from the soil. New research shows these insect-induced galls can double as highly sensitive pollution detectors.
Desert Decomposers: The Insects That Thrive in Decaying Cacti
In arid ecosystems, cacti are primary resources for insects and arthropods that depend on dead or decaying wood. A new review explores this relationship and its ecological implications.
Stink Bug Saliva: A Potent Mix to Bypass Plant Defenses
The biochemical conflict between plants and the insects that eat them is vastly complex, as illustrated by new research identifying nearly 700 proteins in the saliva of just five stink bug species, many of which play potential roles in suppressing or deactivating plants' own chemical defenses.
Even on Farms, Bees Look For a Balanced Diet
A study of managed bumble bees and honey bees on a blueberry farm finds that most of the pollen they collect comes from other plants, suggesting that supplementing crops with a diversity of nearby plant types makes for healthier bees.