The Curious Case of the Spiders in the Ant-Acacia Mutualisms
Deep in the Panamanian rain forest, researchers document two species of orb-weaver spiders that have inserted themselves into the typically two-way relationship between certain ant colonies and the acacia plants they live in.
Volcanic Rock Yields a New Kind of Insecticide for Mosquitoes
A derivative of volcanic rock called perlite shows effectiveness as a mechanical insecticide against Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. The substance is believed to act by causing dehydration in the mosquitoes.
Crowdsourced Surveillance Program Improves Public Understanding of Tickborne Diseases
A study evaluating tick identification via photos submitted to public health labs finds that IDs of the three most medically important tick species were correct more than 98 percent of the time.
Digging Deep: The Secrets Within Termite Nests
A researcher studying termites' digging techniques says that understanding individual roles in collective activities can shine a light on the evolution of such behavior and how social insects perform simple tasks to ultimately construct complex structures.