The latest news about entomology, brought to you by the Entomological Society of America
By Hannah Foster The onset of spring and summer means barbecues, camping, hiking, and a plethora of other outdoor activities. However, warmer weather also means ticks. Tick bites spread numerous pathogens that can cause serious diseases. Among these pathogens is the bacterial species Borrelia burgdorferi. The blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) carries and transmits B. burgdorferi […]
By Hannah Foster Lyme disease is a potentially debilitating disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The disease is spread to humans by two tick varieties: the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), which is responsible for most cases of Lyme disease in the United States, and the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus), the culprit for cases […]
By Meredith Swett Walker If you have lived in the northeastern United States any time in the last 25 years or so, you have almost certainly heard of Lyme disease. You may have scrutinized odd-looking insect bites, wondering if they are developing the disease’s tell-tale “bulls-eye” rash. And you may have become skilled at distinguishing […]
By Hannah Foster Upon hearing the words “Lyme disease,” most people think of two things: ticks and deer. Although these are certainly important aspects of the disease, ticks and deer are only two pieces of the puzzle. Lyme disease is actually extremely complicated, and its spread is affected by a wide range of organisms. Knowing […]
Birds are more important than previously recognized as hosts for Lyme disease-causing bacteria, according to a recent study published in the journal PLOS ONE. The bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is responsible for Lyme disease, was known to be carried by white-footed mice, wood rats, western gray squirrels, and other small mammals, but fewer studies have […]
