Nitro-Nosh: Why Termites’ Molted Exoskeletons Never Go to Waste
Termites' wood-heavy diet offers little nitrogen, a critical nutrient for growth and reproduction. But their exoskeletons are nitrogen rich, and new research shows that eating shed exoskeletons after molting is a core strategy for recycling nitrogen throughout the termite colony and boosting the queen's egg-laying.
For Ash-Dependent Insects, Some Plants Make Good Alternatives—But Others Don’t
With ash trees decimated by the emerald ash borer, where do other insects that depend on ash go? A new study shows landscape managers that choosing the right replacements for ash is critical for such ash-reliant native insects.
Why Larvae of One Wasp Species Often Eat Their Siblings
Sibling rivalry takes a grim turn in the parasitoid wasp species Isodontia harmandi, as larvae commonly cannibalize their nest mates. A new study suggests the stronger larvae eat their siblings both to grab an easy meal and to reduce competition for the food provided by their mother.
New Meta-Analysis Examines How Landscape Fire Smoke Affects Insects
Research has found a variety of impacts on insects, both positive and negative, caused by smoke from wildfires and prescribed burns, but a new review of past studies shows we have much to learn.