White Fringetrees Likely to Withstand Attacks by Emerald Ash Borer
Though found to be a secondary host of invasive emerald ash borers in North America in 2014, white fringetrees are more likely than ash trees to survive infestation by the beetles, according to a new study by researchers at Wright State University.
Alfalfa Leafcutting Bees Like Nests That Face North, Study Shows
An experiment with four-sided nest boxes for alfalfa leafcutting bees showed small variations in environmental conditions from one nest-cavity location to another make a big difference in the bees' nesting preferences and number of offspring.
Study Shows How Prescribed Burns Benefit Bees
Freshly burned longleaf pine forests have more than double the total number of bees and bee species than similar forests that have not burned in over 50 years, according to new research from North Carolina State University.
New Study Helps California’s Bumble Bees by Identifying Their Favorite Flowers
Research in the Sierra Nevada region of California illustrates the varying flower choices of bumble bees: The five most common bumble bee species studied each selected a different assortment of flowers, and each selected at least one flower species not selected by the others. The findings are already being put to use in forest restoration efforts to increase and improve quality of bumble bee habitat.
Rising Temperatures Could Stunt Growth, Threaten Survival of Common Damselfly
In the wetlands of the southern plains of the United States, the damselfly Enallagma civile thrives, but a new study shows rising temperatures could affect the growth, development, and survival of the species in the region.
Some Pollinators Swipe Right on Annual Ornamental Flowers
Floral features and environmental context influence generalist pollinators’ attraction to annual ornamental plants, which could help balance the needs of humans and pollinators.
Spotted-Wing Drosophila: New Seasonal Activity Model Will Aid IPM Efforts
Seven years' worth of trapping data for the invasive spotted-wing drosophila in Michigan offer an enhanced view of the pest's seasonal activity and abundance patterns, a boon for fruit growers and integrated pest management pros in temperate regions.
How Ticks Hide in Plain Sight From Predatory Fire Ants
Though tick populations tend to decrease in areas where predatory ants are present, a new study reveals that it's not because the ants prey on the ticks. In fact, predatory ants such as fire ants ignore ticks completely.
For Less Bee Bycatch, Leave Geraniol Out of Japanese Beetle Traps
New research shows traps with eugenol and phenethyl propionate—and leaving out geraniol—remain effective in catching Japanese beetles but significantly reduce bycatch of native bees. Plus, entirely green, brown, black, or red traps are least attractive to native bees.
Impact of Invasive Japanese Barberry Cascades Through Local Food Webs
Dense thickets of invasive Japanese barberry significantly reduce the diversity and numbers of insects and arthropods in forests, according to new research. The ripple effects can extend upward throughout local ecosystems, even affecting human health via an increased presence of Lyme disease.
Research That’s For the Birds: Grazed Land Increases Insect Food Supply for Sage Grouse
A recent Environmental Entomology study sheds new light on how insects fit into the puzzle of sage grouse—and rangeland—conservation.
How Milkweed Location Influences Monarch Egg-Laying and Survival
A study examining monarch butterflies' preferences for laying eggs on milkweed in cropland, open ground, or prairie—as well as predation rates on eggs in those settings—offers some mixed signals for monarch-conservation efforts.
Mixing Lawn Grass Varieties Could Trim Fall Armyworm Infestations
A simple change in the choice of grass varieties for lawns of St. Augustinegrass could be a key tool for fending off fall armyworm infestations, according to new research. While no single St. Augustinegrass cultivar rises above the rest in resisting infestation, mixing varieties may confer some benefits, as fall armyworms clearly preferred single-cultivar plantings in a series of lab tests.
Road Trip: How Hive Transportation Puts Stress on Honey Bees
Honey bees are in high demand for pollinating crops, and hives are often trucked thousands of miles a year to serve different crops in different regions and seasons. But researchers say honey bees show signs of stress from all that travel.
Pollen Sleuths: Tracking Pesticides in Honey Bee Pollen to Their Source Plant
When pesticides show up in the pollen that honey bees collect, can the source plant be pinpointed? A new study is the first to successfully combine chemical analysis of pollen and the keen eye of a palynologist—an expert in identifying pollen microscopically—to track pesticide in bee-collected pollen to a source plant genus.
How Common are Wolbachia and Other Bacteria in Insects?
New research on bacterial endosymbionts in insects suggests that such bacteria may infect a wide variety of insect species but a low proportion of individuals within those species.