Another Pest of Pollinators: Small Hive Beetle Management in Honey Bee Colonies
Small hive beetles (Aethina tumida) can cause substantial damage in commercial honey bee colonies in North America. Both larval and adult beetles consume hive products and honey bee eggs and larvae, creating a slimy waste in the process. A new guide discusses the biology and management of these pests and highlights current gaps in our knowledge.
Snow-Covered Tires Help Invasive Mosquitoes Survive Cold Winters
Abandoned car tires are known for providing attractive egg-laying sites for mosquitoes, but new research shows that tires—especially when covered in snow—also insulate mosquito eggs from harsh winter temperatures.
How a PCR Test (and Some Mouthwash) Could Nab an Invasive Fruit Fly
Detecting the presence of the invasive spotted-wing drosophila could soon get easier with a new molecular test for analyzing DNA in bulk trapping samples—sensitive enough to sniff out just one target fruit fly in a sample of 2,000. And the best liquid for preserving trapped flies' DNA comes from the dental-care shelf.
Effective Management Remains Elusive for Beetle That Eats Almost Anything
The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) is a widely known invasive species in North America. Adults feed on more than 300 plant species and can be downright difficult to manage. A new guide in the open-access Journal of Integrated Pest Management reviews their invasion history, ecology, and management.