Do You Know the Harlequin Bug’s Favorite Color?
By Josh Lancette Ever wondered what a harlequin bug’s favorite color is? Some researchers from Virginia Tech and the USDA-Agricultural Research Service now have an answer. To help improve trapping […]
Search Continues for Methods to Control Fungus-Farming Beetle in SoCal Trees
By Meredith Swett Walker A spate of tree deaths in California has arborists, park managers, and home owners alarmed. Keen-eyed tree caretakers might notice a cluster of tiny holes in […]
Odorant Receptor Gene in Codling Moth Also Affects Egg Production
A funny thing happened on the way to testing the CpomOR1 odorant receptor. Researchers at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service conducted an experiment on codling moth (Cydia pomonella) using the CRISPR/Cas9 […]
The Potential U.S. Economic Cost of a New Sweetgum-Killing Pest
It’s never too early to work toward preventing the arrival of a potentially destructive invasive species. That’s why researchers at the University of Florida have developed a model to estimate […]
Line Trapping: A Promising Method for More Accurate Pest Monitoring
It’s easy to think of a pheromone trap as a lure, putting out a scent and waiting for insects to come rolling in. But insects aren’t sharks; they don’t sense […]
UV Light Best for Luring Cigarette and Drugstore Beetles
By Edward Ricciuti Their common names—cigarette beetle and drugstore beetle—only hint at the amazingly eclectic and destructive diet of two related insects, which can wreak havoc on products stored in […]
Olive Tree is Second Non-Ash Species Found Vulnerable to Emerald Ash Borer
Last fall, researchers at Wright State University announced they had found that emerald ash borer can develop from larvae to adulthood on a species of olive tree. Today, that study […]
Bursting With Babies: Bizarre Reproduction Contributes to Mite’s Rapid Population Growth
Imagine being full of babies-- and then they develop to adulthood and mate while still within your body.
American Sweetgum Picks Up a Beetle Pest in China
By Meredith Swett Walker If you’ve ever traveled overseas, you may have had the unfortunate experience of picking up a foreign microbe that made you ill. Humans, though, aren’t alone […]
A Model for Effective, Reduced-Cost Bed Bug Monitoring
While the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) can target all varieties of human habitats, it is a significant concern in settings such as multi-unit, low-income housing, especially those for the […]
Secondary Kill a Non-Factor in Management of Bed Bugs
By Kelly McKinne All across the world, bed bugs and other household pests have been making a noted resurgence. A preferred control method for these insects lately has been the […]
Mite-Resistant Russian Honey Bees Might Not Prevent Varroa Infestations
By Meredith Swett Walker Imagine a parasite about the size of a grapefruit, and it’s latched onto your back where you just can’t reach it. Now imagine that parasite is […]
Bed Bugs Show Early Signs of Resistance to Chlorfenapyr and Bifenthrin
Pest management professionals battling the ongoing resurgence of bed bugs are wise to employ a well-rounded set of measures that reduces reliance on chemical control, as new research shows the […]
Why Human Behavior is Hurting Honey Bees
In the search for answers to the complex health problems and colony losses experienced by honey bees in recent years, it may be time for professionals and hobbyists in the […]
Commonly Used Fungicides Linked to Increased Mortality in Honey Bees
Fungicides commonly used in almond orchards can be harmful to almond growers’ primary pollinator: honey bees. According to new lab research published this week in the Journal of Economic Entomology, […]
Study Finds Sweeteners Lead Fire Ants to a Bitter End
By Josh Lancette Researchers from China have discovered that some sweeteners can be lethal to the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), a devastating pest found South America, the United […]