Curious Wasp Specimen Leads Entomologist to Find a First
When Michael Skvarla, Ph.D., joined Penn State University's entomology extension program in 2017, it wasn't long before he had a mystery on his hands: A wasp specimen from an infestation of a residence that appeared to be of a genus not previously known to invade homes in North America.
Tick Bites Tick: A Rare Case of Hard-Tick Hyperparasitism
A scanning electron micrograph shows an engorged female Ixodes angustus tick with a male I. angustus attached to its underside in typical feeding mode—a case of hyperparasitism presumed uncommon in the species.
Flower Pots in Southwestern U.S. a Common Breeding Site for Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes
The Aedes aegypti mosquito typically prefers humid climates, but it has gained a foothold in the arid southwestern U.S. by using manmade containers for breeding sites—in particular, flower pots and the saucers underneath them.
Native to Asia, Found in New Jersey: The Curious Case of an Invasive Tick
In 2017, specimens of an "unusual-looking" tick were discovered in New Jersey and determined to be a species, Haemaphysalis longicornis, native to Asia. No established population of the species has ever been previously documented in the United States.
Study ID’s Several Bed Bug Repellents That Could Keep Your Luggage Pest-Free
Travelers' luggage is an attractive harbor for bed bugs, which then hitch a ride to new locations. In the search for effective bed bug repellents, researchers at Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and Bedoukian Research, Inc., have found that DEET as well as several naturally derived compounds could protect luggage from attracting stowaway bed bugs.
The Collapsible Passive Trap: Mosquito Monitoring in a Lightweight Package
Evaluation of the collapsible passive trap for mosquitoes shows performs as well as other commonly used traps but in a lighter, easier-to-carry design, making it an attractive option for mosquito monitoring in remote areas.
Lone Star Ticks: Not Guilty in Spread of Lyme Disease
A new review of 30 years' worth of research concludes that, while lone star ticks are guilty of transmitting bacteria that cause several human illnesses, Lyme disease is not one of them.
Study Offers Further Evidence of Bed Bugs’ Ability to Transmit Chagas Disease Pathogen
Researchers at New Mexico State University have found that bed bugs are capable of hosting the pathogen that causes Chagas disease for up to 97 days, and the pathogen can persist even through the bed bug's molting process.
An Up-Close Look at the Tiny Sensory Pits That Ticks Use to Smell
A new study in the Journal of Medical Entomology offers the best look yet at the Haller's organ, a small sensory pit on the forelegs of ticks that they use to detect heat and chemical odors emitted by potential hosts.
Why the Variety of Tick Hosts in Your Back Yard Might Be a Good Thing
A new study in Connecticut finds that residential habitats harbor a greater diversity of animal hosts for blacklegged ticks, many of which don't transmit the Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi to ticks as well as white-footed mice do, thereby leading to lower levels of the pathogen's presence in residential areas compared to woodland habitats.
Fertilizer Runoff is a Boon to Mosquito Growth
A new study shows that fertilizer present in water where mosquitoes breed can boost growth of bacteria, algae, and fungi, which mosquito larvae feed on, resulting in accelerated larval development and greater survival rates to adulthood.
Natural Compound Deters Lone Star Tick Larvae
A naturally occurring botanical compound found in anise, fennel, vanilla, and cranberries might be effective in deterring the larval stage of the lone star tick
Beware the “Dark Side” of Light Traps
Light traps are useful collecting devices to sample large numbers and species of insects, but they also may mask infestations of some insect-borne illnesses and even expose humans to disease vectors.
Another Tick Species’ Saliva Found to Have Antitumor Properties
Millions of years of evolution have made ticks highly specialized bloodsuckers. In fact, researchers who have studied tick saliva have found a range of compounds that fight back host defenses […]
The Story of the Little Fire Ant: Modern Medicine Learns From Indigenous Cultures
Indigenous cultures in Colombia have known for a long time that stings from the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, can cause corneal lesions. Medical doctors are just figuring it out.
Three-Quarters of U.S. Has Suitable Climate for Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus Mosquitoes
Three-quarters of counties in the contiguous United States present suitable environmental conditions for at least part of the year for either Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes to survive if introduced, according to researchers […]