Shades of Jurassic Park: Museum Specimens Shown to be “Treasure Troves” of Genomic Data
Advances in genetic analysis methods have opened new research opportunities using old source material: museum specimens. A study on three families of moths illustrates the potential of the new technique, dubbed "museomics."
Brood’s Clues: New Mapping Approach Puts Cicadas in Focus
More than 20 broods of periodical cicadas inhabit the eastern United States, and researchers are refining their mapping of brood ranges with increasing precision at every new emergence. A new report in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America details new advances in mapping cicadas from researchers who studied Brood VI in 2000 and 2017.
Use Miticides Wisely: Protect the Hive, but Save the Queen
Varroa mites are a constant threat to managed honey bee hives, but the most commonly used pesticide used against the mites appears to have negative effects on honey bee queens’ reproductive patterns. A new study explores these effects and offers beekeepers insight on balancing mite management and hive health.
How Ants’ Individual Encounters Influence Colony-Wide Behavior, and Vice Versa
A new review of ant research illuminates how ant behavior is driven by a cascade of individual decisions among colony members. Insights on ant movement and encounter rates also suggest parallels to collective behavior in another population under the microscope in 2020: humans.