Can Cuticle Compounds Be Extracted From Insects Preserved in Ethanol?
Researchers studying hydrocarbons in insect cuticles typically avoid specimens preserved in ethanol, for fear the solvent may interfere with chemical analysis. A new study, however, finds ethanol has little effect—at least in the case of one wasp species tested—and opens the possibility that ethanol-preserved insects can indeed be used for the analysis of cuticular chemical compounds.
Study on Mosquito Landing Rates Could Improve Repellent Testing
Research on the rate at which mosquitoes land on people in field tests and lab tests finds that common arm-in-cage test results differ significantly from those found in large-room or field tests. The findings point the way toward making tests of mosquito repellents more aligned with real-world conditions.
Bed Bug Repellent Tests Should Reflect Type of Bug Behavior, Researchers Find
A new study digs into the pros and cons of two different methods for testing potential bed bug repellents: a harborage test and a barrier test. Repellency results can differ when bed bugs are searching for shelter versus when they are searching for a bloodmeal.
What’s the Best Method to Monitor Wild Bees?
A researcher in Australia sets out to evaluate the various methods for monitoring wild bees and finds that the sweep net outpaces other methods in both the number of bees and number of species collected.