Drought-Tolerant, Aphid-Hungry Lacewing Species Arrives in Americas
Sometimes, an invasive species is a good thing. The discovery of a species of lacewing, Chrysoperla zastrowi, established in arid regions of the U.S. and Central America offers potential for biological control of aphids, mites, and other crop pests in those locales.
Gut Check: How Stink Bugs’ Insides Illuminate Their Eating Habits
Brown marmorated stink bugs are generalist eaters, and finding them on one plant doesn't mean they haven't also been feeding on another. New research explores the potential of DNA analysis of stink bugs' gut contents to identify the plants they've eaten in the preceding two weeks.
Scientists Stumble Upon Promising Repellent for Beetle Pest
Researchers discovered a potential repellent for walnut twig beetles when they ran out of one adhesive for sticky traps and switched to another, and suddenly the beetles were no longer attracted to the traps.
How Mitochondrial DNA Offers Clues to Giant Hornets’ Invasion
When scientists discovered specimens of the invasive giant hornet Vespa mandarinia on both sides of the border between Washington and British Columbia in 2019, they sought to find out how they arrived from Asia. Analysis of their mitochondrial DNA provided an interesting twist: The hornets on each side of the border likely did not come from the same location in Asia.