Nuisance Arthropods: Sticky Traps Useful in Accurate Detection in Homes, Study Shows
Arthropods that aren't of medical or economic concern can often still be a nuisance in homes, but they're comparatively under-studied. New research on such "nuisance arthropods" in homes shows the utility of sticky traps in detection—and stark differences in what residents might report observing versus the arthropods that are actually there.
Fall Armyworm Study Shows Maize, Sorghum as Preferred Host Plants
Studies have shown host plants for fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) potentially numbering in the hundreds, but a group of researchers suggests differentiating between plants that the insect prefers for its full life cycle versus those that are more likely to be secondary food sources.
Essential Oils: An Untapped Resource for Managing Urban Insect Pests
A new research review outlines current knowledge on essential oils as alternatives to synthetic insecticides for managing insect pests such as ants, termites, and cockroaches. Essential oils show a lot of promise, but more research on real-world applications is sorely needed.
Killing It In The Egg: A Termite Bait Story
Termite baits can wipe out a colony in about 90 days, but the colony's eggs are gone by day 30. Why? A new study investigates and fills in a missing piece of the puzzle in understanding how termite colonies collapse when exposed to a chitin synthesis inhibitor.