How an “Insect Ecologist at Heart” Got Focused on Pest Management Research
Lauren Diepenbrock, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University and soon to be an assistant professor at the University of Florida, says she enjoys "figuring out how insects, particularly invasive species, make use of the available resources to be successful."
Eastern Larch Beetle Outbreak Just Keeps Going When Winter’s Not So Cold
The current outbreak of eastern larch beetle in northern Minnesota is going into its 18th year, and researchers have found that at least some eastern larch beetles are able to reach maturity without requiring an overwintering period. In short, warmer winters mean eastern larch beetle is killing trees faster than it can be managed.
Bait-Stricken Termites Still Heed Call to Molt in Their Central Nest
A recent study at the University of Florida found that termites baited with an insecticide known as a chitin synthesis inhibitor will still follow their natural compulsion to return to their central nest to molt, an important factor in the efficacy of such baits.
This is What 2,000 Termites Eating a Model House Looks Like
A visual analogy created by termite researcher Thomas Chouvenc, Ph.D., illustrates the damage termites can wreak upon a house. Given a small, two-dimensional wooden replica of a house (30x20 cm, 2 mm thick), a colony of 2,000 Formosan subterranean termites took only three weeks to consume it.
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.
Some “Green” Oils Can Stop a Bed Bug—But Many Can’t
Most Essential oils don't work to control bed bugs, although there are a few exceptions
High Tunnels: Good for Crops, But Also Good for Pests?
High tunnels are a common sight in farm fields in temperate zones, where growers use them to lengthen the growing season of cold-sensitive crops. Also known as hoop houses, the […]
Search Continues for Methods to Control Fungus-Farming Beetle in SoCal Trees
By Meredith Swett Walker A spate of tree deaths in California has arborists, park managers, and home owners alarmed. Keen-eyed tree caretakers might notice a cluster of tiny holes in […]
Line Trapping: A Promising Method for More Accurate Pest Monitoring
It’s easy to think of a pheromone trap as a lure, putting out a scent and waiting for insects to come rolling in. But insects aren’t sharks; they don’t sense […]
Spring Cleaning: Tips for Preventing Pest Infestations
By Robin Mountjoy Now that we’ve set our clocks forward for the year, spring is officially on the minds of many homeowners. Spring is also a time when insects and […]