The latest news about entomology, brought to you by the Entomological Society of America
By Josh Lancette New research published this week in the journal Environmental Entomology shows that planting wildflowers next to almond orchards does not cause fewer honey bees to visit the orchard. This finding is important because it shows wildflower plantings can help keep bee populations healthy while also not harming almond crops. “Establishing flowering field-edge […]
Orchard growers looking for alternatives to honey bees for managed pollination services have new reason to be optimistic about the potential of one honey bee cousin, the blue orchard bee. A recent research experiment has shown blue orchard bees can be a sustainable option in tart cherry orchards, and a simple change to the distribution […]
As far as insect reputations goes, termites are typically known as pests. They get little of the adulation heaped on their pollinator cousins. But a new discovery of a fossilized termite in amber might give reason to see termites in a different light. As reported in the Spring 2017 issue of American Entomologist, a termite […]
Although corn and soybeans do not need insects for pollination, they do offer floral resources that are used by insect pollinators. So what kind of insects are commonly found in corn and soybean fields? The answer to that question can be found in a new article published in Environmental Entomology. Researchers from Iowa State University […]
Mowing less frequently along Florida’s highways may boost pollinator biodiversity, according to new research in the journal Florida Entomologist. Pollinators visit flowers searching for food in the forms of nectar and pollen, and mowing less would increase the natural food supply for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, the study finds. Officials from the Florida Department […]
