Neuroterus Valhalla: Biologists Discover Weird New Wasp Species
Lab waits to see how Houston’s historic 2021 freeze impacted tiny wasp species. Its name sounds legendary, but the newly discovered insect Neuroterus (noo-ROH’-teh-rus) valhalla…
Insect News
Zoologist Solves the Bizarre 100-Year-Old Mystery of the Floating Phantom Midge
In spring 2018, Dr. Philip Matthews spent a typical afternoon capturing dragonflies in the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) experimental ponds. Little did the zoologist…
Giant Hornet Attacks Cause Honeybee Alarm Buzz in Hives – “I Literally Could Not Believe What I Was Hearing”
Study is the first to show that invertebrates use differing signals in response to different species of predators. Like setting off alarms in a beehive,…
Hungry Caterpillars Can Alter Carbon Emissions on a Huge Scale
A study led by the University of Cambridge has found that periodic mass outbreaks of leaf-munching caterpillars can improve the water quality of nearby lakes…
Birds Learn To Avoid Plants That Host Dangerous Insects
Young birds that eat insects with conspicuous warning coloration to advertise their toxicity to would-be predators quickly learn to avoid other prey that carry the…
Worldwide Decline in Quantity and Diversity of Insects in the Light of Land Use and Climate
Worldwide, the quantity and diversity of insects are declining: scientists have reported more and more evidence for this in recent years. In politics and society,…
“Insect Apocalypse” – Study Reveals Drastic Decline of Aquatic Insect Population in Paraná River Basin
Analysis of data collected over 20 years suggests the decline is due to the construction of over 180 dams on the Paraná basin and its…
Using the “Smell of Fear” To Protect Gardens and Crops From Destructive Insects
For home gardeners and farmers, herbivorous insects present a major threat to their hard work and crop yields. The predator insects that feed on these…
Without Evolutionary Genetic Variation, Asexual Invasive Species Find New Methods of Adapting to Their Environment
Research from Wellesley College shows that despite being a clonal insect species, weevils use gene regulation to adapt to new food sources and pass down…
Aphid-Like Insects Stole DNA From Plants – Gene Shields Them From Leaf Toxins
Millions of years ago, aphid-like insects called whiteflies incorporated a portion of DNA from plants into their genome. A Chinese research team, publishing today (March…
Animals Fake Death for Long Periods of Time to Escape Predators
Many animals feign death to try to escape their predators, with some individuals in prey species remaining motionless, if in danger, for extended lengths of…
High Temperatures From Climate Change Threaten the Survival of Insects
Insects have difficulties handling the higher temperatures brought on by climate change, and might risk overheating. The ability to reproduce is also strongly affected by…
Study of More Than 1,400 Protein-Coding Genes Resolves Long Standing Mystery in the Evolution of Insects
A study of more than 1,400 protein-coding genes of fleas has resolved one of the longest standing mysteries in the evolution of insects, reordering their…
Scientists’ Warning to Humanity on Insect Extinctions – Vital to Environment
The tiniest creatures on the planet are vital to their environment … so always look on the small side of life. Some of the tiniest…
Hundreds of New Viruses Discovered in Insects As Scientists Work to Prevent New Epidemics Like Zika
New viruses that cause diseases often come from animals. Well-known examples of this are the Zika virus transmitted by mosquitoes, bird flu viruses, as well…
Fossils Reveal New Insight on Mesozoic Pollinating Insects
Insect pollination played an important role in the evolution of angiosperms. Little is known, however, about ancient pollination insects and their niche diversity during the…
New Species of Flea Beetle Discovered, Burumoseria Yuae
Researchers detail the discovery of a new species of flea beetle, Burumoseria yuae. Nausea, vomiting and weakness are but a few of the symptoms one…
A Natural Example of a Functioning Gear Mechanism Discovered in an Insect
Scientists from the University of Cambridge have discovered a natural example of a functioning gear mechanism in an insect. Previously believed to be only man-made,…
