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Overhead closeup view of dozens of red ants crawling over a grainy, sandy-colored dirt surface.

How Entomologists are Battling Invasive Ants to Protect a Texas Cave Ecosystem

February 2, 2024 0

Rare, endangered beetles and spiders in a Texas cave system rely on cave crickets for food. But invasive red imported fire ants threaten the crickets as they forage outside the caves. A new study evaluates improved methods for controlling the fire ants and protecting the delicate ecosystem. [Read more]

Closeup of a house fly on a pure white surface. The fly has a black and gold head with large red compound eyes, and its body is black with golden vertical stripes on its thorax, and much of its abdomen is gold in color. Short black hairs are thinly dispersed on most of its body. Its two wings are clear with black veins, swept backward over its abdomen.

From Pest to Protein: Feeding Livestock With Flies Drawn to Their Farms

January 31, 2024 0

Livestock farms attract huge populations of flies. Why not put them to good use? A new study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows insect meal derived from flies caught en masse on farms can be an alternative, sustainable source for up to half the protein needed in livestock animal feed. [Read more]

Jinlong Han, Ph.D., in a black button-down shirt with sleeves rolled up, poses in front of tall green foliage.

An Entomologist’s Adventure in the Web of Plant-Virus-Insect Interactions

January 30, 2024 4

Meet Jinlong Han, Ph.D., postdoctoral research associate at Colorado State University studying the interactions of plants, insect vectors, and the viruses they transmit. Han is subject of the next installment of our “Standout Early Career Professionals” series. [Read more]

Closeup of two ants, rusty brown in color, facing the viewer, each carrying a milky white larva between its mandibles. Each larva is nearly as large the ant carrying it. The ants are crawling over a craggy dirt surface, as two other ants (not carrying anything) roam nearby.

Harvester Ant Nest Rims Boost Native, Nonnative Plants Alike

January 25, 2024 0

While harvester ants clear vegetation above their nests, plants thrive along the rims of cleared nest disks. A new study finds these nest rims can promote both native and nonnative plants, suggesting they can play a key role in both invasion ecology and native plant restoration. [Read more]

Closeup of a lacwing larva on a green leaf with an adult mealybugs in front of it. The mealybug adult iscovered in a fuzzy white wax. The lacewing larva is larger, translucent grayish in color with hints of brown, legs akin to an adult insect, and many short thin hairs on its back. It also has two long mandibles with which it can pinch and grab prey or other material. Amid the hairs on its back is a large pile of white mealybug wax and other natural material that the larva has collected and placed there. In the image, the lacewing larva's left mandible contacts the orange fluid released by a mealybug through a slit-like opening, or ostiole, on its back.

Trash Bug Versus Mealybug: Unique Insect Interaction Filmed for First Time

February 15, 2024 0

“Trash bug” lacewing larvae voraciously feed on mealybugs and then camouflage themselves in the mealybugs’ wax and other debris. But mealybugs can fight back with “reflex bleeding,” oozing out fluid that gums up the lacewing’s mouth. An entomologist and macrophotographer captures one-of-a-kind photos and video of this predator and prey behavior. [Read more]

Estimating Bee Communities is a Tall Task, Analysis Shows

February 13, 2024 0

Studying bee communities is critical to assessing their role in ecosystems and agricultural systems. A new meta-analysis of 72 bee-sampling studies reveals best practices—and the surprising breadth and scope necessary—for thoroughly documenting a local bee community. [Read more]

Closeup of a honey bee on the center of a white flower.

A Better Tool to Quantify Pesticide Risk

February 9, 2024 0

The Pesticide Risk Tool provides growers and IPM pros with detailed risk estimates for 15 different potential environmental and human-health impacts. A new report in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management explores the tool and its applications. [Read more]

Estimating Bee Communities is a Tall Task, Analysis Shows

February 13, 2024 0

A Better Tool to Quantify Pesticide Risk

February 9, 2024 0

Three-part image, portrait photo collage of Kristen Adkins, Joevensky Seme, and Aaliyah Royston (left to right).

Aspiring Public Health Entomologists Find Buzzworthy Experience at ESA Annual Meeting

February 8, 2024 0

Two students and a recent graduate share their experience after attending Entomology 2023 as participants in ESA and the CDC’s Public Health Entomology for All program. [Read more]

Trash Bug Versus Mealybug: Unique Insect Interaction Filmed for First Time

February 15, 2024 0

Closeup of a goldenrod stem on which a large round gall has formed. The stem and gall are purplish-red in color. The gall is several times wider than the narrow stem extending below and above the gall. Two narrow leaves grow out from the gall. Yellow goldenrod flowers can be seen, out of focus, in the background.

How Some Insects Turn Plants Into Pollution Detectors

September 12, 2023 1

A wide variety of insects cause their host plants to form protective galls. These abnormal growths are rich in nutrients—as well as contaminants the plant might absorb from the soil. New research shows these insect-induced galls can double as highly sensitive pollution detectors. [Read more]

Screenshot from Edible Insects online course. At top left, professor Matan Shelomi, Ph.D., holds a dish with cooked insects in one hand and one of the insects in his other hand. At top right is a digital illustration of two tacos with cooked insects. At bottom right is a closeup of a dish with cooked insects over greens with red peppers. At bottom left is green handwriting-style text that reads "Welcome to Edible Insects."

Curious About Edible Insects? There’s a Free Online Course for That

May 9, 2023 0

The first-ever massive open online course (MOOC) on edible insects was launched in March, based on one entomologist’s popular university course. Learn more about the development of the “Edible Insects” MOOC and what it offers to online learners around the world. [Read more]

An Entomologist’s Adventure in the Web of Plant-Virus-Insect Interactions

January 30, 2024 4

Photo of two ESA Science Communication Awards on a table near the stage at the 2022 ESA Annual Meeting. Each award features a small black pedestal with silver writing on the front, topped with a large glass disc standing vertically with its broad side facing forward. Within the glass is a swirl of blue, yellow, and green color.

Growing Entomology’s Reach: Meet ESA’s 2023 Science Communication Awardees

October 24, 2023 0

A train-the-trainer approach paired with engaging resources on pollinators and a Spanish-language online extension publication have been honored this year by the Entomological Society of America for excellence in science communication. [Read more]

Master’s Program in Vector-Borne Diseases Tackles Need for Medical Entomologists

October 12, 2023 1

With the growing occurrence and range of diseases spread by insects and arthropods, the U.S. has been in serious need of more trained medical entomologists. A CDC-supported master’s degree program in vector-borne disease biology at Cornell University is one effort to address this shortage directly. [Read more]