Researchers warn that this symbiotic relationship is threatened by the indiscriminate use of pesticides. Credit: Cristiano Menezes A report published in PLOS ONE describes key roles of various microorganisms in the development of the larvae of Scaptotrigona depilis. Researchers warn that this symbiotic relationship is threatened by the indiscriminate use […]
DEET may chemically ‘cloak’ humans from malaria-carrying mosquitos, rather than repel them. Since its invention during the Second World War for soldiers stationed in countries where malaria transmission rates were high, researchers have worked to pinpoint precisely how DEET actually affects mosquitos. Past studies have analyzed the chemical structure of the […]
Homalictus terminalis is named so to indicate that, like many Fijian bees, it is nearing its limit and is at risk of climate-related extinction. Credit: James Dorey, Flinders University Bee biodiversity barometer on Fiji — New species described as environment changes The biodiversity buzz is alive and well in Fiji, […]
Wasps, bees, sawflies and ants all belong to a grouping of insects known as Hymenoptera – and Gavin Broad is an enormous fan NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Want to know the best way to kill a cockroach? Well, first inject some powerful neurotoxins directly into its brain. This will make the […]
Queen honeybee in a hive. Credit: Barbara Baer-Imhoff / UCR They say love is blind, but if you’re a queen honeybee it could mean true loss of sight. New research finds male honeybees inject toxins during sex that cause temporary blindness. All sexual activity occurs during a brief early period […]
A natural, sustainable alternative to pesticides that targets specific pests, without harming beneficial pollinators such as honeybees, is being developed with the help of researchers from the Institute for Sustainable Food at the University of Sheffield. Working in collaboration with industry partner and leading agricultural company, Syngenta, experts at the institute are […]
Grasshoppers mob a streetlight just a few blocks from the Las Vegas Strip, on July 26. Credit: Bridget Bennett/AFP/Getty Here are five words you definitely don’t want to hear: “It’s not snowing. It’s grasshoppers.” But over the past few days, that’s been the nightmarish scene in Las Vegas. The city’s […]
Bees pollinate many essential crops and are vital for fruit-growers AFP Large areas of central and southern Russia have seen a major decline in their bee populations in recent months. The head of the Russian beekeepers’ union, Arnold Butov, said 20 regions had reported mass bee deaths. The affected regions […]
Travelling at speeds of up to 30mph, the painted lady butterfly migrates 7,500 miles a year BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION/PA A potential mass influx of butterflies to the UK has led to calls for volunteers to help count them. The painted lady butterfly commonly flies to the UK during the summer months, […]
The caterpillars form big clumps and nests on oak trees GETTY IMAGES Germany and the Netherlands are battling many infestations of oak processionary caterpillars, whose tiny toxic hairs can trigger allergic reactions and skin irritation. The mild winter and warm spring this year boosted caterpillar numbers. In Louvain, Belgium, firefighters […]