To help insects, make them welcome in your garden – here's how

Looking for a new gardening challenge? Turning your yard into an insect-friendly oasis could mean less work and more nature to enjoy.

Brian Lovett, Postdoctoral Researcher in Mycology, West Virginia University • conversation
March 22, 2021 • ~8 min

Boosting bee diversity can help stabilise crop production – new research

A diverse pollinator community is a reliable one.

Deepa Senapathi, Senior Research Fellow in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, University of Reading • conversation
March 17, 2021 • ~4 min

Billions of cicadas may be coming soon to trees near you

One of the largest groups of 17-year cicadas, Brood X, last emerged from underground in 2004. The next generation will arrive starting in April.

Chris Simon, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut • conversation
March 12, 2021 • ~9 min

A common soil pesticide cut wild bee reproduction by 89% – here's why scientists are worried

EU-banned pesticides could not only threaten wild bees where they eat, but where they sleep too.

Philip Donkersley, Senior Research Associate in Entomology, Lancaster University • conversation
March 2, 2021 • ~6 min

These fruit flies get picky about where they lay eggs

The invasive spotted wing drosophila prefers to lay its eggs in places that no other fruit flies have visited. How it knows could help with pest control.

Matt Shipman-NC State • futurity
Feb. 17, 2021 • ~5 min

These fruit flies get picky about where they lay eggs

The invasive spotted wing drosophila prefers to lay its eggs in places that no other fruit flies have visited. How it knows could help with pest control.

Matt Shipman-NC State • futurity
Feb. 17, 2021 • ~5 min

Watch: ‘Bug fight club’ clarifies evolution of natural weapons

Scientists decked out bugs with body armor and watched them face off in wrestling matches. The experiements highlight the evolution of natural weapons.

Daniel Stolte-Arizona • futurity
Feb. 11, 2021 • ~9 min

Summer weather sways honey bees’ winter survival

Temperature and rainfall during the summer strongly influences honey bee survival the following winter, researchers find.

Chuck Gill-Penn State • futurity
Feb. 11, 2021 • ~8 min

Tiny cacao flowers and fickle midges are part of a pollination puzzle that limits chocolate production

Entomologists wonder if the insects currently pollinating farmed cacao are the right ones for the task.

DeWayne Shoemaker, Professor and Department Head, Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee • conversation
Feb. 10, 2021 • ~6 min

Citizen scientists are filling research gaps created by the pandemic

COVID-19 kept many scientists from doing field research in 2020, which means that important records will have data gaps. But volunteers are helping to plug some of those holes.

Kathleen Prudic, Assistant Professor of Citizen and Data Science, University of Arizona • conversation
Feb. 3, 2021 • ~10 min

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