Firefly Tourism Can Put Insects in Peril
A new study shines light on how bug spray, flashlights, and foot traffic can spell disaster for the fragile creatures behind brilliant synchronous displays......»»
Making the case for using insects as food for both humans and livestock
Two pairs of academics are making the case for using insects as a food source in Perspectives pieces published in the journal Science......»»
Insects and spiders make up more than half NZ"s animal biodiversity—time to celebrate these spineless creatures
After almost two decades of championing native birds in an annual competition, Aotearoa is going to begin celebrating its spineless creatures this year......»»
The pandemic has shown Southern Africa can do staycations—could this momentum hold in the long run?
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic effect on the tourism industry worldwide. International arrivals dropped by 74% globally in 2020 and tourist accommodations, businesses, borders and heritage sites had to close, resulting in a loss of income f.....»»
Antarctic tourism: Should we worry about damage to the ice and ecosystems?
As the summer sun finally arrives for people in the Southern Hemisphere, more than 100,000 tourists will head for the ice. Travelling on one of more than 50 cruise ships, they will brave the two-day trip across the notoriously rough Drake Passage bel.....»»
Fewer moths, more flies: Complex relationships between plants and pollinators have changed dramatically
Their service is invaluable. The army of insects and other animals that pollinates the numerous plants of this earth has an essential function. Without these flower visitors, numerous wild plants could reproduce only poorly—or not at all. Ecosystem.....»»
Honeybees at risk, along with the crops they pollinate: Scientists think the solution lies in the insects" brains
The honeybees looked perfectly healthy, buzzing about their boxy wooden hive on a warm autumn day in central Pennsylvania......»»
US backs fund for sustainable safaris in Africa
The United States is committing support to promote sustainable safaris in Africa, hoping to prevent environmental destruction as the tourism sector recovers, officials said Thursday......»»
Study investigates "virgin birth" in aquarium sharks, even when potential mates are nearby
Asexual reproduction is common for animals like starfish, deep-sea worms, and stick insects, but among vertebrates, it's a rarity. A process called parthenogenesis allows some female animals to fertilize an egg with their own genetic material, produc.....»»
Insects may feel pain, says growing evidence: Here"s what this means for animal welfare laws
At least a trillion insects are killed annually for food and animal feed. Routine slaughter methods include extreme heat and cold, often preceded by starvation. By comparison, "only" around 79 billion mammals and bird livestock are slaughtered every.....»»
Fruit flies use two muscles to control pitch for stable flight
The flight of insects may look effortless, but as with any animal, their movements would be wildly uneven without an intricate system of neural signaling and muscle response to stabilize and steer them......»»
Tracking an invasion: A single Asian hornet may have sparked the ongoing spread across Europe
In Europe, the Asian (or "Yellow-legged") Hornet (Vespa velutina) is a predator of insects such as honeybees, hoverflies, and other wasps, and poses serious risks to apiculture, biodiversity and pollination services. This hornet can measure up to 4 c.....»»
Following insect "footprints" to improve crop resilience and monitor pollinator biodiversity
Bees and other insects leave behind tiny "footprints" of environmental DNA on plants each time they visit, giving researchers a way of tracking where insects have been, and offering clues on how to help them flourish......»»
Can "voluntourism" outgrow the white savior stereotype and make a positive change post-pandemic?
As the tourism industry emerges from pandemic shutdowns and border closures, so too is "voluntourism," the sometimes controversial combination of overseas volunteer work and more traditional tourist experiences......»»
Hawaii eruption brings tourism boon during slow season
The spectacle of incandescent lava spewing from Hawaii's Mauna Loa has drawn thousands of visitors and is turning into a tourism boon for this Big Island town near the world's largest volcano......»»
New clues about how carbon dioxide affects bumble bee reproduction
While a beekeeper puffing clouds of carbon dioxide into a hive to calm the insects is a familiar image to many, less is known about its other effects on bees. A recent study revealed clues about how the chemical compound affects bee physiology, inclu.....»»
Anatomy of a superorganism: Ant pupae secrete fluid as "milk" to nurture young larvae
Life in an ant colony is a symphony of subtle interactions between insects acting in concert, more like cells in tissue than independent organisms bunking in a colony. Now, researchers have discovered a previously unknown social interaction that unit.....»»
Insects offer new ideas on materials use, structure strength via 4D time-lapse imaging
Purdue University engineers and entomologists are making some sweet discoveries about how honeybees build and structure their honeycombs, which could lead to new fabrication techniques taken from the buzzing builders......»»
Scientists Reexamine Why Zebra Stripes Mysteriously Repel Flies
While biologists still aren't exactly sure how it works, a new study closes in on why the insects that pester Savannah animals zig when anything zags......»»
This Carnivorous Plant Has a Rain-Powered Trap
A biological “spring” helps a pitcher plant fling insects to their doom.....»»
Study provides insights into how microbiome community and metabolic functions may couple with fig-wasp mutualism
Microorganisms play an important role in regulating plant-herbivore interactions. However, research has mainly focused on the crops and generalist insects. In the obligate pollinating systems, the cheater visitors are rare, and the role of microorgan.....»»