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......»»
To Ditch Pesticides, Scientists Are Hacking Insects’ Sex Signals
It’s now possible to mass-produce pheromones that keep insects from breeding near crops—protecting cereals and other staples with fewer chemicals......»»
Turns Out Fighting Mosquitoes With Mosquitoes Actually Works
New evidence indicates that an effort to stamp out disease-carrying insects is working. The key? Mosquitoes genetically engineered to kill off their own kind......»»
Synchrony with chaos: Blinking lights of a firefly swarm embody in nature what mathematics predicted
Imagine an old-growth forest in the fading light of a summer evening. As the last of the sun's rays disappear beneath the horizon, a tiny flash catches your eye......»»
Functions of transcription factors in maize resistance to insects and jasmonate signaling revealed
Maize (Zea mays) is an important food, feed, and bioenergy crop that plays a pivotal strategic role in food security, while insect pests seriously affect the yield and quality of maize. Benzoxazinoids (BXDs) and volatile terpenes are insect-resistant.....»»
Knowledge is power: How can we make cave tourism more environmentally friendly?
Throughout history, people have used caves for a number of reasons: as shelters, places for rituals, food storage, and, in more recent times, as touristic attractions. In these so-called show caves, visitors can experience the natural beauty of cave.....»»
Insects with radical metamorphosis found to have two embryo-like stages
Skoltech researchers have shown genes involved in embryonic development to be at work in pupation—the drastic transformation that butterflies and some other insects undergo as their larvae mature. The discovery furthers our understanding of the pup.....»»
Subarctic boreal forest, vital for the planet, is at risk
It burns, it drifts, it falls victim to insects. And it's shrinking......»»
Climate change affects mosquito behavior, making it harder to end malaria in South Africa
Changes in climatic factors—such as higher temperatures and increased rainfall—affect the developmental, behavioral and distribution patterns of insects like mosquitoes. These changes have serious implications for the effective control of insect-.....»»
Flies smell the motion of odors and use it to navigate, study finds
The survival of all animals and insects, from wolves to bees, depends upon their ability to find the source of odors, which is a challenge when wind disperses and obscures their source. Past research has shown that animals and insects navigate their.....»»
Air pollution threatens natural pest control methods in sustainable farming
When fields of oilseed rape are exposed to diesel exhaust and/or ozone—both found in emissions from diesel burning vehicles and industry—the number of parasitic insects available to control aphids drops significantly, according to research publis.....»»
Tiger sharks that interact with tourists are larger and have higher hormone levels, study shows
Tiger Beach in the Bahamas is famous for its paradisiacal beauty and for being frequented by an animal that might scare most people away but is actually an outstanding diving tourism attraction: the Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). The sea is crystal.....»»
Entomologists issue warning about effects of climate change on insects
In a new scientific review, a team of 70 scientists from 19 countries warned that if no steps are taken to shield insects from the consequences of climate change, it will "drastically reduce our ability to build a sustainable future based on healthy,.....»»
Kenya drought kills more than 200 elephants
More than 200 elephants and hundreds of zebras and gnus have died in Kenya's worst drought in four decades, the country's tourism minister said on Friday......»»
Bats protect young trees from insect damage, with three times fewer bugs
Bats help keep forests growing. Without bats to hold their populations in check, insects that munch on tree seedlings go wild, doing three to nine times more damage than when bats are on the scene. That's according to a new study from the University.....»»
Are insects doomed? New study shows added threat of climate change
The swings in temperature that accompany global warming could spell trouble for insect populations the world relies on for pollination and food production......»»
Digital coupons can trigger shoppers to start spending again in times of recession
A number of service sectors were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the catering, retail, tourism and entertainment industries. Globally, policy makers have introduced various initiatives to reinvigorate consumer spending. And, in.....»»
Novel insecticides are bad news for bee health and their guts
Insecticides containing flupyradifurone and sulfoxaflor can have devastating effects on honey bee health. The substances damage the insects' intestinal flora, especially when used in conjunction with a common fungicide, making them more susceptible t.....»»
Pop-up art installations can be great for tourism but are they really good for cities?
Temporary installations like the U.K.’s ‘See Monster’ are a mixed bag of benefits and drawbacks. This autumn, visitors to Weston-super-Mare on the west coast of England will be confronted by the strangest of sights: a repurposed.....»»
Mushroom that grows on insects could help develop new anti-viral medications and cancer drugs
The Cordyceps mushroom is best known for its gruesome eating habits: famously, its spores infect insects and kill them, growing into fully-fledged fruiting bodies that sprout from the insects' flesh. But Cordyceps also has significant medicinal poten.....»»
Space tourism pioneer Dennis Tito plans moon trip
More than two decades after becoming the first person to fund their own space trip, Dennis Tito said he's planning to take a SpaceX trip to the moon......»»