insects

Scientists are developing new ways to control mosquitoes, the animal that kills more people than any other on Earth. As the climate warms, mosquito seasons are growing longer, giving the insects more time to spread dangerous diseases such as malaria and dengue. Reports highlight how extended warm periods are expanding the threat to new regions and prompting research into novel control methods.

PBS NewsHour reports on scientists developing new ways to control mosquito populations as rising global temperatures expand the habitats where the insects and the diseases they carry can spread. The segment examines research approaches to targeting mosquitoes as warming climate conditions push the public health threat into previously unaffected regions.

Researchers analysed 163 ant genomes spanning most living subfamilies and reconstructed the insects' evolutionary history over the past 100 million years. The study found periods of rapid species diversification coinciding with increased activity of transposable elements, the mobile DNA sequences that can shuffle through genomes. The findings suggest genome dynamics played a role in driving the extraordinary diversification of ants, one of the most successful groups in the natural world.

Researchers report they have resolved a decades-old mystery surrounding stick insects, according to a new study covered by SciTechDaily. Details of the finding, the species involved and the methods used have not yet been made fully clear, but the announcement is drawing attention from biology enthusiasts and science news readers.

Researchers in Colombia have identified previously unknown viruses and antibiotic resistance genes in mosquitoes and sand flies, revealing that these disease-carrying insects host far more microbial life than expected. The findings suggest the insects could play a role in spreading antimicrobial resistance, adding a new dimension to concerns about mosquito-borne disease in the region.

Researchers filmed bumblebees landing on a flower model sliding sideways twice a second, capturing 48 landings with three high-speed cameras and rebuilding them in three dimensions. The bees banked to match the platform's motion, lagging slightly behind it, and mathematical models were used to explain the manoeuvre.

French media are telling readers how to eliminate tiger mosquitoes, with Ouest-France highlighting a solution costing under 5 euros to use this Sunday, September 27. The advice comes as tiger mosquitoes remain a growing concern in France, where the invasive species has spread across much of the country and is monitored for transmitting diseases like dengue.

Reports from Australia describe enormous swarms of insects gathering on homes across Sydney, with residents confronted by dense clusters of bugs on walls and exteriors. The phenomenon is being framed as the country's latest unusual wildlife event, prompting curiosity and concern among locals about what is driving the mass gatherings.

An outbreak of needleworms has stripped leaves from nearly 2,900 hectares of forest in Banff National Park, according to local reporting from Alberta. The insect infestation is affecting large swaths of the park's tree cover, raising questions about forest health and potential impacts on the popular tourist destination and its ecosystems.

Researchers have introduced a new method for understanding how insects communicate sexually, according to a report carried by Phys.org. The work, framed under crop protection, could help in developing ways to disrupt pest mating and reduce insecticide use. Further details on the research team, funding and practical applications were not provided in the available coverage.

Researchers at Binghamton University argue that insects are essential to vertebrate life, serving not just as food but also as a source of shelter and medicine. The finding highlights how deeply vertebrate species depend on insects, reinforcing warnings that insect decline could have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems worldwide.

A newly published paper is drawing attention to the wide range of interactions between vertebrate and insect species. The research, covered by UConn's news outlet, examines how these two groups interact across ecosystems, offering a broad synthesis of ecological relationships. The findings are of interest to biologists and ecologists studying food webs, pollination, and predator-prey dynamics.

Butterfly wing patterns, combined with the insects' flight dynamics, produce a "motion dazzle" effect that makes it harder for observers to judge their speed and direction. The effect is likened to the illusion created by rotating barbershop poles, a phenomenon also studied in military camouflage. Researchers say this visual confusion may help butterflies evade predators mid-flight.

A new report argues that insects underpin vertebrate life far beyond pollination, serving as food, shelter and even medicine for a wide range of animals. The piece highlights how declines in insect populations could cascade through ecosystems, affecting birds, fish and other vertebrates that depend on them. Conservationists are pointing to the findings as a warning about the consequences of insect loss.

McDaniel College's biology department held its Fall Research Symposium, titled 'Antennae, Tentacles, and Beyond,' showcasing student and faculty research on organisms from insects to invertebrates. The campus event featured presentations of undergraduate research projects in the life sciences.

A photograph of a banded mongoose in South Africa's Kruger National Park is being shared online, with a piece of elephant dung visible in the foreground. Banded mongooses are social animals often seen foraging in groups, and they frequently feed on insects found in dung. The image is drawing appreciation from wildlife and photography enthusiasts.

Health and agricultural authorities are working to combat an outbreak of New World screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae infest the wounds of warm-blooded animals. The parasite, largely controlled in the Americas for decades through sterile insect techniques, poses a serious threat to livestock and wildlife. Control efforts typically involve surveillance, animal treatment and releasing sterile flies to break the reproduction cycle.

Scientists are developing gene-silencing technology, such as RNA interference, as a new tool to protect forests from invasive insect pests. The approach targets specific pest genes without chemicals, offering a potential alternative to pesticides for safeguarding vulnerable tree species and woodland ecosystems from damage caused by non-native species.

A photograph of a dung beetle is being shared on social media, tagged under photography and nature hashtags. The post highlights the beetle, an insect known for rolling dung balls many times its own weight. The image is drawing modest engagement, with users apparently appreciating close-up wildlife photography. No broader news event connected to the beetle has been reported.

The annual migration of bogong moths is under way, with the insects travelling from breeding grounds to the Australian Alps to shelter over summer. Reports explain how the moths navigate the long journey and why they make it, a natural event that also traditionally drew Aboriginal communities to the mountains for moth feasts.