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.

German media report that stink bugs, including the marmorated stink bug known as Baumwanze, are turning up in apartments in noticeably higher numbers. BILD explains why the insects are now lurking indoors and what residents can do about them. The bugs gather in warm homes as outdoor temperatures drop, and many people are searching for advice on keeping them out.

As temperatures drop in Germany, bugs (wanzen) are seeking shelter inside houses, drawing attention in regional media. Nordbayern explains that autumn cold drives the insects indoors and outlines what residents can do to keep them out, including sealing gaps and cracks around windows and doors. The seasonal pest problem is a recurring topic each autumn across German news outlets.

Researchers filmed bumblebees landing on an artificial flower 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, slightly lagging behind it, and the resulting data fed into models of how bees control landings while in flight.

Researchers are turning to wildlife tracking technology to fill long-standing gaps in knowledge about monarch butterfly migration. The iconic insects travel thousands of miles between North America and Mexico each year, but key details of their routes and behavior remain poorly understood. Tracking tools could help scientists better understand and protect the declining species.

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.

Researchers at Binghamton University argue that insects are indispensable to vertebrate life, serving not only as food but also as shelter and medicine for many species. The study highlights how declines in insect populations could ripple through entire ecosystems, threatening animals that depend on them in ways beyond simple nutrition.

Science outlet Knowable Magazine explains how pitcher plants catch their prey. The plants' deadly fluid contains stretchy sugars that entangle flies and other insects, preventing them from escaping once they land. The piece highlights the unusual elastic properties of the liquid, drawing attention from botany and science enthusiasts.

Florida is confronting a historic dengue outbreak, and mosquito research in the state is continuing as officials work to understand and control the spread of the disease. The outbreak has drawn attention to mosquito-borne illness in the region, with researchers studying the insects behind the transmission.

A science column on 'romantic biology' examines how a defective enzyme may play a role in chemical communication with bees, linking molecular biology to the natural signals that draw pollinators to flowers. The piece frames enzyme dysfunction not simply as breakage, but as part of the intricate chemistry between plants and insects.

The banded garden spider, a common orb-weaver found across North America, is in the news. The spider is recognised by its yellow, black and white banding and builds large circular webs in gardens and fields. It is generally harmless to humans and is considered beneficial because it preys on pest insects. Coverage appears to focus on identification and seasonal sightings.

Researchers describe how butterfly wing patterns combined with flight dynamics produce a 'motion dazzle' effect, making it harder for observers to judge the insects' speed and direction. The phenomenon is compared to classic barbershop pole illusions, where moving stripes create misleading impressions of motion. The finding offers new insight into how visual deception evolves as a survival strategy in nature.

A newly published paper, covered by the University of Connecticut, highlights the breadth of interactions between vertebrates and insects. The research underscores how widespread these relationships are across ecosystems, though further details of its findings and methods are not yet widely reported.

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.

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.

A University of Kentucky entomologist is developing RNA-based gene-silencing technology aimed at protecting forests from invasive insect pests. The approach targets specific pest genes, offering a potentially more precise alternative to broad-spectrum pesticides. Researchers say the work could help defend US forests against destructive invasive species, though details on funding, the pests targeted, and timelines for field deployment have not been provided.

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.

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.

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order launching a large-scale campaign against mosquitoes and ticks in Washington, DC. Under the directive, federal agencies must cut the capital's invasive mosquito population by 90% by 2028, along with significant reductions in tick numbers. The unusual use of presidential authority against insect pests is drawing attention and amusement online, with Ukrainian-language outlets among those covering the story widely.

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.