A newly identified pest is raising concerns for North Carolina’s blueberry industry. What began as a mystery beneath North Carolina’s blueberry fields has now been traced to a surprising culprit: a giant root-feeding beetle never before confirmed attacking blueberries anywhere else in the United States. Researchers at North Carolina State University have identified the insect [...]
The loss of a queen triggers intense battles for power among female wasps, disrupting the colony’s social structure. Surprisingly, other wasps avoid the fighting and keep the colony functioning by taking care of its most important daily tasks. What happens when a queen suddenly disappears from a wasp colony? According to new research led by [...]
The aroma of freshly cut grass is one of nature’s most recognizable and enjoyable scents, so you might be surprised to learn that it's actually the smell of chemical warfare that's been taking place right under our noses for longer than humans have walked the Earth.
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Category: Environment, Science
Tags: National Taiwan University, Insect, Plants, Evolution, Warfare,…
There are more than 800 known species of carnivorous plants. Despite their diverse designs, they all have one thing in common: they are built to trap and kill prey for survival.
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Category: Biology, Science
Tags: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Insect, Carnivorous Plants, Predator, Animal science, Nutrition, nature, Ecosystem
California scientists discovered hybrid honeybees that may naturally repel one of the deadliest parasites threatening pollinators. Southern California is home to an unusual type of honeybee that may help researchers better understand how to protect struggling pollinators. Across the United States, commercial honeybee colonies are collapsing under pressure from deadly parasites, but this locally…
For many years, bees were among New Atlas readers' favorite animals. But then things went south, and you guys switched off from learning about these fuzzy little flyers. Maybe it was tall poppy syndrome – since bees are quite obsessed with these nectar treasure chests – but they're staging a comeback framed around World Bee Day.
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Category: Environment, Science
Tags:…
A sweeping study of tropical insects found that many species may struggle to survive rising global temperatures. Scientists warn that heat stress could threaten vast numbers of insects in regions like the Amazon, potentially disrupting entire ecosystems. Tropical Insects Face Growing Heat Threat From Climate Change “Current evaluations of the heat tolerance of insects such [...]
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown species of true bug that has claws. Amber from Myanmar’s Kachin region has preserved many fossils that reveal the animal diversity of a Cretaceous forest ecosystem from about 100 million years ago. The deposit continues to produce species that were previously unknown to science. LMU researchers have now identified [...]
Tiny cone ants in Arizona have been seen cleaning much larger harvester ants, even inside their open jaws. The unusual behavior may benefit both species and has never been recorded before. In the deserts of southeastern Arizona, researchers have observed an unusual interaction between two very different ants. Large harvester ants gather outside the nests [...]
A newly discovered beetle on campus has led to the first major update in Japanese ladybird classification in 50 years. A routine look at a campus pine tree has led to an unexpected scientific discovery. At Kyushu University in Japan, researchers have identified a previously unknown species of ladybird beetle living in plain sight, underscoring [...]
Baby caterpillars have figured out how to get themselves the royal treatment in certain ant colonies – getting carried around like precious cargo, fed on demand, guarded and being rescued from danger. But why would ants give this celebrity status to a caterpillar? The secret lies in perfect mimicry: the caterpillar copies not just the queen ant’s chemical scent, but the exact rhythm of her…
Some of us get bitten far more often than others. A new study, yet to be peer-reviewed and published in a journal, has revealed that certain mosquito species show a clear preference for men, while others zero in on specific scents from our skin. However, some experts in the field disagree on the significance of the findings.
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Category: Biology, Science
Tags: Mosquito,…
A katydid changes color from pink to green to match leaf development, showing advanced camouflage adaptation in rainforests. A rare rainforest insect can transform its appearance in a matter of days, shifting from bright pink to leaf green in a way that may help it avoid predators. Researchers report that Arota festae, a tropical katydid [...]
Snow flies beat the cold by acting like a mashup of Arctic fish and polar bears. Snow flies may seem like ordinary insects, but their survival strategy is anything but typical. In a new study, researchers at Northwestern University examined how these tiny, wingless insects, which crawl across snowy surfaces to mate and lay eggs, [...]
Bumble bees may overpower invasive Argentine ants in one-on-one fights, but those victories come at a hidden cost. When bumble bees encounter invasive Argentine ants at feeding sites, they may defeat them in direct clashes but still return to the colony with less nectar. A single victory does not necessarily benefit the hive if it [...]