//www.koonmotors.com/news/plants_animals/insects_and_butterflies/ Current event articles on insects and butterflies. Read about insect bites, butterfly migration, caterpillar growth, which insects are beneficial and how to deal with pests. en-us Wed, 06 Sep 2023 14:52:51 EDT Wed, 06 Sep 2023 14:52:51 EDT 60 //www.koonmotors.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png//www.koonmotors.com/news/plants_animals/insects_and_butterflies/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230905125025.htm In just 26 years, the distribution of rare butterflies has plummeted by 72% in Eastern Denmark. Several species are threatened with extinction, yet the conservation actions aiming to safeguard species have proved unsuccessful. Tue, 05 Sep 2023 12:50:25 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230905125025.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230831142835.htm A research team identifies the mushroom body as a center for behavioral decisions in the insect brain. Thu, 31 Aug 2023 14:28:35 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230831142835.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230828162413.htm An international research team has described seven previously unknown species of leaf insects, also known as walking leaves. The insects belong to the stick and leaf insect order, which are known for their unusual appearance: they look confusingly similar to parts of plants such as twigs, bark or -- in the case of leaf insects -- leaves. This sophisticated camouflage provides excellent protection from predators as well as presenting a challenge to researchers. Genetic analysis enabled the researchers to discover 'cryptic species', which cannot be distinguished by their external appearance alone. The findings are not only important for the systematic study of leaf insects, but also for the protection of their diversity. Mon, 28 Aug 2023 16:24:13 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230828162413.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230828105508.htm 一个国际研究小组报告说,the same genetic makeup, individual behavior alone determines whether or not an individual in a social group will contract a disease. Clonal raider ants of the species Ooceraea biroi that forage outside the nest are more likely to be infected by parasitic nematodes than conspecifics in the nest. The research team also observed that diseases in the colony altered the behavior of all ants: sick and healthy ants alike remained in the nest and the division of labor was reduced, affecting the overall social organization in the ant colony. Mon, 28 Aug 2023 10:55:08 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230828105508.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230824111449.htm Fungi-eating orchids were found for the first time to offer their flowers to fungi-eating fruit flies in exchange for pollination, which is the first evidence for nursery pollination in orchids. This unique new plant-animal relationship hints at an evolutionary transition towards mutualistic symbiosis. Thu, 24 Aug 2023 11:14:49 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230824111449.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230823165403.htm Researchers are studying the signaling pathway that leads the parasite responsible for Chagas disease to transform and reproduce. They follow that pathway from the beginning when an uninfected kissing bug acquires the parasite by biting an infected mammal host all the way to the time the parasite develops in the insect's gut to be spread to people or animals through the bug's poop. Wed, 23 Aug 2023 16:54:03 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230823165403.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230823165355.htm A new study of cavity-nesting birds in Ecuador shows the influence of deforestation on their habitat and reproductive success. Nest boxes could help. Wed, 23 Aug 2023 16:53:55 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230823165355.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230823122559.htm A discovery about how a common insect acquires a microbe that is essential for its growth may help in the control of an agricultural pest. Wed, 23 Aug 2023 12:25:59 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230823122559.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230823122515.htm Many plants and crops rely on insects to pollinate them so they can reproduce. A new study has shown that several flowering plants from the group Euonymus are pollinated by fungus gnats, a dipteran insect. Specifically, they pollinate Euonymus plants which have red-petaled flowers with short stamens and yogurt-like scent. Although fungus gnats are known to pollinate hundreds of plant species, this study shows that the particular traits of red Euonymus flowers were likely to have been acquired via pollination syndrome, evolving over a process of natural selection to be pollinated specifically by fungus gnats. This research highlights the important role of Diptera, which are commonly regarded as pests, in plant diversity and evolution. Wed, 23 Aug 2023 12:25:15 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230823122515.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230822111718.htm By increasing the diversity of indigenous plants in urban areas, researchers have seen a seven times increase in the number of insect species in just three years, confirming the ecological benefits of urban greening projects. Tue, 22 Aug 2023 11:17:18 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230822111718.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230816114148.htm Bats gather to feast as nocturnal insects fly through mountain passes in the Pyrenees each autumn, new research shows. Wed, 16 Aug 2023 11:41:48 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230816114148.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230814122405.htm Imagine using insects as a source of chemicals to make plastics that can biodegrade later -- with the help of that very same type of bug. That concept is closer to reality than you might expect. Researchers will describe their progress to date, including the isolation and purification of the insect-derived chemicals and their conversion into their bioplastics. Mon, 14 Aug 2023 12:24:05 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230814122405.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230811115456.htm Specific receptors in the ears of mosquitoes have been revealed to modulate their hearing, finds a new study. Scientists say, this discovery could help develop new insecticides and control the spread of harmful diseases, such as malaria. Fri, 11 Aug 2023 11:54:56 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230811115456.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230810141002.htm As butterflies flit among flowers, they don't all view blossoms the same way. In a phenomenon called sexually dimorphic vision, females of some butterfly species perceive ultraviolet color while the males see light and dark. Biologists have discovered that in at least one species, the variation results from a vision gene's jump onto a sex chromosome. It's the first known finding that this kind of genetic change causes sexually dimorphic vision. Thu, 10 Aug 2023 14:10:02 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230810141002.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230810110401.htm Researchers found that tiny nematode worm larvae surf electric fields to hitch rides on passing insects. Thu, 10 Aug 2023 11:04:01 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230810110401.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230807122003.htm Heliconius butterflies are capable of spatial learning, scientists have discovered. The results provide the first experimental evidence of spatial learning in any butterfly or moth species. Mon, 07 Aug 2023 12:20:03 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230807122003.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230801131628.htm Study reveals a powerful pheromone chemical used by males moths to entice females. Tue, 01 Aug 2023 13:16:28 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/08/230801131628.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230731110258.htm The origin of bees is tens of millions of years older than most previous estimates, a new study shows. A team led by Washington State University researchers traced the bee genealogy back more than 120 million years to an ancient supercontinent, Gondwana, which included today's continents of Africa and South America. Mon, 31 Jul 2023 11:02:58 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230731110258.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230728113459.htm Scientists have pinpointed a genetic cause for virgin birth for the first time, and once switched on the ability is passed down through generations of females. Fri, 28 Jul 2023 11:34:59 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230728113459.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230727143937.htm The link between tree diversity and spider populations can help homeowners and other land managers better plan tree plantings to naturally mitigate the effects of climate change. Thu, 27 Jul 2023 14:39:37 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230727143937.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230727143928.htm Bees and wasps have converged on the same architectural solutions to nest-building problems, according to new research. Thu, 27 Jul 2023 14:39:28 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230727143928.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230726171303.htm When oleander aphids infested tropical milkweed, monarch butterflies laid fewer eggs on the plant, and the caterpillars developing on those plants were slower to mature. Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:13:03 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230726171303.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230726134219.htm A new study in mice suggests replacing traditional protein sources with mealworms in high-fat diets could slow weight gain, improve immune response, reduce inflammation, enhance energy metabolism, and beneficially alter the ratio of good to bad cholesterol. Wed, 26 Jul 2023 13:42:19 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230726134219.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230726113011.htm Scientists have discovered the honey produced by Australian ants possesses unique anti-microbial activity against bacteria and fungi that could make the liquid useful medicinally. Wed, 26 Jul 2023 11:30:11 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230726113011.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230725123055.htm Researchers have uncovered the promising capability of chitin as a sustainable smart biomaterial. Through water exchange with the environment, humidity-responsive chitinous films can generate mechanical and electrical energy for potential use in engineering and biomedical applications. Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:30:55 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230725123055.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230721113227.htm Male crickets sing in unison to attract females -- but stop singing if a rival gets too close, new research shows. Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:32:27 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230721113227.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230719112701.htm Innovative treatment paves the way for reducing antimicrobial resistance in the treatment of a deadly infection in chickens, according to an international team of researchers. Wed, 19 Jul 2023 11:27:01 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230719112701.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230719112336.htm Prey size and risk of predation are strongly related to the medium-sized Daphnia -- a small, planktonic crustacean -- targeted by aquatic insects and fish. This phenotypic plasticity has been shown to be expressed by a variety of factors, including predator type, predator mode, and density. Overall, the small and medium-sized Daphnia expressed the highest degree of predator-induced plasticity, which the team found was more evident in small Daphnia than would be expected from size-selective predation. Wed, 19 Jul 2023 11:23:36 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230719112336.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230718105733.htm Without intervention, the colorful but devastating Japanese beetle could make its way across the evergreen state within two decades, according to a study of their potential dispersion. The iridescent, green-and-copper beetles damage plants by 'skeletonizing' their leaves, chewing up all the soft green parts between the veins. They eat over 300 plants and pose a serious threat to Washington agriculture as some of their favorite crops include grapes, hops and cherries. The study found that Japanese beetles would most likely thrive in the dry, agriculture-rich southeastern part of the state, where the first individuals were found three years ago. If they were to escape the quarantines in place in those areas, modeling shows they would likely spread throughout the region from Yakima to the Tri-Cities and north past Moses Lake. While the Cascades are a barrier, there are large areas of Western Washington that also have highly suitable habitat for Japanese beetles. Tue, 18 Jul 2023 10:57:33 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230718105733.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230713142107.htm Small-winged and lighter colored butterflies likely to be at greatest threat from climate change. The family, wing length and wing colour of tropical butterflies all influence their ability to withstand rising temperatures, say ecologists. The researchers believe this could help identify species whose survival is under threat from climate change. Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:21:07 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230713142107.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230713142054.htm Butterflies and moths share 'blocks' of DNA dating back more than 200 million years, new research shows. Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:20:54 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230713142054.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230712203752.htm Heliconius butterflies' brains grew as they adopted a novel foraging behavior, scientists have found. Wed, 12 Jul 2023 20:37:52 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230712203752.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230712124747.htm Researchers report that an insect's ability to find food and a mate is reduced when their antennae are contaminated by particulate matter from industry, transport, bushfires, and other sources of air pollution. Wed, 12 Jul 2023 12:47:47 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230712124747.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230712124745.htm 科学家创造了一个全球的polli数据库nation data for almost 3000 orchid species. Wed, 12 Jul 2023 12:47:45 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230712124745.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230710180448.htm Researchers have found toxins in the venom of asp caterpillars are completely different to anything they have seen before in insects. Toxins in the caterpillar venom punch holes in cells the same way as toxins produced by disease-causing bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella. Venoms are rich sources of new molecules that could be developed into medicines of the future, pesticides, or used as scientific tools. Mon, 10 Jul 2023 18:04:48 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230710180448.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230710113929.htm A study has identified genes involved in development of stone cells -- rigid cells that can block a nibbling insect from eating budding branches of the Sitka spruce evergreen tree. The insect's attack has stunted the growth of these forest giants. Mon, 10 Jul 2023 11:39:29 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230710113929.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230710113824.htm Research reveals how millions of years of evolution has engineered honey bees to make fast decisions and reduce risk. Mon, 10 Jul 2023 11:38:24 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230710113824.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230709202500.htm 不断上升的蛋彩画tures are causing British bees to wake up from hibernation almost a week earlier. Sun, 09 Jul 2023 20:25:00 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230709202500.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230705154012.htm Using CRISPR technology, scientists have engineered a new way to genetically suppress populations of Anopheles gambiae, the mosquitoes that primarily spread malaria in Africa and contribute to economic poverty in affected regions. Wed, 05 Jul 2023 15:40:12 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230705154012.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230701135755.htm For more than a century, scientists have used fruit flies' simple genome and short lifespan to decode mysteries of genetic inheritance. Now a new machine-learning system can track fruit flies and interpret different behaviors. Sat, 01 Jul 2023 13:57:55 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230701135755.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230701135742.htm Scientists have successfully tested a novel way of boosting honey bees' immune systems to help them fend off deadly viruses, which have contributed to the major losses of the critical pollinator globally. Sat, 01 Jul 2023 13:57:42 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/07/230701135742.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230630123217.htm Birds need to adapt to climate change, but evolution is a slow process. Model species such as the great tit are an indispensable yardstick for our ability to predict the impact of climate change on nature. Using innovative methods, a team from the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) took a sneak peek into the birds' future. 星期五,2023年6月30日12:32:17美国东部时间 //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230630123217.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230629125737.htm The mosquito species Culex modestus has been found in Finland for the first time. In Southern Europe it is known to spread West Nile virus, but it is highly unlikely for the disease to occur in Finland. Culex modestus has become the 44th mosquito species found in Finland, and the northernmost record of the species in Europe. The previous findings closest to Finland, but further south, have been made in the Leningrad Province in Russia and in Skåne in Sweden. Thu, 29 Jun 2023 12:57:37 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230629125737.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230628130406.htm Squash bugs, a common and difficult-to-control agricultural pest, need healthy bacteria in their gut to grow and stay alive. However, they do not acquire any bacteria from their parents when they are first born, leaving them vulnerable until their microbiome can be stocked. Researchers report that, to acquire these healthy bacteria, young bugs innately seek out and eat the poop from older squash bugs. Wed, 28 Jun 2023 13:04:06 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230628130406.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230622120902.htm 蝴蝶由城市发展受到的冲击最为严重。Shrinking habitats and food availability are causing their populations to decline. The same applies to many wild bees that fly early in spring. According to a new study, pollination has not yet been impacted by this because honeybees, for example, can compensate for the reduction of urban pollinators. The study is the first comprehensive analysis of the subject and includes data from 133 studies. The results underline the importance of nature conservation measures in urban areas. Thu, 22 Jun 2023 12:09:02 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230622120902.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230621164733.htm If you've ever wondered how the monarch butterfly got its spots, University of Georgia researchers may have just found the answer. The new study suggests that the butterflies with more white spots are more successful at reaching their long-distance wintering destination. Although it's not yet clear how the spots aid the species' migration, it's possible that the spots change airflow patterns around their wings. Wed, 21 Jun 2023 16:47:33 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230621164733.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230621121038.htm In nature, smaller animals often attach themselves to larger ones to 'hitch a ride' and save energy migrating large distances. Researchers show how microscopic Caenorhabditis elegans worms can use electric fields to 'jump' across Petri plates or onto insects, allowing them to glide through the air and attach themselves, for example, onto naturally charged bumblebee chauffeurs. Wed, 21 Jun 2023 12:10:38 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230621121038.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230621003059.htm New research explores how a warming world could impact ecosystems and derail the development of new species. Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:30:59 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230621003059.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230620113757.htm A detailed, high-resolution map of the rusty patched bumble bee's genome has been released, offering new approaches for bringing the native pollinator back from the danger of extinction. Putting together the rusty patched bumble bee genome is part of the Beenome 100 project, a first-of-its-kind effort to create a library of high-quality, highly detailed genome maps of 100 or more diverse bee species found in the United States. Tue, 20 Jun 2023 11:37:57 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230620113757.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230616161913.htm 'Weed early and often' is the key to a productive garden. Interestingly, certain species of ants are also avid gardeners, a practice they've refined over 50 million years. They too weed their underground fungus gardens, but how they know what to weed out has been a mystery. Now, a multidisciplinary team of scientists report how ants distinguish the good fungus from the bad. Fri, 16 Jun 2023 16:19:13 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230616161913.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230614220634.htm Have you ever noticed an ant in your home, only to find that a week later the whole colony has moved in? The traps you set up catch only a few of these ants, but soon, the rest of the colony has mysteriously disappeared. Now, a study explores how certain danger-signaling pheromones -- the scent markers ants emit to communicate with each other -- activate a specific part of the ants' brains and can change the behavior of an entire nest. Wed, 14 Jun 2023 22:06:34 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230614220634.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230612200341.htm Researchers have now used a gene-drive system to suppress an important agricultural pest. Mon, 12 Jun 2023 20:03:41 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230612200341.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230607124035.htm Social ants are masters of cooperative disease defense. They collectively take care of each other to prevent the spread of infections within a colony. But how does an individual ant know whom it should groom? A multidisciplinary team of researchers combined experimental and theoretical approaches to get a detailed look into ants' sanitary decision-making. Wed, 07 Jun 2023 12:40:35 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230607124035.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230606111652.htm 一组实验神经生物学家和系统结构ical biologists has managed to solve a mystery that has been baffling scientists for decades. They have been able to determine the nature of the electrical activity in the nervous system of insects that controls their flight. They report on a previously unknown function of electrical synapses employed by fruit flies during flight. Tue, 06 Jun 2023 11:16:52 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230606111652.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230605181342.htm Night-time pollinators such as moths may visit just as many plants as bees, and should also be the focus of conservation and protection efforts, a new study suggests. Mon, 05 Jun 2023 18:13:42 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230605181342.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230605181328.htm Extreme weather events have affected moth and butterfly activity more than the average increase in global temperature over the last several decades. Mon, 05 Jun 2023 18:13:28 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230605181328.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230605181205.htm Human influences have the potential to reduce the effectivity of communication in bees adding further stress to struggling colonies, according to new analysis. Mon, 05 Jun 2023 18:12:05 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230605181205.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230601155924.htm In honey bees, the role a bee plays in the colony changes as they age. Younger bees perform duties inside the hive, such as nursing and wax building, while older bees transition to roles outside of the hive, either foraging for food (foragers) or defending the colony (soldiers). What determines whether older bees become foragers or soldiers is unknown, but a new studyexplores the genetic mechanisms underlying the collective behavior of colony defense, and how these mechanisms relate to the colony's overall aggression. Thu, 01 Jun 2023 15:59:24 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/06/230601155924.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/05/230531150134.htm Researchers report that in the absence of visible landmarks, desert ants increase the likelihood that foraging nest mates will find their way home quickly and safely by elevating their nest entrance. Ant colonies whose nests are found deep in the Tunisian saltpan are particularly reliant on the self-made landmarks. If the mound at the nest entrance was removed, they immediately began building a new hill, unless the researchers provided artificial landmarks. This phenomenon adds yet another fascinating facet to the amazing navigation skills of these tiny desert animals. Wed, 31 May 2023 15:01:34 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/05/230531150134.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/05/230525141353.htm 一个研究小组已经found that in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), circulating fructose derived from dietary sugar is needed for enhanced egg production after mating. In this species, circulating fructose is required for an increase in germline stem cells, which divide into reproductive cells. This increase leads to enhanced post-mating egg production. These findings may help to determine whether fructose influences the reproduction of mammals, including humans. Thu, 25 May 2023 14:13:53 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/05/230525141353.htm