Insects
Mosquitoes have the best malaria strategy!
We hate the irritation and the mess of blood parasites that attack us in the form of leeches and mosquitoes. The trouble is the leech does not infect us while the mosquito is simply the agent for the malaria parasite and many others, which it tries to resist with very useful immune responses.
Mama Mia Mantis
Will global warming bring more butterflies to northern Europe; can more species now live in the Arctic and Antarctic. We have to allow for changing habitat and even habitat preferences, if we are going to face the true character of global warming, drying environments or melting ice.
Remember Wallace for his birdwing but conserve this incredible insect too
Our humble attempt to stir interest in the most intriguing species on earth moves to the Mollucas. Wallace discovered more animals than almost any other explorer in the richly biodiverse islands we can now call Wallaceana
(Indonesia, Australasia and Malaysia.) What a man!
The Planet of the Insects
We gaze at the beauty or stand aghast at the horror of different insects. You have to admire the way in which their tiny but numerous bodies challenge successfully against larger animals as well as to help the Angiosperms to achieve their own mastery of the plant world on land.
Conservation is too conservative in the UK
The white-tailed eagle, the dormouse and the large blue butterfly are all threatened. But not by extinction. The threat comes from ill-equipped government who are going to cling to a list of alien plants and animals that is so far out-of-date, Darwin would have laughed. People would then be allowed to exterminate species like this on their land.
How are butterflies and moths related?
When science illuminates an area, it's not always easy to see how. In this case we try and show that the brilliant butterfly or moth has a fascinating ancestry and intriguing sets of current relatives. The publication of this paper is great progress, but we doubt if we can fully explain, more than just show the pics and links!
Saving bees with new pesticide
The need for a pesticide for farmers and others that excludes pollinators and other useful insects from its action is desperate. We prefer not to kill any non-pest. But the loss of potentially all our bees is a risk that only chemical companies have been willing to take.
Desert memories and route guidance - for ants
This desert ant is an amazing route finder in extreme conditions. Efforts to discover its 'technique' have so far faltered, but this research shows the ant-centric approach works.
Spider sociability
How did social behaviour evolve, and why do we see it in so many animals, no matter what level of taxonomy they are found? Spiders, sticklebacks and insects, birds, mammals and reptiles are all involved in complex social interaction.
Bats' flight changes
When we study insects and birds in the air, or other animals in water, the interest often lies in how they can change their locomotive effort in order to counteract wind or currents. The use of computer modelling can also add the extra benefit of prediction of movement under various conditions.
Camels lynx and eagles invade?
When is an alien species really alien? Maybe only when it is a critical danger to another species. A new book from a popular author puts forward persuasive and alarming arguments. Camels, eagles, snakes, spiders and influenza virus, wrapped up in invasive packaging.
Bird speciations made clear
We can catalogue all the live and some extinct species on earth. The sooner we know all those insects and marine creatures, the quicker we can deal with conservation management in the most efficient ways possible.
To bee or not to bee (again)
When will the bees and other helpful insects be protected in the same way as (some) mammals and birds? It's obvious that the fruit industries will collapse without them, so for the most selfish of reasons, we know we have to try and preserve these species. Unfortunately, there are always those who suffer from short sight, or simply greed for bigger and bigger short-term profits.
Cuckoos mimic hawks
We normally regard Batesian mimics as butterflies that pretend to be poisonous, or even snakes. The cuckoo now reveals its subtle disguise as a dangerous predator of small birds, but of course, it's fooling these small birds into letting it lay an egg in their nest.
Your ancestor was a little therian
We can visualise distant ancestral forms of many organisms by imagining similar species alive today, or complete fossils. Here the scarcity of evidence on early mammalian teeth makes it difficult, but not impossible, to show how incredible events shaped our past into the flower, insect and mammal-dominated Paleocene.
Smallest animals around, for now!
A simple summary of some small creatures, missing out some such as the flies and beetles, because I know there will be new discoveries around the corner!
Surprise in bee reproduction
Intriguing comparisons have been made by ancient and modern philosophies about the similarities between the bee and the human. Here is a small sign than altruism is not the only source of the insects success.Perhaps the conservation of rare bees will be helped, too, with this discovery.
Ecuador dumps the Amazon's most biodiverse reserve
The life of the Yasuni Reserve in the Amazon is not as we know it. With 44 times the biodiversity of the whole of one country in one hectare, it exhibits a show of insect, amphibian, bird and even mammalian species that we cant imagine. Now replace them all with oil rigs.
Hedgehogs, gardens and general conservation in the urban environment
The hedgehog species are found in Eurasia and Africa, all following the basic body plan of protective prickles and an insectivorous diet. The protection they need from predation sometimes seems to be mainly from traffic, but badgers and others do affect their distribution.
Neonicotinoids killed 50,000 bees in one parking lot
50,000 bumble bees and honey bees killed in Oregon, US. When a bee reaches a new nectar source, it shouldn't result in the death of its whole colony. We need better insecticidal controls and we all deserve better insecticides, given their catastrophic history.
Honey Bee Numbers Drop
When the bee is remembered, we will only think of that delicious honey, and not of that diligent and innovative insect that became extinct because we polluted the planet so much!
Nightlife for Bull ants
The ant is rarely so forbidding, large or even dangerous as these 4cm Australian species. Their weakness? Nothing you would notice except they have difficulty using their big eyes in the dark!
Ants, plants and pitchers
When these ants are hatched, they have only one role in life, to serve the pitcher plant as cleaners, trappers and underwater divers.
25th April - World Malaria Day
World Malaria Day 2013: According to latest estimates, malaria kills between 2,000 and 3,000 people every day, with between 85% and 90% of deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. It is spread by bites from mosquitoes but as has happened in Europe and North America, the disease could effectively be wiped out by clearing the areas where mosquitoes breed. Hence, malaria is completely preventable and it is a disgrace that more is not being done in the world to eliminate it.
Ants can save millions from earthquakes
The ant way to earthquake prediction. There is help already available to predict earthquakes, not the early warning seismology that tsunami warning centres provide, but ants.
The bees and the butterflies are missing
Butterflies are one of the more obvious hard-hit victims of a dire downward turn in invertebrate numbers. Insecticides combined with the predation of parasites to cause the downfall of bee and butterfly populations.
Pesticide is costly for bees, then birds, then?
The way in which we have allowed concerns about neonicotinoid insecticides to go unnoticed is parallel to the Silent Spring ignorance that reigned supreme for Rachel Carson.
Ants are good at crowd control!
'Go to the ant,' is the instruction. But when ants are crowded, they cannot get around their trails so easily.
Oh, those blue butterflies are so near the brink
Do you know about the Large Blue and its begging habit? Maculinea rebeli (also known as Phengaris) is one of those cute blue butterflies that hang out with ants.
Cretacean murder mystery solved, or is it?
Millions of years ago in the Cretaceous period a spider attacked a parasitic wasp in its web, and was then preserved in amber.
Tag and track - Ant roads in the woods
Tiny radio tags fitted to track the 'ant roads' of Formica lugubris. Hairy wood ants in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and the rest of Europe, are near-threatened. So what does York do to help?
Butterfly Mutations post-Fukushima
New study investigates the effects of nuclear particles such as iodine on the genotype of butterflies post Fukushima. A short life cycle like the annual butterfly can give us results now that will affect future generations.
Red-eyed tree frogs and their frog-flies: recruitment and colonization
When a dead red eyed tree frog's egg is used as food by fly larvae, that is an important part of the decomposition of living material. Frog flies tend to choose dead eggs but can lay on others that are healthy nearby.
Mountain pine beetle blight creates air pollution in forests
Mountain pine beetles not only kill trees, they increase VOC levels in forested areas, a new study shows.
Pesticides Killing Bees
Without bees two-thirds of our natural crops would not be propagated but how often have we thought about the consequences of pesticide and toxic chemical use on the insect world?
Saith the Fly to the Spider
A species of spider (Cupiennius salei) which actively hunts or 'chases down' its prey, rather than utilising a web, uses airflow generated by flying insects to help guide the final jump onto their prey.
Changing climate may help invasive Asian tiger mosquito spread north
The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) could be heading further north. A changing climate is creating conditions that may allow the Asian tiger mosquito to spread into northern Europe. The invasive mosquito species is associated with transmitting various infectious diseases.
Global warming and habitat choice
New study on European butterflies looks at the effects of global warming on habitat choice. The research investigates if butterflies are able to respond to climate changes by making use of microclimates in their current habitats.
Water fleas swap infection for reproduction
A Daphnia freshwater flea trades reproduction for resistance to a deadly parasite, say American scientists.
Peppermint gene in GM wheat could mean no parking for greenfly
Peppermint gene makes the wheat smell bad to greenfly. New trials of GM wheat by Rothamsted aims to eradicate losses aphids cause by repelling them with the peppermint gene.
Apollo and Europa butterflies
A new study has been published about endangered European butterfly populations along with conservation suggestions. A new EU directive - attract butterflies, and caterpillars to your garden.
Butterfly wings idea boosts hydrogen production
Scientists have developed a way of doubling hydrogen gas production that is modelled on the structure of black butterfly wings.
Meet the wasp king - Megalara garuda
A recent study published information about the proclaimed King of wasps, Megalara garuda. The male Megalara garuda is over 3cm with huge jaws, thought to be used when grabbing the female when mating.
Butterflies benefit from being social
A Heliconius spp. butterfly study looks at benefits of social roosting. By gathering in large groups, butterflies deter threats from predators.
Honeybee Colony Collapse Linked to Corn Insecticide
Honeybee colony collapse disorder threatens food security worldwide, and scientists may be one step closer to understanding its causes.
Dragonflies and Damselflies disperse in the heat
A new study looks at how water habitats affect the dispersal ability of animals. The hypothesis tested is if dragonflies and damselflies are able to adapt more quickly to recent climate change where the water is still or lentic.
Comparing cities and blood systems with Atta forest ants
Leafcutter ants (Atta spp.) are the amazing ants with the attractive antics of transporting leaves to culture fungi. Rather like a city's motorway system, the leafcutter ant must organise paths to efficiently allow transport without using up energy in overlong routes.
Speciation taking place in Gall wasps
Speciation is happening in American gall wasps. Belonocnema treatae is an American gall wasp that develops as a sexual generation in root galls in spring. The gall wasp inhabits two related oak trees in the southeast US.
Can you hear the Jurassic crickets?
The north of China has some perfectly preserved forewings of Jurassic insects. What research has made possible is, by comparison with living Prophalangopsids (sort-of-crickets) and electron microscopy of the stridulation apparatus, a complete and convincing 'reconstruction' of the pure tone at 6.4kHz.
Green light for jumping spiders
How jumping spiders hunt successfully. New research shows that green light is necessary for jumping spider accuracy when hunting. The spiders are able to judge their jumps successfully in green light.
Arboreal ant wars
Distance warfare has been thought to be a human development. Ants have beaten us to it long ago, though! Interspecific competition and wide ranging predations have helped both defence and offence mechanisms.
Plant insect-repellent used in Stone Age
Leaves from the river wild-quince plant was used 77,000 years ago in South Africa to ward-off mosquitoes, scientists have found.
Extant or Extinct
Britain's butterflies are few in species to start with, but much loved, as opposed to their poor neighbours the moths and microlepidoptera. Report after report tells us almost as much as those on bird migrants or the ever-popular red squirrel.
A genetic tool in the fight against extinctions
The Brown Argus occurs in southern Britain. It's a butterfly from the family of 'Blues' (It resembles the female Common Blue very closely), widespread in particular habitats. Researchers recently published a paper in Molecular Ecology entitled, ''Evidence for evolutionary change associated with the recent range expansion of the British butterfly in response to climate change.''
Colobus chorus
There is nothing more delightful than waking in South East Asian forests to the gibbon dawn chorus, but South America Howlers and African Colobus seem to compete more loudly. In an intriguing and difficult investigation by Anne Schel and Klaus Zuberbuhler, communication in animals reports a dawn chorus from insect, amphibian and bird.
Spider 'Repell-Ant'
Orb web spiders are able to coat an alkaloid on their threads that prevents hordes of ants from raiding the larder, or even eating the owner. As they grow larger, the Golden Orb Web spider coats the web with the repellent and no intruder can pass over.
The Future of our Forests
Tree species migration. Due to climate changes caused by global warming, insect attacks, fires and diseases, a massive migration of trees is underway.
For baboons it pays to be sociable
Chacma baboons of Namibia, exist in small social stable groups on cliff top nesting sites in Tsaobis Leopard Park and so, unlike insects, schooling fish or other sociable creatures, it may not have organised instincts to coordinate its group movement.
Invasive coconut-smelling ants reach Hawaii
A super colony of invasive odorous house ants has been established in Hawaii, the first confirmed infestation outside mainland USA. The odorous house ants (Tapinoma sessile) that emit a coconut odour when crushed have travelled to Maui, 2,500-miles from the United States mainland.
Low Flying Objects
DASH, short for Dynamic Autonomous Sprawled Hexapod was a robot investigating stability. Designing a 25 g, 10 cm robot was easy, but they couldn't decide whether it should be a bird or an insect. There was a clue though - it had six legs.
Birds like it sweet, bees like it sweeter
MIT mathematicians delved into the arena of biology recently to explore optimization in nature. It turns out, bees are 'dippers' who feed by probing flowers with their tongues. For them, a thicker, sweeter fluid is best. But birds and butterflies draw nectar through thin tubes, and that's easier when flowers supply a thinner, less sugary fluid.
Largest ever butterfly map completed
A European atlas recording the distribution of all of Europe's 441 butterfly species will be a vital tool to record how climate change is affecting these lovely creatures. The work of 272 field volunteers, say the publishers, has been vital to this grand new publication project.
Beetles keeping it bottled-up
The resemblance of a beer bottle to a female has been mooted in the past, but rarely remembered the morning after. An Australian (beetle) has now confirmed that 'stubbies' are better! The male Buprestid (jewel) beetle, Julodimorpha bakewelli, is often noticed lolling around near brown beer bottles (stubbies) in Australia.
The Beetles Hit (on Amphibian prey)
Israeli beetles turning the tables on five spp. of Amphibian. The classic instance of predators stalking their live and not-so-innocent food supply is reversed with the prey waiting to be stalked by the naive predator. They then turn the tables by killing the villain - but just where would the observers' sympathies lie?
New vaccine may improve malaria prevention
A new vaccine has been developed that may, for the first time, provide an effective anti-malaria vaccine capable of preventing the spread of the disease in Asia and Africa. Transmitted by mosquito bite, malaria causes severe, intermittent fever, and kills nearly a million people annually, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa.
Visiting mosquitoes threaten Galapagos with deadly virus
Scientists are worried that a disease that has caused damage to wildlife in North and South America could travel to the Galapagos Islands via mosquitoes hitching a ride with visiting boats and planes.
Mountain butterflies provide rare glimpse of hybrid speciation
Observant scientists have discovered a rare example of animal hybrid speciation, in the forests of the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States. The creature in question, the Appalachian tiger swallowtail butterfly (Papilio appalachiensis), is the genetically unique result of the union of two related butterflies.
Invading beetles threaten autumn colours
An asian beetle is finding a welcoming new home in the iconic forests of the American north east causing damage that could threaten the area's $1 billion tourist industry say researchers. The Asian longhorned beetle is the alien species in question and scientists fear it could spread from tree-lined city streets to the north east's beautiful maple forests.
World Mosquito Day - August 20th 2011
August 20th is World Mosquito Day. Here are some ideas to help you celebrate or rather acknowledge it. Despite the name and what it seems to imply, we don't celebrate the flying bearer of disease. Rather we celebrate the day in 1897 that a British doctor, Ronald Ross, discovered that female mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans, a discovery that earned him a Nobel Prize for Medicine.
Sterile male mosquitoes could help in the battle against malaria
Spermless male mosquitoes could be used to prevent the spread of malaria by preventing female mosquitoes from successfully reproducing. A widespread release of such sterile males could have a major impact on transmission rates of malaria, which kills almost 800,000 people a year.
Tarantula in the scanner unveils its double-beating heart
An innovative use of MRI scanners and tarantulas has revealed intriguing new information about a spider's heart - it may show a double-beat, similar to that felt by humans. The research, being presented at this week's annual conference of the Society for Experimental Biology, in Glasgow, also holds out the possibility of investigating useful properties in spider venom, and the evolution of the brain.
The curious world of the spider in the bubble
Fascinating new work on the diving bell spiders - amazing arachnids that live under water in their own personal air bubbles - has shed light onto how they make use of 'bubble technology'. It seems, says the paper in the Journal of Experimental Biology, that the spiders can stay submerged for longer than thought - all the better to catch their prey.
New portable lures could help defeat mosquitoes and their diseases
A new avenue for defeating the triple menace of dengue, yellow-sickness and malaria, all diseases borne by blood-sucking mosquitoes, has been opened up by research published in tomorrow's Nature. A team from the University of California, Riverside, describes how blends of odor-stimulating compounds can fool female mosquito's from homing in on our CO2-laden breath.
Rare butterfly flying high again
Local biodiversity action plan good news for rare butterfly. One of the UK's rarest butterflies is making a comeback thanks to a project by the Forestry Commission. The Pearl-Bordered Fritillary, recognisable by the white 'pearls' on the tips of its wings, was once a common sight in the south English countryside.
Growing demand for honeybees and pollination services in the UK
Insect mediated pollination is a service provided by nature. The estimated economic value of this service stands at 15 billion euros per year in the EU. Moreover, many wild plant species, which characterise our natural and also cultural landscapes, depend on insect pollination.
UK butterfly revival could be hit by cuts
Research shows rare species of butterflies are showing signs of recovery yet a reduction in funding could harm conservation efforts. The data comes from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, the largest of its kind in the world which is run by Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
Trees killed by Pine Beetles create more dangerous fires
Fire ignites and spreads more easily in forests devastated by pine beetles, making new fire management plans crucial. In areas where many trees have been killed by pine beetle infestations, forest fires can spread more quickly, new research says. The dead trees are much drier than live wood, as are the red needles. The way fire behaves in areas struck by pine beetles, such as much of British Columbia and Montana, is changing dramatically in a short time.
Why did the dragonfly cross the road?
Conservation; Article currently in Biological Conservation on the impact of roads on dragonfly behaviour and mortality. Dragonflies are one of the most ancient and beautiful orders of insects. They are frequently top predators in wetlands, especially when fish are not present, and the predaceous younger larval stages are entirely confined to water habitats
UK's Buglife invites the nation on an Oil Beetle Hunt!
With the UK's hedgerows abuzz again as spring finally unfurls, the charity for creepy-crawly conservation, Buglife, is calling on all garden adventurers to join them on an Oil Beetle Hunt. Keep your eyes peeled, identify them and then upload your sightings - photos and all - to help save one the UK's most beautiful but threatened bug species.
Death key to sex life of Satyrium pumilum orchid
A South African orchid mimics the stench of corpses to draw in its pollinating carrion flies. The orchid, Satyrium pumilum targets a carrion feeding flesh fly as its pollinator and is so convincing that female flies have been seen laying eggs in the flower. In addition to its smelly perfume of decaying corpse, the interior of the flower is a mottled brown in colour that resembles rotting meat. Environmental issues: orchid/nature.
Never mind zombies; invasion of the Tamarisk trees is officially here
The invasion of the American north-west by the Tamarisk Tree and its natural enemy; the Tamarisk Leaf Beetle. The Tamarisk Leaf Beetle is inadvertently battling one of the greatest threats to the U.S. water reserves by eating it. The Tamarisk Tree, which survives by absorbing river water in a sponge-like manner, has met its nemesis in the Tamarisk Leaf Beetle, an insect whose favourite food of choice is Tamarisk Tree leaf.
Lunch with a crunch - eco-friendly edible insects
Scrap the beef, pork, and chicken from your diet if you want to improve your carbon footprint. Edible insects like mealworms, locusts and crickets produce a fraction of the greenhouse gases per kilo of protein than more conventional meals.
Pesticides threaten social, ecological aspect of ant hunting in Brazil
Içás, or queen ants in Brazil are a delicacy. Spring rains in October and November drive the ants out of the ground, and for a few short weeks. But this year pesticides have threatened the social and the ecological aspect of ant hunting. The principal culprits are pesticides used on eucalyptus trees that are planted to produce cellulose for paper and other products.
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Recent News
Auto-Immune Deficiency Disease is very much an issue still although many, young and old, ignore it. Those who can afford to spend our health service cash on drugs survive well, but in Africa, the support for prevention or relief is almost nil.
While the world ponders climate change, Texas, which suffers badly from drought, has been trying to frack its way forward. It now seems these workers will have to return home and that oil is not the future. It has lasted over a century, but the oil executives are now grasping at straws, instead of embracing renewable or at least less polluting energies. New jobs will have to be found, but this is not the first time oil has gone bust!
How can the tiny capacity of a bee brain store memory as capably as that of our own? The 2 are very similar in performance, according to this research, despite the disparity in size.
Recent Blog Posts
Need to save money after the spending boom to end them all? Here are 2 sets of opinions on how to pull out the plugs at night at least.
When dolphins are 'rescued' in various countries, the car given seems to be ill-considered. We are simply looking at the success rate which is reported to be low, in most places. They could even end up in commercial aquarium shows, but they certainly rarely make it back to the sea.
What is killing bees? Chelsea has the answer here.
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