Little gaps let eastern hemlocks fend off pest
Creating physical gaps in the forest canopy helps eastern hemlocks withstand infestation by an invasive insect, a study finds.
Parasite protects its ‘zombies’ from hot sun
A brain-altering parasite called the liver fluke turns ants into zombies at dawn and dusk, report researchers.
Why young squash bugs must eat poop
Squash bugs carry a gut bacterium that’s key to their development into adults, but don’t have it as nymphs. New findings reveal how they get it.
Smell training for locusts offers clues to learning
A study investigates the behavior of locusts and how the neurons in their brains respond to appealing and unappealing odors.
Robot goes after spotted lanternfly eggs
An autonomous robot could help control the spread of invasive spotted lanternflies by destroying their eggs.
Weird weather keeps butterflies aflutter longer
Unseasonably warm and cold days can prolong the active period of moths and butterflies by nearly a month. “The results are not at all what we expected.”
Infected palm trees warn healthy neighbors of lethal disease
Palm trees infected with lethal bronzing disease emit signals to warn their healthy neighbor palms of a potential incoming threat.
First butterflies winged off from North and Central America
Scientists have discovered where the first butterflies originated and which plants they relied on for food.
Cockroach species takes name from a Pokémon
A new species of cockroach gets its name, Nocticola pheromosa, from its resemblance to a Pokémon.
Brine flies are crucial to salt lake ecosystems
Salt lake ecosystems need the right amounts of water and salinity to support brine flies, which shorebirds need to survive.