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Boss Ladies: Fascinating Female-Led Insect Societies
Who runs the world? According to Beyoncé, it’s girls — and in the insect world, that’s certainly true! In many insect species, females are strong, confident and unmistakably in charge, from industrious honey bee queens to formidable praying mantises. Let’s dive into what makes so many female insects such powerhouses and the driving forces of…
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Celebrating Women in Entomology
Entomology, the study of insects, has long been associated with notable figures such as Sir Vincent Wigglesworth and William Kirby. While men have historically dominated the field and currently hold around 66% of entomology-related careers, the contributions of women in entomology deserve equal recognition. Women have made pivotal advances in understanding insect behavior, ecology and…
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The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: Invasive Species Spotlight
When people think of stink bugs, one question usually arises: Do stink bugs really stink? While they don’t go around contaminating every area they cohabitate with, they do emit a notably pungent scent when threatened: a chemical defense mechanism that deters predators. But it’s not their smell that’s most concerning. The brown marmorated stink bug…
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The History of Entomology: An Evolutionary Overview
Though the term “entomology” was only formally coined in the early 1800s, humans’ fascination with insects dates back thousands of years. Insects account for roughly 75% of all known animal species, so it’s not hard to understand why these tiny creatures have piqued both curiosity and (at times) exasperation from frustrated gatherers and farmers. Since…
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What Can Honey Metagenomics Tell Us About Honey Bees?
That honey you enjoy is sweet and tasty, but do you know what’s in it? There’s plenty of sugar, of course. Also vitamins, minerals and protein in varying amounts. But some of the other genetic materials found in honey may surprise you. Here we’ll examine the field of honey metagenomics — the study of genetic…
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Ant Defense Mechanisms: From Common Tactics to the Weirdest Survival Strategies
Ants are taking over. With a staggering 20 quadrillion ants crawling across the planet, that’s 2.5 million ants for every human. Now, ask yourself: Could you fight 2.5 million ants all on your own? Ants thrive in massive colonies housing hundreds of thousands of these tiny warriors, each capable of carrying 50 times their own…
