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Understanding the Insect Microbiome
Insects, like humans, have a rich microbiome that plays a crucial role in their digestive and overall health. This community of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, archaea and protozoa, are known as “symbionts.” They work together to provide life-saving and species-perpetuating benefits to their hosts. Discovery and Importance While the human gut microbiome was first
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Are Ground Beetles Good for Your Garden? Benefits, Diet and Pest Control
Ground beetles are beneficial insects that provide natural pest control in gardens and agricultural settings. Most species prey on common garden pests like aphids, caterpillars and slugs, helping reduce the need for chemical pesticides. And while their shiny outer shells can seem intimidating at first glance, ground beetles aren’t harmful to humans. On the contrary; they play an important ecological role
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What Flowers Attract Bees? (And Other Pollinator Favorites)
Bees do have favorite flowers. In general, they’re drawn to nectar-rich blooms in shades of blue and yellow, especially flowers with sweet scents and petals that make landing easy. Other pollinators have preferences too, and learning what different species look for can help you better support pollination in your garden or landscape. Let’s take a closer look at the flower traits bees prefer
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Entomology Research: From the Lab to the Real World
Entomologists are changing the world, one insect at a time. From boosting pollination by increasing bee populations to reducing the number of disease-carrying mosquitoes, entomologists directly impact the health of our ecosystems and communities. Often, these groundbreaking advancements in entomology research start in the lab. In the Lab: The Role of Entomology in Scientific Discovery
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7 Trends in Entomology to Watch in 2025
Entomology had quite the year in 2024. New York City declared all-out war against the spotted lanternfly, rallying citizens to stomp them on sight. Australia introduced a fire ant prevention program that’s in “absolute shambles.” And for the first time since 1803, 13-year and 17-year periodical cicadas emerged simultaneously from underground. If 2024 is any
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Challenges in Urban Pest Management
Picture this: You’ve been craving those mouthwatering appetizers at your favorite weekend spot all afternoon. You finally arrive, eager to dig in, only to find the restaurant’s closed. Odd, right? It was open just last week. Upon closer inspection, you spot a notice slapped on the door—a failed health inspection. The culprit? A significant pest
