Ants may be only a few millimeters tall, but they’re basically running nature’s infrastructure right under our feet. They improve soil, spread seeds, control pests and recycle nutrients — all without anyone asking them to.
There are around 20 quadrillion ants on Earth: about 2.5 million for every human. Ants first appeared 140 to 168 million years ago alongside the first flowering plants — and long before humans. They’ve been shaping ecosystems ever since.
In this article, we’ll explore the ecological importance of ants, including:
An ecosystem engineer is any organism that shapes its environment in ways other species depend on. Ants do this at a staggering scale. As they tunnel through soil, they:
You can see their impact in small moments, too. Sugar cubes, trash, dropped food? No problem. Ants are like tiny logistics teams that dismantle the waste and haul it home piece by piece. You may even spot a scout ant arriving before the rest of the colony, its antennae twitching as it lays a pheromone trail for the team.
Many of us spot an ant and immediately think to call pest control, but ants do far more than invade pantries. They make up a considerable portion of Earth’s biomass and live on every continent except Antarctica.
Here are some of the most important ways ants help the environment:
Ants perform similar functions in the soil as earthworms, and they’re no less important. They dig tunnels and build nests, which loosens the soil. This allows water and oxygen to reach plant roots more easily, so plants grow stronger.
Ants are natural recyclers. They collect plant material and organic waste, break it down and move it through the soil, returning nutrients back into the ecosystem in the process.
Leafcutter ants, for example, carve out pieces of leaves, carry them back to their colonies and feed them to the fungus they cultivate in their nests. It’s no wonder they’ve mastered this system. These small-but-mighty ants began farming 50 million years ago — long before humans.
Many plant species rely on ants to move their seeds. Harvester ants, for example, prefer fat-rich seeds, like those from poppy or chia plants. They carry these seeds underground, eat part of them and then leave the rest in the nutrient-rich soil, helping new plants grow. This process is called myrmecochory.
Ants are fierce insect hunters. Army ants can even perform massive, coordinated raids and consume hundreds of thousands of prey animals a day. These miniature snipers are decimating one insect after another, and it’s all happening beneath your feet.
Healthy ant populations keep pest populations in check, which can reduce the need for chemical pesticides. That makes ants a natural ally for farmers who want to protect their crops through sustainable agriculture.
Ants are the clean-up crew of our ecosystems. This is especially true in tropical rainforests, where they remove half of all organic material from the forest floor. Their digging influences water drainage and erosion — and over time, how our land forms.
Birds, reptiles, amphibians and other animals all depend on ants as a food source. Remove them from the equation, and entire food chains start to unravel.
Ants also form a symbiosis with other insects, such as aphids. In exchange for the honeydew that aphids produce, ants act as aggressive bodyguards and protect them from predators like wasps and ladybugs.
So, how do ant communities do all this with such efficiency? They’re highly social insects with complex, well-structured societies.
Colonies assign roles to queens, workers and sometimes soldiers. Workers also specialize in tasks like foraging, nest building or caring for the young. This makes the colony highly efficient.
Remember the scout ant? Ants lay “pheromone trails” on the ground, which allows thousands of them to coordinate foraging routes and waste-removal systems without a central commander. It’s like an optimized supply chain.
Fun fact: An ant can lift up to 50 times its body weight and withstand forces up to 5,000 times its own weight.
There are more than 20,000 ant species worldwide, but a handful show up most often in homes, yards and gardens. Knowing which ant you’re dealing with can help you respond to them — and protect them — more effectively.
Here are some of the ant species you’ll encounter most commonly:
| Type of Ant 🐜 | Where They’re Found 📍 | How They Look 🐜 | What To Know ⚠️ |
| Carpenter ants | Wood, damp structures | Large, black/red | They can damage wood structures, but they help break down decaying wood. |
| Harvester ants | Dry soil, yards, sandy areas | Medium-large, red/brown | Their sting is painful, but their colonies disperse seeds and improve soil. |
| Fire ants | Lawns, fields, disturbed soil | Small, reddish, aggressive | They’re notorious for swarming and painful stings, but they help control pests like ticks and chiggers. |
| Sugar ants | Indoors | Tiny, brown or black | Though annoying, these are harmless ants that help clean up organic debris (like sugar). |
| Crazy ants | Around homes, electronics and yards | Small, long legs, erratic movement | They’re hard to control and can infest electronics, but they can also reduce fire ant populations. |
| Leafcutter ants | Forests, gardens | Medium, usually carry leaf pieces | They can damage plants but play a key role in ecosystem balance through fungus farming. |
Ants do a lot of good for the environment, and protecting these tiny engineers can be simple:
Ants may be tiny, but they quietly protect and reshape the world beneath our feet by:
So, the next time you see a trail of ants, try not to disturb them. They’re a glimpse into an ancient system that’s been working long before us and will continue long after.
The study of ants is called myrmecology, but the broader study of insects is known as entomology. At the University of Florida, you can turn your curiosity about ants into something much more through UF’s nationally top-ranked, fully online entomology programs.
Deepen your expertise with a master’s degree or build skills quickly with a graduate certificate. UF’s flexible, 100% online format lets you study from anywhere and on your own schedule. Along the way, you’ll explore how ants and other insects shape the systems that support life, and how you can help protect them.
Widen your expertise in fields like:
Engineer your next move and join Gator Nation next semester.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/animal/ant
https://entomologytoday.org/2014/02/11/ants-can-lift-up-to-5000-times-their-own-body-weight-new-study-suggests
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2201550119
https://a-z-animals.com/blog/how-strong-are-ants-relative-strength-compared-to-humans-and-other-animals
https://www.insectlore.com/blogs/ants/ant-colony-structure-and-hierarchy
Insects can’t be trained — at least not in the way you’re thinking of. No pats on the head for fetching a tiny ball or flying to a certain spot on command. But research on hoverflies is challenging what entomologists thought they knew about insect learning. These small, bee-mimicking insects are helping researchers understand how visual information shapes decision-making…
Ants may be only a few millimeters tall, but they’re basically running nature’s infrastructure right under our feet. They improve soil, spread seeds, control pests and recycle nutrients — all without anyone asking them to. There are around 20 quadrillion ants on Earth: about 2.5 million for every human. Ants first appeared 140 to 168 million years ago alongside the first flowering plants — and long…
Don’t let their tiny sizes fool you: Insects are the heavy lifters of our planet. With an estimated five to ten million species worldwide, insects make up more than half of all known life on Earth. They’re also the most diverse animals on the planet, varying widely in shape, behavior and function. This diversity is…
Don’t let their tiny sizes fool you: Insects are the heavy lifters of our planet. With an estimated five to ten million species worldwide, insects make up more than half of all known life on Earth. They’re also the most diverse animals on the planet, varying widely in shape, behavior and function.
This diversity is critical because different species of insects handle different jobs. Some pollinate specific plants. Others break down certain materials. When one species disappears, the work it did often doesn’t get done, creating gaps that ripple through entire ecosystems.
So what is insect biodiversity, and why is it so important? Let’s take a closer look.
Insects belong to a group of animals called arthropods, defined by a few key features:
They’re also the only invertebrates capable of flight. This superpower allows them to thrive in nearly every corner of the world, and it’s made them astonishingly diverse.
Insect biodiversity refers to the variety of insect species on Earth, how they differ from one another and the roles they play in ecosystems. There are an estimated five to 10 million species across approximately 30 insect orders, although the exact number is debated.
Just five of these orders make up about 80% of the entire insect population:
| Order | Examples |
| Coleoptera | Beetles |
| Lepidoptera | Butterflies, moths |
| Diptera | Flies, mosquitoes |
| Hymenoptera | Ants, bees, wasps, sawflies |
| Hemiptera | True bugs, such as cicadas, leafhoppers and bed bugs |
Even within these five dominant orders, the variety is remarkable — from tiny ants to massive beetles.
Insect biodiversity is essential because insects support food production, ecosystem stability and natural balance. For example, more than 300 different crops that we consume are pollinated by insects. And one in every three bites of food you eat depends on their hard work.
When insect populations are thriving and varied, entire systems stay balanced. But when populations decline or certain species disappear, the effects cascade — affecting everything from crop yields to wildlife populations.
Healthy insect populations contribute to:
When it comes to beneficial insects, honey bees often get the spotlight, but they’re just one piece of a much larger ecosystem. Insect biodiversity — and insect ecology, the way insects interact with plants and animals — is essential to keeping ecosystems healthy and functioning.
Here’s why:
Insects are high in protein, reproduce quickly and are sustainable to raise. They create only small amounts of carbon dioxide, making them an increasingly popular food source. By 2030, experts expect human consumption of insects to grow significantly.
Insects nourish countless species, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish.
In fact:
More than 2,000 insects, in both adult and immature forms are edible, including:
Insects are a primary food source for many animals. When they decline, we decline — and entire food chains get disrupted.
Picture this: You’re out in nature. Around you, butterflies flock to bright flowers and bees hum in a hive nearby. Behind that peaceful scene, there’s critical work happening: work that produces much of our food.
Bees, butterflies and moths are examples of pollinators. They move pollen between the male and female parts of plants for reproduction, which produces crops. Crops pollinated by bees account for 75% of the fruits, nuts and vegetables grown in the U.S. Without them, plant reproduction and food production would suffer, and we’d see higher food prices and less variety at the grocery store.
Different pollinators work with different plants. Some flowers can only be pollinated by specific bee species. This specialization means we need diverse pollinator populations to maintain diverse plant life.
Insects like dung beetles are decomposers: nature’s cleanup crew. They break down organic matter and recycle nutrients back into the soil.
Other examples of decomposers include:
These insects help break down organic matter, such as fallen leaves, dead plants and animal waste. This process returns nutrients to the soil, which supports healthy plant growth and maintains soil quality.
Different decomposers break down different materials. Termites handle wood, for example, and dung beetles handle waste. Losing even one species means certain materials don’t get recycled efficiently. Without healthy insect populations, entire ecosystems can begin to break down — often faster than people expect.
Despite their importance, insect declines have reached alarming levels. Nearly 40% of insect species are in decline, and about one third are considered endangered. Scientists point to several major causes:
Entomologists study and protect insect populations by monitoring changes in ecosystems and identifying threats to biodiversity. Their work focuses on:
Through field studies, population monitoring, genetic engineering and data analysis, scientists track insect declines and develop strategies to protect ecosystems.
Wondering how you can do your part? Even small changes, like planting pollinator-friendly gardens or supporting conservation initiatives, can make a difference.
Insect biodiversity represents one of the most important and least visible foundations of life on Earth. These small organisms perform enormous ecological tasks every day, often without our awareness or recognition.
In this article, we learned:
Learning about insect biodiversity helps us protect the systems we all rely on.
So, the next time an insect crosses your path, remember: It has an important job to do.
If you find yourself endlessly curious about bugs, ecosystems and the web of life they support, why not take that curiosity further?
The University of Florida offers entirely online, top-ranked graduate programs in entomology with a range of focus areas that reflect just how diverse this field is:
From insect behavior to conservation and pest management, UF’s online programs let you explore the field while learning from leading experts. If the insects around you spark curiosity, UF might be the perfect place to start.
Sources:
https://www.entsoc.org/advocacy/science-policy/resources/position-statements/insects-biodiversity
https://www.insectlore.com/blogs/butterflies/butterfly-pollination
https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/tips-reducing-pesticide-impacts-wildlife
Insects can’t be trained — at least not in the way you’re thinking of. No pats on the head for fetching a tiny ball or flying to a certain spot on command. But research on hoverflies is challenging what entomologists thought they knew about insect learning. These small, bee-mimicking insects are helping researchers understand how visual information shapes decision-making…
Ants may be only a few millimeters tall, but they’re basically running nature’s infrastructure right under our feet. They improve soil, spread seeds, control pests and recycle nutrients — all without anyone asking them to. There are around 20 quadrillion ants on Earth: about 2.5 million for every human. Ants first appeared 140 to 168 million years ago alongside the first flowering plants — and long…
Don’t let their tiny sizes fool you: Insects are the heavy lifters of our planet. With an estimated five to ten million species worldwide, insects make up more than half of all known life on Earth. They’re also the most diverse animals on the planet, varying widely in shape, behavior and function. This diversity is…
Ever seen one of these up close? You might not realize it, but this little insect is one of the world’s most successful — and most troublesome — invaders.
If nature had a supervillain the size of a sesame seed, it would look exactly like the Asian tiger mosquito (also known by its Latin name, Aedes albopictus).
You can recognize an Asian tiger mosquito by the single white stripe running down the center of its back and its zebra-striped legs. It’s tiny — typically two to ten millimeters (1/12 to 3/8 of an inch) — but don’t let its size fool you. The Asian tiger mosquito is part of the Culicidae family, which includes many species capable of transmitting dangerous viruses.
The first group of Asian tiger mosquitoes traveled from Japan, Korea, southern China and Southeast Asia into the United States on shipments of used tires and decorative bamboo in the mid-1980s. But this pest didn’t just immigrate. It moved in, unpacked its bags … and went rogue.
Since its arrival, the Asian tiger mosquito has established itself across much of the South, Midwest and parts of California, as well as dozens of countries in Europe, Africa, South America and Oceania.
Here’s a comparison showing their quick spread alongside another well-known vector:
| Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) | Yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) | |
| 2017 | 17 countries | 4 countries |
| 2025 | 30 countries | 5 countries |
Global warming. Long international travel. Harsh winters. Hot summers. No problem if you’re an Asian tiger mosquito … if there’s a teaspoon of water around.
This invasive species is a resilient hitchhiker and can breed in any container that includes standing water. Think flowerpots, gutters, plastic debris, decor and bottle caps. That planter you forgot about? The tiger mosquito didn’t.
While most mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, the Asian tiger mosquito works a full day shift. They thrive in:
This makes suburban, semi-urban and urban environments an ideal habitat for them, and they easily reinvade after they’ve been controlled — even in the winter.
Asian tiger mosquitoes don’t politely coexist. They displace native mosquito species, outcompeting them and becoming the dominant biter in many regions.
The yellow fever mosquito was once dominant in the Mediterranean and southeastern U.S. Now it’s losing ground in areas where Asian tiger mosquitoes have taken over.
Vector-borne diseases cause over 700,000 deaths a year, and the Asian tiger mosquito has built quite a portfolio. This striped pest can spread multiple viruses, causing debilitating diseases for humans, cattle and pets. These include:
Public health teams can monitor mosquito activity, apply gene technology, watch for new cases and remind people to protect themselves. But the tough part is how fast these mosquitoes come back. The minute rain hits and water pools, their eggs hatch and the population surges all over again.
Tiger mosquitoes are hard to control for public health officials because of three key factors:
Managing the Asian tiger mosquito usually requires coordinated community action. Here’s what you can do:
The tiger mosquito can dodge sprays, survive droughts and outsmart the weather, but it can’t outsmart a coordinated community.
Here’s a quick recap of what we’ve learned about the Asian tiger mosquito:
With a little awareness and routine prevention, we can all help keep this deadly troublemaker in check.
The Asian tiger mosquito is more than just a backyard pest. It’s a living case study of invasive species, climate shifts, public health and human behavior on a global scale.
If that mix of biology, ecology and problem-solving sparks something in you, you’re already thinking like a medical entomologist — and this field needs minds exactly like yours.
The University of Florida’s nationally top-ranked, fully online graduate programs in entomology and nematology let you focus on what interests you most:
You’ll explore how vectors move pathogens, how climate and habitats fuel outbreaks and how to design innovative community-level solutions. Find out how insects like the Asian tiger mosquito show up in fields like:
Whether you picture yourself researching, protecting communities or strengthening skills you use in your current role, there’s a flexible path for you at UF — one that fits around work, life and the things you love.
Turn your curiosity into skills, and turn those skills into meaningful change. Explore the program and see where it can take you.
Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9599329
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3777778
https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/structural-pest-control/asian-tiger-mosquito.html
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-20436-9
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8621292
https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/invertebrates/asian-tiger-mosquito
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/disease-vectors/facts/mosquito-factsheets/aedes-albopictus
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN792
Traveling exposes you to a lot of new experiences, like stumbling upon the best street food you’ve ever had. That’s part of what makes it worthwhile. But some surprises are worth getting ahead of, and vector-borne diseases are at the top of that list. Sure, you can’t avoid bugs entirely, but you can make yourself a much harder target. That takes preparation and a…
Spotted lanternflies are destroying crops across the Eastern U.S. These invasive pests have slashed grape harvests by up to 90% and stunted maple tree growth by half. Since arriving in Pennsylvania in 2014, they’ve spread rapidly — and they’re getting harder to kill. The good news? Scientists are fighting back with promising new weapons: parasitic wasps, bug-killing fungi and strategic habitat removal. These biological control methods could…
Agriculture has a workforce most people never see (and no, it’s not just agronomists or agricultural engineers). It’s insects. Quietly and consistently — without paychecks or benefits — insects pollinate crops, control pest populations and help food systems function. Understanding their role goes beyond appreciation. It’s a reminder that biodiversity in agriculture depends on more than what we plant in the field. …
What if the insects we’ve been trying to kill could actually save our lives?
Mosquitoes, ticks and fleas spread diseases to hundreds of millions of people worldwide each year. But scientists are turning some of these pests into lifesaving tools, using them to detect cancer, stop disease transmission and improve human health in ways that might surprise you.
In this article, we’ll explore the role of insects in medicine and other ways they can help us fight disease. We’ll also introduce medical entomology: the study of how insects transmit disease to humans and animals. If you’re fascinated by insects and want to make a real impact on public health, medical entomology can provide some unique opportunities.
Ants, termites and bees are surprisingly good at public health management. They live in tight quarters, yet they’re constantly keeping disease in check. And they offer real-world insight that can inform the use of insects in medicine research.
Take, for example, how ants prevent disease in their colonies:
Ants clean each other constantly. That small exposure to germs can act like a natural vaccine, helping the colony build immunity. Food sharing can also have the same collective immunization effect.
Ants seem to know instinctively that sick and healthy colony members should stay apart. They practice social distancing by:
Are you the friend that’s always carrying a bottle of hand sanitizer? If so, you’ve got more in common with ants than you think.
Ants secrete antimicrobial compounds from their metapleural glands (MGs): a fascinating feature. But what’s even more interesting is that when researchers exposed ants to fungal spores, the ants ramped up their MG secretions, meaning they actually control this defense mechanism.
Frequent cleaning? Social distancing? Antimicrobial use? These sound a lot like best practices from the COVID-19 pandemic … but insects were doing them first. Who knows what other disease prevention lessons we can learn from the insect world?
Yes, bees can smell fear — or at least the pheromones we release when we experience it. But that’s not the only thing they can detect.
Recent research has shown that honeybees can detect lung cancer in humans. This is one of the most fascinating examples of insects in medicine at work.
Researchers attached electrodes to the odor-processing area of the bees’ brains. They then sprayed aerosolized mixtures simulating the breath of a healthy subject and a lung cancer patient on the bees’ antennae. The bees could tell the difference more than 90% of the time.
Not only that, they could distinguish between types of lung cancer: non-small cell versus the more aggressive small cell variety.
But bees have been providing benefits beyond pollination for years. They can also detect high acetone levels linked to diabetes. Bees’ sense of smell could be a valuable diagnostic tool in medicine.
Insects are plentiful, high in protein and other nutrients, and appetizing. (Okay, there may be some differences of opinion on that last one.)
But eating insects does more than just provide protein. An insect-based diet can offer:
Insect-based diets also have a much smaller environmental footprint and could help reduce food insecurity. Around the world, some cultures already eat:
When a mosquito sticks its mouthparts into our skin to feed, it can leave behind a variety of nasty diseases. But what if it wasn’t carrying that disease in the first place?
One research team infected female mosquitoes — the ones that bite — with Wolbachia bacteria, preventing them from carrying the dengue virus. Scientists are now working to spread this disease-preventing bacteria to larger mosquito populations.
The same approach is being tested on sandflies to combat leishmaniasis, a disease that:
Researchers are altering the sandfly’s gut microbiome so the parasite can’t grow within it. No Leishmania, no disease.
Both pests will still live up to their reputation as bloodsuckers, but their potential as disease vectors can be greatly reduced.
The mosquito is the deadliest disease vector by far. Transmitting some of the deadliest diseases, it “kills more people than any other creature in the world.”
In fact, vector-borne diseases are increasing worldwide. But humans have some insect allies in the fight against mosquitoes, ticks and fleas:
If you’re intrigued by these insect discoveries, medical entomology credentials may be your next step.
Insects have the potential to be much more than pests. They can be tools, teachers and even allies.
Understanding how insects function helps us improve human and animal health, both by managing disease-causing insect populations and recognizing the ways some insects benefit human communities.
Sound like something you want to be part of? UF’s online master’s degree in medical entomology is what you’re looking for. It’s your chance to lead the next wave of discovery with insects in medicine.
Not ready for a full degree? Start with our online Graduate Certificate in Medical Entomology.
Better public health can’t wait — and neither should you. Get started by applying here.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/search/research-news/10869
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10303143
https://livetoplant.com/using-beneficial-insects-to-combat-plant-disease-risks
https://communities.springernature.com/posts/using-basic-research-in-insect-biology-to-fight-disease
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpt9-Dfj6W0&t=53s
Traveling exposes you to a lot of new experiences, like stumbling upon the best street food you’ve ever had. That’s part of what makes it worthwhile. But some surprises are worth getting ahead of, and vector-borne diseases are at the top of that list. Sure, you can’t avoid bugs entirely, but you can make yourself a much harder target. That takes preparation and a…
Disaster preparedness planning usually focuses on evacuation routes, emergency supply kits and shelter plans. Insects rarely make the list. But after a hurricane or flood, insect populations aren’t waiting for communities to catch up. Mosquito numbers spike. New breeding sites appear overnight. Disease risks increase. That’s why entomology plays a crucial role in emergency management planning. By monitoring insect populations and identifying potential disease…
Ever seen one of these up close? You might not realize it, but this little insect is one of the world’s most successful — and most troublesome — invaders. Meet the Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) If nature had a supervillain the size of a sesame seed, it would look exactly like the Asian tiger…
75% of crops producing fruits or seeds for human food depend on pollinators. But commercial beekeepers in the U.S. lost 62% of their colonies between 2024 and 2025.
Poor pollination is shrinking yields for key crops like blueberries, coffee and apples by up to 60%. And as our hard-working pollinators decline, fewer crops can thrive.
So, what’s guiding the future of beekeeping? Sustainability.
Sustainable beekeeping means managing bees in a way that supports long-term colony health, local ecosystems and responsible resource use — without relying on harmful chemicals or overexploitation. It’s becoming the backbone of modern apiculture, and it’s changing how beekeepers will handle their daily work.
Let’s explore five sustainable breakthroughs reshaping the beekeeping industry.
Imagine your phone buzzing: “Hive 4 is overheating: fix it now.”
Smart hives use IoT sensors and AI to monitor temperature, humidity, pests, feeding needs and colony activity in real time. If there’s a drastic change in any of these levels, the beekeeper gets an alert. Some systems even automate feeding.
And it’s working: BeeHero’s 2023 Healthy Hive Score found 33% fewer colony losses in IoT-enabled hives compared to the national average. Smart hives mean less stress for bees and less guesswork for the beekeepers.
This broader move toward remote, data-driven hive management is projected to reach 57% adoption by 2026 and boost crop yields by 7%. The University of Florida’s Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab already partners with beekeepers to:
All of this happens through apps and digital networks, so even small-scale beekeepers can access research-backed insights.
Farmers are also creating healthier, more sustainable habitats for bees by:
These practices are part of a movement called regenerative agriculture, which has shown benefits both for bee health and overall environmental stability.
To reduce carbon emissions and operational costs, beekeepers now use:
These options are better for the planet, cut long-term costs and are healthier for our ecosystems — not just bees!
Some startups also build hives using eco-friendly, insulated materials (like sheep’s wool) to regulate temperature and moisture. This greatly reduces stress on bees, especially in the winter.
Listen. Hear a light buzz in the background? It might not be the fluorescent lighting. Bees may be living on your office rooftop — or on top of your apartment building.
Urban corporate beekeeping brings bee hives into major cities, placing them on office buildings, apartment complexes — even tucking them away in parking structures.
Believe it or not, more than 750,000 bees live in downtown Houston, their hives nestled on rooftops, terraces and in parking garages.
Workshops make it easy for anyone to learn about bees and pollinator protection. These projects help reconnect people with nature while boosting local pollinator numbers. Urban beekeeping merges citizen science with professional entomology — a win-win for everyone.
Instead of just focusing on honey production, breeders are now prioritizing bees that resist disease and can survive increasing climate swings. This shift is vital for maintaining a stronger, more adaptable bee population as climate and disease pressures grow.
Another important factor? Ensuring bees have adequate food stores, like sugar syrup, candy boards or fondant. Protein supplements also help where pollen is scarce.
Additionally, the world’s first vaccine for bees to combat foulbrood is entering trials, while other research is exploring how probiotics in honey bee diets can boost immunity.
If current trends continue, U.S. bee populations will see further decline. But it’s not all bad news:
Sustainability in beekeeping isn’t easy to implement, but it offers major opportunities for the industry.
Here’s what you need to remember:
Want to do more than keep bees? Even shape what comes next for them? The University of Florida’s fully online entomology graduate programs prepare you to protect bee populations and drive change in the industry. Study on your schedule and gain invaluable knowledge in:
Earn your master’s or upskill with a graduate certificate in one of four tracks:
Whether you’re just starting or ready to lead your hives into a sustainable future, UF’s science-based training connects you to the latest research, crucial innovations and a network of like-minded experts driving beekeeping forward.
Move from hive hobbyist to pollinator protector. There’s a place for you (and your bees) in Gator Nation.
Sources:
https://www.startus-insights.com/innovators-guide/beekeeping-trends/
https://www.beecube.io/post/revolutionary-innovations-in-beekeeping
https://portal.nifa.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/0230335-bip-a-network-for-monitoring-and-maintaining-bee-health-and-pollination-services.html
“Conservation isn’t just a business of a few people, it’s a matter that concerns all of us.” —Walt Disney The link between The Walt Disney Company and the natural world runs deep. From Disney’s Animal Kingdom to its acclaimed “Disneynature” documentaries, the company has long worked to inspire a love of nature through storytelling and entertainment. What may…
You lift the lid of the hive slowly. The sound changes immediately. A low, steady hum rises as thousands of honey bees adjust to the sudden light. You watch their movement before you touch anything: How they cluster. How they fan their wings. Whether the colony feels calm or off. This is what an apiary…
75% of crops producing fruits or seeds for human food depend on pollinators. But commercial beekeepers in the U.S. lost 62% of their colonies between 2024 and 2025. Poor pollination is shrinking yields for key crops like blueberries, coffee and apples by up to 60%. And as our hard-working pollinators decline, fewer crops can thrive. …
Gene-editing tools. Pest-fighting flies. Insect behavior breakthroughs. 2025 kept entomologists on their toes.
But 2025 also brought serious setbacks. Insect decline continued, especially for pollinators like honey bees. The stinging Asian needle ant has now spread to at least 20 states, and the spotted lanternfly has invaded Virginia.
On the bright side, AI and drones are changing how scientists study insects, helping them map outbreaks, track migrations and flag pest threats at record speed.
So, what’s next for entomology? Let’s break down seven trends making headlines in 2026.
Gene-editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9 are becoming powerful weapons in the fight against insect-borne diseases. Researchers in Africa are developing gene-drive mosquitoes that can spread anti-malarial genes through wild populations (though they faced pushback in 2025 due to ethical concerns).
Despite these challenges, researchers are advancing gene-drive technology on multiple fronts.
A UK-Tanzanian program called Transmission Zero has created mosquitoes that can resist the malaria parasite. The team plans to have a gene-drive field trial application ready by late 2026, which could pave the way for controlled releases by early 2027.
And new “reversal drives” are being tested in fruit flies to undo pesticide resistance. This could potentially overhaul sustainable agriculture and pest management.
Robots and drones are literally taking flight across the world’s farms.
In 2025, researchers in Pakistan launched solar-powered smart traps that lure insects, photograph them and use onboard AI to identify pests with up to 94% accuracy. The system even sends farmers real-time SMS alerts with species breakdowns and weather-based predictions for outbreaks.
As costs drop and connectivity improves, expect wider deployment in 2026. AI and drones are now being used for:
The line between entomology and biotechnology keeps blurring. In early 2023, the U.S. approved the world’s first vaccine for honey bees to protect colonies from American foulbrood — a disease that once forced beekeepers to burn entire hives. By 2025, field trials expanded worldwide, marking a turning point in beneficial insect health management.
If successful, this breakthrough could pave the way for future vaccines and immune-priming tools for other vulnerable pollinators and agricultural species.
Meanwhile, on the frontier of human medicine, biotech firms are exploring how to use insect cells to develop vaccines and gene therapies for humans. The future of medicine may just have six legs.
Understanding how insects think could impact everything from pest control to robotics. This year, scientists are getting closer thanks to the growing field of insect neuroethology.
In 2026, scientists are using new tools that let them monitor insect heart rates and stress levels on video without touching them. Whether they’re studying honey bee anxiety or spider temperature responses, researchers are learning how insects process and react to their environment in real time. This research will have major implications for:
Maggots are eating trash to fight climate change … and supply is high.
In France, the world’s largest black soldier fly facility now raises 10 billion larvae at a time, converting food waste into animal feed using AI, robotics and waste heat from a nearby factory.
Insect farming reduces methane and has been shown to reduce emissions up to 30% per unit of feed. The organic insect farming market is projected to reach $4.38 billion by 2030, driven by its sustainability benefits: minimal land use, carbon offset potential and zero need for fertilizer.
The One Health movement recognizes that human health is inseparable from the health of animals, plants and ecosystems. As insect populations decline by an average of 6.6% per year — even without human interference — insect conservation is becoming essential to maintaining that balance. The framework unites:
Beneficial insects pollinate our crops and ensure soil stability. Protecting insect biodiversity is essential to safeguarding global health systems.
Insects are nature’s early warning system for climate shifts. A 2025 study found that insects are highly sensitive to even the slightest temperature changes, which is a major driver in their decline.
In 2026, scientists will start using insect DNA and movement as real-time indicators: radar tracking of migrating moths, DNA sampling from air and soil and behavior-based climate stress models.
Entomology is becoming an interdisciplinary field, blending insect ecology with biotechnology, climate science and AI.
Here’s what to look out for in 2026:
Whether you’re drawn to gene-editing, pollinator conservation or decoding insect intelligence, your future in entomology starts here.
The University of Florida offers the nation’s top-ranked, 100% online entomology graduate programs, placing you right in the center of discovery. Study anytime, from anywhere — even if you’re raising bee hives or chasing butterflies on another continent.
Sound like your kind of journey? Make 2026 the year you begin. Explore UF’s online graduate programs in entomology and apply to join the next generation of scientists shaping the planet’s future.
Sources:
https://getbestpest.com/future-pest-control-innovations-trends
https://www.planning.org/pas/quicknotes/96/climate-resilient-pollinator-gardens
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154324004587
Insects can’t be trained — at least not in the way you’re thinking of. No pats on the head for fetching a tiny ball or flying to a certain spot on command. But research on hoverflies is challenging what entomologists thought they knew about insect learning. These small, bee-mimicking insects are helping researchers understand how visual information shapes decision-making…
Ants may be only a few millimeters tall, but they’re basically running nature’s infrastructure right under our feet. They improve soil, spread seeds, control pests and recycle nutrients — all without anyone asking them to. There are around 20 quadrillion ants on Earth: about 2.5 million for every human. Ants first appeared 140 to 168 million years ago alongside the first flowering plants — and long…
Don’t let their tiny sizes fool you: Insects are the heavy lifters of our planet. With an estimated five to ten million species worldwide, insects make up more than half of all known life on Earth. They’re also the most diverse animals on the planet, varying widely in shape, behavior and function. This diversity is…
Imagine a killer slipping through a cracked window and landing on your arm without you noticing. By the time you swat, it’s already vanished. Some species will strike again quickly if disturbed, while others pause before their next bite.
Now imagine that this tiny assassin has a million similarly sneaky relatives that cause more than 700,000 deaths each year.
Mosquitoes, ticks, blackflies and other vectors (disease-carrying insects) may be small, but in public health, they’re a massive problem — and their reach extends far beyond your backyard.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the new technologies transforming medical entomology and the fight against vector-borne diseases.
Medical entomologists are the detectives, scientists and strategists (sometimes all in one day) who study how insect vectors spread disease, and, most importantly, how to stop them.
How Are They Using New Technology in Medical Entomology?
Insect nets, jars and microscopes are traditional go-to tools for medical entomologists, but new technology has made their job a whole lot easier. Medical entomologists are now using:
For example, mosquitoes spread diseases like malaria and Zika. Ticks are a big concern for Lyme disease. Blackflies can transmit river blindness in Africa, and tsetse flies are known for spreading sleeping sickness. These are only some of the vectors out there — each with its own challenges, and researchers are finding new ways to tackle them.
Imagine slogging through water or high grass in remote, sometimes dangerous places to collect specimens or deploy treatments. Drones today can do many of the same tasks (while avoiding the mud-soaked boots and insect bites). Drones help fight pests that destroy crops, ecosystems and insects that carry disease by:
The University of Florida, for example, uses drones to find mosquito breeding sites in Florida wetlands for targeted control.
In the past, catching and identifying insects meant lugging traps back to a lab, sifting through piles of specimens … and hoping none escaped before identification.
Smart insect traps — powered by artificial intelligence and in development for future use — could do much of the heavy work soon. Vectors will have a harder time remaining undercover when these traps can:
Need a real-world example? This new smart trap automatically counts mosquitoes in the field and transmits live updates.
What if we could create a superbug to fight other bugs … and save lives in the process? This isn’t science fiction: Scientists can now use CRISPR-Cas gene editing to change an insect’s genes.
For example, scientists can deploy modified male mosquitoes whose offspring never reach adulthood. Another method allows them to introduce genes (or bacteria like Wolbachia) that prevent mosquitoes from carrying viruses like dengue or Zika.
Researchers are also testing CRISPR on kissing bugs to curb the spread of Chagas disease and on ticks to reduce Lyme disease transmission. Some engineered insects are designed with self-limiting traits, so the changes fade out after a few generations.
Still, real-world deployment has seen uneven results. Concerns about ecological impacts, regulation and variable field results mean that CRISPR-based approaches are still undergoing careful testing.
If an outbreak is already brewing, however, every second counts. Medical entomology field teams can now get answers through portable tests that are small enough to carry around, including:
LAMP assays (developed for rapid detection of the dengue virus) let field teams identify infections in under an hour. It’s like having a mini lab in your backpack!
Think of GIS (Geographical Information Systems) as a detailed forecast. This technology layers satellite images, breeding site surveys, climate data and human movement patterns into a real-time map. Machine learning then scours that picture for patterns people can’t see—such as blackfly surges after a rainstorm or a tick outbreak.
UF’s Florida Medical Entomology Lab is already using this technology. Our field teams can predict where vectors will appear next and stop potential outbreaks before they spread.
Research published in PNAS shows that deep learning and computer vision are pushing medical entomology even further, using sensor-based monitoring, image recognition and automated trait detection to speed up decision-making. These advances are launching new opportunities for entomology enthusiasts with a special interest in mathematics, programming and AI.
Radioactive materials work like invisible GPS tags to track insects. This technology can trace every part of an insect’s journey and its lifespan. The International Atomic Energy Agency, for example, uses radioisotopes to mark and track tsetse flies in Africa.
Medical entomology is evolving fast, and medical entomologists are constantly upgrading technology to stop diseases before they spread. Let’s recap a few key points:
Does the thought of tackling vector-borne diseases with the newest technology excite you?
The University of Florida is a leader in entomology research and home to the nation’s top-ranked entomology programs, with specializations in:
Whether you want to use GIS mapping to spot mosquito breeding sites or smart traps that send instant updates, UF’s 100% online master’s degree and graduate certificate in medical entomology put you at the forefront of innovation — without moving or pausing your career.
Learn the science, apply it to real outbreaks and join a global community that’s passionate and committed to stopping vector-borne diseases. No lab coat or GRE required — just curiosity, commitment and the drive to make a difference.
Be the next scientist to stop an outbreak. Start at UF.
Traveling exposes you to a lot of new experiences, like stumbling upon the best street food you’ve ever had. That’s part of what makes it worthwhile. But some surprises are worth getting ahead of, and vector-borne diseases are at the top of that list. Sure, you can’t avoid bugs entirely, but you can make yourself a much harder target. That takes preparation and a…
Disaster preparedness planning usually focuses on evacuation routes, emergency supply kits and shelter plans. Insects rarely make the list. But after a hurricane or flood, insect populations aren’t waiting for communities to catch up. Mosquito numbers spike. New breeding sites appear overnight. Disease risks increase. That’s why entomology plays a crucial role in emergency management planning. By monitoring insect populations and identifying potential disease…
Ever seen one of these up close? You might not realize it, but this little insect is one of the world’s most successful — and most troublesome — invaders. Meet the Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) If nature had a supervillain the size of a sesame seed, it would look exactly like the Asian tiger…
If you’ve ever battled a pest that refuses to leave your home, you already know the value of effective pest control. Insect pests are difficult enough to manage in your home, so imagine trying to control pests across entire farms, warehouses or parks—without harming the environment.
This is exactly the challenge precision pest management aims to solve.
Precision pest management (PPM) is unlike traditional pest control methods, where pesticides are sprayed across large areas whether pests are there or not. This ‘area-wide treatment’ involves the use of long-lasting residual chemicals to kill insect pests that travel through a treated area. More strategic and targeted, PPM applies pesticides exactly where and when they’re needed. It’s safer, greener and a whole lot more effective.
Let’s break down the details.
Modern technology has fundamentally changed how experts find and manage pests. Today, AI-powered tools allow farmers and pest specialists to pinpoint where pests are actually causing problems, without compromising healthy crops or ecosystems.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
In tandem, these tools create a highly detailed, real-time pest map. Think of it like an interactive map to spot illegal activity (but with pests instead of burglars or robbers) with continuous communication and feedback.
The University of Florida’s Precision Agriculture Engineering team uses multispectral drones to scan plant health and create NDVI maps that detect early pest or nutrient stress—often before issues are visible.
Alongside smart monitoring tools, pest control teams also tap into a technology that many of us use every day: GPS.
GPS (Global Positioning System) is used to find precise problem zones, not just blanket-spray fields. GPS-powered tools allow professionals to map exact infestation patterns and then tie each pesticide treatment to precise coordinates.
This brings real-time efficiency: less downtime driving around, less chemicals wasted and more targeted pest control.
Your hotspots are mapped. So, what happens next?
It’s time for targeted treatments. For this step, PPM specialists are using a range of smart technologies, including:
Feedback loops are processes that use data and technology to continuously monitor and improve pest control efforts. Unlike traditional ‘spray and walk away’ methods, PPM uses sensors and AI to constantly check results and fine-tune treatments. This is done with:
This real-time feedback allows for constant improvement in treatments and prevention.
The global precision pest management market is expected to grow by almost 17% by 2027, and North America is poised to be the largest region of implementation. An increasing demand in pesticide-free food and advancing technology is pushing PPM to replace traditional pest control methods.
Let’s recap some of this article’s key points:
Imagine being the person responsible for protecting an entire citrus grove from invasive pests, maneuvering drone technology and field robots. If this kind of work fascinates you, UF’s online entomology programs might just be your next step.
Whether your passion lies in urban pest control, sustainable agriculture or environmental science, you’ll find flexible, fully online options that fit your life — even if you’re already in an established career. There’s no GRE required, and you can start in the spring, summer or fall semester.
You’ll tap into the same innovations used by UF’s Precision Agriculture Engineering team, including developing real-world solutions with NDVI mapping, smart monitoring and biological controls.
Choose our 30-credit, non-thesis master’s degree in entomology with a specialization in landscape pest management or urban pest management. Or hone your skills with one of UF’s 15-credit online graduate certificates. All programs are led by UF’s world-renowned faculty and driven by real-world research.
If you’re ready to make an impact in smart technology and pest control, UF gives you the tools and credibility to lead in the field. You’ll join a passionate community of innovators working on the front lines of smarter and safer pest control.
Learn more here. We’ll save you a (virtual) seat!
Spotted lanternflies are destroying crops across the Eastern U.S. These invasive pests have slashed grape harvests by up to 90% and stunted maple tree growth by half. Since arriving in Pennsylvania in 2014, they’ve spread rapidly — and they’re getting harder to kill. The good news? Scientists are fighting back with promising new weapons: parasitic wasps, bug-killing fungi and strategic habitat removal. These biological control methods could…
Agriculture has a workforce most people never see (and no, it’s not just agronomists or agricultural engineers). It’s insects. Quietly and consistently — without paychecks or benefits — insects pollinate crops, control pest populations and help food systems function. Understanding their role goes beyond appreciation. It’s a reminder that biodiversity in agriculture depends on more than what we plant in the field. …
Ever seen one of these up close? You might not realize it, but this little insect is one of the world’s most successful — and most troublesome — invaders. Meet the Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) If nature had a supervillain the size of a sesame seed, it would look exactly like the Asian tiger…
Forget lions and sharks: When it comes to global health threats, the mosquito packs the deadliest punch. These tiny insects cause over 700,000 deaths per year.
When you think of mosquito control, you might picture traditional methods like insecticides and larvicides. These techniques have helped safeguard our communities for decades, but today’s scientists are developing smarter, bolder and more sustainable solutions to keep mosquito populations in check (and out of our backyards).
Let’s take a closer look at how modern mosquito control techniques are evolving and why they matter.
Traditional mosquito control relies on traps, repellents, misting and eliminating breeding sites. But today’s cutting-edge strategies start in the lab, where entomologists and public health scientists are pushing boundaries and investigating the biology, behavior and vulnerabilities of mosquito species.
Some key areas of research are:
The mosquito microbiome is the community of bacteria living inside mosquitoes. While not every mosquito is out to infect us with pathogens, the ones who are can spread deadly diseases like malaria, dengue, Zika and yellow fever.
Research shows that changing a mosquito’s microbiome can reduce its ability to spread disease. Scientists are finding ways to introduce bacteria that block disease transmission, offering a more eco-friendly strategy for protecting human populations.
This is another game-changer: Gene-editing tools like CRISPR-Cas have allowed researchers to create genetically modified mosquitoes that:
These genetic approaches are promising, but it’ll take some extensive real-world testing before we can start sending mutant mosquitoes to battle their disease-laden counterparts.
Research breakthroughs mean little unless they translate into practical and scalable solutions. That’s why field testing is so important: It bridges the gap between theory and impact.
Here are some of the newest mosquito control trends playing out in communities today:
Building on a technique that was first used in agriculture, SIT uses radiation or genetic engineering to sterilize male mosquitoes.
Only female mosquitoes bite, but when sterile male mosquitoes are released into the wild, they mate with females, and no offspring are produced. Over time, this naturally lowers mosquito populations — without the widespread use of chemical pesticides.
The World Health Organization recommends SIT over harmful insecticides in the fight against diseases, particularly against Aedes mosquitoes that spread diseases like dengue and Zika.
Wolbachia bacteria are found naturally in about 50% of all insect species, including mosquitoes, fruit flies, moths and dragonflies. These bacteria aren’t harmful to humans, and they block viruses like dengue or West Nile from replicating inside mosquitoes.
Scientists are breeding mosquitoes with Wolbachia and releasing them into the wild. As they breed, they pass Wolbachia to their offspring, gradually lowering disease transmission rates.
This approach is a prime example of how entomologists are using nature to solve a problem while minimizing ecological disruption.
Finding and controlling mosquito breeding sites is easier with drone technology and remote surveillance systems. These tools help scientists survey wetlands, marshes and urban areas to find mosquito hotspots, enabling faster and more targeted interventions and saving time, money and resources.
Some areas even deploy smart mosquito traps with acoustic sensors that identify mosquito species by their unique wing-beat frequencies. These traps can capture mosquitoes without damage and collect real-time data on mosquito populations, helping experts target control measures more efficiently.
Challenges in Implementing New Mosquito Control Techniques
Of course, even the most exciting new technologies face challenges:
This is why ongoing research, education and community involvement remain key to successful mosquito control programs—now and in the future.
With continued innovation, mosquito control is becoming more sustainable, precise and impactful for global public health. Let’s recap what we’ve learned in this article:
Today’s mosquito control research blends lab science with real-world fieldwork, and there’s still so much ground to cover. If you’re passionate about disease prevention, public health and environmental protection, consider joining UF’s globally top-ranked, entirely online graduate entomology and nematology program.
The University of Florida is a global leader in vector-borne disease research, with experts at the Emerging Pathogen Institute driving innovation. You’ll explore the latest in vector-borne disease prevention and mosquito control techniques through an online curriculum that you can complete at your own pace, whether you’re pursuing a master’s degree, graduate certificate or just a few courses.
UF offers four tracks to specialize your studies, depending on your goals:
The next breakthrough in mosquito control could be yours. Are you up for the challenge? Take the next step and explore our program.
Sources:
https://www.synthego.com/blog/gene-drive-malaria
https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/mosquito-control/genetically-modified-mosquitoes.html
Traveling exposes you to a lot of new experiences, like stumbling upon the best street food you’ve ever had. That’s part of what makes it worthwhile. But some surprises are worth getting ahead of, and vector-borne diseases are at the top of that list. Sure, you can’t avoid bugs entirely, but you can make yourself a much harder target. That takes preparation and a…
Disaster preparedness planning usually focuses on evacuation routes, emergency supply kits and shelter plans. Insects rarely make the list. But after a hurricane or flood, insect populations aren’t waiting for communities to catch up. Mosquito numbers spike. New breeding sites appear overnight. Disease risks increase. That’s why entomology plays a crucial role in emergency management planning. By monitoring insect populations and identifying potential disease…
Ever seen one of these up close? You might not realize it, but this little insect is one of the world’s most successful — and most troublesome — invaders. Meet the Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) If nature had a supervillain the size of a sesame seed, it would look exactly like the Asian tiger…
If Marvel made a movie about mosquitoes, the villain would be gene editing—and we’d be rooting for it.
Invasive pests cost the United States up to $21 billion per year in economic damages and healthcare costs, with bed bugs being among the costliest to eradicate. There are only a few insecticides registered for the control of many invasive pests, such as the yellow fever mosquitoes, which in turn has led to widespread insecticide resistance. Development of new control methods is warranted for the continued protection of our interests.
Let’s take a closer look at how gene editing is reshaping pest management.
CRISPR is a tool that cuts and tweaks DNA with extreme precision. Think of it like a pair of genetic scissors. In pest control, it’s used to:
Only female mosquitoes bite and transmit diseases like malaria or dengue. By shifting the gender balance or preventing reproduction, scientists can quickly reduce pest populations.
But gene editing isn’t just for pests. The University of Florida’s Citrus Research and Education Center uses CRISPR technology to help citrus crops resist pests and diseases.
While CRISPR is used to cut into genes, gene drives can override natural inheritance. Normally, a gene has a 50% chance of being passed down from each parent. Gene drives “hack” inheritance by forcing nearly 100% transmission of a modified gene. This can collapse entire pest populations in a matter of generations.
For example, a CRISPR-based gene drive in Terni, Italy wiped out caged mosquito populations in eight to 12 generations. While more testing is needed — especially to avoid unexpected effects on ecosystems — large-scale trials are underway in Burkina Faso, Mali and Ghana through projects like Target Malaria.
Scientists use gene editing to control pest populations by releasing modified insects and monitoring their effects on the environment. Before releasing any gene-edited insects, however, they carefully track pest numbers, weather and possible risks like insect resistance. After release, scientists monitor everything from insect reactions to mutations. Some gene-edited insects even glow under light so they’re easier to follow!
A few real-world examples:
These breakthroughs don’t happen in isolation. It’s only when researchers, industry partners and community stakeholders collaborate that they can safely develop, test and monitor gene-edited insects and crops. Key players include:
Despite its promising potential for public health, gene manipulation raises some concerns. Regulators worry that edited species could jump to non-target species or mutate in unexpected ways. There’s also a risk of pests developing resistance, just like they do with pesticides. (Think monster bug-repelling-and-cage-resistant mosquitoes.)
And then there’s the moral minefield: Should we be editing life forms into extinction, even if they’re pests?
While these questions don’t have easy answers, they highlight the importance of open discussion and debate as gene editing technology advances.
To wrap up, let’s quickly review what we’ve learned about gene editing and pest control:
If pest control is starting to feel like more than a random deep-dive, UF’s online entomology programs are worth a closer look.
Sources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095311922002763
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases worldwide, and their presence in Europe is growing. Climate change, global travel and urbanization are creating ideal conditions for disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes, ticks and sandflies to spread. Across Europe, vector-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease, West Nile virus, chikungunya and dengue fever are becoming more common and…
During the warmer months, it’s common to spot butterflies serenely gliding from flower to flower or gently flying past during your afternoon walk. But did you know that many of those graceful creatures, including the famed monarch butterfly, only live an average of two to six weeks once they reach adulthood? This short lifespan begs…
We don’t blame you if insects aren’t your cup of tea. According to Jeffrey Lockwood, many people run from insects (or squash them on sight) partly because of evolution and partly because we feel a sense of invasion when we find them scuttling around our private spaces. But perhaps we can persuade you to see…
