insects Archives

Aedes aegyptii mosquito biting a person. Researchers studies the scents these mosquitoes are attracted to. Credit: CDC

Human Scent May Help Manage Mosquitoes

October 5, 2022October 4, 2022 Science Connectedbiochemistry, entomology, insects, mosquito, pest control

Mosquitoes are drawn to a chemical mixture found on the skin, but what these specific compounds are had not been pinpointed until a recent study.

In their study of moth migration, the researchers focused on the death’s-head hawkmoth—a large, nocturnal migrant that travels up to 4,000 kilometers between Europe and Africa every year. Image credit: Christian Ziegler / Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior

Biology Zoology

Moths Know Where to Go: A Look at Moth Migration

August 31, 2022December 6, 2022 Science Connectedinsects, migration

Moth migration may be guided by an internal compass to find the way, according to a new study that tracked flight paths of individual moths.

Biodiversity and Conservation Environment Zoology

Urban Gardens a Haven for Pollinators

May 2, 2022May 2, 2022 Science Connectedbees, insects, pollinators, urban gardening

Insect-friendly urban gardens show great promise to be havens for bees and other pollinators, securing their future and allowing them to thrive.

Biodiversity and Conservation Botany Ecology

Organic Gardening and Alternatives to Pesticides

April 13, 2022April 13, 2022 Science Connectedbirds, garden, insects, plants

Gardens inevitably attract insect pests. How can you use organic gardening techniques to protect your plants from pests and maintain a garden that is safe for pollinators and other animals?

mosquito eater, or crane fly, by ashleigh290 via Flickr

Biology Environment Zoology

Do mosquito eaters eat mosquitos?

September 6, 2021September 6, 2021 Science Connectedinsects, nature

Are you wondering if the well-known mosquito eaters actually eat mosquitos? Find out the answer to this question and more.

Citizen Science SciStarter Blog

Make a Picnic for Ants…For Science!

February 12, 2021June 2, 2022 Science Connectedinsects, mass extinction

Create a picnic for ants with the Ant Picnic citizen science project to help scientists understand the dietary preferences of this crucial speices.

Citizen Science Projects about Insections

Citizen Science SciStarter Blog

Citizen science projects featuring insects, spiders and their relatives

October 30, 2020February 23, 2022 Science Connectedcitizen science projects, insects

Seven large-scale citizen science projects that you can help with right now! Help scientists collect data on our insect friends.

Citizen Science Environment SciStarter Blog

3 Ways to Help Save Monarch Butterflies

October 2, 2020September 23, 2020 Science Connectedinsects, Monarch butterflies

Monarch butterflies face an uncertain future. Their numbers have plummeted in recent decades. Here are some ways you can help.

Biodiversity and Conservation Book Reviews SciStarter Blog

Book Review: Never Home Alone

May 13, 2020April 2, 2021 Science Connectedecology, insects, microbes

Never Home Alone is a 256 page deep dive into the mind of a chatty biologist. Every chapter focuses on a distinct use-case for biodiversity preservation.

Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology

Intense Lawn Mowing Lowers Biodiversity, Favors Pests

January 22, 2020April 17, 2021 Science Connectedinsects, plants

Mowing lawns less frequently and allowing grass to grow may result in greater plant and pollinator biodiversity and fewer pests. By Neha Jain Looks can be deceiving: a uniformly well-mowed lawn might look good, but ecologically, it is not desirable. According to a recent study that analyzed the results of many studies on lawn mowing, more intensely mowed lawns showed lower plant and insect diversity and a greater abundance of pests. According to the researchers, adopting low-intensity lawn management would bring about a host of environmental benefits including cutting down…