insects

A new study by a psychologist at University of Stirling in Scotland has found that, like humans, wild bumblebees are capable of logical reasoning. In the study, the bees were tasked with spontaneously locating strips of sugar-coated paper in various colors and positions. In both circumstances, the analysis showed they looked in the correct location […]

Birds, fish and caribou are all known for their long migrations, but did you know insects migrate too? According to a new study, each year 17.1 million insects move through a 98.4-foot gap in the Pass of Bujaruelo between two Pyrenees peaks on the border between Spain and France. For four years, a team of […]

While evening and nighttime hours are generally known as a time of rest and sleep for humans and many animals, a great number of insects actually become more active after dark. A new global study has found that insect activity increases by an average of 31.4 percent at night. In their research, scientists from The […]

Scotland’s climate hasn’t historically been supportive to large mosquito populations, as it tends to be cooler. But now, scientists have discovered widespread populations of mosquitoes around Scotland, and they fear warming temperatures could lead to increasing public health risks from mosquito-borne diseases. Scientists at the University of Glasgow’s Centre for Virus Research found 16 different […]

April 17 is International Bat Appreciation Day! In celebration of these sometimes unsung nocturnal pollinators, a new study has demonstrated how bats can be allies of agriculture, as they feed on important crop “pests.” The researchers found that encouraging bats can be beneficial for conservation efforts, as well as local farmers, a press release from […]

Have you ever wondered how much biodiversity is in your own backyard? Three housemates in Brisbane, Australia, decided to challenge each other to find out. Not only did they identify 1,150 unique plant, fungi and animal species in their suburban backyard, they wrote an academic research paper detailing the perhaps surprisingly extensive biodiversity to be […]

The weather is getting cooler, the air is feeling crisper, the leaves are turning yellow and red falling from their trees — and this year, leave those leaves be!  It’s a common misconception that leaves always kill the grass they fall on. Aside from the fact that it’s time to ditch our lawns in the […]

Insects provide many essential benefits to ecosystems, including pollinating crops and flowers, helping to maintain healthy soil and recycling nutrients. They also keep populations at healthy levels through their own food chains. A new project by researchers from the University of Melbourne has found a way to increase insect species numbers in a small urban […]