Insect News: Page 7

Scientists Scan Rare Leafcutter Bee Fossils Found in La Brea Tar Pits (April 12, 2014): Rare leafcutter bee fossils were excavated from the La Brea Tar Pits in 1970. The fossils have now been examined closely with a micro CT scan.

Six New Species of Dracula Ants Discovered in Madagascar (April 2, 2014): Six new Dracula ants have been discovered in Madagascar. The Mystrium species is unique in that minor works can become queens.

Scientists Record Flight Muscles Moving Inside Flies (March 26, 2014): Scientists have recorded flight muscles moving inside flies for the first time using a 3D X-ray scanning technique.

Biologist Discovers That Red Widow Spiders Eat Scarab Beetles (March 20, 2014): University of Missouri biologist James Carrel discovered that Florida's elusive red widow spider likes to eat scarab beetles.

Fossils of Earliest Stick Insect Discovered (March 20, 2014): Scientists have discovered the fossils of the earliest stick insects. The insects were mimicking plants as early as 126 million years ago.

Scientist Discovers 19 New Speedy Praying Mantis Species (March 19, 2014): A scientist has discovered 19 new species of praying mantis. These new bark mantis species are very fast. They also hide and play dead to avoid being captured.

Ants Use Buoyant Larvae and Pupae as Base For Living Ant Rafts (February 27, 2014): Ants tend to use the buoyant larave and pupae as the base when they build living ant rafts to escape floods.

Thirty-Nine New Species of Sand Cockroaches Discovered in Southwestern U.S. and Mexico (February 26, 2014): 39 new cockroach species have been identified in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. The roaches belong to the Arenivaga genus, which are also known as desert or sand roaches.

Scientists Find 186 Previously Unknown Species of Parasitoid Wasps in Costa Rica (February 24, 2014): Scientists have discovered nearly 200 previously unknown species of parasitoid wasps in Costa Rica. They were all named after local parataxomonists.

Two New Butterfly Species Identified in Eastern United States (February 20, 2014): Two new butterfly species have been discovered in the eastern United States.

Scientists Say Urban Bees Are Using Plastic to Build Hives (February 14, 2014): Scientists from the University of Guelph have discovered urban bees using plastic materials to construct their nests.

Crazy Ants Neutralize Fire Ant Venom By Secreting Formic Acid (February 13, 2014): Crazy ants have the ability to detoxify fire ant venom by secreting formic acid and smearing it all over their bodies.

Brains of Male Fruit Flies Contain Special Cells That Make Them Want to Fight (February 8, 2014): Male fruit flies have special cells in their brains that make them want to fight. These cells are basent in the brains of female fruit flies.

Scientists Discover Mosquito Sperm Have a Sense of Smell (February 3, 2014): Scientists from Vanderbilt University have discovered that mosquito sperm have a sense of smell.

Stanford Researchers Put Flies on Spherical Treadmills in Motion Perception Experiment (January 30, 2014): Stanford researchers put flies on a spherical treadmill in order to understand how flies perceive motion.

Space-Raised Flies Unable to Fight Off Fungal Infections (January 27, 2014): Flies sent as eggs on a 12-day mission on the Space Shuttle Discovery were unable to fight off a fungal infection as adults.

Seven New Species of Nearctic Wasps Discovered (January 24, 2014): Seven new species of Nearctic wasps have been discovered. They are very small wasps with smooth and shiny bodies.

New Beetle Genus and Species Discovered in Brazilian Amazon (January 23, 2014): A new beetle genus and species of the large Neotropical pselaphine tribe Jubini has been discovered in the Brazilian Amazon.

Flies With Brothers Make Gentler Lovers Say Oxford Scientists (January 23, 2014): Scientists say flies with brothers make gentler lovers. Unrelated flies tend to compete more fiercely for females' attention.

Biologists Find Fossils of Previously Unknown Species of Big-Headed Flies (January 22, 2014): Biologists have discovered fossils of previously unknown species of big-headed flies.

Large Colorful Beetle That Lives With Ants Discovered in Guyane (January 21, 2014): Scientists from the Smithsonian Institution have discovered the Spectacular Guyane False-form beetle. The beetle lives with ants.

Pillage Ant: New Slave-Making Ant Species Discovered in Eastern U.S. (January 20, 2014): A new species of slave-making ant has been discovered in the Eastern U.S. The Pillage Ant sends tiny raiing parties out and uses chemical camouflage and artistic rapier fencing.

Ant Farms Sent to International Space Station to Study Microgravity Conditions (January 12, 2014): Ant Farms have been sent to the International Space Station on a rocket to study microgravity conditions.

Scientists Discover Fungus Farming Ghost Ant Species in Brazil (January 6, 2014): Scientists have discovered a new genus and species of ghost ants that create fungal gardens.

Tobacco Hornworm Caterpillars Use Toxic Nicotine Breath to Repulse Predatory Spiders (January 2, 2014): Tobacco hornworm caterpillars use a toxic nicotine breath to keep spiders from eating them.