insects, evolution

The behavior is the first example of a mammal mimicking a more-dangerous species.

The glossy shell of some beetles, it has long been speculated, helps hide the insects from predators. A recent paper put the hypothesis to the test—and found it wanting.

Goldenrods that evolved in the presence of herbivores release volatile chemicals that trigger defenses in neighboring plants of their species, even those that are genetically unrelated.

A species of water flea in northern Belgium that helps keep algae in check is growing smaller and less abundant in urbanized areas. 

Insect wings may have evolved from multiple origins, say researchers.

Scientists study the unusual genome evolution of the bacteria that live within a genus of cicadas. 

Entomologists have rediscovered a species of moth that was considered lost for 130 years. 

The phenomenon is one of the few examples of eavesdropping across the vertebrate/invertebrate barrier.

A transposon underlies this classic story of evolutionary adaptation.

The predatory toxins employed by animals separated by millions of years of evolution are virtually identical, a study shows.

Global warming could lead to lighter-colored insects with waning immune defenses.

Researchers create a phylogenetic tree of insects by comparing the sequences of 1,478 protein-coding genes among species.

Bed bugs are but one example of a species whose populations have evolved in response to human behavior.

In chapter 5, “Resurgence: Bedbugs Bite Back,” author Emily Monosson chronicles the rise of the pesky pests in the face of humanity’s best chemical efforts.

Early Neanderthal evolution; developing antivirals to combat polio; the mouth and skin microbiomes; insect-inspired, flight-stabilizing sensors

Ant, bee, and wasp queens emit a similar class of pheromones that sterilize their workers, hinting at a shared ancestry for these chemicals.

Researchers have discovered a 46-million-year-old female mosquito containing the remnants of the insect’s final blood meal.

Animals and plants come in a dizzying array of colors. Current research is cracking into the remarkable structures behind nature's artistic display.

Laboratory-raised populations of dung beetles reveal a mother's extragenetic influence on the physiques of her sons.