insects – envirobites

There’s more to these leaves than their soft and fuzzy side–the fine hairs trap drifting pollen grains, which the plant can use to bait arthropods to stop by for a snack of pollen and stick around to munch on pests that harm the plant.

Climate Environmental Science

Native milkweed supports healthy monarch communities

August 28, 2019August 21, 2019 Ashley Riane Booth 0 Comments behaviour ecology, butterflies, Climate Change, Conservation, Ecology, insects, invasive species, invertebrates, milkweed, monarch butterflies

“Monarch butterflies do really well on the exotic milkweed species that’s being widely sold and planted under current environmental conditions. But under warmer conditions, the exotic plant becomes too toxic and monarchs become less healthy.”

Ecosystems Environmental Science

Dropping Like Flies: Two Fungi Might Have What it Takes to Stop Spotted Lanternfly.

June 28, 2019June 25, 2019 Abigail Bezrutczyk 0 Comments biocontrol, Ecology, fungi, insects, invasive species

Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a threat to apple and grape crops in the northeast– research in biocontrol may help to stop the spread of this invasive insect.

Cities Environmental Science

Mentally “exhausted” honey bees—petroleum exhaust makes bees learn slower and forget faster

June 27, 2019June 28, 2019 Kara Cromwell 0 Comments Air pollution, bees, Ecology, insects, pollinators

Scent pollution from exhaust fumes could disrupt the relationship between honey bees and the flowers they feed from and pollinate. The smell of flowers invites pollinators to come and feast on their nectar. But exhaust masks those smells, making it harder for bees to learn and remember the floral scents that cue them in to flowers.

Cities Environmental Science

The global buzz: A call to restore insect biodiversity

March 6, 2019March 6, 2019 Matt Baumann 0 Comments agricultural pollution, biodiversity, Conservation, insects, Restoration, urban development

Insects are in decline worldwide. Without a rethinking of current agricultural practices and a bucking of trends in urbanization, biodiversity of insects is threatened globally. Insects are the structural and functional base – the linchpin – of all ecosystems. We are part of those ecosystems. Unlike the vastness of climate change and its many aspects, the solutions to the problem of insect declines are readily available. With proper perspective, appreciation, and respect for the roles insects play in ecosystem integrity, human health, and economic markets, we can reverse course.

Climate Environmental Science

Who are we going to call when rainforests are suffering from droughts? Termites!

February 12, 2019February 14, 2019 Luiza Aparecido 0 Comments Climate Change, drought, insects

Tropical rainforests are already showing signs that climate change is leading to higher tree mortality. However, Dr. Louise A. Ashton and collaborators investigated if termites could help turn the game on climate change and help tropical biodiversity and survival. This fascinating study shows that high termite abundance can lead to greater soil moisture and nutrient levels during drought conditions, which ultimately favors plant establishment. This suggests termites can potentially be major allies of tropical forests against climate change.