Monthly Archives: December 2015

Aquatic Flies

Posted on December 31, 2015 by jjneal

One reason for the greater number of species of aquatic Diptera compared to other groups is the range of suitable habitats.  Insects with relatively long development times such as dragonflies, mayflies and stoneflies need a habitat that is relatively stable over their … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Environment, Taxonomy | 1 Comment

Back to the Water

Posted on December 30, 2015 by jjneal

Insects evolved as terrestrial organisms that have successfully colonized all non-ocean habitats from arid desert to aquatic. Aquatic habitats have been colonized by many different groups of terrestrial insects including different groups in the same insect order. The flies (Diptera) … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Environment, Taxonomy | 2 Comments

Citizens and Public Health

Posted on December 29, 2015 by jjneal

Chagas disease is widespread in Central and South America. It is increasingly recognized as a problem in the southern United States. Chagas disease is caused by a protozoan, Trypanosoma cruzi, and is transmitted to humans by bites by some Triatoma … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Health, Policy | 1 Comment

Keeping Bees Busy

Posted on December 28, 2015 by jjneal

Bumblebees colonies can be purchased commercially.   Bumblebee colonies are used primarily by commercial greenhouse plant producers to enhance pollination of their plants.  The colony is shipped with an artificial nectar to provide the bees with food and water during shipment. Bumblebees … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Environment | 2 Comments

Feeding the Colony

Posted on December 27, 2015 by jjneal

Bumblebee workers, Bombus terrestris, store pollen in comb cells to progressively feed the developing larvae.  Multiple larvae are fed by multiple workers.  How do the workers keep track of who has been fed and who has not? Pereboom and colleagues* produced … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior, Biomaterials, by jjneal | 1 Comment

Controlling the Colony

Posted on December 26, 2015 by jjneal

In fall, bumblebee colonies disband, the newly produced queens mate then seek a sheltered harborage to overwinter. In spring, the new queens will found new colonies. The first offspring are sterile females devoted to rearing the offspring of the queen. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

A Christmas Humbug

Posted on December 25, 2015 by jjneal

The Christmas Tree is a European tradition that has followers around the world. Large numbers of evergreens are produced, sold and enjoyed by people around the globe. Christmas trees are commercially grown in plantations and can be threatened by invasive insect pests. Christmas … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Invasive Species, News, Pest Management | 1 Comment