Monthly Archives: February 2016

Diseases and Building Codes

Posted on February 29, 2016 by jjneal

Malaysia is having a debate about a new proposal by the Public Works Department to require the installation of insect screens in all building openings. The screens are aimed at preventing the entry of Aedes mosquitoes that are vectors of … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Health, News, Pest Management, Policy | 1 Comment

Living With Bee Art

Posted on February 28, 2016 by jjneal

Fences can be ugly or works of art. No insect biologist or apidologist can be on the fence about this work of art by Christopher Russell. The gate can be seen at the Ninth Avenue Subway station in New York. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, by jjneal | 1 Comment

Monitoring Mosquitos III

Posted on February 28, 2016 by jjneal

One of the most versatile mosquito traps is the Biogents Sentinel Trap. The trap uses combinations of air currents, visual and olfactory cues to collect a wide range of mosquito species. Mosquitoes are attracted to odors in human and animal … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Health, Pest Management | 1 Comment

Mosquito Monitoring Methods II

Posted on February 26, 2016 by jjneal

Mosquitoes are attracted to UV Light (black light), the attractive principle of the bug zapper. Unlike the bug zapper, this trap uses a battery operated fan to get small insects such as mosquitoes into the collection bag. In addition to … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Environment, Pest Management | 1 Comment

Mosquito Monitoring Methods

Posted on February 25, 2016 by jjneal

Mosquito control districts in Indiana and the US monitor mosquitoes for important human diseases such as West Nile. Monitoring involves collecting mosquitoes then performing a genetic test for the presence of the pathogen DNA. A variety of traps may be … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior, by jjneal, Pest Management | 1 Comment

Fly By Night

Posted on February 24, 2016 by jjneal

Are hover flies active day and night?  We see hover flies during the day but they are not observed at night. Is this because they are not active at night? Or are they active but less likely to be observed in the … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior, by jjneal | 1 Comment

Insects, Bats and Wind Turbines

Posted on February 23, 2016 by jjneal

Wind towers for energy generation can kill birds and bats with their moving blades although they are low on the list of causes of mortality. Unlike birds that mostly encounter wind towers by chance, bats seem to be attracted to … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior, by jjneal, Environment | 1 Comment