brenjamin (he/him)

We created an ‘unsexy’ moth that could be the key to greener pest control Scientists have learned how to turn off moths’ sex signals – this could help farmers fight pests without pesticides.

Information sourced from Dam's article on the paper, as well as the original paper itself: theconversation.com/we-created-a..., doi.org/10.1016/j.ib... (5/5)

By identifying the gene responsible for the production of oriental moth pheromone, artificial production of the pheromone is now a much easier process. This discovery could have a very significant impact on agriculture, and provides a greener alternative to traditional pesticides. (4/5)

Marie Inger Dam's team at Lund University was able to successfully identify a single gene responsible for the production of pheromones in female oriental moths through gas chromotography. When this gene was deleted via CRISPR, the resulting moths could not produce the pheromone. (3/5)

Artificial sex pheromones are already used to control pests like the oriental fruit moth (example product below), and work by physically leading or trapping one sex away from the other to reduce reproduction. However, synthesizing these pheromones is often a complex and expensive process (2/5).

"Unsexy moths": Lund University researchers successfully disrupt pheromone production in the oriental fruit moth (Grapholita molesta), showing potential for a pesticide-free form of pest control (Image via Kristina Brauburger) (1/5)

(5/5) Thanks for reading today's Bug News post, and I hope you learned something interesting about cochineal bugs today! #insectfacts #bugnews #cochineal #fooddye

6 shallow plastic containers containing whole & ground cochineal bugs on a woven mat. In the top right is a glass of liquid with cochineal dye, and on the bottom right is a pestle used to grind the bugs into powder.

(4/5) So, if something is bugging you about that new lipstick you bought? It could be a cochineal allergy. Recently, scientists have also been able to synthesize carminic acid in E.coli, providing a renewable alternate means of dye production at a cheaper and faster rate (Yang, 2021).

Red velvet cake on a white plate, with a small piece taken out from a fork. In the background out of focus, there is a hand holding a small cup of coffee, as well as a wooden plate with a glass of water, a spoon, napkin, and presumably a sugar packet.

(3/5) Nowadays, you can find cochineal dye in many foods that have a red coloration, as well as lipsticks. Products containing carmine or Natural Red 4 are from the cochineal insect. The dye is generally harmless to consume, except in cases of individuals who are allergic to the dye.

This illustration from the 1700s shows traditional harvesting of cochineal insects, and depicts a man in a striped shirt and red shorts brushing the cochineal bugs off into a pan. There is also an original caption and figure labeling of each step in this process in Spanish.

(2/5) Cochineal has had a long history as a natural dye, dating back to Maya and Aztec peoples using the dye for paints and textiles. During Spanish colonization, Indigenous Mexicans produced large quantities of the dye that was then traded around the world. (Photo - OSÉ ANTONIO DE ALZATE Y RAMÍREZ)

Cochineal bug on a prickly pear pad. In the top left corner there are some smaller adult males emerging from a waxy protective substance

(1/5) A Bug to Dye For? Cochineal is a scale bug that provides a strong red colorant when crushed and processed, and can be used to dye textiles, foods, and cosmetics. The bug is most commonly harvested from prickly pear plants in Peru and Mexico, which the cochineal parasitizes.

(5/5) Original article sourced from Reuters: (www.reuters.com/sustainabili...), information also taken from Belinda Animals LLC webpage (tra46zx.undp.org.rs/en/2023/06/0...) #mealworms #entomologynews #entomology #environment

(4/5) Belinda Animals is one farm dedicated to the production of plastic-degrading mealworms. The Belinda Animals website notes that this method of biodegradation processes styrofoam completely with the help of microorganisms in their digestive organs, leaving no residues or pollutants.

(3/5) At Belgrade's Institute for Biology, researchers have trained mealworms to consume polystyrene: "When breaking down 1 kg of Styrofoam, larvae emit one to two grams of carbon dioxide ... If we incinerate (styrofoam it) emits over 4,000 times more" - Boris Vasiljev, owner of Belinda Animals

Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae and beetles on a metal screen.

(2/5)Yellow mealworms and their close relatives have been studied for their capabilities to consume plastic. The manmade polymers within plastics are difficult for most microorganisms to break down and consume, which has led to an abundance of microplastics in the environment. (img: Belinda Animals)

Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae and beetles on mealworm food substrate. There is a clear plastic bag inside the food substrate.

(1/5) Scientists have been studying mealworms as a solution for biodegradation of plastics, offering one potential avenue of resolving the accumulation of plastics in the environment. (Image courtesy of Zorana Jevtic)

#ScientificCommunication #SpottedLanternfly #USDA #Weevil

Image text: "Kill on site invasive lanternfly not a weevil (tearful emoji). Show them the mighty boot!" With several images of lanternfly nymph and adult stages.

In big font is the word "WEEVIL", with the "WE" crossed out in red to show the word "EVIL". Image text: "This is the spotted lanternfly in its first 2 stages. It's invasive and destructive. It is not a weevil. It is not a friend. Kill on site." On the center right is an image of 3 weevil nymphs, one of which is a late stage nymph while the others are in their early stages.

(6/6) Lastly, I've included some lanternfly images from the r/weeviltime community. Funny, yet informative! (First image from Reddit user Next_Performance6278, second from SubTester2023.)

From the weeviltime community on Reddit Explore this post and more from the weeviltime community

(5/6): I personally found the master post from r/weeviltime very informative, and it links to a lot of other resources on the topic! www.reddit.com/r/weeviltime...

(4/6) Because the nymph stages resemble weevils, r/weeviltime, a Reddit community dedicated to weevils, created a master post to differentiate between native weevils and the invasive lanternfly: Another community, r/LanternDie, informs users of the ecological dangers of the spotted lanternfly.

(3/5) The best course of action if you see a spotted lanternfly or its eggs is to kill it immediately via crushing or freezing, which are two humane ways to kill insects.

Image text: SPOTTED LANTERNFLY Checklist for Residents Help keep spotted lanternfly from spreading. Before you travel or move any items stored outdoors within or out of areas known to have the spotted lanternfly, check for and remove all stages of this harmful pest. Here's what to look for. LIFE STAGES EGG MASS FOUND SEPT-JUNE COMMON EGG MASS LOCATIONS Spotted lanternfly egg masses can be laid on any surface and need a careful eye for inspection! Below are some examples of egg masses on outdoor objects. ACTUAL SIZE: 1/2" ACTUAL SIZE: 1/2" FRESH OLD EARLY STAGE NYMPH FOUND LATE APRIL-JULY ACTUAL SIZE: 1/8"-1/4" HAH LATE STAGE NYMPH FOUND JULY-SEPT ACTUAL SIZE: 1/2" ADULT FOUND JULY-DEC ACTUAL SIZE: 1" Above images by Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture OUTDOOR LIGHT BULB OUTDOOR FURNITURE Brandon Zimmerman Jenny Armstrong Powell FENCE POSTS VEHICLES Heather Leach Zil Fessler OUT-OF-SIGHT AREAS CAMPING EQUIPMENT Lori LaCava Beatrice Liz Willow

(2/6) The spotted lanternfly feeds on plants, causing crop damage. When the lanternfly feeds, it secretes a sticky and sugary substance that can cause mold and further environmental damage (USDA). The USDA has created a helpful infographic to identify the insect at each growth stage:

A spotted lanternfly caught on a spiderweb, with some twigs and leaves out of focus on the background.

(THREAD: 1/6) Spot a spotted lanternfly? Here's what to do: The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is invasive to the United States, and is a cause of significant agricultural and environmental damage in 19 states (USDA).

(3/3) The original article from Troung et al., can be found here: europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ej... #entomologynews #assassinbugs #biology #entomology

(2/3) All species of family
Reduviidae feed on other insects by injecting them with a liquefying venom and drinking the resulting juices, hence the name "assassin bug". While not fatal to humans directly, some members are vectors for disease. (Missouri Department of Conservation).

Assassin bug Epidaus batxatensis male in body dorsal view, body lateral view, head dorsal view, and head lateral view.

Assassin bug Epidaus konkakinhensis male in body dorsal view, body lateral view, head dorsal view, and head lateral view.

(1/3) NEW INSECTS JUST DROPPED: Two new insect species in genus Epidaus Stål, Epidaus batxatensis and Epidaus konkakinhensis, were discovered in Vietnam. These bugs are considered large for assassin bugs (family
Reduviidae), ranging from 21.39–24.04 mm (Images courtesy of Troung et al., 2025).

Here is a useful infographic to determine what a kissing bug looks like (courtesy of University of Delaware): (4/4) #cdc #publichealth #chagasdisease #kissingbugdisease

While T. cruzi can be spread by exposure to Triatomine feces, it is also important to note that Chagas disease can also be transmitted via blood contact. To avoid infection, proper food hygiene & blood cleanup procedures should be employed. (3/4)

While most cases of Chagas disease are concentrated in rural areas of Mexico and South/Central America, cases are increasing in the US. The disease typically has an acute infection period with flu-like symptoms but can cause long-term complications including heart and digestive problems. (2/4)

(THREAD) Kissing Bug Disease, or Chagas disease is now considered endemic to the United States according to the CDC: (wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/.... ) The disease is named after the common name for a subfamily of bugs called Triatominae, which are vectors for the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. (1/4)

For full alt text, follow pastebin link in next post. Partial text: Amy E. Greer, attorney for Mahmoud Khalil provided the following update this evening: First, importantly, today I spoke to Mahmoud and he is healthy and his spirits are undaunted by his predicament. He also greatly appreciates, and, typically for him, is moved by the extraordinarily broad and steadfast support he has received from a variety of communities that understand what is at stake. He is in ICE custody in Louisiana, and arrangements have been made for local attorneys to visit him today and tomorrow. The remarks by government officials, including the President, on social media only confirm the purpose – and illegality – of Mahmoud's detention. He was chosen as an example to stifle entirely lawful dissent in violation of the First Amendment. While tomorrow or thereafter the government may cite the law or process, that toothpaste is out of the tube and irreversibly so. The government’s objective is as transparent as it is unlawful, and our role as Mahmoud’s lawyers is to ensure it does not prevail. Today Mahmoud's legal team, which includes Kyle Barron, CLEAR, the Center for Constitutional Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Amy Greer filed a motion to compel in federal court in the Southern District of New York, as part of the habeas corpus petition filed on his behalf over the weekend, seeking an order requiring the government to return to New York for any immigration proceedings.

UPDATE on Mahmoud Khalil from his lawyers and his wife: "Today I spoke to Mahmoud and he is healthy and his spirits are undaunted by his predicament." (Legal team now includes ACLU, CCR.)