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Entomology - Science topic
Discussion about latest research in Entomology
Questions related to Entomology
Would it be possible to use existing and/or genetically modified entomological viruses to create a species specific, gonad specific virus to control and/or eliminate the mosquito that is the vector for malaria and/or the tse-tse fly which transmits trypanosomiasis.
Can anyone recommend peer-reviewed journals in the field of entomology or insect studies that accept short communications and do not charge article processing fees?
Hi mates, I'm doing systematic work required for obtaining DNA from species that belong to a chaotic genus. I wonder if it's acceptable to apply an non-destructive extraction on the paratype? (we have more than 6 specimen for each species)
Which one do you think you should suggest? according to the demand of the Middle East?
- Plant Pathology
- Entomology
- Soil and Environmental science
Hi all,
I'm looking to mass mark Solenopsis xyloni ants during an experiment. For this experiment, I'm allowing the whole colony to feed on three feeders, and I want to mass mark all the ants that are visiting the feeder and returning to the nest with a unique color corresponding to each of the three feeders. I was reading about various mass marking techniques and it seems two main methods exist so far: Powder paint application (dusting it with a brush) and spray painting using small atomizers or airbrush. But I cannot find a good powder paint that is non-toxic to ants. Also, I do not want to permanently mark the ants. BioQuip had a couple of powder paints used by several researchers, but unfortunately, the company is no longer operational. Any suggestions for good powder paints or paints for atomizers (in the U.S. market)? Also, do any suggestions for specific atomizers or airbrushes that worked for you?
Let me know if you need more information to answer this question.
Thanks in advance!
My name is Neha, and I recently completed my Master's degree in zoology. I am now embarking on my PhD journey. I am seeking guidance in identifying a research problem, particularly in the field of entomology or a related area that addresses noble and impactful challenges.
I would also be happy to discuss my background and research interests in more detail if that would be helpful. If you have any suggestions or could point me toward some key areas where further research is needed, I would be extremely grateful.
I noticed these 'wasps' feeding on honey dew on an aphid infested perennial ornamental herb.
It might be useful to add that prevailing temperature was 42 degree centigrade and many other members of the species were drinking water in a nearby water source.
Care to way in.

My name is Neha, and I recently completed my Master's degree in zoology. I am now embarking on my PhD journey. I am seeking guidance in identifying a research problem, particularly in the field of entomology or a related area that addresses noble and impactful challenges.
I would also be happy to discuss my background and research interests in more detail if that would be helpful. If you have any suggestions or could point me toward some key areas where further research is needed, I would be extremely grateful.
Does anybody know of entomological Journals without page charges that would publish an extensive checklist (Hong Kong Aculeates wasps) covering 350 species (of which more than half are new to Hong Kong. It is over 100,000 words long and has 34 plates and 6 tables?
Thanks
I'm looking for sources of funding for science communication activities. Do you have grants or calls you can recommend? I am from Latin America and work in the fields of biology, entomology, and evolution.
Can I chat with a European or American doctor who can supervise my thesis on entomology?
Pollinators
To calculate the food uptake by honey buzzards during the breeding season I need body mass values of the different social wasp species that occur in Europe. For Vespa Crabro, Vespula germanica and vespula vulgaris I did find literature, but on the dolichovespula slepcies I haven't found any sources with weight values of the imagos.
I am looking for a database of European Carabidae traits - average body length, wing morphology, habitat preference, etc. I have come across Carabids.org but it seems to be down. Is anyone aware of an active database?
Since insect pheromones exhibit highly variable forms, as well as compositions, and can change based on various conditions, especially releaser pheromones, which are usually highly volatile, could someone provide information on how to prepare alive or preserved insect samples for specific pheromone analyses using mass spectrophotometry and chromatographic methods? Is there anyone who can offer insights on this topic?
I'm searching for Silpha punctulata Olivier, 1790 male specimens, or images representing S. punctulata's male genitalia.
Dear colleagues, I am looking for collaboration in research in entomology field.
what is salmonella typhi (enteric fivers cause it) and what details in molecular basis explain it?
Which radars do you recommend? Manufacturers?
Odonates tend to glide, fly, hover, and move frequently. During transect surveys, it is possible to count one individual more than once if it flies back and forth. Is there any method (statistical or some protocol to be followed by the researcher) to avoid this error?
- What is the largest order of insects in terms of species diversity? Answer: b) Coleoptera
- In insects, what is the purpose of the tracheal system? Answer: a) Oxygen transport
- Which insect order includes butterflies and moths? Answer: d) Lepidoptera
- What is the term for the process of shedding an old exoskeleton to allow for growth in insects? Answer: c) Ecdysis
- Which insect is known for producing light through a chemical reaction in its abdomen? Answer: b) Firefly
- What is the primary function of an insect's antennae? Answer: d) Sensory perception
- Which of the following is NOT a stage in complete metamorphosis? Answer: a) Nymph
- What is the primary role of the queen in a social insect colony, such as bees or ants? Answer: c) Egg laying
- Which insect order includes grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids? Answer: a) Orthoptera
- What is the term for the external skeleton of an insect? Answer: b) Exoskeleton
- Which of the following is NOT a type of bee in a colony? Answer: d) Larva
- What is the name of the process in which an insect transforms from a pupa into an adult? Answer: c) Metamorphosis
- What is the primary purpose of the proboscis in butterflies and moths? Answer: a) Feeding
- Which insect order includes mosquitoes and flies? Answer: b) Diptera
- What is the term for the collective behavior of a group of locusts migrating in search of food? Answer: d) Swarming
- What is the specialized structure used by some insects for producing sound? Answer: b) Stridulatory organ
- In entomology, what does the term "entomopathogenic" refer to? Answer: d) Insects that cause diseases in other insects
- Which insect order includes bees, wasps, and ants? Answer: c) Hymenoptera
- What is the primary function of the ovipositor in female insects? Answer: a) Egg laying
- Which order of insects is characterized by having two pairs of wings and includes beetles? Answer: b) Coleoptera
- What is the term for the specialized structure on a spider's abdomen used for silk production? Answer: c) Spinneret
- Which insect order includes dragonflies and damselflies? Answer: d) Odonata
- What is the primary function of the forewings in most insects? Answer: d) Flight
- Which of the following is a major product produced by honey bees? Answer: c) Honey
- What is the purpose of the cerci, which are paired appendages found on the abdomen of some insects? Answer: b) Sensory perception
- What is the primary function of the pheromones produced by insects? Answer: a) Communication
- Which insect order includes termites, known for their ability to digest cellulose? Answer: b) Isoptera
- What is the term for the process of an insect transforming from an egg to a nymph without a pupal stage? Answer: b) Incomplete metamorphosis
- Which insect order includes true bugs and cicadas? Answer: a) Hemiptera
- What is the purpose of the spiracles in insects? Answer: d) Gaseous exchange
What is the Schistosomal Life cycle and infections with the host of Public Health Entomology?
I am looking for a doctor from a French university specializing in entomology or ecology at least.
How can I get the DOI for an article by Hakobyan, S. and Jenderedzhyan, K. 2023. “Annotated checklist of cranes (Tipuloidea: Limoniidae, Pediciidae, Tipulidae) of Armenia, which is published in the Journal of Munis Entomology & Zoology? This journal does not have a DOI.
These ants are closely related to Apis cerana bees in South India.

Hi All!
I am looking for occurrence data for these species that aren't found in the typical places. If anyone has any data on these species that they would be willing to share for acknowledgements, citation, etc., please reach out to me via DM.
Thanks!
EV
Dear colleagues. I trying of id some wasps of my community and I can´t find some papers. Maybe some of you have this and could send me? Thanks in advance!
Townes, H. (1970). The genera of Ichneumonidae. Part 2. Gelinae. Memoirs of the American entomological Institute, 12, 1-537.
I am currently involved in research for controlling weevils in stored wheat using different essential oils.
What could be the best concentration (microlitres per litre of air) of essential oils for comparison?
We wish to test all the oils at one fixed concentration. We are trying to shortlist a few effective essential oils and test them out at different concentrations.
Is it a good idea?
Although they may be closely related, there are key differences
It's known that phytates are a P storage in plants, in particular seeds. Plants produce enzymes to release P upon need. Also ruminants can digest phytates thanks to their gut microbiome. However, for many animals phytic acid is an antinutrient because it binds nutrients in cationic form (Ca2+, Mg2+ etc.). Insect have proven able to digest a wide variety of substrates thanks to their gut microbiome. I found mentions of phytates in insect-based products, but it wasn't addressed whether insects can digest them. Do you know if any experiment proved they can digest phytates?
I'm working on Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) and I found several articles about the role of gut microbiota in its digestion of cellulose and plastics. However, I can't find an overview of the gut physiology and microbiota of T. molitor or even coleoptera. The only reviews and chapters I found were old and/or about higher taxonomic units. Could you please recommend recent (max 10 years old) material?
Thanks in advance,
Hello,
I am looking if anyone knows about any chemical solution that could function as an alternative way (not lactophenol cotton blue, chlorazol black...) to stain the chitin of internal sclerotized genitalia and other structures of arthropods.
Additionally, does anyone have a digital version (or just scaned) of Notes on Microscopical technique for Zoologists by C.F.A. Pantin, 1946. Or any other book or resource that describes protocols for chitin staining?
Regards,
Pedro
This insect was found damaging shoots of Araucaria angustifolia in southern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. There was a population of this insect, as in the attached images, and the attacked shoot died months later.
I ask for the help of specialists in hemiptera to identify this insect pest, as no record was found in the literature about this order associated with damage to Araucaria angustifolia.




I came across what appeared to be a large group of winged garden ants and I've included a video of the aforementioned behavior. Is this lekking?
Dear all,
We are planning to study plant volatiles in crop plants with and without aphid infestation in the field. My questions are:
(1) Which headspace sampling setup would you recommend?
(2) Which material should be used to capture the volatiles (e.g. charcoal filter)?
(3) At which temperature should we store the samples (-20 or -80°C)?
Thank you very much!
Christoph
I'm very curious about which courses did or did not stop insect collection for education purposes. And if so, what alternative methods are used now to teach taxonomy, biodiversity monitoring or insect morphology?
Because of the increasing moral concern about collecting and killing insects for the sole purpose of educating insect identification or monitoring techniques, exploration of alternatives are needed. This can be challenging.
If still traditional methods are used (i.e. collecting, killing, preserving insects) for teaching, is there a discussion about ethical arguments?
I have insects stored for morphomolecular species identification in ethanol (EtOH). These weevils (Larinus spp.) were stored in 100% EtOH at the recommendation of more experienced entomologists. Now that I am trying to pin these weevils, they are quite brittle and difficult to pin without cracking an elytrum. It was suggested to me that I could dilute the EtOH in the storage vial to ~80% to 95% to rehydrate the weevils enough for pinning, but I am concerned this may result in DNA degradation.
Has anyone experienced a problem like this? Other than removing a leg prior to rehydration or pointing the weevils, does anyone have some advice on how to deal with this problem? Thank you in advance!
Good seeking capacity, a vast prey range, the large number of pests devoured in a lifetime, overwintering as an adult stage, and adaptations to different locations are all potential qualities of spiders that make them effective biocontrol agents. Recent agricultural trends have highlighted the importance of spider conservation in agro environments, positioning spiders as a viable natural pest control tool. How far have spiders been incorporated as a pest biocontrol agent and has it been successful and efficient?
Some of parameters such as LT50 & LD50 needs to evaluate insecticide.
Hi everybody,
we are using circular pitfall traps (regular yogurt cups) since many years, and unfortunately, sometimes we encounter mice and lizards as by-catch in our samples.
These animals fall in the pitfall traps, are not able to climb out of it and drown...
Researches (e.g. see link attached) and personal reflections resulted in the following possible easy-to-install preventive measures:
1) covering the pitfall traps with a thin, wide-meshed iron grid, so it is too thin to "grab and climb" for invertebrate, but slippery enough for insects and spiders
2) using funnels with a slippery surface, so small vertebrata can't enter, while insects can fall into it
I personally like more solution 1, but I wanted to ask you to share your experience :-)
We aim mostly on spiders, centipedes, millipedes, beetles and other surface insects.
Thank you and greetings,
Michael
We know there are indices like house index, Breteau index, Stegomyia index for Entomological survey for dengue . However in practical situation we see Multi-storeyed buildings in institutes/ campuses . How to go about standardizing them in calculating the various indices or there is any framework for such situation with different indices?
Because there is no any vaccine for COVID-19 until and in past insects have transmitted number of diseases like; chikungunya virus, yellow fever, dengue fever,Lyme disease, plague,malaria, sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis, filariasis. So, what do you think, could it be possible for COVID-19?
Does it act as a visual deterrent for predators or serves a purpose in the body's physiological processes?
Some of the horns (as attached below) are also colorful and in some cases they also match the color of the 'lines/patterns' on the body, so could it be that they are luring the potential predator away to this more 'attractive' thing and the subsequent attack would not really harm the caterpillar?
Also, is there any similarity between the Sphingidae caterpillars and the larvae of Trilocha varians (Bombycidae) which also has a horn-like structure in the larval stage ?
It is the agri entomology experiment conducted in two different contrasting locations for two years and two seasons per year. The data collected from the experiment was number of eggs, larvae, pupa, adult insect
I would like to test a biological method of screening vegetables/fruits for the presence of pesticide residue. Since a biological agent is used, the extraction solvent should be non-toxic.
Thyrinteina arnobia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) is the major defoliator of eucalyptus plants in Brasil in the last 50 years.
Since them, no parasitoid had been recorded for eggs of this pest in the field. In te lab we demonstrated that some kind of substance on the surface of these eggs protect them.
In 2017, we a found a parasitoid in eggs of Thyrinteina arnobia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in the field.
I would like to know who can identify this parasitoid. The quality of the photo is very poor but I can take better ones if necessary.
Best regards,
José Cola Zanuncio
Can anyone help me in identifying larvae based on Video clip and photographs?




I am researching the geographical distribution of the most common cosmopolitan springtail species. Can you recommend sources related to collembola phylogeography?. It would be nice if we collected a significant number of references on this issue.
Looking to id below beetles, Photographs attached.. Expert comments would be appriciated
Location: Bhaderwah, J & K, India
1. Image 1949- Which Cicada Species ?
2. Image 1663- Is it june beetle ?
3. Image 1644- Have no Idea for this one
4. Image 1919- is it dung beetle ?
Complete entomology newbie here...
I am analysing a large dataset of nocturnal aerial insects from light traps to look at their temporal abundance across seasons/years. I am unable to sample for diurnal aerial insects given the complications of doing so with conventional means (i.e. I don't have access to radar/lidar equipment). I am therefore hoping to find studies that compare diurnal and nocturnal aerial insect abundance (or that of insects more generally), to see if I can relate my findings on nocturnal insects abundance to that of diurnal species.
Thanks in advance!
Thrips is serious pest in chilli. To develop thrips resistant or tolerant genotypes, it is essential to screen germplasm. Thrips lacerates abaxial surface of leaved. Can we a hedonic scale for damage assembly and use the score to discriminate genotypes. Is there any image analysis software available for such screening.
Especially in favor of females in this case.
I want to assess the infection status of Aedine mosquitoes with regard to dengue virus in Zambia. Very little is known about the prevalence of the disease in the country.
I once attended a virtual event from one of the entomology societies in Europe. They say they are doing research by rearing locusts in the laboratory and then releasing them into nature for conservation purposes.
Why do you think they did that? Can you explain to me or share information regarding this?
What if one day the locusts that are released into nature actually migrate and cause harm to local agriculture and or even attack agricultural crops in other countries?
Please give your best opinion.
Thankyou. Best Regards!
Can you suggest some plant species having high mosquito repellent property?
In early 2022 I'll be completing a length field campaign, collecting Lepidoptera, Odonata and Hymenoptera in a very humid flooded forest in central Africa. Due to the nature of this work we will not be able to use conventional drying boxes, and will not have access to any electricity (we are not taking a generator for logistical reasons). What is the best approach to drying and preserving these specimens (which will number in the thousands) in the field?
Our proposed solution currently is a makeshift drying box with an air intake we will position over a fire, before storing in tupperware with silica crystal. However, this method is difficult to maintain and ensure equal and not excessive drying. One proposed solution is direct immersion in silica crystal, but this is not possible with delicate specimens which will later be analysed for pollen loads (contamination an issue). Alternatively, one could dry specimens in direct sunlight, perhaps under black tarpaulin, but our habitat type is not convenient for this. Drying is necessary (as opposed to e.g. alcohol immersion) due to other aspects of the research.
Entomologists have been collecting tropical insects for hundreds of years - what did Russell Wallace do?
I am involved in setting up an entomology lab in Portugal, and we are currently looking for starter colonies of Aphis fabae, Tetranychus urticae and Dermanyssus gallinae to purchase and rear in the lab in order to conduct efficacy and behavioral studies.
Suppliers in Europe are preferred.
Any help or suggestion would be much appreciated.
Regards,
Robert
I have prepared a MS dealing with a review about behavioural pest control using HIPVs. Which journal (not open access) would be better suited? Please suggest. The journal must not take much time for decision making
In designing an experiment to investigate regional influence of these elements (temperature, humidity) on decompositional stages and insects colonization of pig carcasses, how would a control be setup for the elements given its uncharacteristic nature to be carried out in a laboratory?
Hi,
I notice that oppose to many other Heteroptera, Sciocoris move their antenna fidgetly. I assume it related to an antennal sensory organ. Does anyone know why does it do that and if I can expect to fine any unique structure on its antenna compare to antenna of other Heteroptera which doesn't act like that?
See example to antennal movement in attached movie.
I focus my research on Wasps in Greece.
Dear Entomologists, I need to pick the swarm brain.
I'm planning to mark moths with fluorescent dust for better observation and recapturing at night. Can anybody provide experience with DNA extraction from insect marked with this kind of dust? Or point me towards suitable publications? I can't seem to find any. There is lots of mosquito marking, but without subsequent DNA extraction.
Thank you, swarm :-)
I am planning on starting grad school in about a year and a half but you can never start researching project advisors too soon!
I am interested in investigating the use of fungal parasites of insects such as Cordyceps in integrated pest management. Unfortunately, this seems to be an unpopular field of study, as so far in my searches I have only seen professors who study plant-insect relationships in IPM, but not fungal-insect relationships in IPM. Ideally, I am hoping to stay on the west coast of the US. My undergraduate background is in ecology and evolutionary biology, but I am currently broadening my skills in molecular lab techniques.
Faculty pages on university websites cannot always represent the scope of a professor's research interests. That said, can anyone recommend a recommend a colleague of theirs who might be looking for graduate students in a year and a half, and with a background in mycology, entomology, and IPM?
It was collected in Colombia, the larva sticks the leaves and feeds on coffee plants (Coffea arabica). It measures approximately 1 cm. Probably genus Platynota sp.

Kandy (7.270 80.600 E 467m msl), Central Province, Sri Lanka is the type locality of Tetragonula iridipennis (Smith) a stingless bee species reported to occur throughout India. I need samples of these stingless bees from this type locality. If any one can send me samples of these bees from this locality, it would be a great help for my studies. My address is as follows
Shashidhar Viraktamath, Department of Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru 560065, India.
Many thanks.
Biological experiments are nowadays being added as preprint in different archives such as biorixv.. Can an author add taxonomic descriptions as well before published as a journal article?
i need to identify the wild species existing in local area especially which help me to identify Tetragonula iridipennis species in wild . can i get the details how to identify this species in wild ? . please do the need full .
I’m Shengbin Chen, from Chengdu University of Technology in China. My team is conducting dung beetle research along an altitudinal gradient in Mountain Emei, which is near Chengdu City.
To make comparison on dung beetle communities among different localities at global scale, we make great effort to gather references.
The 5 works listed below were published early and in regional journal. I tried by can’t get them. So, could someone please kindly send me a copy of each of the five papers (if possible)?
1. Avila, J.M. & Pascual, F. 1988. Contributión al conocimiento de los escarabeidos coprófagos (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea) de Sierra Nevada: III. Distributión altitudinal y temporal. Bollettino Del Museo Regionale Di Scienze Naturali Torino 6: 217-240.
2. Celi, J., Terneus, E., Torres, J. & Ortega, M. 2004. Diversidad de escarabajos del estiercol (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) en una gradiente altitudinal en la Cordillera del Cutucu, Morona Santiago, Amazonia ecuatoriana. Lyonia 7:37-52.
3. Hanski, I. & Niemela, J. 1990. Elevational distributions of dung and carrion beetles in northern Sulawesi. In W. J. Knight, & J. D. Holloway (Eds.), Insects and the rainforest of Southeast Asia (Wallacea). (pp. 145-152). London: The Royal Entomological Society.
4. Hanski, I. 1983. Distributional ecology and abundance of dung and carrion-feeding beetles (Scarabaeidae) in tropical rain forests in Sarawak, Borneo. Acta Zoologica Fennica 167:1-45.
5. Lumaret, J.P. & Stiernet, N. 1989. Inventaire et distribution des coléopteres scarabéides coprophages dans le massif de la Vanoise. Trav. Sci. Pare Natl. Vanoise 17:193-228.
Hi everyone, i am researching on Plutella xylostella, and was feeding the caterpillars with cabbage, but i does not know if the moth need to a specific artificial diet or simple solution with sugar or honey and water. If someone could help me with this I will be very grateful.
I would like to observe/ record insects behavior under webcam setting at night. So we are looking for some suitable infrared(Red light) lamps or IR LED to do this. Can anybody recommend us some proper products?
Hi, i have been working with Canada balsam as mount medium for Thysanoptera slices, but it´s too old and thick, i´ve tried using xylene to dissolve it, but it´s not working. So my question it´s maybe someone has tried using other mount medium for Thysanoptera species?