Insects

Researchers at Lund University have mapped nearly the entire genome of a carnivorous banana fly using a museum specimen. The species Drosophila enhydrobia has not been seen in the wild since 1981.

5. Juni 2026 Von KI berichtet

A flesh-eating parasitic fly has returned to the United States after 60 years. The US Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of New World screwworm in a calf in southern Texas this week.

In the deserts of southeastern Arizona, tiny cone ants have been found grooming much larger harvester ants, licking their bodies and even entering their open jaws. Entomologist Mark Moffett, a research associate at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, documented this first-of-its-kind ant interaction. The behavior, likened to cleaner fish in oceans, was reported this week in the journal Ecology and Evolution.

2. April 2026 Von KI berichtet

Buff-tailed bumblebees have demonstrated an ability to recognize rhythmic patterns, surprising scientists who thought it required a large brain. Researchers trained the insects to distinguish sequences of flashing lights and vibrations, akin to Morse code. The findings suggest even small-brained animals can process abstract rhythms.

Common air pollutants like ozone alter the chemical scents that ants use to identify colony members, causing them to attack their own nest-mates as intruders. Researchers in Germany exposed ants to realistic levels of ozone and observed aggressive responses upon their return to the colony. This discovery highlights hidden ecological costs of pollution beyond human health.

31. Januar 2026 Von KI berichtet

A new study shows that termites evolved complex social structures by losing genes rather than gaining them, with monogamy playing a key role. Researchers traced this evolution from cockroach ancestors to massive colonies. The findings challenge assumptions about social complexity in insects.