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Insects

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Oxygen wasn’t the bottleneck for giant Paleozoic insects, new study finds
science14 days ago

Oxygen wasn’t the bottleneck for giant Paleozoic insects, new study finds

A new study across 44 insect species shows that the tracheal system in insects wouldn’t need dramatic expansion as size increases, meaning the ancient giants like Meganeuropsis permiana could still deliver oxygen efficiently. The finding undermines the long-held oxygen-constrain hypothesis and suggests giant bugs weren’t blocked by atmospheric oxygen after all; other factors—predation by aerial vertebrates, heat buildup during flight, molting/structural constraints, and open circulation—likely helped limit insect size, with future research exploring the role of air sacs in ventilation.

via Ars Technica|
#dragonflies#insects#oxygen
Giant Griffinflies May Not Have Needed Oxygen After All, New Study Says
science15 days ago

Giant Griffinflies May Not Have Needed Oxygen After All, New Study Says

A new study challenges the long-held view that high atmospheric oxygen powered giant prehistoric insects like griffinflies, showing that flying insects’ internal tracheal systems can supply oxygen to flight muscles, which could allow large sizes even today; if confirmed, this suggests oxygen levels were not the limiting factor, though researchers note other causes may explain why such giants disappeared.

via Gizmodo|
#entomology#griffinflies#insects
Insect giants escape oxygen-diffusion limits in flight muscles
science16 days ago

Insect giants escape oxygen-diffusion limits in flight muscles

A cross-species analysis of 44 insect species across 10 orders (plus the 100 g Meganeuropsis permiana) shows the tracheolar space in flight muscles rises only about 1.8-fold over a 10,000‑fold range in body mass and is typically 1% or less. This argues that diffusion of oxygen through the tracheolar–muscle system does not constrain maximum insect size, including gigantism. The study highlights that even a threefold increase in tracheolar space would markedly affect oxygen delivery but have only modest effects on flight, challenging the long-held view that atmospheric oxygen limits insect gigantism and pointing to other factors shaping their evolution.

via Nature|
#diffusion#evolution#gigantism
Victor Valley Crane Fly Surge Sparks Mosquito Confusion, But They're Harmless
environment21 days ago

Victor Valley Crane Fly Surge Sparks Mosquito Confusion, But They're Harmless

A surge of crane flies across the Victor Valley has residents mistaking the harmless insects for a mosquito infestation; crane flies do not bite and can be beneficial pollinators, with larvae helping decompose material. The spike is likely linked to recent moist, cooler weather, and experts say the situation is temporary. Residents are advised to reduce outdoor lighting and seal doors and windows to minimize entry.

via VVNG|
#crane-flies#environment#insects
Only-queen parasitic ant clones itself to hijack other nests
animals1 month ago

Only-queen parasitic ant clones itself to hijack other nests

Scientists report that Temnothorax kinomurai, a rare Japanese ant, has no workers or males and reproduces by parthenogenesis to produce only queens. These parasitic queens invade nests of the related species Temnothorax makora, enlist host workers to raise their offspring, and in lab trials seven of 43 unmated offspring succeeded in coup; all offspring were queens, showing a unique combination of asexual reproduction and social parasitism in ants.

via Live Science|
#animals#insects#parthenogenesis
Air-bubble armor lets alkali fly survive California's caustic Mono Lake
nature1 month ago

Air-bubble armor lets alkali fly survive California's caustic Mono Lake

A BBC Wildlife feature explains how the alkali fly survives the toxic, salty waters of California's Mono Lake by living mostly underwater inside an air bubble, aided by a waxy, water-repellent cuticle; only its eyes touch the liquid, and it feeds on algae with grappling-hook claws, effectively wearing a natural armor for an extreme environment.

via BBC Wildlife Magazine|
#adaptation#alkali-fly#extremophiles
Micro marvels steal the show in 2026 Close-up Photographer of the Year gallery
culture2 months ago

Micro marvels steal the show in 2026 Close-up Photographer of the Year gallery

Guardian’s photo gallery spotlights the 2026 Close-up Photographer of the Year Awards, celebrating macro and micro imagery from around the world. The overall winner is Fractal Forest, showing the inside of a cauliflower soft coral in Lembeh Strait, Indonesia, by Ross Gudgeon, with standout entries across categories such as Intimate Landscape, Ethereal Frogfish, Cribraria Cluster, and Invertebrate Portrait.

via The Guardian|
#close-up-photography#culture#insects
El Segundo Battles Months-Long Mosquito Infestation
us-news2 months ago

El Segundo Battles Months-Long Mosquito Infestation

A mosquito infestation has overwhelmed the El Segundo area near Los Angeles for roughly two months, with residents reporting relentless bites, nights disrupted by swarms, and mosquitoes invading homes despite preventive measures. City officials say they’re coordinating with Los Angeles Vector Control to identify sources and are focusing containment efforts on six blocks still under siege.

via New York Post|
#california#insects#los-angeles
Plants click back: moths use plant distress sounds to pick egg sites
science2 months ago

Plants click back: moths use plant distress sounds to pick egg sites

Researchers found female moths (Spodoptera littoralis) can hear ultrasonic sounds emitted by drought-stressed plants and use these cues to decide where to lay eggs. In experiments without real plants, moths preferred locations near a stress sound; when healthy plants were present, they avoided the stressed plants, showing context-based decision-making that integrates sound with smell.

via Earth.com|
#insects#moths#oops