Insects

Insects are a diverse group of invertebrate animals characterized by segmented bodies, six legs and, in many species, wings. They occupy nearly all terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and play important roles in pollination, decomposition, nutrient cycling and food webs. Insect populations are strongly affected by habitat loss, pesticide use, pollution, invasive species and climate change, with declines in many regions raising concerns about ecosystem stability and biodiversity.

Image: dried mealworms
Plastic-eating bugs: A potential ally in combating microplastic pollutionScience

Plastic-eating bugs: A potential ally in combating microplastic pollution

Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) are investigating whether insects can offer a viable solution to the persistent problem of microplastic pollution. A…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskDecember 4, 2024 Full article
Image: An illustration uses a variety of colors to signify the original diversity in fly, mosquito, and butterfly populations
Agrochemicals and rising temperatures found to intensify insect population declineScience

Agrochemicals and rising temperatures found to intensify insect population decline

Scientists have long been concerned about the global decline in insect populations. While factors like habitat loss and climate change have often been cited, new…
Adrian AlexandreAdrian AlexandreOctober 25, 2024 Full article
Image: bumblebee
Heatwaves disorient bumblebees, threatening pollinationScience

Heatwaves disorient bumblebees, threatening pollination

Rising global temperatures are not only taking a toll on human health but also profoundly affecting ecosystems, particularly the essential role of pollinators Recent research…
Adrian AlexandreAdrian AlexandreSeptember 2, 2024 Full article
Image: A fly/insect on a flower
Danish insect farm sets sights on feeding Europe’s livestockNews

Danish insect farm sets sights on feeding Europe’s livestock

Flemming, Denmark | AFP At the end of a small country road in Denmark is the "Enorm" factory, an insect farm set up by a…
SourceSourceJuly 17, 2024 Full article
Image: a bee on brown wooden surface
Honey bees vote to decide on nest sites – why we should listenClimate

Honey bees vote to decide on nest sites – why we should listen

By Derek Mitchell, University of Leeds | The Conversation When people think of honey bees, they often think of classic wooden hives, in which beekeepers…
SourceSourceJuly 1, 2024 Full article
Image: insect on a green leaf
Climate change accelerates emergence of insectsScience

Climate change accelerates emergence of insects

Researchers at La Trobe University’s Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems have exposed the hidden consequences of climate change on Alpine stream ecosystems, which could see an…
SourceSourceJune 24, 2024 Full article
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Millions of insects migrate through 30-metre Pyrenees passScience

Millions of insects migrate through 30-metre Pyrenees pass

By Alex Morrison, University of Exeter Over 17 million insects migrate each year through a single mountain pass on the border between France and Spain,…
SourceSourceJune 14, 2024 Full article