News tagged with lepidoptera

Science fair winner publishes new study on butterfly foraging behavior

University of Florida lepidopterist Andrei Sourakov has spent his life's work studying moths and butterflies. But it was his teenage daughter, Alexandra, who led research on how color impacts butterflies' feeding patterns.

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Apr 30, 2012 | popularity 3 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Insecticidal toxin useless without 'friendly' bacteria accomplices

The toxin produced by the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a popular insecticide used to control pest moths and butterflies, and in some GM pest-proof crops. In a study published in the open access journal BMC Bi ...

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Mar 04, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Using radiation to sterilize insect pests may protect California fruits and vegetables

A new study published in the Journal of Economic Entomology shows that radiation can be used to effectively sterilize the light brown apple moth (LBAM), an insect pest found in Australia, New Zealand, California, Hawaii, Sweden ...

Biology / Ecology

created Nov 30, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Fossil moths show their true colors

The brightest hues in nature are produced by tiny patterns in, say, feathers or scales rather than pigments. These so-called "structural colors" are widespread, giving opals their fire, people their blue eyes, ...

Other Sciences / Archaeology & Fossils

created Nov 15, 2011 | popularity 4 / 5 (1) | comments 4 | with audio podcast