Comprehensive Molecular Insect Science, Second Edition is an authoritative reference edited by Peter Atkinson and Naoki Yamanaka that reviews modern advances in insect science and entomology, covering topics such as genetic control, pollinators, and the impacts of climate change on insect physiology and molecular biology. It emphasizes the growing role of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and...
Researchers in California, including Dr. Murillo, have launched a statewide monitoring program to prevent the return of the New World screwworm, a dangerous parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue and can severely harm livestock and occasionally humans. Led by scientists at the University of California, Riverside and funded by the California Department of...
UC Riverside researchers have developed a new way to determine whether a termite infestation is active by analyzing microbes in termite droppings. Because many of the microbes in fresh pellets die and degrade quickly once exposed to air, measuring their DNA levels can reveal how recently the pellets were produced. Using qPCR, the team showed...
Amy Murillo and Alec Gerry are leading a new effort at UC Riverside (UCR) to prevent the return of the New World screwworm — a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living flesh — to California. With about $507,000 in funding from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Murillo and Gerry will deploy...
A family in Kansas lived for years in a house infested with over 2,000 Brown Recluse Spiders yet — remarkably — none of the four occupants suffered a confirmed bite. Despite many spiders being large enough to deliver a medically significant bite, frequent contact (handling bedding, nightly spider-collection, etc.) resulted in zero envenomation's. The study...
Houston Wilson is a UC Cooperative Extension specialist in entomology at UC Riverside and the founding director of the UC Organic Agriculture Institute. Drawing on his early studies in agroecology, Wilson develops integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for high-value California crops like almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and grapes. His work bridges research and real-world farming: for...
Michelle Miner’s study found that bumble bees often win individual fights against invasive Argentine ants at food sites, but these battles slow them down so much that they return to their colony with less nectar, draining energy and resources. View article here
Former UC Riverside entomology grad student Michelle Miner led a study showing that when bumble bees forage alongside invasive Argentine ants, they often win individual fights (thanks to their size and mandible use), but the battles slow them down so much that they bring back less nectar to their hive — potentially hurting the colony’s...
UC Riverside doctoral students Rattanan Chungsawat and Emily Ta have received the 2025 Alate Award from the Entomological Society of America, recognizing their outstanding research on cockroaches. The national award supports students from minority-serving institutions and will fund their attendance at the ESA’s annual meeting in Portland, Oregon. Both students work under Professor Chow-Yang Lee...
A new study published in July 2025 in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America has confirmed that what were thought to be two species of subterranean termites in southern California ( Reticulitermes hesperus and R. tibialis) actually include a third distinct species, now named Reticulitermes rusti. Led by Ph.D. candidate Joanne Chen in...
A one-hour webinar on Tuesday, August 5, from 11 a.m. to noon will share findings from a three-year, multi-disciplinary project focused on identifying and addressing farmworker training needs. Researchers from UC ANR, UC Davis, and UC Berkeley collaborated with a trusted advocacy group in the Central Valley to develop relevant agricultural extension materials for Spanish-speaking...
Are all insect stings as deadly as they seem? In this video, we uncover the truth about insect venom and its potential dangers. From bees and wasps to scorpions and ants, discover how venom works, why it's used, and when it becomes a threat to humans. Learn how venom can vary from mildly irritating to...
Mosquitoes bite humans primarily because female mosquitoes need blood to produce eggs. They are attracted to us through a combination of cues: carbon dioxide from our breath, body heat, and especially skin odors made up of chemicals like lactic acid and carboxylic acids. Some people are more prone to bites due to factors like blood...
In the 1880s, California farmers saved their citrus crops from the invasive cottony cushion scale by introducing the Vedalia beetle—a landmark success in biological control. Today, scientists like Dr. Mark Hoddle are exploring similar methods, such as parasitic wasps, to fight the destructive spotted lanternfly. Hoddle warns that biocontrol must be done carefully: “I don’t...
Bumble bee queens take breaks from laying eggs early in colony formation to conserve energy. A UCR Entomology student, Blanca Peto, found these pauses align with brood development and are triggered by cues from pupae. This flexible behavior helps queens avoid burnout and may be key to colony survival. View article here
The UC Riverside Entomology department has developed an effective new treatment for drywood termites using bistrifluron, a chemical that prevents molting by blocking exoskeleton formation. When combined with pinene, a chemical lure that attracts termites, the treatment kills up to 95% of the colony. Bistrifluron spreads through termite colonies via shared feeding, disrupting growth and...
The book consolidates much of the recent research on the phylogenomics of Chalcidoidea. It is co-authored by many of the world authorities and focuses on the systematics and biology of chalcidoid wasps. It provides an introduction to the family, a review of chalcidoid morphology, an overview of the fossil record, an identification key to the...
