The study used whole-genome sequencing, ecological modeling, and morphological analyses to reassess the widespread American rubyspot damselfly, Hetaerina americana, which had long been considered a single species. Researchers found that it actually consists of three deeply divergent evolutionary lineages that likely represent separate species, including two lineages largely restricted to California. These newly identified species...

This study by Allison K. Hansen and colleagues examined how host plant quality affects the symbiotic relationship between the potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli) and its bacterial partner Carsonella. The researchers found that tomato plants contained about 2.3 times more essential amino acids than pepper plants, leading to faster psyllid development, higher fitness, and a greater...

This Nature paper, co-authored by Boris Baer and colleagues, shows that honey bee queens are shaped not only by genetics and nutrition but also by the specialized queen cells that worker bees construct for them. The researchers found that queen cells have distinct mechanical and chemical properties, and that worker bees actively modify these properties...

Amy Murillo and Alec Gerry explain that the New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of animals, posing a serious threat to livestock, wildlife, pets, and occasionally humans. Although the pest was eradicated from the United States decades ago, a recent case in Texas has raised concerns about...

Amy Murillo and Alec Gerry, entomologists at University of California, Riverside, explain that the return of the New World screwworm fly to Texas is a serious treat because its larvae feed on the living tissue of animals and occasionally humans. They say federal and state agencies are responding with surveillance, quarantines, and releases of sterile...

The chapter by Hiroshi Fujinaga and Naoki Yamanaka examines how invasive pests spread internationally and the challenges they pose to agriculture, forestry, and ecosystems. The authors emphasize that global trade and human movement have greatly increased opportunities for non-active insects to cross borders and establish in new regions. They discuss the importance of early detection...

Mark S. Hoddle and colleagues warn that the invasive cotton seed bug is becoming a significant threat to California cotton production because it feeds on seeds, reducing yield, seed quality, and germination rates. The pest, originally from Africa and the Mediterranean region, has established populations in several Southern California counties and could spread into major...

Jun-Yin Lum, a graduate student at University of California, Riverside, was awarded the Founders Endowment Scholarship worth $2,500 by Pi Chi Omega as part of its 2026 scholarship program. The organization selected six students nationwide based on academic achievement, commitment to entomology, and potential contributions to the pest management field. Pi Chi Omega has awarded...

This article describes how Dong-Hwan Choe and researchers at University of California, Riverside developed a safer alternative to traditional termite fumigation by using pinene, the natural compound responsible for the scent of pine trees, to attract drywood termites to bait treated with bistrifluron. Once termites consume the bait, the chemical prevents them from forming new...

The article highlights the work of Magda Argueta-Guzmán, a biologist and former UC Riverside doctoral student mentored by Quinn McFrederick, whose research focuses on native bees, flowers, and their microbiomes. It describes her upcoming seminar on how wild bees use both floral and non-floral resources for feeding, nesting, and raising offspring, emphasizing that simply observing...

The article highlights research by Nicholas Poulos and Dong-Hwan Choe at UC Riverside on a safer and more targeted way to eliminate destructive drywood termites. Their studies found that a chemical called bistrifluron can kill about 95% of a termite colony by preventing termites from forming new exoskeletons during molting, a process they cannot survive...

This podcast episode discusses the 111-year history and continued success of the UC Riverside Department of Entomology, highlighting why it remains one of the leading insect research programs in the world. The hosts and guest professors explain how insects play a critical role in agriculture, ecosystems, public health, and climate science, despite often being overlooked...

Lyna Ngor, who earned her PhD from University of California, Riverside in 2025, is developing an innovative biological approach to mosquito control using the bacterium Wolbachia. Unlike traditional methods that require repeatedly releasing infected mosquitoes, her research explores how Wolbachia could spread naturally through the environment. She found that bees, which can carry the bacterium...

The article describes research by Sushmita Arumugam Amogh and Ysabel Giraldo showing how extreme gravity affects the body using fruit flies. By exposing flies to forces between 4G and 13G, the scientists discovered that gravity directly influences how the brain manages energy and movement. At moderate levels (around 4G), the flies became more active, but...

The University of California, Riverside plays a central role in the Riverside Insect Fair, serving as both its organizer and scientific backbone. The event was founded with help from UCR’s Entomology Graduate Student Association and is designed to showcase the university’s research in insect science. Graduate students from UCR run many of the exhibits, giving...

The article focuses on Doug Yanega, an expert known as a “human search engine” for his ability to identify insect species with remarkable accuracy. Working at UC Riverside’s Entomology Research Museum, he helps manage a collection of over four million specimens that serves as a vital record of global biodiversity. His work is especially important...

Karthikeyan Chandrasegaran studies how mosquitoes develop and transmit disease. His research shows that early-life environmental conditions, like competition, can shape adult behaviors such as host-seeking. He uses gene expression analysis to understand how networks of genes interact over time rather than acting independently. His work also examines how environmental cues and internal biological rhythms influence...

Dong-Hwan Choe is an entomologist at UC Riverside who led research on a new, more effective method for controlling termites by using their natural behavior against them. Instead of relying solely on widespread pesticide use, he developed an approach that attracts termites to treated wood using pinene, a scent they associate with food. This strategy...

Genesis Chong-Echavez is a graduate researcher at UC Riverside who led a study investigating why certain hybrid honeybees in Southern California are better at surviving deadly parasites known as Varroa mites. By tracking 236 bee colonies over several years, she found that these locally adapted bees carried significantly fewer mites and were far less likely...

Research led by Erin Wilson Rankin found that Hawaiian forest birds often steal nesting materials from nearby nests, a behavior called kleptoparasitism. The study showed species like the apapane frequently both steal and are stolen from, usually targeting nearby nests at similar heights, sometimes even when they are still active. Although this can save time...