Washington state confirms first live ‘murder hornet’ sighting of the year

Asian giant hornet spotted about two miles from where first US nest was found last year

Washington state has confirmed its second “murder hornet” sighting of 2021 – the first glimpse of a live one, officials reported.

A statement released by the Washington state department of agriculture (WSDA) confirms the first report of a live Asian giant hornet in the state this year.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/13/murder-hornet-sighting-washington-state
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Maya Yang in New York

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Man killed in Arizona bee swarm, two others hospitalized after hundreds of stings

A firefighter was also taken to the hospital after the attack from the bees that came from a 100-pound hive.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-killed-arizona-bee-swarm-two-others-hospitalized-after-hundreds-n1275455
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Phil Helsel

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An Emerging Tickborne Disease Is Gaining Steam in New York

An emerging disease spread by ticks is becoming a substantial public health threat in New York State, researchers warn in a new study out this month. The study found that human cases of anaplasmosis have dramatically increased in the state over the past decade, and ticks are found to be carrying the bacteria…

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Source: https://gizmodo.com/an-emerging-tickborne-disease-is-gaining-steam-in-new-y-1847389229
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Ed Cara

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The insect apocalypse: ‘Our world will grind to a halt without them’

Insects have declined by 75% in the past 50 years – and the consequences may soon be catastrophic. Biologist Dave Goulson reveals the vital services they perform

I have been fascinated by insects all my life. One of my earliest memories is of finding, at the age of five or six, some stripy yellow-and-black caterpillars feeding on weeds in the school playground. I put them in my empty lunchbox, and took them home. Eventually they transformed into handsome magenta and black moths. This seemed like magic to me – and still does. I was hooked.

In pursuit of insects I have travelled the world, from the deserts of Patagonia to the icy peaks of Fjordland in New Zealand and the forested mountains of Bhutan. I have watched clouds of birdwing butterflies sipping minerals from the banks of a river in Borneo, and thousands of fireflies flashing in synchrony at night in the swamps of Thailand. At home in my garden in Sussex I have spent countless hours watching grasshoppers court a mate and see off rivals, earwigs tend their young, ants milk honeydew from aphids, and leaf-cutter bees snip leaves to line their nests.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/25/the-insect-apocalypse-our-world-will-grind-to-a-halt-without-them
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Dave Goulson

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Amber-encased ant discovered with a new type of fungal parasite attached

One of the best ways that scientists can discover small fossilized insects and plants is encased within amber. Amber can save the specimen just as it was the day it stepped into the gooey medium. A new research study has been published focusing on an interesting discovery of a fossilized ant with a new genus and species of fungal parasite … Continue reading

Source: https://www.slashgear.com/amber-encased-ant-discovered-with-a-new-type-of-fungal-parasite-attached-23679479/
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Shane McGlaun

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Why Americans have started eating bugs

We all need a change for our collective good right now, and this one comes pan-fried.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/cicada-pizza-tacos-sushi-are-being-gobbled-why-americans-are-ncna1271345
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Cortni Borgerson

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Biden flicks away cicada: ‘It got me’

A pesky cicada appeared to hit President Biden in the neck on Wednesday as he prepared to depart on his first foreign trip of his administration.

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/557510-biden-flicks-away-cicada-it-got-me
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Marina Pitofsky

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Cicadas grounded White House press plane for hours before departure to Europe

The press corps was able to take off for the United Kingdom on a replacement plane after a more-than-six-hour delay.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/cicadas-grounded-white-house-press-plane-hours-departure-europe-n1270091
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Rebecca Shabad

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‘They’re heeerrreee’: Social media reacts to the return of the 17-year cicadas

Billions of the Brood X insects are expected to make a large return to the East Coast and Midwest within the next week.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/animal-news/they-re-heeerrreee-social-media-reacts-return-17-year-cicadas-n1267838
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Hayley Vaughn

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The cicadas are coming and bringing an important message about time

They’re loud but brilliant, particularly for their ability to be mini-time capsules that push through the soil and remind us of earlier versions of ourselves.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/cicadas-emerging-now-their-17-year-slumber-have-lot-teach-ncna1267476
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Judi Ketteler

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Florida Man Outraged After Agreeing To Mutant Mosquito Infestation

Once upon a time there was a company called Oxford Insect Technologies, or Oxitec, that came up with a brilliant solution to reduce the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses: more mosquitoes. Specifically, legions of mutated male Aedes aegypti that have been genetically modified (and EPA-approved! — Read the rest

Source: https://boingboing.net/2021/05/01/florida-man-outraged-after-agreeing-to-mutant-mosquito-infestation.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=florida-man-outraged-after-agreeing-to-mutant-mosquito-infestation
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Thom Dunn

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The Release of 1 Billion GMO Mosquitoes Has Begun

Tens of thousands of male mosquitoes are descending on the Florida Keys. But these are no ordinary mosquitoes: They’re genetically modified, and they were planted around the state on purpose. It’s part of a plan to curb disease by releasing 1 billion mosquitoes across two states—but it’s giving some folks the heeby…

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Source: https://earther.gizmodo.com/the-release-of-1-billion-killer-gmo-mosquitoes-has-begu-1846800665
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Dharna Noor

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Stinging wasps are precious, not pointless, say scientists

Much-hated insects are voracious predators of pests, produce powerful antibiotics and pollinate plants

For those who have asked what the point of wasps is, there is now a comprehensive answer. They are voracious predators of pest insects, produce powerful antibiotics in their venom, pollinate plants and even make a nutritious snack.

The benefits to humans of the much-hated insects are revealed in the first major scientific review of the ecosystem services they provide. It focused on the 33,000 known species of hunting wasps, which carry stings and live in every corner of the world.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/29/stinging-wasps-are-precious-not-pointless-say-scientists
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Damian Carrington Environment editor

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Brace for Brood X, one of the largest groups of periodical cicadas

Like people in a pandemic winter, periodical cicadas are waiting for the warmer weather of spring.

What’s happening: In a few weeks, billions of the insects are predicted to emerge in parts of the eastern U.S. after 17 years — and the vast majority of their life — underground.

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Brood X is one of the largest of 15 groups of cicadas that come out en masse in the U.S. at different time intervals — some every 13 years, others every 17, and in rarer alignments, at the same time.

• Periodical cicadas (Magicicada) make an appearance most years. (And the adults of annual cicadas, which have a two-year life cycle, emerge every year to reproduce.)

What to expect: Once the soil temperature reaches 64°F, typically in late April or early May, billions of noisy, red-eyed, black-bodied cicadas will emerge in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Indiana and several spots in between.

• They’ll then make a bunch of noise, mate and lay their eggs in trees — all within four to six weeks.
• Those cicadas will die and their nymphs will fall to the ground, bury in to feed on tree roots, and the cicada cycle starts again.

What’s next: Who knows what the future holds — and, as Vox’s Brian Resnick notes, how cicadas even know when it has arrived — but set your clocks: Brood X will be back in 2038.

Source: https://www.axios.com/brace-brood-x-periodical-cicadas-209a70c2-4673-4e09-b9b2-873e5f288086.html
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Alison Snyder

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Striking Australian Bee Spotted for First Time in a Century—but It Could Face New Threats

Not since 1923 have scientists gazed upon the Australian cloaked bee. That is, until recently when scientists located a few populations in the wild. But its rediscovery comes as a mixed blessing owing to its potentially threatened status.

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Source: https://earther.gizmodo.com/striking-australian-bee-spotted-for-first-time-in-a-cen-1846363441
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The Article Was Written/Published By: George Dvorsky on Earther, shared by Brian Kahn to Gizmodo

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Venomous spiders prompt University of Michigan library to close

The Shapiro Undergraduate Library closed for two days after three Mediterranean recluse spiders were found in a storage area.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/venomous-spiders-prompt-university-michigan-library-close-n1258842
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The Article Was Written/Published By: The Associated Press

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Dragonflies use backflips to right themselves when thrown off balance

Researchers have been conducting an investigation into dragonflies in hopes that details on how the insects fly and remain stable in the air could be used to inspire new designs for drones and other small aerial aircraft. The team used high-speed cameras and CGI technology to learn the dragonfly’s built-in mechanisms for righting itself if it’s thrown off balance in … Continue reading

Source: https://www.slashgear.com/dragonflies-use-backflips-to-right-themselves-when-thrown-off-balance-11658963/
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Shane McGlaun

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A Quarter of Known Bee Species Haven’t Been Seen Since 1990

A global study finds that species numbers reported in the wild fell sharply between 1990 and 2015.

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/a-quarter-of-known-bee-species-havent-been-seen-since-1990/
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Patrick Barkham

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How bees stay warm in the winter

You may have heard at one time or another that honeybees hibernate in the winter. Insects use many different methods to survive cold weather, but bees do not hibernate. The beekeepers at Bell Farm in Iowa explain what they do to stay warm. — Read the rest

Source: https://boingboing.net/2020/12/23/how-bees-stay-warm-in-the-winter.html
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Miss Cellania

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Here’s what happens when a bee stings you directly in your eyeball

Enlarge / Avoid getting these near your eyeball. (credit: Getty | Matt Cardy)

There are precious few things that could truly make 2020 worse than it already is. But a rare bee sting right to the eyeball might be one of them.

Doctors this week published an image of just such an uncommon ocular impaling. The image, appearing in the New England Journal of Medicine, also included a brief report of the patient’s condition and recovery. The details confirm that although reading about this horror show of a year may sometimes feel like getting repeatedly stabbed in the peepers, the real thing is actually far more unpleasant.

The patient was a 22-year-old male who showed up at a hospital’s emergency department with redness, pain, and decreased vision in his left eye, which had taken a bee sting about an hour earlier. Though the man had 20/20 vision in his right eye, he reported only being able to see hand movements close to his face with his left eye.

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Source: https://arstechnica.com/?p=1727462
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Beth Mole

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