12 September 2017

A couple new insect papers

Although not about dragonflies (there is one of those coming out soon), two recently published papers may be of interest to readers if you, like us, are into other insects.

First, who doesn't think the little Handsome Trig is handsome? The population of this cricket is moving north, which we document here. You can read and download a copy of the paper below.

O'Brien, M. F., and J. A. Craves. 2016. Phyllopalpus pulchellus Uhler, the Handsome Trig (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), a confirmed Michigan resident. Great Lakes Entomologist 49:202-203.

Next up is a paper on a leaf-mining moth using a new host in North America, the non-native and invasive shrub Amur Honeysuckle. This paper documents the first regular use of this plant by a specialist insect herbivore; in fact, it has few arthropod herbivores -- generalists or specialists -- anywhere in its range. And native birds have learned to feed on the larvae.

Craves, J. A. 2017. Native birds exploit leaf-mining moth larvae using a new North American host, non-native Lonicera maackii. Ecoscience. 3-4:81-90.