Insect protein could support healthy ageing and fight climate change: Charoen Krung Photography/Shutterstock When we think about the future of food, it’s unlikely that crickets, meal worms or grasshoppers come to mind. But believe it or not, insects might just be one of the most promising answers to two big global problems: feeding a growing …
Insect trafficking poses a risk to wildlife and human health: Rhino beetles are just one insect species being traded illegally. Lightboxx/Shutterstock Four men were recently arrested and fined for attempting to smuggle more than 5,000 ants out of Kenya. Aiming to sell them as part of the exotic pet trade, these ants were being stored …
Plastic-eating insect discovered in Kenya: There’s been an exciting new discovery in the fight against plastic pollution: mealworm larvae that are capable of consuming polystyrene. They join the ranks of a small group of insects that have been found to be capable of breaking the polluting plastic down, though this is the first time that …
How we created the first map of an insect brain – and what it means for our understanding of the human brain: Tomatito/Shutterstock Imagine trying to navigate an unfamiliar city but you’ve lost your smartphone. You don’t have a map. And the street signs are in a foreign language. This is how neuroscientists feel about studying …
Earwigs are the hero single mothers of the insect world – and good for your garden too: Macronatura.es/Shutterstock You lift a stone and staring up at you is a little insect with its tail curled and pincers ready to inflict who knows what. Then you see its attendants – tiny white insects, huddled underneath. Should …
Climate change triggering global collapse in insect numbers: stressed farmland shows 63% decline – new research: Speed read The world may be facing a devastating “hidden” collapse in insect species due to the twin threats of climate change and habitat loss. UCL’s Centre for Biodiversity & Environment Research has carried out one of the largest-ever …
The insect brain: we froze ants and beetles to learn how they remember their way home: We humans are versatile and accomplished navigators, but insects might have navigation skills that are even better. For them, it’s literally a matter of life and death – and that’s why we decided to freeze some ants and beetles …
We found a rare insect at an unspoilt stream in Nigeria – sign of a need to explore and protect: Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP via Getty Images Wetlands are essential to the health of the planet. The plants that grow in and around the water store carbon, and wetland ecosystems support biodiversity and provide clean water …
Why the changing colour of our streetlights could be a danger for insect populations: Surveying moth caterpillars Douglas Boyes Life on Earth has evolved alongside predictable cycles of day and night. But this pattern has become increasingly blurred. Between 2012 and 2016, satellite measurements revealed that the global area polluted by artificial light grew by …
Insect population collapse: new evidence links it to dams: Over 40% of all insects, like this tropical dragonfly, are in decline Scottslm/Pixasbay Insects are the most numerous group of animals on the planet. There are an estimated 5.5 million species, 80% of which remain to be discovered. Yet insects are experiencing steep, widespread declines across …
South Africa in the news: The oldest known grass beds from 200,000 years ago included insect repellents: Found in South Africa, 200,000-year-old bedding remnants included fossilized grass, bug-repelling ash and once aromatic camphor leaves.: “South Africa” – BingNews COVID-19 pandemic threatens HIV treatment in South Africa: South Africa has made good progress in reducing the …
Lessons on how to effectively tackle insect invasions: Flying desert locust Holger Kirk/Shutterstock Kenyan food production and grazing land is under threat from a huge desert locust invasion. The insects are currently in two counties in northern Kenya and are now spreading to other Kenyan regions including Meru, Laikipia, and Rift Valley. The government has …
[wpramazon asin=”B010EXXY5A” keyword=”Afrikaans”] [wpramazon asin=”B00NA5VUI8″ keyword=”Afrikaans”] Find More Afrikaans Products