Insect Activity Research Articles

Encounter with the Father of Op Art, Victor Vasarely: Research in Conservation and Art History, and Conservation Work on the Barson Collage

ABSTRACT The father of Op Art, Victor Vasarely, is the author of a paper collage called Barson, owned by the Museum of Contemporary Art, in Zagreb, which is the only such example in Croatian public cultural institutions. The collage was created in 1967 using the screen printing technique on paper glued to a paper support and then onto large-sized hardboard, and its creation was influenced by the leading objectivist artistic and philosophical trends and knowledge of the time, under the influence of which Vasarely created his art. The collage was found very dusty and with many damages on the entire surface of the paper support, such as cracks, dried and detached parts and traces of activities of insects. Works of Op Art imply an undisturbed perception of the artwork, which in the case of the Barson collage, due to caused damage, was impossible. Therefore, conservation and restoration work was carried out that included extensive research and numerous tests, followed by dry cleaning, gluing both layers of the paper carrier, removing traces of insects and the necessary, minimal retouching. The corresponding wooden frame was cleaned of a layer of dust, and the smaller, missing part was reconstructed with the same type of wood and finally retouched.

Insectivorous bats in Indian rice fields respond to moonlight, temperature, and insect activity

ContextRice, India’s most widely grown crop, suffers substantial and increasing yield loss to insect pests. Insectivorous bats are known suppressors of insect pests, providing significant economic value to agricultural systems worldwide, yet their ecology in Indian agricultural landscapes is poorly understood.ObjectivesWe assess the influence of key biotic and abiotic factors on the activity of insectivorous bats over the growing season and within a night in a rice cultivation landscape.MethodsPassive acoustic recorders were used to track bat activity in a rice field in the Sonitpur district of Assam, India. We used generalised linear mixed models to analyse the effect of temperature, insect activity, and moonlight intensity on the activity of six bat sonotypes. We also used a multimodal analysis to describe the within-night activity patterns of these sonotypes.ResultsMinimum nightly temperature and moonlight intensity had a positive and negative influence, respectively, on the activity of six bat sonotypes, while the activity of four bat sonotypes increased with insect activity. Within-night activity showed one of two patterns: three sonotypes displayed a dusk peak in activity, while the three other sonotypes were active through the night.ConclusionThe potential to maximise natural pest control in agricultural landscapes can only be realised through understanding the ecology of natural enemies in these landscapes. Our findings suggest that bats in rice fields are tracking insects over a season and within a night, pointing to a valuable ecosystem service in Indian agriculture that is yet to be quantified.

Camera-based automated monitoring of flying insects (Camfi). I. Field and computational methods.

The ability to measure flying insect activity and abundance is important for ecologists, conservationists and agronomists alike. However, existing methods are laborious and produce data with low temporal resolution (e.g. trapping and direct observation), or are expensive, technically complex, and require vehicle access to field sites (e.g. radar and lidar entomology). We propose a method called "Camfi" for long-term non-invasive population monitoring and high-throughput behavioural observation of low-flying insects using images and videos obtained from wildlife cameras, which are inexpensive and simple to operate. To facilitate very large monitoring programs, we have developed and implemented a tool for automatic detection and annotation of flying insect targets in still images or video clips based on the popular Mask R-CNN framework. This tool can be trained to detect and annotate insects in a few hours, taking advantage of transfer learning. Our method will prove invaluable for ongoing efforts to understand the behaviour and ecology of declining insect populations and could also be applied to agronomy. The method is particularly suited to studies of low-flying insects in remote areas, and is suitable for very large-scale monitoring programs, or programs with relatively low budgets.

Histopathological and Behavioral Impairments in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Chronically Exposed to a Cocktail of Fipronil and Pyriproxyfen.

Lately, the high incidence of pesticide usage has attracted everyone's interest due to the serious effects produced. Fipronil (FIP) is a phenylpyrazole compound that acts on the insect's GABA neurotransmitter by inhibiting its activity. Moreover, the literature reports highlight its implication in neurodevelopmental abnormalities and oxidative stress production in different organisms. Similarly, pyriproxyfen (PYR) is known to affect insect activity by mimicking the natural hormones involved in the maturation of the young insects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of the mixture of these pesticides on the tissues and behavior of zebrafish. To assess the influence of this cocktail on zebrafish, three groups of animals were randomly selected and exposed to 0, 0.05, and 0.1 mg L-1 FIP and PYR mixture for five days. The fish were evaluated daily by the T-maze tests for locomotor activity and the light-dark test and recordings lasted four min. The data were quantified using the EthoVision software. Our results indicated significant changes in locomotor activity parameters that showed increased levels following exposure to the mixture of FIP and PYR. On the other hand, the mixture also triggered anxiety in the zebrafish, which spent more time in the light area than in the dark area. In addition, mixture-induced histological changes were observed in the form of numerous hemosiderin deposits found in various zebrafish tissues. The current findings indicate that the mixture of FIP and PYR can have considerable consequences on adult zebrafish and may promote or cause functional neurological changes in addition to histological ones.

Subaerial Decomposition of Small-Sized Remains in The Netherlands: Important Findings Regarding the PMI of a Four-Year Taphonomic Study.

Studying post-mortem changes based on signs of decomposition (e.g., using scoring models) is one of the methods used in scientific studies to relate observable changes to the post-mortem interval (PMI). The majority of the studies on cadaver decomposition are based on large cadavers. There is limited literature on the decomposition pattern and rate of small cadavers, even though it is at least as important to be able to estimate the PMI for infants and subadults. Therefore, it is crucial to acquire knowledge of the decomposition process of child-sized remains. To fill this knowledge gap, a season-based subaerial outdoor decomposition study was conducted with small pig cadavers at the Forensic Anthropological Outdoor Research Facility located in Den Ham, The Netherlands, over a period of 4 years. Den Ham is located in the eastern part of the Netherlands, close to the German border, and has a temperate maritime climate, with a Cfb classification according to the Köppen-Geiger system. Salient findings were acquired during the decomposition study, specifically regarding a deviating decomposition rate during winter and the subsequent spring, reproducibility, the effect of body weight, post-mortem movement, the effect of heavy rainfall on insect activity, delayed bloating, the interaction of different insect species, and invertebrate activity. This article includes a systemic review of the results obtained during this four-year decomposition study and discusses the impact of the findings on the estimation of the PMI.

Insect growth-regulating activity of 1-benzyl-2-methylbenzimidazole derivatives on silkworms.

Derivatives of 1-benzyl-2-methylbenzimidazoles (BMBIs) were synthesized to evaluate their biological activities against Bombyx mori, a lepidopteran model insect. Synthesized BMBIs exhibited two different biological activities: inhibition of development and acute lethality. From a structural perspective, the activity varied with the position of the substitutions on the 1-benzyl moiety; BMBIs with substitutions on the 2 and/or 4 positions had comparatively high activity in comparison with those with substitutions on the 3-position. There was more activity for the inhibition of development with low doses, and more for acute lethality with high doses. The activity was also affected by the applied stage, that is, application in the 4th instar mostly interfered the larval molting or pupation, whereas that in the 3rd instar caused more acute mortality. Taken together, these results suggest that BMBIs have multiple modes of action.

A New Approach for Detecting Sublethal Effects of Neonicotinoids on Bumblebees Using Optical Sensor Technology.

Among insects, bees are important pollinators, providing many vital ecosystem services. The recent pollinator decline is threatening both their diversity and abundance. One of the main drivers of this decline is the extensive use of pesticides. Neonicotinoids, one of the most popular groups of pesticides, can be toxic to bees. In fact, numerous studies have found that neonicotinoids can cause sublethal effects, which can impair the biology, physiology, and colony survival of the bees. Yet, there are still knowledge gaps, and more research is needed to better understand the interaction between neonicotinoids and bees, especially in the field. A new optical sensor, which can automatically identify flying insects using machine learning, has been created to continuously monitor insect activity in the field. This study investigated the potential use of this sensor as a tool for monitoring the sublethal effects of pesticides on bumblebees. Bombus terrestris workers were orally exposed to field-realistic doses of imidacloprid. Two types of exposures were tested: acute and chronic. The flight activity of pesticide-exposed and non-exposed bumblebees was recorded, and the events of the insect flights recorded by the sensor were used in two ways: to extract the values of the wingbeat frequency and to train machine learning models. The results showed that the trained model was able to recognize differences between the events created by pesticide-exposed bumblebees and the control bumblebees. This study demonstrates the possibility of the optical sensor for use as a tool to monitor bees that have been exposed to sublethal doses of pesticides. The optical sensor can provide data that could be helpful in managing and, ideally, mitigating the decline of pollinators from one of their most major threats, pesticides.

Lepidopteran fauna of Mandaitivu Mangrove Ecosystem, Jaffna, Sri Lanka

The mangrove forests, which support the survival of both terrestrial and aquatic inhabitants, are considered some of the most productive ecosystems. Mangrove faunal diversity is well known for the vertebrates and invertebrates but is poorly known for insects. Mangroves and insects have strong relationships in which mangroves provide a suitable habitat for insect habitation. In contrast, the feeding activities of insects contribute to the litter detritus formation and sustainability of the mangrove ecosystem. They connect mangroves with adjoined terrestrial and marine ecosystems by their eco-services such as pollination, herbivory, predation, and being food for other predators. Lepidopterans, consisting of moths and butterflies, are the most widely recognized insects as indicators of the ecosystem's health and are considered in conservation strategies. As the information on the Lepidopteran fauna of mangrove has not been revealed in Sri Lanka, this study was performed to explore the diversity of butterflies and moths in the Mandaitivu mangrove ecosystem from August 2019 to March 2020 located in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. True mangrove species such as Avicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronata, Ceriops tagal and Pemphis acidula are distributed as patches around this island. Adult as well as larval stages of butterflies and moths were collected from two different locations based on the abundance of the mangrove vegetation at the west and south border of the Mandaitivu Island through sweep netting and hand-picking methods. They were then identified based on their morphological characteristics. A total of 13 butterfly species, belonging to four families, and 6 moth species, belonging to three families were recorded. The highest species composition was recorded from Avicennia marina than Rhizophora mucronata which has fewer insects probably due to the thickness of their leaves. The plain tiger (Danaus chrysippus) was the most common and abundant butterfly followed by Mottled Emigrant (Catopsilia pyranthe) and the Small Salmon Arab (Colotis amata). The Yellow Pansy (Junonia hierta), the critically endangered (CR) species was also found. The other twelve species are listed as least concerned (LC) nationally. All the moth species recorded are listed as not assessed as per the IUCN red list. These results confirm that further extensive surveys in the Mandaitivu mangrove ecosystem will expose more diverse assemblages of lepidopterans that can be utilized in threat assessment and conservation strategy planning.

Enhancing arthropod communities through plant diversified edge of kale cultivation

Plant diversification can increase organism abundance while reducing phytophagous insect activity in agricultural crops. We assessed arthropod diversity in fava beans (Vicia faba), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), and marigolds (Tagetes patula) along the periphery of a kale plantation and examined the influence of their proximity to the kale cultivation. The study took place at the Centro Estadual de Diagnóstico e Pesquisa Florestal, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. We collected plant samples from the periphery and cultivated kale plants at three distances from the edge: within two meters, 10 to 12 meters, and 20 to 22 meters. We recorded the number and biomass of marketable leaves from three harvests. A total of 618 arthropods were collected from plants along the periphery: Insecta (589), Arachnida (20), and Entognatha (9). Hemiptera was the most prevalent order (49.84%). Kale plants near the periphery experienced less predation from leaf beetles. Plants along the periphery hosted important predator groups as well as phytophages that can serve as alternative prey. Diversifying the periphery with fennel, fava bean, and marigolds shows promise as a strategy to enhance the arthropod community in kale cultivation, thereby acting as a conservative biological control.

Long-term activity of social insects responsible for the physical fertility of soils in the tropics

Ferralsols correspond to the red and yellow soils that are common in the tropics. They are deeply weathered but physical fertility is high because they exhibit a strong microgranular structure whose origin is still actively debated. In the present study, we looked for evidence of the biological origin of the structure resulting from soil fauna activity. We present results recorded with Brazilian Ferralsols developed under native vegetation. It was found that the Ferralsols studied exhibit morphological features related to the activity of social insects. We showed the presence of potassium 2:1 clays originating from the saprolite in the microaggregates of all the Ferralsols studied. These 2:1 clays were earlier discussed as markers of long-term termite activity. This highlights the threat that weighs on the physical fertility of these soils, and more broadly on the water cycle in the tropical regions concerned, if intensive agriculture reduces the soil fauna biodiversity, as indicated by several studies.

Direct relationship between evapotranspiration rate (ETO) and vertebrate decomposition rate

When vertebrate scavenging is excluded, the Evapotranspiration Rate (ETo) of a given geographic region directly regulates the decomposition rate of unclothed vertebrate carrion, with any deviation attributed to insect activity. We conducted four decomposition experiments using pig carrion (Sus scrofa domesticus) over the span of two years (2018–2020) at a location in Davis, California. We used ETo, a variable that accounts for five climatic parameters (wind, temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and altitude) as the rate-determining variable of the decomposition process. We found ETo to have a strong (R2 = 0.98) predictive relationship with the decomposition rate. To account for maggot activity decomposing the carrion, we measured maggot weight in 2019 and 2020 using a novel method, and in 2020 we used FLIR imagery to measure maggot mass temperatures as a surrogate measurement of total maggot activity. Maggot activity was a significant predictor (p < 0.0001) of the decomposition rate, while maggot weight was not (p > 0.1). We hope to show the forensic entomology community the potential of using ETo. Future projects can incorporate ETo as a baseline to decomposition studies to determine if ETo remains the most accurate descriptor of decomposition and ultimately increase certainty in the Postmortem Interval (PMI).

Prescribed Burning Alters Insects and Wood Decay in a Sagebrush-Steppe Rangeland in Southwestern Idaho, United States

Prescribed fall burning is commonly used worldwide on rangeland sites to enhance vegetation resources and restore disturbed ecosystems, but little is known about how it may alter microbial communities and insect activities. We used two site treatments (low- to moderate-burn severity plots and unburned control plots) at a high-elevation (2 100 m above sea level) shrub-steppe rangeland site. Four yr after the prescribed burn, captured insects primarily consisted of Coleoptera (beetles), Hymenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps), and Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets) species with similar or greater numbers captured on burned plots as compared with unburned plots. We used wood stakes to assess microbial population changes. Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and pine (Pinus taeda L.) wood stakes were placed horizontally on the soil surface and vertically into the mineral to determine microbially altered wood decay rates. In mineral soil, mass loss (wood decay) of both aspen and pine increased significantly in the burned plots after 5 yr. Surface aspen also had increased decay in the burned plots, but pine surface stakes were unaffected. Surprisingly, at this high-elevation site we also found subterranean termites (Reticulitermes tibialis Banks) feeding on both stake species, with greater numbers on aspen stakes in burned plots leading to greater wood mass loss and organic matter turnover rates. Our results suggest that that fall prescribed burning can enhance insect numbers and microbial decay in sagebrush-steppe ecosystems. Understanding these changes can help land managers predict the influence of fall prescribed burning operations on soil biological properties and insect communities.

Autorecoding A-to-I RNA editing sites in the Adar gene underwent compensatory gains and losses in major insect clades.

As one of the most prevalent RNA modifications in animals, adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing facilitates the environmental adaptation of organisms by diversifying the proteome in a temporal-spatial manner. In flies and bees, the editing enzyme Adar has independently gained two different autorecoding sites that form an autofeedback loop, stabilizing the overall editing efficiency. This ensures cellular homeostasis by keeping the normal function of target genes. However, in a broader range of insects, the evolutionary dynamics and significance of this Adar autoregulatory mechanism are unclear. We retrieved the genomes of 377 arthropod species covering the five major insect orders (Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, and Lepidoptera) and aligned the Adar autorecoding sites across all genomes. We found that the two autorecoding sites underwent compensatory gains and losses during the evolution of two orders with the most sequenced species (Diptera and Hymenoptera), and that the two editing sites were mutually exclusive among them: One editable site is significantly linked to another uneditable site. This autorecoding mechanism of Adar could flexibly diversify the proteome and stabilize global editing activity. Many insects independently selected different autorecoding sites to achieve a feedback loop and regulate the global RNA editome, revealing an interesting phenomenon during evolution. Our study reveals the evolutionary force acting on accurate regulation of RNA editing activity in insects and thus deepens our understanding of the functional importance of RNA editing in environmental adaptation and evolution.

Qualitative Analyses of Textile Damage (Cuts and Tears) Applied to Fabrics Exposed to the Decomposition of Carcasses and Associated Insect Activity in an Austral Summer.

Fatal stabbings are the leading cause of homicide in countries with restricted access to firearms, such as Australia. The analysis of damage on clothing imparted by a sharp object can assist in the characterization of the weapon. However, decomposition and carrion insects can modify the features of the damage, impeding textile damage analysis and crime reconstruction. This study aimed to identify and characterize the modifications of textile damage over 47 days of decomposition during the summer season in Western Australia. Fabric modifications were analyzed on cotton, synthetic, and blended fabrics with standardized cuts and tears, wrapped on 99 stillborn piglets. Six unclothed piglets acted as controls, with three being stabbed. All piglets were placed simultaneously in the field alongside swatches of fabric. Analyses considered taphonomy, insect interactions, and any textile damage using optical microscopy and SEM. The results showed that carrion insects can modify existing cuts and tears and introduce new artifacts on textiles. The 100% cotton fabric was the most affected by mechanical and chemical degradation, especially cuts and areas stained with blood or decomposition fluids. The study highlights the combined effect of multiple factors on textile damage, including the type of fabric, initial damage, bloating, insect activity, and biodegradation.

Knockdown of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT1) reduces fat body lipid mobilization and resistance to starvation in the insect vector Rhodnius prolixus.

The energy stored in fatty acids is essential for several critical activities of insects, such as embryogenesis, oviposition, and flight. Rhodnius prolixus is an obligatory hematophagous hemipteran and vector of Chagas disease, and it feeds infrequently on very large blood meals. As digestion slowly occurs, lipids are synthesized and accumulate in the fat body, mainly as triacylglycerol, in lipid droplets. Between feeding bouts, proper mobilization and oxidation of stored lipids are crucial for survival, and released fatty acids are oxidized by mitochondrial β-oxidation. Carnitine palmitoyl transferase I (CPT1) is the enzyme that catalyzes the first reaction of the carnitine shuttle, where the activated fatty acid, acyl-CoA, is converted to acyl-carnitine to be transported into the mitochondria. Here, we investigated the role of CPT1 in lipid metabolism and in resistance to starvation in Rhodnius prolixus. The expression of the CPT1 gene (RhoprCpt1) was determined in the organs of adult females on the fourth day after a blood meal, and the flight muscle showed higher expression levels than the ovary, fat body, and anterior and posterior midgut. RhoprCpt1 expression in the fat body dramatically decreased after feeding, and started to increase again 10days later, but no changes were observed in the flight muscle. β-oxidation rates were determined in flight muscle and fat body homogenates with the use of 3H-palmitate, and in unfed females, they were higher in the flight muscle. In the fat body, lipid oxidation activity did not show any variation before or at different days after feeding, and was not affected by the presence of etomoxir or malonyl-CoA. We used RNAi and generated RhoprCPT1-deficient insects, which surprisingly did not show a decrease in measured 3H-palmitate oxidation rates. However, the RNAi-knockdown females presented increased amounts of triacylglycerol and larger lipid droplets in the fat body, but not in the flight muscle. When subjected to starvation, these insects had a shorter lifespan. These results indicated that the inhibition of RhoprCpt1 expression compromised lipid mobilization and affected resistance to starvation.

Additions to Williams’ Dilemma: Can Moonlight Impede Insect Activity? (Effectiveness of the Catch in the Vicinity of Moonrise and Moonset)

The study deals with the effectiveness of light-trap catch of insects in relation to moonrise and moonset. It was found that the catching results are better during the hour of moonrise or the hour after it, than in the hour before moonrise for all five species. However, the catch decreases during the hour of moonset or the hour following it. The results confirm that the moonlight did not decrease, but rather increased the effectiveness of the light-trap catch.

Analysis of mechanical and anatomical properties of two bamboo species – Thyrostachys siamensis Gamble and Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees (Poaceae)

Bamboos are treated to boost their shelf life from the degrading activity of fungal microbes and other insects and to increase their longevity in use and durability by using various chemicals. The present study is vis-a-vis the standardization of two bamboo species Dendrocalamus strictus and Thyrostachys siamensis for a comparative analysis of the mechanical and anatomical properties of samples treated with CCB (Copper Chrome Boron), and BBA (Borax Boric Acid) as well as untreated samples.Samples were tested for both bending and compression; and the parameters such as MOE (Modulus of Elasticity), MOI (Moment of Inertia), Maximum compressive strength, and ultimate strength were analyzed. The anatomical variations arising in the top and bottom sections were also investigated and it has found that the mechanical properties of the species treated with CCB solutions yield a better result in maximum compressive strength and high value of MOI as compared to BBA whereas the samples treated with BBA provides superior performance with respect to MOE. Anatomical examination revealed that the cellular structure and arrangement of vascular bundles are responsible for the increase in time taken for the rate of penetration of chemicals in D.strictus i.e one-half hour as compared to T.siamensis which got treated in 20 minutes. In D.strictus the density of vascular bundles is high so it takes time to get it treated completely as compared to T. siamensis.

Genetic Studies for some Bean Traits in Relation to Stability and Insect Infestations

This research was carried out at a private farm located at Qaha, Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt during the two successive summer seasons of 2018 and 2019 to estimate the stability parameters of ten dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes for yield, insect infestation and some economic traits under different planting densities as well as to assess the annual variation of some insect pests through different growing densities and seasons in relation to certain climatic factors, synchronization of plant age with insect infestation percentage on plant due to insect activity. There were significant genotype × densities interactions for the studied bean’s traits, i.e., number of days to flowering, pod length, 100-seeds weight, number of pods/plant, yield/feddan and insect infestation. Combined analysis of variance revealed significant differences among genotypes for all studied traits. Pooled deviation mean squares for number of days to flowering, yield/fed. and insect infestation were not significant suggesting the consistency of the genotypes yielding ability under environmental conditions tested. The high yielding genotypes G6, G1 and G10 produced high yielding performance based on wide adaptation and stability of performance over all environments. Genotypes G3, G5, G7 and G10 were insensitive to environmental changes and could be recommended for cultivation under all conditions. Genotype G8 also had minimum aphid infestation over range of environments showed below regression coefficients for yield/fed. and insect infestation and low deviation from regression, indicated specific adaptability of this genotype to unfavorable environments. Genetic variation (σ2g) was large in magnitude compared to error one (σ2e) in all studied traits of all cases except pod length in all densities of 2nd season (Env. 5-8) and number of pods under 10 cm/2 rows of Env.8, reflecting the genetic differences among genotypes for all studied traits except of those two cases. The population of both leaf miners (Melanogromyza phaseoli) and aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch) was observed from the third week of March (5th week after planting date) and continued till to 3rd week of May (14th week after planting) and reached to a peak level 55.2 and 85.9% for aphid and leaf miners during 9th and 11th weeks after planting date, respectively, i.e. 2nd and 4th week of April. Genotype G8 interacted with planting space of (5 cm ×2 rows) were explained the lowest Melanagromyza phaseoli (Tryon) and Aphis craccivora Koch, infestations (18.8% and 12.6%, respectively) followed by G1 and G5 with the same planting space for leaf miners (29.6%) and aphid (15.3%) infestations, respectively.

Impacts on Bats by a Supertyphoon vs. Ordinary Typhoons along a Habitat Urbanization Gradient

Two major human-caused threats to ecosystems are habitat modification and the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. To study the combined effect of these threats, the authors used acoustic monitoring of bats along a habitat modification gradient on the island of Okinawa, Japan. During the observation period, the island experienced numerous typhoons and one supertyphoon. Native bat species remained active even at high wind speeds (up to 30 m/s in some cases). Milder typhoons had no observable effect on bat populations, with activity levels fully recovering within a few hours or days. The super typhoon also did not seem to affect bats in fully or partially forested habitats but caused their local disappearance at the urban site, which they have not re-colonized three years after the event. Notably, bats that disappeared at the urban site were species roosting in well-protected places such as caves and concrete structures. In all cases, the biomass of small flying insects and the acoustic activity of insects recovered within days after extreme weather events. Thus, the striking difference between habitats in supertyphoon effects on bats cannot be explained by the super typhoon directly killing bats, destroying their roosting sites, or decreasing the abundance of their prey. The results underscore the importance of preserving natural habitats in areas particularly affected by changing climate and show that the survival of species and ecosystems during the numerous episodes of climate change in the Earth’s history does not necessarily mean their ability to survive the accelerating climate change of our time.

Insect Identification and Signs of Damage on Organic Monuments from Ancient Egypt-Saqqara

Organic monuments are very susceptible to insect damage. The cumulative effects of this damage can ultimately destroy the organic object. Therefore, it is important to constantly monitor collections for evidence of insect activity. This study aims to iden