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@UP8@mastodon.social
2026-01-22 10:24:52

πŸ› Mechanisms and Perspectives of Microplastic Biodegradation by Insects and Their Associated Microorganisms
#bugs

Caption: Insect species capable of degrading plastics At the top adult forms of four insect species including two moths (Spodoptera fruigperda and Galleria mellonella) and two beetles (Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas atratus), in the middle the larvae of the four species and below three kinds of plastic PVC (colored sheets), PE (plastic bags, bottles and stuff) and PS (styrofoam particles) showing the outer insects can degrade the first and last plastic and the middle insects can degrade PE and…
@UP8@mastodon.social
2026-03-15 16:23:33

🐞 Mirror image pheromones help beetles 'swipe right' to find mates
#bugs

Mirror image pheromones help beetles 'swipe right' to find mates
There are many ways to communicate with prospective romantic partners. If you are a Japanese scarab beetle, it's a matter of distinguishing left from right. New work from U.S. and Chinese scientists, published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows how these beetles use mirror-image pheromones to find a mate. The work could lead to better monitoring and control of significant agricultural pests.