"I love biting midges because I know what their hearts look like.” @theguardian.com spoke with insect taxonomist Art Borkent about the vital importance of taxonomy—and the challenges this foundational biological science faces.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Submission deadline TODAY, MARCH 6! Present your work in the @entsocamerica.bsky.social International Symposium, online April 27-29. Topics include:
Insect Taxonomy in the 21st Century (organized by me!)
Frontiers in IPM
Visualizing Entomology
and more! Sign up here:
entsoc.org/membership/b...
The graphic includes the American Entomologist logo and text that says, “Call for Editor-in-Chief. Deadline: March 15.” There is also the ESA logo and four of the most recent American Entomologist cover images.
American Entomologist, ESA’s quarterly print and online member magazine, is seeking an Editor-in-Chief! Learn more and apply by March 15: entsoc.org/publications...
The fearsome reputation of the brown recluse spider and its relatives far outpaces their actual impact, researchers in Florida say. Their new study concludes that recluses are in fact scarce, reluctant to bite, and in most cases unlikely to cause the severe harm so often attributed to them.
A close-up photo of a metallic green bee in mid-flight against a dark blurred background. One wing is blurred from motion, and details of the bee’s body hair and legs are visible.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: March 4, 2026
Orchid bee
Euglossa sp.
Hymenoptera: Apidae
Observed in Minas Gerais, Brazil
By Carlos Augusto Asanuma, Sao Paulo, Brazil
#arthropodPOTW
Beneficial fungi living inside plants can act as built‑in bodyguards to weaken pests and boost plant defenses, offering a promising option for integrated pest management programs.
We can help protect insect biodiversity by:
🐞 Expanding research
🐜 Monitoring insects & related species across landscapes
🪰 Promoting improved pest management techniques
🦗 Protecting & restoring habitat
🐝 Facilitating collaboration between entomologists, other scientists, policymakers & citizens
The image is a collage of five insect photos (an oak treehopper, desert ironclad beetle, red-blue checkered beetle, blue morpho, and dragonfly). In the center, there is white text on a blue background that says, ““The little things that run the world.” -E.O. Wilson.” There is also the hashtag #WorldWildlifeDay and the ESA logo.
Today, March 3, is #WorldWildlifeDay! More than half of all species on Earth are insects and their relatives—or in the words of conservationist E.O. Wilson, "the little things that run the world."
Deadline this Sunday: March 1 is the last day to submit a symposia or workshop proposal for #EntSoc26!
➡️ entsoc.org/events/annua...
The graphic includes several covers of Thomas Say books and monographs on a yellow background. In the bottom left, there is the Thomas Say logo. Below, there is white text on an orange background that says, “Shop the sale!” and the ESA logo.
Shop our print book sale! 📚🦋
Copies of our historical Thomas Say books are on sale for just $5 + shipping, and some newer titles are up to 50% off. Pick up a monograph, proceedings, or memoir while supplies last: online.entsoc.org/esassa/ecssa...
Brown recluse spiders exonerated! In Florida, recluses are rare, much less likely to bite than other spiders, even when provoked, and the one verified bite did not produce necrosis.
Happening today at 12 p.m. ET! Register to join us live, or stay tuned for the recording on our new podcast, Stridulation Station: www.entsoc.org/events/webin... ⤵️
A new study looks at data from a 29-year moth-trapping effort and suggests a minimum of 15 years of data for detecting true long-term trends in insect populations—and researchers say 20 to 25 years would be even better.
Close-up of a blue damselfly perched on a green fern, showing its large compound eyes and detailed body markings. The background is blurred, highlighting the insect and plant.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: February 25, 2026
Common blue damselfly
Enallagma cyathigerum
Odonata: Coenagrionidae
Observed in Dorset, UK
By Luke Edenborough (lukeedenborough.com), Alabama, USA
#arthropodPOTW
Buzzdetect, a new open‑source AI tool, uses simple microphones and machine learning to continuously detect pollinator activity. A new study shows how the tool can offer researchers and growers a low‑cost way to "listen" for bees in real time.
The graphic includes white text on a slate background that includes the title of the Annals of the Entomological Society of America, and text that says, “Call for Review Articles. Proposal Deadline: February 28.” There is also a photo of a beetle, a cover image of the Annals of the ESA, and the ESA logo.
Call for Review Articles: Annals of the ESA
Proposal Deadline: This Saturday, February 28
Learn more: academic.oup.com/insect-scien... @academic.oup.com
The graphic was white text on a red background that says, “Connect your science. Expand your net.” There is also the Entomology 2026 logo, an image of a ladybug, and a yellow call-out box that reads, “Symposia & Workshop proposals due March 1.”
Connect your science, expand your net at Entomology 2026 in Columbus, Ohio, November 8-11!
There’s less than one week left to submit a symposia or workshop proposal for #EntSoc26. Learn more and submit by this Sunday, March 1: entsoc.org/events/annua...
The graphic includes white text on a blue background that includes the title of the Journal of Integrated Pest Management, and text that says, “Call for Papers: JIPM’s Most Wanted Pest Profiles. Deadline: February 28.” There is also a photo of a spotted lanternfly, a cover image of the Journal of Integrated Pest Management, and the ESA logo.
Call for Papers: JIPM's 25 Most Wanted Pest Profiles 🦟
Deadline: February 28 🐜
The Journal of Integrated Pest Management is seeking manuscript proposals for profiles of a wide variety of important pests, from the boll weevil to the spotted lanternfly. Learn more: entsoc.org/publications...
Additionally, in a Society-wide vote, a set of proposed ESA Bylaws amendments was declined, falling short of the two-thirds threshold required for approval: www.entsoc.org/news/press-r...
The graphic includes an image of a picasso bug by Alan Manson, via CC BY-4.0. Above the photo, there is white text on a slate background that says, “Meet the New Branch Officers.” Below, there is the ESA logo.
The results of ESA’s Winter Elections are in! Congratulations to our newly-elected Branch Officers: entsoc.org/membership/b...
The webinar recording will be released as a future episode of ESA’s new podcast, “Stridulation Station.”
The graphic includes gray text on a blue background that reads, “ESA Webinar.” Below that, there is white text that reads, “International Association of Black Entomologists (IABE) Voices: Reputability, Research, and Resilience. Friday, February 27. 12 p.m. ET.” There is also an image of a yellow butterfly and the ESA logo.
Join us February 27 for a webinar in honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, hosted by the International Association of Black Entomologists. Panelists will share their research programs, professional accomplishments & testimonies of resilience. Register today: www.entsoc.org/events/webin...
Meet Yuexun Tian, Ph.D., entomologist at Central Life Sciences, expert in arthropod vectors and vector-borne diseases, and subject of the next installment of our "Standout Early Career Professionals" series.
As corn earworms develop resistance to corn engineered to be toxic to them, a new study shows adult moths that survive have wings that are longer and stiffer, which favors long-distance migration—potentially helping the pests spread resistance faster and undermining a key crop-protection strategy.
A green rectangle with a semi-transparent black and white grasshopper large in the bottom right corner. Bold white text that reads "TUNE IN: ESA WEBINAR."
And, coming up next week, on February 27, tune in for an ESA webinar, co-hosted with the International Association of Black Entomologists, "IABE Voices: Reputability, Research, and Resilience," at noon ET. www.entsoc.org/events/webin...
A man wearing glasses and a maroon shirt is smiling at the camera while standing outdoors in front of green leafy plants.
A woman with long wavy black hair smiles at the camera. She is wearing a beige satin blouse, hoop earrings, and a necklace with a clover-shaped pendant. The background is a textured dark gray.
In September, James T. Brown, Ph.D., of the University of California, Berkeley, and Fhallon Ware-Gilmore, Ph.D., of the Puerto Rico Vector Control Unit were among five entomologists named to the 2025 class of ESA Science Policy Fellows. www.entsoc.org/advocacy/sci...
A person with curly dark hair and glasses is smiling at the camera. They are wearing a maroon cardigan over a black and white striped shirt with a butterfly pin. The background is plain and gray.
In August, Jessica Ware, Ph.D., of the American Museum of Natural History, was named a Fellow of ESA. entsoc.org/news/press-r...
Below, meet a few members of the Black entomology community who have earned recent accolades at ESA, below. ⬇
On a yellow background with a wing-vein texture at left and a partial image of a moth at right, white text reads "ESA Celebrates Black History Month." The ESA logo also appears in white in the lower right corner over the moth.
During #BlackHistoryMonth, ESA is proud to honor the work and contributions of Black entomologists to insect science. #EntoDEI
Close-up of two round, red mites and one smaller orange mite attached to a thin brown segment of the leg of a harvestman arachnid, showing detailed body texture and fine hairs.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: February 18, 2026
Mites on Harvestman Leg
Leptus sp.
Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae
Observed in Cloudland Canyon State Park, Georgia, USA
By Steve Long, Florida, USA (www.longnaturephotography.com)
#arthropodPOTW
