Insects

Australia warned fire ant outbreak required ‘urgent’ measures nearly two years ago

Newly released report from 2021 says existing strategies not enough to stop uncontrolled spread of invasive species

Ben Smee

08, Jun, 2023 @3:14 AM

Noble cause: protecting England’s orchards to save a beetle

The noble chafer beetle is in decline owing to the destruction of the habitat that its larvae need to thrive

Paul Brown

07, Jun, 2023 @5:00 AM

More wildlife-friendly farming needed to stop decline of insects in Britain, says report

Populations of bees, spiders, ground beetles and hoverflies have declined twice as fast on land farmed for crops in the past 30 years, despite funding for more sustainable farming methods

Phoebe Weston

06, Jun, 2023 @11:01 PM

Country diary: An eruption from the river, like a fountain of sparks | Mark Cocker

Broughton, North Yorkshire: Whatever flies they were, this was the most beautiful and most holy expression of spring I’ve witnessed this year

Mark Cocker

06, Jun, 2023 @4:30 AM

Country diary: An orange tip rescue mission | Phil Gates

Crook, County Durham: Keeping our garden breeding colony going for almost 40 years is painstaking, and not entirely altruistic

Phil Gates

05, Jun, 2023 @4:30 AM

Snow fly in US and Canada can detach its legs to survive, research shows

Flies chilled to sub-zero temperatures amputate one or more of their six limbs to protect their internal organs

Chris Baraniuk

02, Jun, 2023 @5:41 PM

March of the fire ants could reach Sydney’s outskirts by 2035, costing economy up to $1.2bn a year

Exclusive: Study finds pests could damage crops and households would incur costs for pesticides, veterinary bills and electrical faults

Ben Smee

01, Jun, 2023 @3:00 PM

Chelsea flower show garden inspires additions to pollinator-friendly plant list

Scientists monitored the Royal Entomological Society’s garden and listed its most bug-friendly plants

Helena Horton Environment reporter

01, Jun, 2023 @11:48 AM

Country diary: Tick-tock, it’s tick o’clock | Sara Hudston

Porlock, Somerset: Beware these tiny blood-sucking arachnids – they are thriving in the countryside and urban parks after the wet spring

Sara Hudston

01, Jun, 2023 @4:30 AM

Rare butterflies to get boost from Wales golf club grassland restoration

Project funded by Natural Resources Wales at Llanymynech golf course will help early-summer butterflies

Patrick Barkham

31, May, 2023 @5:00 AM

Country Diary: Down on the floor with the solitary bees | Jan Miller

Holywell, Flintshire: In my attempts to make my garden more suitable for Mediterranean herbs, I created the conditions for these fascinating insects

Jan Miller

31, May, 2023 @4:30 AM

Invasive moth species spreading across south-east England, say experts

Government curbs transfer of trees to and from affected areas to limit spread of rash-causing oak processionary moths