Summer is here, and just as we are shedding layers and welcoming the sunshine, insects are lining up to feast on our flesh. While ticks and the scary diseases they carry are among the most fearsome of warm-weather insects, another tiny pest is making a meal out of mankind in a truly horrifying fashion. Chiggers, … Read more
If checking into your hotel is on your vacation itinerary, checking the mattress seams might be, too. A new data analysis has revealed the US destinations where travelers are most likely to come home with an unwanted souvenir: bed bugs. The new study by Casino.ca found that Michigan is America’s biggest bed bug hotspot, where … Read more
For anyone on the fence about eating insect-based foods, a tasting experiment may be enough to change some minds. To discover how consumers respond to insect-based foods, researchers from the University of Beira Interior in Portugal measured the brain activity and heart rate of people while they sampled insect foods. The scientists also incorporated traditional surveys into … Read more
It’s the latest creepy crawler sparking alarm across America. The US Department of Agriculture confirmed this week that the New World screwworm (NWS) was detected in a 3-week-old calf in Texas’ Zala County, with maggots clustered around its umbilical area. The finding marks the first time the flesh-eating insect — which primarily targets livestock but … Read more
Research now shows that mosquitoes may bite the hand that feeds them Deet — at least in time. The commonly used chemical — which is the gold standard ingredient approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to act as a mosquito repellent — has recently been shown to potentially attract the pesky insects, as they’ve … Read more
The unofficial start of summer arrives this weekend — and ticks are wasting no time crashing the party. Emergency room visits for tick bites jumped more than 25% nationwide in April compared to the same time last year, according to CDC data, with the Northeast getting hit especially hard as the tiny bloodsuckers swarm back … Read more
A man has given a wounded butterfly a second chance at life — by creating a tiny prosthetic wing from dried orchid petals. Morhaf Ghazi, 30, discovered the fragile insect while hiking in Amman, Jordan, when he noticed it was unable to flutter away as he approached. On closer inspection, he saw the butterfly’s right … Read more
There could be a serious up-tick. The Big Apple is about to be bled dry — and not just because of ferocious tax hikes. This spring and summer, NYC could see an influx of biblical levels of disease-harboring ticks and mosquitoes, borne aloft by warming weather and booming vector populations. It’s enough to have locals … Read more
Achoo fly? One Greek woman’s close encounter with a family of sheep bot flies is nothing to sneeze at. It all started next to a field of grazing sheep in Greece, where an unidentified 58-year-old was working outdoors in the dry September heat. She “noticed numerous flies swarming around her face,” according to a new … Read more
It was a pestilence of biblical proportions. Officials in Spain’s Canary Islands are sounding alarm bells after an epic swarm of locusts descended upon the popular vacation destination, as seen in dramatic footage circulating on social media. Over the past few days, the scenic islands of Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura have been beset … Read more
Imagine a low-calorie, protein-packed noodle that evokes the butteriness of French cheeses. The good news is that you don’t need to book a table at a buzzy new bistro to try it. This earthy delicacy is served in a brown paper bag — and it doesn’t really put up a fight. “Mealworms [are] a contender … Read more
Yogurt made with ANTS was served at a Michelin-starred restaurant after scientists recreated an ancient recipe. Yogurt ice-cream sandwiches in the shape of an ant, mascarpone-like cheeses, and cocktails – all inspired by using the insect as a key ingredient – were dished up to diners as part of the experiment. The yogurt tasted “slightly … Read more
Talk about being bitten by the travel bug. A newlywed’s honeymoon took a terrifying turn when insect bites triggered an “insane reaction” that left her legs and feet covered in pus-filled blisters so painful she could barely walk. “It’s going to terrify me every time I go away from now on!” Tiktoker @thelifeofzo_ admitted in … Read more
A person in Maryland was recently infected by the flesh-eating New World screwworm after traveling to El Salvador, US health officials confirmed this week. The blowflies primarily affect livestock — human cases are rare. In a screwworm infestation, also known as a myiasis, female flies lay eggs in a fresh wound that quickly hatch into … Read more
I’ve seen a rash of social media posts recommending the application of sticky-tape bands around tree trunks to prevent spotted lantern flies and other garden pests from accessing tree canopies and munching on foliage. But those bands also catch caterpillars, butterflies, bees and birds, which would be difficult to free without ripping off their limbs or breaking their … Read more
This Aussie bug is breaking records — and possibly a few branches. Scientists have discovered a hefty new species of stick insect in a remote Australian rainforest, and it could be the heaviest ever found in the country. The little bugger, of the new Acrophylla alta species, weighs 1.55 ounces – about the weight of … Read more
This army is in formation. Thousands of fire ants have been spotted floating on floodwaters through the Texas city and forming rafts using their bodies with residents now reporting the gross behavior. KXAN Austin took to X to post a video taken by Austinite David Todd of the little critters, seen nestled into a large cluster … Read more
Buggin’ out? There’s a hot new way to stop the itch. Powered by your smartphone, the pocket-sized gadget skips creams and chemicals in favor of heat to soothe insect bites. The Post spoke with Dr. David Bank, a board-certified dermatologist, to find out how the tiny tool works and other smart ways to stop scratching … Read more
The spotted lanternfly might be the least of your worries this summer. Experts are sounding the alarm about the Asian needle ant — a tiny but dangerous insect moving across the US whose sting can lead to severe and even deadly reactions. As Americans flock outdoors to soak up the sunshine, scientists are urging caution … Read more
Finding creepy crawlies in your car is anyone’s worst nightmare. But, for one Sydney mom, what first seemed like a minor issue (though a startling one) was only the beginning of a months-long journey ending in a warning for other parents not to make her simple mistake. “When we kept on seeing them I knew something was up” For … Read more