This week at Discovery News you can read how recordings of Rush Limbaugh and Guns & Roses are being used in pest control research. Scientists are trying to rid forests of excess tree-eating beetles. We're mostly to blame for the beetle problem in the first place, since pollution, clear-cutting and more have weakened forests, leaving trees more vulnerable to infestation.
Individual beetle species are actually very cool. I have a story coming out soon on an ancient one that was quite eye-catching. The Egyptians, Romans and others used to model their jewelry after these often colorful insects.
Today, naturalist Mark Fraser shows us the dogbane leaf beetle. As he says, "Some species are actually colored in a jaw-dropping metallic iridescence. One of the best examples of that has to be the dogbane leaf beetle."
(Credit: Bruce J. Marlin)
"Like their name sake," he adds, "they spend most of their entire lives feeding on the dogbane and also on the milkweed plant. They will lay their eggs at the base of the host plant, and when the larvae hatch they will burrow in the soil feeding on the roots. As they reach their adult stage, they spend their lives feeding on the greenery in a world of beautiful iridescent beetles!"
"There are many possible uses for their breathtaking coloration," he believes. "The one I think is the most intriguing is communication. As they move about, the metallic iridescent colors will change from glowing greens to reds and even bronze. They are another great example of the beauty of the natural world and truly amazing to admire."
Tags: Climate Change, Insects and Arachnids, Invasive Animal Species, Plants, Video
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