Article
Entomology
Cody Prouty, Paola Barriga, Andrew K. Davis, Vera Krischik, Sonia Altizer
Summary: Neonicotinoids are widely used insecticides in North America, with studies showing negative effects on bees. Monarch butterflies, known for their long-distance migrations, were found to be negatively impacted by neonicotinoids, with effects dependent on the milkweed species they feed on. Results suggest that monarchs can tolerate low neonicotinoid doses, but experience detrimental effects at higher doses, influenced by the type of milkweed host plant. This study highlights the potential role of host plant species in reducing insecticide residue and calls for further investigation.
Article
Entomology
David G. James, Linda Kappen
Summary: The study focused on the migration of monarch butterflies in the Pacific Northwest, revealing that most migrate to coastal California for wintering, while some from eastern Washington and Idaho may have alternative winter destinations. The research also showed that monarchs affected by wildfire smoke and protozoan parasite infection can still successfully migrate.
Article
Biology
Alana A. E. Wilcox, Amy E. M. Newman, Nigel E. Raine, Greg W. Mitchell, D. Ryan Norris
Summary: The study investigated the impact of neonicotinoids exposure on the directional orientation of migratory monarch butterflies. Despite detectable levels of clothianidin in milkweed tissue consumed by caterpillars, there was no evidence that clothianidin influenced the flight behavior or orientation of adult butterflies during migration. Preliminary results suggest that early exposure to clothianidin does not affect the directed flight of adult migratory monarch butterflies.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Annie J. Krueger, Kathryn Hanford, Thomas J. Weissling, Ana M. Velez, Troy D. Anderson
Summary: The study indicates that pyrethroid insecticides pose a potential risk to monarch caterpillars, with bifenthrin being less toxic than beta-cyfluthrin, but causing significant impacts on diet consumption and caterpillar growth at sublethal levels.
JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Entomology
David G. James, Maria C. Schaefer, Karen Krimmer Easton, Annie Carl
Summary: The population of western monarch butterflies has significantly decreased at coastal overwintering sites in California, while breeding populations have been increasingly found in the San Francisco Bay urban area. Research indicates that monarch butterflies are able to breed during winter using ornamental milkweeds in the South Bay urban area, and may migrate to the greater western US during spring.
Article
Entomology
Cody Prouty, Lewis J. Bartlett, Vera Krischik, Sonia Altizer
Summary: This study investigates the effects of neonicotinoids on non-target nectar-feeding insects, particularly monarch butterflies. The results show that adult monarch butterflies can tolerate field-relevant doses of neonicotinoids with minimal effects on their survival, reproduction, flight, and behavior. However, higher doses of neonicotinoids can significantly impact monarch butterflies' nectar consumption, survival, flight performance, and reaction time.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Kyri A. Forman, Craig D. Thulin
Summary: Monarch butterflies use different orange pigments to warn off predators and for sexual selection, including seven ommochrome pigments. The findings indicate that they may achieve different hues of orange by differences in the redox states of these pigments.
JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Samantha M. Knight, D. T. Tyler Flockhart, Rachael Derbyshire, Mark G. Bosco, D. Ryan Norris
Summary: The study suggests that neonicotinoid insecticides may have negative effects on the egg-laying and larval survival of monarch butterflies. Milkweed near neonicotinoid-treated crops is more likely to be preferred by monarch butterflies. However, monarch butterflies do not actively select plots with fewer arthropods for oviposition.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Alexander N. Mullins, Steven P. Bradbury, Thomas W. Sappington, James S. Adelman
Summary: Monarch butterfly populations have declined, requiring habitat restoration efforts in marginal croplands. Research shows that female monarchs do not exhibit significant oviposition behavior differences towards milkweed plants exposed to the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Annie J. Krueger, Emily A. Robinson, Thomas J. Weissling, Ana M. Velez, Troy D. Anderson
Summary: The study investigated the effects of cardenolide ouabain, bifenthrin, and potassium chloride on the growth and development of monarch caterpillars. Ouabain and potassium chloride significantly impacted caterpillar body weight and diet consumption, while bifenthrin had no significant effects on survival or body weight. Combinations of different compounds did not have a significant impact on caterpillar survival or body weight.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Andrew B. Hawkey, Dilanaz Unal, Zade R. Holloway, Edward D. Levin
Summary: This study evaluated the neurobehavioral effects of two neonicotinoid insecticides on zebrafish during embryonic exposure. The results showed that low concentrations of these insecticides affected the locomotion of larvae, while higher concentrations affected the activity and predator avoidance ability of adult fish. These effects were persistent and continued into adulthood.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Guijun Wan, Ashley N. Hayden, Samantha E. Iiams, Christine Merlin
Summary: A study finds that blue light-sensitive CRY1 plays a role in animals' perception of the inclination of the Earth's magnetic field, rather than CRY2. The research also demonstrates that antennae and eyes with CRY1 expression are magnetosensory organs.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Carla M. Penz
Summary: Based on comparative morphology of adults, a phylogeny is proposed for the butterfly tribe Amathusiini. The study found most genera to be monophyletic, but Melanocyma and Taenaris nested within Faunis, with Taenaris considered as a subgenus of Faunis. Mimicry likely evolved once within the Faunis-Taenaris assemblage, as species of Taenaris formed a monophyletic group.
Article
Entomology
Aramee C. Diethelm, Konnor E. Kost, Elizabeth G. Pringle
Summary: Intensifying drought conditions caused by global climate change in the western United States are changing plant-insect interactions. The monarch butterfly, a threatened invertebrate, deposited more eggs on water-limited narrowleaf milkweed plants but the change could not be attributed to specific changes in plant chemistry. Specialist herbivores like the monarch butterfly may experience preference shifts under global climate change. Understanding oviposition preferences is important for habitat restoration for this declining insect.
JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lu Zhao, Xiao-Dong Li, Tao Jiang, Hang Wang, Zhicuo Dan, Sheng-Quan Xu, De-Long Guan
Summary: In this study, the genome of Hestina assimilis was analyzed to investigate the molecular and genetic mechanisms associated with its saprophagous feeding strategy. The results showed expanded metabolism and detoxification genes, as well as reduced olfactory and gustatory genes, indicating differences in feeding habits compared to nectar-feeding butterflies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)