Insect Identification Lab News Today

Once again, hammerhead flatworms are wriggling into the spotlight - this time in Canada. The toxic and invasive pests, which originate from Southeast Asia, have the ability to regenerate even if chopped into pieces. They have long been spotted across the United States and in other countries, including Canada. On iNaturalist, an invasive species reporting platform, there is evidence of Canadians mentioning the worms since at least 2019, with the most recent report logged as of Tuesday.Subscribe t

Parts of Virginia will soon see the emergence of Brood XIX cicadas, which only come up from underground every 13 years. A separate brood, called Brood XIII, is also emerging soon in the Midwest for the first time in 17 years.

BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) — The fight to keep the lanternfly off and away is coming back. Spotted lanternflies that have overwintered in egg masses are about to hatch and make their debut mid-to-late April, according to Virginia Tech entomologist, Eric Day. “The spotted lanternfly is well-established up and down the East Coast and in Virginia,” […]

The invasive pest, which first hit Virginia in 2018, is expected to continue its spread in 2024. The battle to beat the bug is back. Spotted lanternflies…

A Virginia Tech entomologist says Virginians should be on the lookout for spotted lanternfly nymphs which generally hatch in mid- to late April.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Spotted laternflies are storming in. What can you do to help? Stomp. In mid to late April, Virginia Tech entomologist Eric Day said the spotted lanternflies are about to hatch and reappear in the area. Day manages the Insect Identification Lab in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Department of Entomology. “The spotted lanternfly […]

According to a recent study, nearly 1 in 3 different firefly species in the United States and Canada might be threatened with extinction-and soon could be blinking out of existence.

A single Asian Longhorn Tick has been found in Chesapeake and will be studied by researchers at the tick lab at Old Dominion University

Plus, an architectural !#@*-measuring contest, new bug species at Walmart, and other weird things we learned this week.

The giant lacewing found at an Arkansas Walmart is now housed at Penn State, where scientists and students have access to it for more research.