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☆ Monarch butterflies made a historic rebound this year, but my photos from 'Butterfly Town, USA' are disappointing and sad
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

California's monarch butterflies made a miraculous rebound from nearly disappearing in 2020. I visited Pacific Grove, AKA "Butterfly Town, USA," to see the monarch migration for the first time. Monarch butterflies fly at the Sierra Chincua butterfly sanctuary in Angangeo, Michoacan state, Mexico. Monarch butterflies fly at the Sierra Chincua butterfly sanctuary in Angangeo, Michoacan state, Mexico. When I was a child, I didn't see monarch butterflies, but they were already in decline.

☆ Analysis: Protecting 30% of the planet to save nature is not as simple as it sounds
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Gloria Dickie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

More than 110 countries have come out in support of the 30-by-30 goal, including Canada, the United States and France. But as is often the case with science-based policy, the details matter to whether a 30% global conservation goal can truly save the world's imperiled species and places. "They would like to be able to leave Montreal and say we're going to protect 30% of the planet. "If we do things the right way, we protect most biodiversity by being smart — by protecting the areas that matter." Were such countries to protect only 30% of their territories, that could actually result in a significant loss of nature.

☆ Activists dressed as birds and trees rally for nature at COP15 in Montreal
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Gloria Dickie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] People take part in a march during the opening of COP15, the two-week U.N. Biodiversity summit in Montreal, Quebec, Canada December 10, 2022. REUTERS/Christinne MuschiMONTREAL, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Hundreds of people on Saturday braved sub-zero temperatures to march the streets of Montreal, the host city of this year's U.N. biodiversity summit, demanding a strong new deal to protect nature worldwide. Wearing costumes to look like birds, trees and caribou, activists said the COP15 summit could fail to meet the urgency of the issue, with about 1 million plant, insect and other animal species now threatened with extinction. Arkilaus Kladit, a member of the Knasaimos-Tehit tribe, traveled to Montreal from West Papua, Indonesia. Countries' ministers join the negotiations next week in Montreal with the hope of adopting a deal to guide conservation through 2030 and beyond.

While indigenous groups account for about 5% of the world's population, their lands safeguard about 80% of Earth's remaining plant and animal species, according to the World Bank. Indigenous groups have a range of concerns about the U.N. summit negotiations. Some critics worry that the 30-by-30 target could be used to erode indigenous rights under the guise of conservation. Others, like Tuxa of Brazil and Ngomo of Congo argue that a 30% conservation target does not go far enough to ensure nature's protection. Adopting a 30% target at the national level could backfire, Tuxa said, in suggesting Brazil can open more land to development.

And Wagner’s beloved fireflies – like so many insects worldwide – have largely vanished in what scientists are calling the global Insect Apocalypse. “Insects are the food that make all the birds and make all the fish,” said Wagner, who works at the University of Connecticut. Humans, too, see some 2,000 species of insects as food. “We’d see yields dropping of all of these crops.”And in nature, about 80% of wild plants rely on insects for pollination. WINNERS AND LOSERSWhile the situation is bleak for insects at large, a few types of insects are thriving.

☆ In Chile, amateur beekeeper rescues hives from coastal tourist city
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Rodrigo Garrido | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Amateur beekeeper Angel Nieto, known as "the Bee Rescuer", prepares to remove a swarm of bees from a tree on a private property, in Vina del Mar, Chile December 3, 2022. REUTERS/Rodrigo GarridoVINA DEL MAR, Chile, Dec 6 (Reuters) - A goldsmith by trade, Angel Nieto carefully pries away a beehive from an inner-city tree in Chile's coastal Vina del Mar. Chilean scientists have warned of declining bee populations, threatened by agricultural pesticides and the impacts of climate change. "In this space we prepare for them, they can be free, live peacefully, without any aggressive interventions," he added. Reporting by Rodrigo Garrido; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Extraordinary close-up images show insects as you’ve never seen them before
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Nell Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Released on 22 November, “Extinct & Endangered: Insects in Peril” is a collaboration between Biss and the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Biss spent two years photographing the insects, capturing every extraordinary detail from strands of hair to the reflection in a wing. "Extinct & Endangered: Insects in Peril" is out now in hardcover. The insect specimens were couriered to the UK, where Levon Biss photographed them in his studio. He has photographed seeds and fruits in extraordinary detail, insect eggs, the human eye and even mold growing on tea bags.

Persons: Levon Biss, Biss, –, Abrams, ”, “, Elli Biss “, Lauri Halderman Organizations: CNN, American Museum of, of Locations: British, Biss, New York City

☆ Trapview: Can an AI-powered insect trap solve a $220 billion pest problem?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Tom Page | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN Business —Pests destroy up to 40% of the world’s crops each year, causing $220 billion in economic losses, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Trapview is harnessing the power of AI to help tackle the problem. Targeted interventionsThe automated devices have been used to monitor grapes, tomatoes, olives, tree fruits, and, pictured here, brassicas. Štefančič says that Trapview can significantly reduce the use of chemical sprays and the need for farmers to visit their fields. Trapview says it has sold over 7,500 devices in more than 50 countries since it launched in 2012.

☆ 'Vulture bees' feed their babies rotting flesh, even though it breeds toxin-producing bacteria. They're a mystery to scientists.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"Vulture bees" feed their larvae rotting meat instead of relying on pollen like other bees. Scientists hung raw chicken in Costa Rica and watched vulture bees fill their leg pouches and stomachs with it. Sure enough, the researchers discovered that vulture bees' guts may be more like actual vultures or hyenas than their pollen-gathering relatives. The vulture bees had lots of acid-producing bacteria like lactobacillus, probably creating a far more acidic gut than their pollen-eating cousins. They want to study what happens in the pods where the vulture bees store meat before feeding it to their larvae.

☆ A 500-drone fleet lit up a Candy Crush ad over New York City. Night sky ads drive a wedge between humans and nature, astronomers say.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Paola Rosa-Aquino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A fleet of 500 drones lit up the New York City skyline with a Candy Crush advertisement on Thursday. While it didn't contribute significantly to light pollution in New York, astronomers say the event is a sign of our dwindling relationship with the night sky. A heart formed by by 500 drones over the New York City skyline, on November 3, 2022. It might not be as deadly as other kinds of pollution, but light pollution can harm animals and people. Many studies have indicated that light pollution — from streetlights, light displays, and other sources — disorients migratory birds and plays a role in insect population decline.

☆ A multimillion-dollar war against mosquitoes is underway in Florida after Hurricane Ian
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

"The mosquitoes are out there, and they’re biting," said Eric Jackson, the deputy director of the Lee County Mosquito Control Division. The Lee County Mosquito Control District, a special district in one of the communities hit hardest by Ian, employs about 100 workers, Jackson said. Anne Askew, a biologist in the Lee County Mosquito Control District's Larviciding Department, uses a microscope to identify mosquito species. Lee County Mosquito Control DistrictIn Lee County, where Fort Myers is located, mosquito counts in the traps began to spike about a week after Ian. Florida officials don’t think federal help will be necessary, though Hurricane Ian’s damage has created challenges for mosquito control workers.

☆ Get ready to see orange juice prices spike at the grocery store thanks to Hurricane Ian
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Orange juice prices are projected to spike due to the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Florida is a major producer of citrus, but the USDA estimates a 32% decrease in production this upcoming season. Florida growers have been adapting to challenges for decades caused by natural disasters and invasive insects. Central Florida, home to sprawling citrus groves responsible for the vast production of fresh oranges and orange juice across the country, took a hit when Hurricane Ian recently ravaged the state. And although prices are climbing and citrus might be in short supply, the demand for vitamin C is still there.

A cluster of spotted lanternflies on a grapevine. Spotted lanternflies aren't great fliers, but are great hitchhikers. Penn State associate research professor Julie Urban conducts research in the field to combat spotted lanternflies. Shrawder said it's been four years since spotted lanternflies started feasting on his vines. Right photo: Vines destroyed by spotted lanternflies.

☆ This biotech startup is developing a vaccine for honeybees. Check out the 16-slide pitch deck Dalan Animal Health used to raise $3.5 million.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A biotech startup that is developing a vaccine for honeybees has just raised $3.55 million. Check out the 16-slide deck used to raise the fresh funds. A startup that has created a vaccine to protect honeybees against American Foulbrood, a bacterial disease that threatens bee colonies worldwide, has raised $3.5 million in fresh funds. Dalan Animal Health, founded in 2018 in Georgia, US, aims to ease beekeepers away from "unsustainable" treatments such as antibiotics. Check out the 16-slide deck used to raise the fresh funds.

☆ Pakistan floods: Children face a new disaster -- diarrhea, dengue and other waterborne diseases
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( Sophia Saifi Rhea Mogul Anna Coren Sandi Sidhu Javed Iqbal Sameer Mandhro | Sophia Saifi | Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A sick baby waits to be seen at the Mother and Child Healthcare Hospital in Pakistan’s Sindh province. Credit: Javed Iqbal/CNNDozens more children sleep cramped together on beds in the facility’s emergency room; some unconscious from their illness, others crying in pain. And then our patients came in like the floods,” said Dr. Nazia Urooj, physician in-charge at the hospital’s children emergency unit. This is the face of a near unprecedented health crisis unfolding across Pakistan – but for many, help is not arriving. In Sindh, one of the worst-impacted provinces, villages have been completely cut off, making it nearly impossible for families to seek help for their sick children.

☆ We got an exclusive look at the 9-slide pitch deck Innovafeed, an insect protein startup, used to raise $250 million
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

We got an exclusive look at the 9-slide pitch deck it used to secure the funding. A startup developing insect-based food for aqua-farming, pet food, and eventually humans just raised $250 million to ramp up production. "One of the products we replace in aqua-feed is fish meal," Ray said. "Fish meal is made of small fish caught in South America, in Africa, turned into a meal to feed other food production. Replacing fish meal with Innovafeed's product reduces the carbon footprint of salmon feed by 50%, the cofounder said.

The work builds upon previous insect-control experiments at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and could one day result in cyborg insects that can enter hazardous areas much more efficiently than robots. Even when the backpack and film are glued to their backs, the bugs can traverse small obstacles or right themselves when flipped over. Kakei said he constructed the cyborg backpack with 5,000 yen ($35) worth of parts purchased at Tokyo's famed Akihabara electronics district. The backpack and film can be removed, allowing the roaches to go back to life in the lab's terrarium. Beyond disaster rescue bugs, Fukuda sees broad applications for the solar cell film, composed of microscopic layers of plastic, silver, and gold.

☆ Scientists decry death by 1,000 cuts for world’s insects
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The world’s vital insect kingdom is undergoing “death by a thousand cuts,” the world’s top bug experts said. Wagner said scientists need to figure out if the rate of the insect loss is bigger than with other species. “There is some reason to worry more,” he added, “because they are the target of attack” with insecticides, herbicides and light pollution. Honeybees have been in dramatic decline because of disease, parasites, insecticides, herbicides and lack of food. Scientists have identified 1 million insect species, while probably 4 million more are still to be discovered, Berenbaum said.

According to a new study, there are estimated to be 2.5 million times more ants on this planet than people. In total, that's 20 quadrillion — or 20,000,000,000,000,000 — ants. Taken together, the total mass of ants on the planet would actually outweigh all of the world’s wild birds and mammals, he added. Jorge Villalba / Getty Images / iStockphotoAnts can be found in nearly all habitats except for polar regions, according to the study. A separate study published in April 2020 in the journal Science found that the planet has lost more than one-quarter of its land-dwelling insects in the past 30 years.

☆ Meet the chef who wants to change our diets one bug at a time
▼ + stars: | 2021-11-23 | by ( Amarachi Orie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York City-based chef Joseph Yoon started cooking insects four years ago for an art project. He now wants to change our perceptions of creepy crawlies so that we can have “delicious,” “nutrient-dense,” and “sustainable” insect diets. “I absolutely love insects,” says Yoon, who is the executive director of Brooklyn Bugs, an organization that promotes edible insects. An edible insect farm, Next Millennium Farms, opened in Canada in 2014. Incorporating edible insects into your diet once a week can make a big difference.”

Persons: CNN —, Joseph Yoon, Yoon, it’s, Joseph Yoon's, Patrick Crowley Organizations: CNN, United Nations Food, Agriculture Organization, FAO, Cricket Locations: New York City, Brooklyn, America, American, United States, Canada, Europe

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Credit card points are a back-up emergency fund. How I use credit card points as a second emergency fundMost emergencies involve some form of travel. I use the World of Hyatt Credit Card to earn Hyatt points, and I used to have the old IHG Rewards Club credit card as well. Points aren't a substitute for a real emergency fundCredit card points can come in handy for last-minute travel situations, but they're no substitute for a real emergency fund.

☆ How many 'unavoidable defects' are in peanut butter and other foods you eat?
▼ + stars: | 2019-10-04 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

That dark, delicious bar you devoured might contain 30 or more insect parts and a sprinkling of rodent hair. That means each 2 tablespoon-peanut butter sandwich would only have about eight insect fragments and a teensy bit of rodent filth. (“Filth” is what the FDA calls these insect and rodent food defects.) Did you know there can be 450 insect parts and nine rodent hairs in every 16-ounce box of spaghetti? “Do we have particularly high insect parts or was it a particularly buggy time of year when the food was harvested?

Persons: CNN — Brace, gosh, ”, Ben Chapman, Chapman, “, ” Chapman, I’ve, Will Organizations: CNN, Food and Drug Administration, FDA, North Carolina State University Locations: America

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