Aphids pierce veins, stems, growing tips, and blossoms with needlelike mouthparts. As a result, flowers are shed, plants are weakened, and yield is reduced.

The mouthparts of the aphid lion are hollow and secrete a digestive enzyme that can dissolve an aphid's internal organs within 90 seconds. There are two groups of green lacewing larvae: “debris ...

More information: Wei‐Jiun Lin et al, What you eat is what we need: using ants to detect spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) DNA, Pest Management Science (2025). DOI: 10.1002/ps.8814 Wei ...

Their mouthparts are highly specialized, featuring a long, needle-like structure capable of piercing plant tissue and drawing up the sugary sap that flows through phloem vessels.

How To Reduce The Likelihood Of Tick Bites Prevention is better than cure, so where possible it’s a good idea to take steps to avoid being bitten in the first place. Ticks can attach themselves almost ...

At first glance, it might seem counterintuitive for an insect to coat itself in an extravagant wax structure, but the benefits are both clear and multifaceted. Wax plays a vital role in every insect’s ...

Squids usually don’t leave behind many fossils because their bodies are soft and decay quickly. However, their beaks—hard, curved mouthparts—can survive the fossilization process.

This efficient and almost surgical way of feeding is common among spiders since they mostly lack chewing mouthparts. Life on Water’s Edge Though they are sometimes located in areas away from water, ...

A tiny nymph is revealed when spittle is pushed away. (Tami Gingrich photo) With their piercing mouthparts, they suck nutrients from the xylem layer. Since this layer is responsible for carrying ...

We are all too familiar with mosquitoes’ appearance. The females have firm mouthparts well adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood. The males cannot suck blood but both sexes feed on nectar of ...