Spotlight on the Casemaking Clothes Moth
When it comes to textile pests, few are as persistent and destructive as the Casemaking Clothes Moth (Tinea pellionella). This small yet damaging insect is notorious for feeding on wool, silk, fur, feathers, and upholstery, often going undetected until significant damage has been done. Unlike pantry pests, these moths do not infest food products - rather, they target keratin-rich materials found in clothing, carpets, taxidermy, and antique furnishings.
When Packing Materials Become Pest Highways: Biodegradable Packing Peanuts
Styrofoam is highly resistant to biodegradation, resulting in its accumulation and persistence in ecosystems for hundreds of years. In response to these concerns, biodegradable packing peanuts have been introduced to the market. While better for the environment, these materials can become infested with a number of stored products insect species and be shipped worldwide.
Spotlight on the Red Flour Beetle
The red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) may be small, but its impact on stored products can be significant. Found worldwide, this tiny pest is a common invader of grain storage facilities, processing plants, and even household pantries.
Insects Limited 2024 Recap
At the beginning of each year, I like to inform those of you following along with our newsletter about some of the internal events at Insects Limited. Many of you tune in to find out about the latest in stored product insect research, relevant case studies for practical purposes or best practices, but you do not get to see the things we accomplish as a company to grow and to pursue our purpose: To help protect the world’s food and cherished belongings from damage by insect pests.
Insects Limited Announces Leadership Changes to Strengthen Future Growth
Insects Limited, an insect pheromone company based in Westfield, Ind., recently made three key changes within its leadership team. According to the company, the changes were made to help further drive its mission of protecting food and cherished belongings worldwide and reflect its commitment to innovation, operational excellence and strategic growth.
The Role of Monitoring in Targeted Pest Control: A case study from Insects Limited's research colonies
At Insects Limited, a wide range of insects are maintained for various purposes. Stored product and museum pest colonies are crucial for our research and product development, aiding in the improvement of monitoring technologies.
How Insects Survive the Winter Months
While the temperatures drop, insects busy themselves with preparing for the dead-cold of winter. The survival strategies of insects differ depending on the species. Here are a few of the ways that our six-legged friends prepare for winter and live to see the next spring.
PestWorld 2024: A Showcase of Innovation and Expertise
Insects Limited made a strong impression at PestWorld 2024, the world’s largest annual gathering of pest management professionals. Representing the company were Tom Mueller and Ethan Estabrook, who led an engaging exhibition showcasing Insects Limited's innovative products and solutions.
Insects Limited at The International Congress of Entomology 2024
The diversity of scientists within the field of entomology is what makes large conferences so exciting to attend, and the organizers of ICE (International Congress of Entomology) 2024 fully embraced this spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Hey Buddy, mind if I use your pheromone?
In the amazing world of nature, several unique species of insects and spiders actually produce or respond to the pheromones of other insects for their own benefit.
Bugs, Bacteria, and Breakfast - The hidden risks of consuming infested food
There is a growing interest in incorporating insects into our diets due to their nutritional value and sustainability, and in many parts of the world, insects are a common and valuable food source, providing essential nutrients and protein.
Stored Product Insects – Chewing Their Way Into Our Lives
If you listen carefully, you can almost hear the crunching, munching, rasping and chewing of those tiny, stored product insects working their ways through packaging materials into our food and personal belongings.
Foreign Grain Beetles: Understanding Their Behavior, Risks, and Effective Control Strategies
Foreign grain beetles, Ahasverus advena, are small, reddish-brown insects that become particularly active as pests in August and September, coinciding with cooler weather and increased rainfall.
Insects Limited, Inc. Promotes a Thriving Ecosystem with Native Plants
At Insects Limited, Inc., our mission centers on advancing the scientific understanding of insects and protecting stored foods. In line with this commitment, we are pleased to announce a new initiative at our recently established headquarters: the cultivation of native flora to support insect populations.
Insect Light Attraction: A New Explanation in the Spotlight
One of the challenges we face here in the lab at Insects Limited is that we have far more questions than answers about product ideas and new research. This issue isn’t new to business where time and resources are limited. The pipeline for new ideas is long, and only certain projects get our attention at any given time. It seems that one of our favorite projects to circle around, revisit, and refine is light attraction in stored product pests.
The Detractors: Factors that can hinder a successful pheromone monitoring program
The benefits of a pheromone monitoring program are quite well defined. When used correctly, pheromones can; 1. Give an early indication of pest species before damage or loss occurs 2. Pinpoint the sources of pest activity in large areas, and 3. Relay information on whether the steps taken to reduce pest activity are working. This article isn’t about the benefits of a pheromone program that we know to be true though.
