Experimental Biology 2011 conference
Even larvae can love the blues, plus distemper’s roots, fat-busting blueberries and more meeting news
By Science News
Experimental Biology 2011, Washington, D.C., April 9–13
Color preferences of larval pests Insect larvae lack sophisticated eyes but do detect hues — and exhibit distinct color preferences. Vonnie Shields’ team at Towson University in Maryland reported April 12 on experiments putting larval Colorado potato beetles and gypsy moths on a treadmill. After being acclimated to darkness, the grubs or caterpillars were exposed to LED light in one or two colors and then were watched to see whether they stayed put or were attracted to a color. Beetle grubs wriggled to green, orange, yellow and white hues; gypsy moth caterpillars preferred those, except orange, plus red and ultraviolet wavelengths. Shields says such data could be used to design light-based bug traps for pests. —