On a long train journey from a conference, I spotted a single ant crawling across the table. Instinctively, I flicked it away, much to the chagrin of my travel partner, who had been watching it for some time, entertained by its foraging behaviour. That flick brought me bad karma, as I went on to forget…

The first time most of us encounter a butterfly, we meet it with wonder. A flash of colour, a moment of stillness. As children, butterflies arrive as beauty. We all remember the first time holding one- the powdery shimmer it leaves on your fingers. A butterfly feels light, fleeting, almost unnecessary, and yet somehow essential.…

Every breath we take carries invisible traces of life. Fragments of DNA shed by people, plants, animals, fungi, and microbes drift through the air, unnoticed yet abundant. What if we could capture that genetic dust and read the story it holds?  A recent study explores exactly this. By applying shotgun sequencing to airborne environmental DNA…

Biting midges of the genus Culicoides are tiny, often just 1–3 mm long, but their impact on animal health and agricultural economies can be vast. They vector more than 50 viruses of veterinary concern, including bluetongue and African horse sickness. New Zealand remains free of Culicoides and the diseases they transmit, and it runs a…

The health of honey bee populations underpins both global agriculture and ecological resilience. Among the many threats facing bees, the parasitic mite Varroa destructor has become a particular focus of international concern. This tiny yet devastating pest weakens colonies, transmits viruses, and contributes to significant losses in managed bee populations worldwide. The recent arrival of…

In Kenya’s vast and fragile drylands, a new kind of science is helping restoration efforts take root. Across the arid rangelands of Laikipia County, researchers have turned to environmental DNA (eDNA) to track the early stages of ecological recovery, offering a glimpse beneath the surface into the unseen biodiversity that shapes soil health, vegetation, and…

In Kenya’s vast and fragile drylands, a new kind of science is helping restoration efforts take root. Across the arid rangelands of Laikipia County, researchers have turned to environmental DNA (eDNA) to track the early stages of ecological recovery, offering a glimpse beneath the surface into the unseen biodiversity that shapes soil health, vegetation, and…

Invasive species remain one of the most urgent ecological and economic threats of our time. They disrupt ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, and cause billions in damage. Among them is the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis, or EAB), a small, metallic-green beetle that has devastated ash tree populations across North America and is now advancing through parts…

Invasive species remain one of the most urgent ecological and economic threats of our time. They disrupt ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, and cause billions in damage. Among them is the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis, or EAB), a small, metallic-green beetle that has devastated ash tree populations across North America and is now advancing through parts…