The Weekly Buzz is a roundup of stories in the bug and pest industry. This week, we discuss phase 2 trials of a Zika vaccine, what a tick believed to be removed by a monkey over 20 million years ago reveals, how jumping spider males mate and more.
Zika vaccine trials
Phase 2 trials of a Zika vaccine have begun at the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID). Scientists hope by the end of the year they will see clues that will help determine whether or not this vaccine provides protection against Zika. Read more
Ticks removed by monkeys are revealing
Thanks to what scientists believe was an ancient monkey grooming one its friends, a tick that was removed midfeed and placed in amber over 20 million years ago was found with preserved red blood cells and parasites in its gut. Read more
Jumping spiders courting techniques
In a recent study, a University of Florida entomologist recorded the courting behaviors and techniques of jumping spiders, helping provide an explanation of why some male spiders go to such great lengths to impress females. Read more
What a tick's fat content can tell us
Through research published in the Journal of Medical Entomology, researchers found that extracting a tick’s fat content was more sufficient in predicting its life expectancy rather than physical traits. Read more
