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(Here you'll find links to recent worldwide events featuring insects):

Health officials have confirmed that a baby girl born last month in upstate New York was infected with the West Nile Virus while in her mother's womb. The baby, who was born with a damaged nervous system, represents the first case of interuterine infection by the virus, and raises concerns that West Nile could pose a serious threat to pregnant mothers and their infants.

Bacteria In Worms Repel Ants - Press release

Symbiotic bacteria in the digestive tracts of microscopic worms produce a compound that is an effective ant repellent, say researchers from the University of California, Davis, and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. They report their findings in the December 2002 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

Microscopic worms, known as nematodes, reproduce inside and kill some insects and are increasingly being used as natural alternatives to chemical pesticides in agricultural production. The researchers have discovered that the same bacteria that the nematodes use to kill their insect hosts also produce a compound called ant-deterrent factor (ADF) that discourages scavengers, such as ants, from consuming the dead insects before the nematodes inside mature.

"Scavengers, such as ants, can adversely affect the persistence of entomopathogenic nematodes being used as biological control agents," say the researchers. "Future research is needed to elucidate the nature of ADF, isolate the gene(s) required for the expression of ADF and determine the range of its activity against insects and other arthropods or vertebrates. The results of such studies may lead to an enhancement of ADF activity and ADF-fortified nematode application as a viable approach to agricultural and structural pest management."

(X. Zhou, H.K. Kaya, K. Heungens and H. Goodrich-Blair. 2002. Response of ants to a deterrent factor(s) produced by symbiotic bacteria of entomopathogenic nematodes. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 68: 6202-6209.)

This is just a short news story among other environmental stories on this page. Sign the petition if you can!

New Zealand’s largest national conservation organization is welcoming the release of the draft Biosecurity Strategy as a critical step towards the protection of New Zealand's environment from pests and diseases. But isolated New Zealand's biosecurity systems are under pressure from increasing travel and trade, and critics say the new plan does not go far enough in protecting the country from invasive plants and animals.

Incorporating exotic imported cotton lines that grow to more than two metres high as companion plants in conventional commercial cotton could provide an innovative, low cost and environmentally friendly solution toward alleviating insect pest crop pressure in Australia.

NSW Agriculture has decided that eradication of the Small Hive Beetle pest is not possible.

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Thousands of illnesses and deaths in cats and kittens have led to a reissue of some flea and tick products, along with new warning labels and other protective measures.

This story of poisonous spiders is just one of several news items on this link to the Environmental News Service.

It is not be feasible to eradicate the small-hive beetle, an exotic pest that invades honey-bee hives.

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Biotech cotton - too good to be true?

People and Planet. 18 July 2002.

Tanzania moves to save its wild orchids.

People and Planet. 1 July 2002.

GM potatoes deter one pest but attract another.

New Scientist. 19 June 2002.

Red alert to lethal yellow.

The New Agriculturalist. May 2002.

Here are some recent book releases you might want to purchase:

(UK market)

Stephen J. Gould's "The Structure of Evolutionary Theory"

(US market)