Dr. Kaan Mika

ETH Zurich - The Biocommunication Group

Other articles of the author

No pockets but a mask – The black masked bee

Black masked bees (Hylaeus nigritus) have a distinct way of transporting pollen. Unlike bees that typically use specialized structures like pollen baskets on their hind legs, Hylaeus bees carry pollen internally.

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Friends or foes?

When spring comes with its glory, your garden quickly gets populated by six-legged residents. You might attribute good or bad roles to most of them immediately, but encountering an unfamiliar insect brings up the question: Is it a friend or a foe?

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Inspired by insects

Insects have been thriving on Earth for millions of years. In addition to their significant roles in the ecosystem, insects also deeply inspired human culture and technology.

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A flair for insects

Yuck! or Yay!: People’s reactions to insects usually fall into these two categories. This chapter highlights the remarkable journeys of 'Yay!' people, who turned their passion for insects into careers studying and working on these fascinating creatures.

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Yellow biotechnology

Insects are revolutionizing food, medicine, and biotechnology. From sustainable protein sources to wound-healing maggots and antibiotics, they offer eco-friendly solutions to global challenges.

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Insects vs plants

Insects are crucial to ecosystems, but in Switzerland, invasive pests threaten vital crops like grapes, potatoes, and sugar beets. As climate change accelerates their spread, innovative methods like radar technology and pest management strategies are helping us monitor and protect agriculture.

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Insect biodiversity

Insect biodiversity is rapidly declining due to habitat loss, climate change, pesticides, and intensive agriculture – disrupting ecosystems and food webs. Monitoring and public education are crucial to protect these vital species.

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Bittersweet memories

We remember mosquitoes by their annoying buzz, their endless thirst for blood and the itchy marks they leave on our skin. But have you ever wondered how a mosquito remembers us? Turns out that they are smarter than we think.

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A new challenge for Europe: West Nile Virus

The West Nile Virus (WNV) is transmitted mainly by mosquitoes of the genus Culex. The bite of an infected mosquito might lead to West Nile fever in humans. For some years now, the WNV has been migrating northwards.

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The great migration of mosquitoes

Do you agree that mosquitoes are getting worse each summer? Their bites hurt more, they trigger long-lasting allergic reactions, and their temper has worsened. Is the personality of native mosquitoes changing over the years, or are we becoming the target of alien species?

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Thorben Danke – The insect portraitist

Thorben Danke strives to share his passion for insects with a wide audience by showcasing the beauty and fragility of these creatures, which are so vital to our planet, through his stunning insect photography.

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Heather Andrews – An entomologist celebrating nature's beauty

Meet Heather Andrews, an artistically inclined entomologist whose art highlights nature’s beauty with a whimsical twist.

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Tomáš Lackner – A career dedicated to clown beetles

Tomáš is an entomology curator and senior research assistant at ETH Zurich. His career path proves how science activities conducted at an early age can shape a person’s professional life forever. Tomáš has been collecting clown beetles (Histeridae) for more than three decades and has travelled around the world chasing insects!

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Barbie and insects: Entomology with a twist

Have you ever seen a Barbie doll interacting with an insect? You can on Entobarbie’s social media account, which is dedicated to showing girls that they can become great entomologists, too!

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Dr. Amoret Whitaker – Crime Scene Insects

An elderly man stops responding to calls or visitors. A foul smell and the distant buzz of flies come from his apartment, prompting neighbors to call the police. Inside, they discover a body covered with larvae. Who’s the expert they call? Dr. Amoret Whitaker, the forensic entomologist.

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Iva Njunjić – Hunting insects below the ground

Iva Njunjić, a cave biologist from Serbia, has been studying the evolution of cave beetles since her bachelor’s degree. She is also the co-founder and co-director of Taxon Expeditions, an innovative company offering scientific research trips for the general public, even in the heart of the jungles of Borneo.

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Francesca Ferrari – A Trip to Madagascar

Francesca Ferrari is a Master student in agricultural sciences at ETH Zurich. For her bachelor thesis, she went on an expedition to Madagascar’s Makira Natural Park to study stick insects and identified 13 new species in only three weeks!

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Would you eat honeybee pupae? – A Swiss study explores

Insects as a sustainable food option are gaining attention. Honeybee drone pupae, a by-product of honey production, offer a nutrient-rich alternative with environmental benefits. Irmak Uzundemir Bischof investigated whether people in Switzerland are ready to embrace this novel food and what influences their willingness to try it.

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Ashleigh Whiffin – Insect curator

From crime scenes to the National Museum of Scotland, the inspiring journey of an entomologist.

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Carim Nahaboo – Illustrating insects with maximum accuracy

Carim Nahaboo’s illustrations capture the fascinating world of insects, showcasing their anatomy and behavior with remarkable detail. As an experienced arthropod breeder, Carim combines practical knowledge with careful observation to create vibrant, accurate depictions.

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Eric Keller – Visual effects artists with a soft spot for insects

Eric's fascinating career path began with a music degree at university and unexpectedly led him to ... insects! This interview offers a fascinating insight into the life of an artist who works at the intersection of entertainment and science, combining high-profile Hollywood animations with scientifically accurate insect animations.

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Leftovers of insect production for sustainable crop production

Insect farming is on the rise as we uncover their potential across various industries. But raising insects at scale generates a lot of byproducts. Surprisingly, these leftovers aren't just waste—they could hold the key to solving some major agricultural challenges.

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Florine Ory – The scientist beekeeper or beekeeper scientist

Florine Ory is a Swiss scientist specializing in honeybee-microbe interactions. During her master's at Agroscope, she worked on a devastating disease impacting honeybee colonies across Europe. This project allowed her to fulfill a childhood dream of becoming a beekeeper, a passion she now shares with friends.

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Vivian Sandoval and Bugs & Beads

Vivian's deep admiration for insects shines through! With decades of expertise, she transforms her passion for entomology into stunning works of art, blending science and creativity to celebrate the beauty of bugs in everyday life.

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