Crustacean 100 million years ago had sperm as long as its body

WASHINGTON — When it comes to sexual reproduction, it turns out that size does matter, at least for a group of ancient crustaceans called ostracods.

Regional forecast in climate report: Drier South, warmer North, and more bugs

WASHINGTON — The new climate change science report by the federal government looks at effects of global warming on specific U.S. regions and forecasts what’s to come:

Colorado River water supplies at risk if beetle-ravaged forests catch fire

WASHINGTON — Water supplies for 33 million people could be endangered if millions of acres of beetle-ravaged forests in the Rocky Mountains catch fire, a U.S. Forest Service official said Tuesday.

Local officials seek help dealing with threat of fires in beetle-ravaged forests

WASHINGTON — Officials from Rocky Mountain states urged Congress on Tuesday help them avert a potential catastrophe this summer as they grapple with millions of acres of beetle-ravaged pines that are prone to fire.

Local officials to seek help dealing with threat of fires in beetle-ravaged forests

WASHINGTON — Officials from Rocky Mountain states are urging Congress to help them avert a potential catastrophe this summer as they grapple with millions of acres of beetle-ravaged pines that are prone to fire.

Researcher believes fear of moles makes worms surface when ‘grunters’ go hunting for fish bait

TATE’S HELL, Fla. — Gary Revell gets up every morning before sunrise, heads into the woods and grunts.

Looking for new wings? 10,000 bees land on wing of plane at Mass. airport

DANVERS, Mass. — Maybe these bees were too tired to fly for themselves. A gang of honeybees landed on the wing of a plane used for flight school training at Beverly Airport. At first, the 10,000 or so bees swarmed over the left side of the aircraft, then landed on top of the left wing. The owner of the flight center called police, who said to call local bee removal expert Al Wilkins.

Eastern Corn Belt farmers delay planting in wet spring as concerns over crop size, prices rise

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In an average year, southwestern Illinois farmer Richard Borgsmiller would have his 300-acre corn crop in the ground. This isn’t an average year.

Texas fire ant massacre: researchers use parasitic flies to insect pests into headless zombies

FORT WORTH, Texas — Researchers in Texas are trying an unusual approach to combat fire ants — deploying parasitic flies that turn the pesky and economically costly insects into zombies whose heads fall off.

Conservationists angry as Australian defense department starts shooting 6,000 kangaroos

CANBERRA, Australia — Australia’s army has started shooting 6,000 kangaroos to thin their population on an army training ground near the capital, an official said Friday, outraging conservationists who have vowed to protest.

Forest Service closing caves, mines on federal lands to control spread of bat fungus

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The U.S. Forest Service is closing thousands of caves and former mines in national forests in 33 states in an effort to control a fungus that has already killed an estimated 500,000 bats.

Blast to the past: Explosives team helps researchers excavate prized dinosaur quarry

SALT LAKE CITY — Sometimes the delicate tools of dinosaur diggers just don’t cut it.