These Hungry Animals Eat Their First Meal Before Birth
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Forget The Very Hungry Caterpillar—scientists have discovered that another notoriously ravenous insect can eat its very first meal before it is even born.
Entomologist Koutaro Ould Maeno of the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences and colleagues report that, in dry conditions, undersized desert locusts can hatch from oversized eggs with a little bit of the egg's yolk already in their guts.
This little snack, the team believes, gives the young locusts the extra time and energy to find food to eat after hatching—allowing them to survive longer than their regular counterparts.
The extra yolk, the researchers wrote, "functions as a 'lunch box'"; as they explain, "producing large eggs is advantageous under harsh conditions."
A swarm of locusts
A swarm of locusts
Michael Wallis/iStock / Getty Images Plus
The desert locust—Schistocerca gregaria—is a species of short-horned grasshopper found in parts of Africa, Arabia and southwest Asia that lives in one of two phases based on environmental conditions.
Ordinarily, the insects live solitary lifestyles, moving independently and typically sporting a coloration that allows them to blend in with the background vegetation.
When droughts cause food supplies to dwindle and locust populations to become more dense, the insects undergo both bodily and behavioral changes into a gregarious form.
This sees the locusts switch to a more yellow coloration and emit pheromones that attract each other—encouraging group movements and swarm formation.
These swarms, which can contain a staggering 390 million locusts per square mile, may travel long distances to reach new areas and form plagues that consume vast swathes of vegetation, making them a major agricultural pest.
In their study, Maeno (who also goes by the moniker "Dr. Locust") and his colleagues raised desert locus in both isolated and crowded conditions, as well as in dry and wet settings.
When reared in crowds, female locusts were found to lay fewer but larger eggs than those raised in isolation. Larger offspring are expected to have an advantage in competing for food.
Meanwhile, dry conditions caused both solitary and gregarious locusts to have smaller offspring than in dry conditions—and both these hatchlings from small and large eggs were found to have residual yolk within their guts after birth.
Pictured: Sample Locusts from the experiments; those from dry conditions were found to have yolk in their guts (black arrows).
Pictured: Sample Locusts from the experiments; those from dry conditions were found to have yolk in their guts (black arrows).
PNAS Nexus 2025. DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf132
"We show that larger progeny survive longer than smaller ones, which is expected," the researchers explained.
"However, hatchlings from desiccated large eggs are abnormally small but have more yolk as energy—and survive longer under starved conditions than hatchlings from normal eggs."
In fact, among solitary locusts reared in dry conditions, small hatchlings lived 65 percent longer in the absence of food than their normal-sized counterparts.
And small gregarious hatchlings birthed in dry conditions survived a whopping 230 percent longer than solitary eggs produced in wet conditions.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about locusts? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
Reference
Maeno, K. O., Piou, C., Leménager, N., Ould Ely, S., Ould Babah Ebbe, M. A., Benahi, A. S., & Jaavar, M. E. H. (2025). Desiccated desert locust embryos reserve yolk as a "lunch box" for posthatching survival. PNAS Nexus, 4(5). https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf132
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Women's Anger Management Improves in Midlife, Study Finds
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Women become better at managing anger as they age, particularly during midlife—a period often marked by hormonal shifts and emotional challenges—a study found. The research, published in the journal Menopause, found that both chronological age and reproductive age play a key role in reducing various forms of anger in women between the ages of 35 and 55. The study analyzed data from more than 500 women and found that several forms of anger—including anger temperament (a general tendency to become angry), anger reactions (responses to specific provocations) and aggressive expression of anger—all significantly decreased with age. Researchers found that hostility also diminished over time. Close-up of a mature woman smiling with her eyes closed. Close-up of a mature woman smiling with her eyes closed. Jack Hollingsworth While previous research has focused primarily on depression during menopause, little has been known about how women experience other intense emotions, such as anger, through the transition. This new analysis fills that gap by examining how anger traits evolve across both time and reproductive stages. Notably, reproductive-aging stages had a similar impact. Women entering the late-reproductive stage and beyond showed marked reductions in these types of anger. The only anger measure unaffected by age was suppressed anger—that which is felt but not expressed. These findings suggest that as women move through midlife, they may gain greater emotional regulation and resilience—offering a more hopeful narrative around aging and emotional wellbeing. The emotional aspects of menopause have often been overlooked, despite their potential impact on both mental and physical health. Anger and hostility in midlife women have previously been linked to elevated blood pressure, heart disease, and even thicker artery walls—a predictor of atherosclerosis. Moreover, women experiencing high anger traits during the menopause transition have also been found to be more prone to severe depressive symptoms, especially those undergoing hormone therapy. "The mental health side of the menopause transition can have a significant effect on a woman's personal and professional life," said Dr. Monica Christmas—associate medical director for The Menopause Society, which published the study—in a statement. She continued, "Educating women about the possibility of mood changes during these vulnerable windows and actively managing symptoms can have a profound effect on overall quality of life and health." The study's authors call for further research into how anger plays out in women's day-to-day lives during midlife, especially as it relates to stress, caregiving, work and health. Such data could inform better emotional regulation strategies and anger management interventions tailored specifically to women. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about menopause? Let us know via health@ Reference Woods, N. F., Pike, K., & Mitchell, E. S. (2024). Anger, aging, and reproductive aging: Observations from the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study. Menopause.
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
US Preschoolers Exposed to Dozens of Potentially Harmful Chemicals
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. American toddlers are regularly exposed to a vast mix of potentially harmful industrial and consumer chemicals, a new study has cautioned. Researchers from the National Institutes of Health's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program, led by the University of California, Davis conducted one of the most extensive investigations to date into the chemical exposure among young children. The study focused on a group of 201 children aged between two and four from four states: California, Georgia, New York and Washington. Two year old drinking from plastic sippy cup. Two year old drinking from plastic sippy cup. Olha Romaniuk They tested for 111 different chemicals and detected 96 in at least five children, uncovering widespread contact with substances commonly found in plastics, personal care products, household dust and air pollution. Exposure to environmental chemicals—including pesticides, flame retardants, plasticizers, parabens, bisphenols and combustion byproducts—has been previously linked to developmental delays, endocrine disruption and rising health issues. Children encounter environmental chemicals through daily activities like eating, drinking, breathing air, and touching surfaces. Deborah H. Bennett, lead author and UC Davis public health professor, emphasized the urgency: "Our study shows that childhood exposure to potentially harmful chemicals is widespread. This is alarming because we know early childhood is a critical window for brain and body development." The study found younger children—particularly two-year-olds—often carried higher levels of these chemicals than their older peers. They also found the children had higher levels of several chemicals than their mothers did during pregnancy. These included two phthalates, bisphenol S and the pesticide biomarkers 3-PBA and trans-DCCA. Minority children also showed elevated concentrations of specific substances such as parabens, phthalates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—highlighting persistent disparities in environmental health. Alarmingly, nine compounds identified in toddlers were absent from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), suggesting significant gaps in national chemical monitoring programs. Jiwon Oh, first author and postdoctoral scholar at UC Davis, underlined the need for policy reform: "This new study highlights the urgent need for expanded biomonitoring and stronger regulations to protect children from harmful exposures." Recommendations for parents and caregivers include washing hands frequently, especially before eating, ventilating living spaces and avoiding plastics marked #3, #6 and #7 as they may contain BPA or similar chemicals. Using phthalates and phthalate alternatives used in plastics like toys and food packaging can also reduce exposure. Avoiding parabens commonly used in cosmetics, lotions, shampoos and pharmaceuticals is also advised. The researchers propose long-term biomonitoring across more diverse populations and the inclusion of emerging chemicals in national surveillance. They also call for stricter regulation of chemical use in consumer products and building materials. Early, proactive approaches are crucial for shielding children from invisible environmental threats. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about chemical exposure? Let us know via health@ Reference Oh, J., Buckley, J. P., Kannan, K., Pellizzari, E., Miller, R. L., Bastain, T. M., Dunlop, A. L., Douglas, C., Gilliland, F. D., Herbstman, J. B., Karr, C., Porucznik, C. A., Hertz-Picciotto, I., Morello-Frosch, R., Sathyanarayana, S., Schmidt, R. J., Woodruff, T. J., & Bennett, D. H. (2025). Exposures to Contemporary and Emerging Chemicals among Children Aged 2 to 4 Years in the United States Environmental Influences on the Child Health Outcome (ECHO) Cohort. Environmental Science & Technology.
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Video Shows Snake Trying To Eat Prey 10 Times Her Size
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A snake in Denmark has been spotted attempting to consume an oversized hare that's 10 times larger than itself. The chance observation of an adult female common European adder killing and intending to swallow a much larger prey—a European young hare—was captured in a series of videos by Klaus Birch, the co-author of a study on the encounter published in the journal Herpetozoa. The moment unfolded on the island of Læsø in the Kattegat region of northern Denmark—near a dirt road in open grassland around 32 feet from a sandy beach—back in August 2022. The snake appeared to be in a low nutritional status, likely after having given birth recently, the study said. "The adder under these circumstances might have benefited from a large prey to gain maximum energy after likely having given birth," the researchers said. Stills from videos showing a female Vipera berus snake biting and pulling the hare's front leg (pictured left) and examining and biting the head (pictured right). Stills from videos showing a female Vipera berus snake biting and pulling the hare's front leg (pictured left) and examining and biting the head (pictured right). Klaus Birch Birch arrived at the scene and found the adder examining the young hare and biting its left hind leg. "The hare was lying on the ground moving its four legs jerkily and head with difficulty and was unable to stand up," the researchers wrote in the study. The adder was startled by Birch's presence and escaped into the grass nearby. Within seconds, the adder returned to the hare and continued examining it, especially the front legs and the head, before zipping away into the grass again. However, around 20 seconds later, the snake returned to the scene and examined the hare "carefully and energetically," starting with its posterior parts, biting and moving the right hind leg, the study notes. The snake then examined the anterior parts of the hare, biting and pulling a front leg, before also biting its head. "The hare was still breathing but moved less than before," the study said. Birch chased the snake away and took the hare to attempt to save its life, but it died after around 30 minutes. While it is unknown whether the adder would have tried to swallow the hare had Birch not intervened, the researchers believe it is "likely" that the snake "would have abandoned its excessively large prey after careful examination." The study noted that it is unusual for snakes to regularly attack vastly oversized prey items that are clearly impossible to swallow. However, cases like this have been reported in previous research, such as an earlier observation of snakes that overestimated their abilities to swallow young rabbits and died while trying to do so. A previous study also noted a case of a snake that was found dead after it had just swallowed a large field vole. "The mass of the prey was 26g and the snake's mass after the prey had been removed was 28g. The adder had therefore consumed a meal equivalent to 92.9 percent of its mass," the team noted. The researchers concluded: "The above cases indicate that snakes killing and subsequently abandoning oversized prey items may well be an underreported phenomenon." Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about snakes? Let us know via science@ Reference Bringsøe, H., Jablonski, D., & Birch, K. (2025). Overly optimistic adder, Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758), killing and intending to swallow an oversized young hare, Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778. Herpetozoa, 38, 155–159. Bull, D. (2016). Vipera berus (northern viper): Morphometrics of feeding on a common field vole. Herpetological Bulletin, 136, 33–34.
