Electron-donating nucleophilic compounds activate TRPA1 ion channels in fruit flies and mosquitoes, but not humans, making TRPA1 a promising target for insect repellants.

A novel thermoregulatory mechanism in blood-sucking insects, vectors of human disease, is described using a functional-morphological approach.

A heat exchange mechanism in the head of kissing bugs helps to prevent stress and regulate their temperature while they feed on warm blood.

The lack of haem biosynthetic and degradative pathways in ticks offers new strategies to combat these parasites.