— When people first learn that biological pest control can involve releasing millions of microscopic roundworms into soil, the reaction is often understandable: are nematodes safe for humans, animals, and plants? In short, entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs)—commonly known as beneficial nematodes—used in biological pest control are considered safe for humans, pets, livestock, and plants. These organisms are highly specialized insect pathogens that target soil-dwelling insect pe

— Playing football or soccer on a well-maintained sports field, enjoying a picnic in the park, or walking across lush green lawns represents the ideal spring or summer experience for many people. Yet few are aware of the complexity involved in protecting these green spaces from belowground insect pests. Sports field managers, municipalities, and landscape maintenance professionals regularly face damage caused by soil-dwelling insects. From early summer onward, chafer beetle l

— Picture a road threading through a forest. Gravel crunches under tires. Trees stand tall beside it. From above, it seems only a narrow interruption in an otherwise continuous landscape. But every road also reshapes the world beneath it—an underground community of organisms quietly keeping forests functioning. A 2017 study by Deborah Neher, Kristin Williams, and Sarah Taylor Lovell offers a rare, integrated look at how road design influences soil life, vegetation, and ecosys