Entomologist of the Month: December

While Charles Henry Turner studied a diverse array of topics throughout his career, some of his most influential work was on the subject of ant and bee learning and behavior. This factsheet was produced by Center for Pollinator Research IPE graduate student fellow Staci Cibotti.

Insect Life Under the Leaves

IBC Education Specialist Heather Desorcie reports on how leaf litter benefits insects and larger ecosystems

Reflections from last week's Center for Pollinator Research Symposium

IBC Education Specialist Heather Desorcie reports on the success of this year's Center for Pollinator Research winter symposium

Winterizing Hives at the Arboretum at Penn State

IBC Education Specialist Heather Desorcie reports on preparing bee hives for their first winter at the Pollinator and Bird Garden

Penn State awarded nearly $39M for global research on threats to crops

PlantVillage at Penn State will expand thanks to a nearly $40M grant from the the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). With the USAID award, David Hughes, Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Global Food Security at Penn State, and his team will develop additional tools for plant pest and disease surveillance.

A Look Inside a Bee Hotel

IBC Education Specialist Heather Desorcie reports on this fall's solitary bee workshop, hosted by the Arboretum at Penn State

Past Winners and Current Contenders: IBC Fellows Compete in Nittany AI Challenge

Two IBC graduate student fellows, Kwadwo Amoah and Codey Mathis, will be sharing their research in upcoming AI for Good Expo!

'Zombie Ant' sculpture brings interactive art to Penn State Behrend

The new augmented reality project at Penn State Behrend’s School of Science complex could serve as the set for a drive-in horror movie.

Penn State Entomologists featured in upcoming Research Unplugged speaker series

The Pasto Agricultural Museum will host three “Research Unplugged” presentations Thursday afternoons in October, featuring Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences’ faculty talking about their studies in entomology.

Aquatic insects: The MVPs of stream decomposition

Insect Biodiversity Center fellow and Ecology graduate student Francesca Ferguson highlights a recent study evaluating the role of aquatic insects as critical decomposers, globally, within stream ecosystems.

New CPR/IBC Introduction to Insects Handbook out now

Insect Biodiversity Center members come together to write educational handbook about insects, available online now!

Watch for mass movements of spotted lanternflies

Although many homeowners have reported a greatly diminished population of the spotted lanternfly around their properties, the invaders from Asia known to attack more than 70 types of fruit and landscape trees and vines remain very much with us in at least 34 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Fly Fishing Virtual Institute to feature legendary angler Joe Humphreys

Humphreys’ protégé, George Daniel, director and lead instructor of Penn State’s fly-fishing program, designed and will host the three-part series

Armyworms wreak havoc on lawns, crops in 'unprecedented' outbreak

This year’s fall armyworm outbreak spans from as far south as Kentucky to as far north as Ontario, Penn State Entomologist John Tooker said, adding that the species, which is native to America, also has invaded China and Africa.

Penn State Master Gardeners aid cleanup effort at Flight 93 National Memorial

Drew Leister and more than 80 other Master Gardeners from across Pennsylvania assembled Aug. 13 at the historic site and spent the day weeding, pruning and removing plant debris

National society to recognize two Penn State entomologists

Two entomologists in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences will receive prestigious awards from the Entomological Society of America during its 2021 annual meeting Oct. 31 to Nov. 3. Kelli Hoover, professor of entomology, was elected as a fellow of the society, and Flor Acevedo, assistant professor of entomology, will receive the society's Early Career Professional Research Award.

Penn State centers collaborate on pollinator education project

A recently awarded USDA grant will allow CPR researchers, alongside Center for Science and the Schools partners, to work with elementary school teachers in Pennsylvania to develop cross-disciplinary curricula that support students in understanding pollinator research in the areas of food, agriculture and natural resources.

Entomologist of the Month: September

Among the numerous achievements of Thomas Risley Odhiambo’s academic career, his founding of the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) stands out as the most influential. This factsheet was produced by Center for Pollinator Research graduate student fellow Staci Cibotti.

For States Dealing With the Spotted Lanternfly, the Policy Is No Mercy

The spotted lanternfly, an invasive species from Asia, is a voracious plant-eater and public nuisance that could cost state economies hundreds of millions of dollars.

Scientists use ‘smell of fear’ to ward off insect pests from crops and gardens

Many animals sharpen their senses when danger is lurking.

Bug of the Month: September

This crayfish (also known as a crawdad or crawfish) was found in Herod Run within Penn State’s Stone Valley Forest

Beekeeping exhibit now open at the Pasto Agricultural Museum

Come and check out the new exhibit, developed and curated by PSU graduate student Chauncy Hinshaw and Pasto Agricultural Museum Curator Rita Graef

PlantVillage University Seminar Summary - Dr. James Legg and Cassava Viruses

PSU IBC graduate student fellow Kwadwo Amoah shares some of the research of Dr. James Legg from IITA-Tanzania. Dr. Legg's full lecture on vector-borne diseases of cassava can be viewed on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd7S2BLNHro

Agroforestry for Food Security and Climate Change in Africa

PSU IBC graduate student fellow Kwadwo Amoah shares some of the research of Dr. Phokele Maponya from the Agricultural Research Council in Pretoria, South Africa. Dr. Maponya's full lecture on agroforestry practices in Africa can be viewed on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEBeUBbCRks

Entomologist of the Month: August

Baisas pioneered the study of mosquitoes in the Philippines, and his works contributed greatly to the control of malaria. This factsheet was produced by Center for Pollinator Research graduate student fellow Katie Barie

Bug of the Month: August

This impressive looking insect is called a hellgrammite, and is the larval form of a type of dobsonfly. This factsheet was produced by Insect Biodiversity Center graduate student fello Francesca Ferguson

Helping pollinators highlighted at Ag Progress Days Yard and Garden Area

The benefits of creating pollinator-friendly landscapes is a focus of the Yard and Garden Area this year at Ag Progress Days, Aug. 10-12.

Insect Biodiversity Center members compete for $25,000 prize through the Penn State Nittany AI Alliance
Entomologist of the Month: July

Sophie Lutterlough worked at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), where she classified and restored hundreds of thousands of arthropods. This month's factsheet come from Entomology graduate student and Center for Pollinator Research fellow Katie Barie.

Pollinator and Bird Garden opens in The Arboretum at Penn State

People strolling through The Arboretum at Penn State are likely to see more winged creatures visiting the many flowering plants with the opening of the long-awaited Pollinator and Bird Garden the week of June 28.