Study: Mapping people’s knowledge of bees may aid in pollinator conservation

March 23, 2023

U.S. college students’ knowledge of bees focuses primarily on honey bees and pollination services, according to Penn State researchers, who said findings from their recent study could help in designing campaigns to generate support for protecting threatened pollinators.

College of Ag Sciences entomologists lauded by Entomological Society of America

March 21, 2023

Six members of the Department of Entomology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have received awards for excellence in research, teaching and extension from the Eastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America.

New Buzz on Epidemics: Landscapes Affect the Way Bumble Bee Diseases Beehave

March 20, 2023

This is the tenth short news article written by students, during the professional development class of Fall 2022, about each other's research.

Penn State faculty visit Belize to forge collaborations

March 20, 2023

Over spring break, a group of 14 Penn State faculty visited the Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education to explore opportunities to develop long-term collaborative research, education and outreach projects. The multidisciplinary group included faculty from the College of Agricultural Sciences, Eberly College of Science, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, and School of International Affairs.

Center for Pollinator Research's 2023 Bee of the Year

March 14, 2023

Center for Pollinator Research's 2023 Bee of the Year

March 13, 2023

Study examines the effects of using insecticides for spotted lanternfly control

March 9, 2023

Neonicotinoid insecticides used to control spotted lanternflies have the potential to harm pollinators, but the degree of risk depends on multiple factors, such as application timing, type of neonicotinoid, the species of tree being treated and pollinator species sensitivity, according to entomologists at Penn State.

Wasps harness power of pitcher plants in first-ever observed defense strategy

March 1, 2023

As the saying goes, “When life gives you lemons, turn that tartness into little translucent balls in which to grow your young.” At least, that’s how the saying goes for a tiny insect called a cynipid wasp, whose larvae were recently discovered inducing plant growths called galls that contained acidity levels akin to lemons.

Pest from the West – An Outlaw in the Potato Fields

February 27, 2023

This is the ninth of ten short news articles written by students, during the professional development class of Fall 2022, about each other's research.

Grant will promote STEM graduate studies for students from diverse backgrounds

February 20, 2023

A consortium of institutions led by faculty in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has received a $75,000 planning grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation aimed at expanding the recruitment of and opportunities for Black, Indigenous and Latino students to enroll in science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduate programs.

How I met your mother – A bumble bee perspective

February 20, 2023

This is the eighth of ten short news articles written by students, during the professional development class of Fall 2022, about each other's research.

Beyond “if you see it, squash it”

February 13, 2023

This is the seventh of ten short news articles written by students, during the professional development class of Fall 2022, about each other's research.

2023 Student Award Opportunities in Pollinator Biology and Health

February 6, 2023

Penn State undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to apply for funds to pursue a research or arts project of their choosing that pertains to pollinator biology and health - applications due Friday March 17!

Horror in the Tomato Field

February 2, 2023

This is the sixth of ten short news articles written by students, during the professional development class of Fall 2022, about each other's research.

Spotted lanternfly experts share what research has uncovered about the pest

January 27, 2023

Since the spotted lanternfly’s unwelcome arrival in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014, researchers have been working tirelessly to learn more about the invasive pest, now confirmed in 45 Pennsylvania counties and reported in surrounding states.

Picky Pollinators

January 24, 2023

This is the fifth of ten short news articles written by students, during the professional development class of Fall 2022, about each other's research.

Death by a Thousand Guts

January 17, 2023

Corn-colonizing fungus may help the crop repel disease, grow larger

December 14, 2022

A fungus that can colonize, or grow within, corn plants doesn’t just leave the plant unharmed — it also can help the plant stave off harmful bugs and other fungi, according to a new study by Penn State researchers.

Study examines feeding damage caused by spotted lanternflies on young maples

December 12, 2022

Short-term, heavy feeding by adult spotted lanternflies on young maple trees inhibits photosynthesis, potentially impairing the tree’s growth by up to 50%, according to a new study by Penn State scientists.

PlantVillage Warrior View awarded $2 million from Google to fight climate change

December 7, 2022

PlantVillage, a Penn State-sponsored project, received a $2 million grant from Google's AI for Social Good program to fund the team’s work to develop accurate maps of dryland landscapes across Africa. This work aims to help communities of African pastoralists in arid drylands to adapt to climate change and restore their lands, ultimately resulting in carbon drawdown for the planet.

New clues about how carbon dioxide affects bumble bee reproduction

November 30, 2022

While a beekeeper puffing clouds of carbon dioxide into a hive to calm the insects is a familiar image to many, less is known about its other effects on bees. A recent study revealed clues about how the chemical compound affects bee physiology, including reproduction.

PSU Beekeeping Club ‘caught the bug’ for treating bees

November 29, 2022

Faculty in College of Ag Sciences recognized for research achievements

November 8, 2022

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences lauded outstanding accomplishments in research during the college’s inaugural Research Awards Ceremony, held Oct. 25 at the Hintz Family Alumni Center on the University Park campus.

Prescribed fire could reduce tick populations and pathogen transmission

October 21, 2022

Prescribed fire — a tool increasingly used by forest managers and landowners to combat invasive species, improve wildlife habitat and restore ecosystem health — also could play a role in reducing the abundance of ticks and the transmission of disease pathogens they carry, according to a team of scientists.  

Entomologist asks Pennsylvania hunters for help in deer ‘keds’ research effort

October 19, 2022

A Penn State entomologist is asking Pennsylvania deer hunters for help with research on biting flies that are active in the fall, which may be vectors of dangerous disease.

A Time of Transition: Autumn observations in the garden

October 17, 2022

IBC Education specialist Heather Desorcie reports on how pollinators prepare for winter at the Arboretum at Penn State.

Buzzy new exhibit opens at the Frost Entomological Museum

October 16, 2022

A new exhibit at the Frost Entomological Museum is aimed at cultivating awareness about gall wasps and showcasing their beauty and diversity. The exhibit also highlights current research on these insects by faculty in the Department of Entomology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

University Libraries to host virtual Open Access Week panel on climate justice

October 12, 2022

Penn State University Libraries will participate in the 14th annual global observation of Open Access Week, Oct. 24–30, by hosting a virtual panel of Penn State faculty at noon Tuesday, Oct. 25. The panelists will discuss questions related to this year’s theme for Open Access Week, which is “Open for Climate Justice.”

Rabbit virus has evolved to become more deadly, new research finds

October 6, 2022

A common misconception is that viruses become milder over time as they become endemic within a population. Yet new research, led by Penn State and the University of Sydney, reveals that a virus — called myxoma —that affects rabbits has become more deadly over time. The findings highlight the need for rigorous monitoring of human viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, monkeypox and polio, for increased virulence.

Bull steps down at Microbiome Center, looks forward to future innovation

October 3, 2022

After more than five years at the helm of Penn State’s Microbiome Center, founding director Carolee Bull has stepped down. Though she will continue serving as department head of plant pathology and environmental microbiology and as a professor of plant pathology and systematic bacteriology at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, Bull has handed off leadership of the Microbiome Center to recent Penn State hire Seth Bordentstein.