About the Department
Our mission is to conduct outstanding research on insect science that will improve human health, quality of life, and the sustainability of our food and ecosystems.
Entomology is the study of insects. It is an interdisciplinary life science that contributes much to our understanding of life, our environment, and the well-being of our society. Insects are the predominant species on Earth, representing the greatest biodiversity with more than one million known species. Not surprising, insects significantly affect human civilization, whether the impact is positive, such as pollination of our food plants, or negative, such as competition with our food supply or carriers of major human diseases.
We have developed strong entomological programs and traditions in teaching, outreach, and research. Prospective graduate students will find information on our educational programs, curriculum, and research opportunities. If you need information on the management of insect pests, numerous fact sheets are available that address your specific needs.
Research in the Department of Entomology addresses diverse questions and uses a wide variety of experimental approaches and methodologies. Nevertheless, what bonds us is an interest in understanding fundamental and applied biological questions from the level of the molecule to the level of the population and the community. Knowledge of entomology is expanding at a rapid pace, creating great possibilities for innovative research at the interface of life sciences research. Penn State offers exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary research through interaction with intercollege programs in Ecology, Plant Physiology, Genetics, and other life sciences.
If you want to discover more about entomology at Penn State, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.
Latest News
May 20, 2022
Studying honey bee migration in Kenya
Ecology and CPR graduate student Darcy Gray discusses her research on honey bee colony management in Kenya
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April 29, 2022
It's tick season: Learn to protect yourself and your animals with free webinars
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lyme disease, caused by a tick-borne pathogen, affects more than 400,000 people each year. To educate the public about tick risk and tick bite prevention for people and their animals, Penn State Extension will offer the spring 2022 “Tick Webinar Series.”
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April 25, 2022
SAFES seed funding boosts agricultural research data capabilities
Four research teams in the College of Agricultural Sciences have tapped in to the computing and software engineering expertise at the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences' Research Innovations with Scientists and Engineers (RISE) team. Agricultural Sciences faculty are invited to apply for the 2022 SAFES-RISE Seed Grant Program; applications are due May 10.
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April 22, 2022
PlantVillage Team awarded $1M in Elon Musk XPRIZE Carbon Removal Competition
An international team led by David Hughes, founder of Penn State’s PlantVillage project, has been named among 15 milestone winners of the latest round of the XPRIZE and Musk Foundation’s Carbon Removal Competition.
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Department of Entomology
Address
501 ASI BuildingUniversity Park, PA 16802
- Email entomology@psu.edu
- Office 814-865-1895
- Fax 814-865-3048