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
April 22, 2024
Incorporating Wild Tomato Genes in Cultivated Tomato; Tackling the Fall Armyworm Challenge
This is the eigth short news article written by students, during the professional development class of Spring 2024, about each other's research.
Read MoreApril 22, 2024
Kissing bugs, vector for Chagas disease, successfully gene edited for first time
New research from an international team, including a Penn State researcher, demonstrates — for the first time — the use of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in kissing bugs and opens the door to research on applied strategies for Chagas disease control.
Read MoreApril 19, 2024
Cover crops can help protect corn from insect pests
This is the seventh short news article written by students, during the professional development class of Spring 2024, about each other's research.
Read MoreApril 16, 2024
Tick Talk: Monitoring the Gulf Coast Tick in Pennsylvania
This is the sixth short news article written by students, during the professional development class of Spring 2024, about each other's research.
Read MoreDepartment of Entomology
Address
501 ASI BuildingUniversity Park, PA 16802
- Email entomology@psu.edu
- Office 814-865-1895
- Fax 814-865-3048