April 3, 2025
The scent of blooming flowers and fresh plant life is not just a perk of springtime; it is a key driver in the survival and evolution of butterflies and moths. New research led by scientists at Penn State reveals how the daily cycles of plant aromas are linked to the dietary habits and evolution of the winged insects collectively known as Lepidoptera.
March 24, 2025
A group of 15 Penn State graduate students and postdoctoral scholars have been selected to participate in the Bayer Crop Science 2025 University Mentoring Program, a global initiative that pairs students with industry professionals for career guidance and professional development.
March 24, 2025
A group of 15 Penn State graduate students and postdoctoral scholars have been selected to participate in the Bayer Crop Science 2025 University Mentoring Program, a global initiative that pairs students with industry professionals for career guidance and professional development.
March 18, 2025
Increased antibiotic use can lead, seemingly paradoxically, to more problematic infections, as the bacteria evolve to resist the treatment. The answer to this antimicrobial resistance, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called “one of the world’s most urgent public health problems,” might be a medication used for kidney disease, according to a team led by researchers at Penn State.
March 17, 2025
Insect predators found in the U.S. could help keep spotted lanternfly populations in check while potentially reducing reliance on chemical control methods, according to a new study conducted by researchers at Penn State.
March 10, 2025
A new method of examining gene expression patterns called landscape transcriptomics may help pinpoint what causes bumble bees stress and could eventually give insight into why bee populations are declining overall, according to a study led by researchers at Penn State.
March 3, 2025
This month we have quite a bit of news about bees, the relentless phorid flies, Frost Museum video, FREC farewell, spotted lanternfly still in the news, and a great video about wasp discoveries. Plus some high-level awards for faculty, students, and staff.
February 25, 2025
The effects of pesticide exposure on pollinator health may be more complicated than originally thought, according to a team of researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
February 19, 2025
The corn earworm causes the loss of more than 76,000 bushels of corn in the United States annually, and there is mounting evidence that increasingly extreme weather events and temperatures will exacerbate the damage done to agricultural output by insect pests. Responding to that threat, a team of researchers at Penn State conducted a study that demonstrated that genetic lines of corn have inherent compounds that serve as insecticides, protecting them from the larvae that feed on them.
February 18, 2025
In southeastern Pennsylvania, where 60% of U.S. mushrooms are grown, phorid flies are posing a threat to the industry, destroying up to 40% of the crop and invading homes. To combat the pest, researchers at Penn State and Penn State Extension specialists are working alongside state officials and industry leaders to establish science-based integrated pest management solutions.
February 18, 2025
In southeastern Pennsylvania, where 60% of U.S. mushrooms are grown, phorid flies are posing a threat to the industry, destroying up to 40% of the crop and invading homes. To combat the pest, Penn State researchers and Penn State Extension specialists are working alongside state officials and industry leaders to establish science-based integrated pest management solutions.
February 10, 2025
At this community event, attendees and panelists will discuss the power of trees to save lives and provide for the future. The panel, featuring two arboretum directors and renowned ecologist and National Geographic Explorer at Large Nalini Nadkarni, will lead guests in envisioning the expansion of tree canopies for resilience in Penn's Woods.
February 6, 2025
Managed honey bees have the potential to affect native bee populations when they are introduced to a new area, but a study led by researchers at Penn State suggests that, under certain conditions, the native bees can bounce back if the apiaries are moved away.
January 29, 2025
January 24, 2025
Three Penn State researchers have been awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the White House announced on Jan. 14. The award is the highest honor the U.S. government bestows on early-career scientists and engineers. The awards are conferred annually following recommendations from federal funding agencies.
January 24, 2025
Margarita López-Uribe, the Lorenzo L. Langstroth Early Career Professor of Entomology in the College of Agricultural Sciences, was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.
January 22, 2025
Several hundred bees in rural Pennsylvania and rural New York are sporting tiny QR codes on their backs to track when they go in and out of their hives. The work, a collaboration among entomologists and electrical engineers at Penn State, is the first step in solving a long-standing mystery of how far bees travel from their hives to collect pollen and nectar.
January 17, 2025
Christina Grozinger has been appointed as the new director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at Penn State, succeeding interim director Patrick Drew. Globally recognized for her research in pollinator genetics and insect biodiversity, Grozinger's leadership is expected to significantly advance the institute's research capabilities and collaborative efforts across diverse scientific disciplines.
January 16, 2025
Identifying two dozen new species of gall wasps was a crowning achievement of Louis Nastasi’s Penn State graduate education experience. A doctoral candidate in entomology, Nastasi and his collaborators have discovered more than 20 new species of gall wasps through their research.
January 9, 2025
In the next Virtual Speaker Series from the Penn State Alumni Association, David Hughes, Huck Chair in Global Food Security at Penn State, will discuss PlantVillage, an AI-enabled "land grant in a phone" that uses data sharing to help smallholder farmers across Africa, Asia and the Americas adapt to climate change. This free event will be held on Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. on Jan. 21. Registration is open now.
January 6, 2025
Different species of bees may be attracted to different flower traits when it comes to deciding where they’re going to get their next meal, according to a recent study led by researchers at Penn State.
December 20, 2024
December 19, 2024
Despite their reputation as buzzing nuisances, flies serve a critical role as some of the Earth’s most prolific pollinators — and new research led by Penn State scientists suggests they are increasingly at risk due to rising global temperatures.
December 18, 2024
Members of the National Grape Research Alliance, a national nonprofit organization that supports America’s grape industry, joined Penn State’s spotted lanternfly research and extension team this fall for a two-day field trip to address the growing threat of the invasive pest jeopardizing the U.S. grape industry.
December 10, 2024
Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences celebrated another year of outstanding success and accomplishments in research during the 2024 Research Awards Ceremony, held Nov. 19 at the Hintz Family Alumni Center on the University Park campus.
December 2, 2024
“Growing Impact” highlights PlantVillage, an innovative project that leverages the power of smartphones, artificial intelligence and cloud computing to help millions of farmers across Africa, Asia and the Americas.
December 2, 2024
A delegation of Penn State faculty and graduate students who attended the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference, known as COP16, in Cali, Colombia, share about the event and their experiences.
November 25, 2024
Ticks are a nuisance across many areas of the U.S., capable of spreading harmful pathogens to both animals and humans. A new study led by researchers at Penn State analyzed the effectiveness of a simple, inexpensive strategy for controlling ticks that homeowners can use in their backyards.
November 15, 2024
The department newsletter was previously being delivered as an email newsletter. Entomology is now making its newsletter widely available online to better promote events, achievements, awards, publications, and special topics that highlight students, faculty, and staff in the department.
October 18, 2024
Twenty-two new species of gall wasps have been identified and named for the first time, thanks to new research led by a Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences graduate student.
