New Entomology Course on Spiders Weaves Together Their Biological and Cultural Importance

Entomology graduate student and IBC Fellow Codey Mathis interviews Dr. Andy Deans about why spiders are so heckin' cool and discuss his upcoming Fall 2021 undergraduate spider course.

Penn State, University of Freiburg partner to form Virtual Classroom Project

In 2020, Penn State and the University of Freiburg launched a pilot program to create collaborative, integrated virtual classroom courses by providing development and implementation money to faculty teams.

Entomologist of the Month: May

Berta Scharrer co-founded the discipline of neuroendocrinology, which is the study of how the brain regulates the production of hormones in the body. This factsheet was produced by Center for Pollinator Research IPE student fellow Katherine Barie.

Bug of the Month: May

May's insect is a mayfly in the genus Epeorus, which belongs to the family Heptageniidae, known as the “flat headed” or “Cookie-headed” mayflies. This month's factsheet was made by IBC Fellow Francesca Ferguson.

10 Steps You Can Take to Support Local Biodiversity – Advice from Dr. Doug Tallamy

Center for Pollinator Research IPE Student Fellow Staci Cibotti outlines ten of Dr. Doug Tallamy's recommendations for improving local biodiversity.

PSU Insect Biodiversity Center seeks proposals for interdisciplinary workshops: Fall 2021/Spring 2022

The objective of this program is to provide IBC faculty, postdocs, staff and students opportunities to enhance their scientific network and develop new projects. Funding will support travel and lodging for individuals not based at the Penn State University Park campus, as well as refreshments and meals for workshop participants.

Social bees or wasps on your property? Read our new PSU Extension Notes on their biology and management

Social organisms live together in groups and interact with others of the same species. When social insects take up residence near our homes, conflicts can arise. What to do when bees and wasps are nesting in or near the home?

As Locusts Swarmed East Africa, This Tech Helped Squash Them

A hastily formed crowdsourcing operation to contain the insects in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia could help manage climate-related disasters everywhere.

Frost Entomological Museum’s Hexapod Haiku challenge is back!

Ever flip a log and watch millipedes scurry away? Or seen a bumble bee buzz a flower? Have you ever opened a bag of flour, only to discover it’s infested with tiny beetles? These moments are perfect inspirations for writing haiku.

Entomologist of the Month: April

Karl von Frisch is most famous for his discovery and interpretation of the honey bee dance language, for which he and his colleagues were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1973.

The hidden world of winter bees photo album online now!

Honey bee colonies change dramatically throughout each season. In the winter, the colony is dependent on the honey they stored during the summer and fall. View a collaborative album compiled by Grozinger lab manager, Kate Anton, and Huck Designer, Brennan Dincher featuring winter bees in one of our local bee yards!

Bug of the Month: April

This insect’s brilliant golden and black coloration is characteristic for the nymph of a stonefly in the genus Acroneuria, which belongs to the family Perlidae, known as the “common stonefly” or “golden stonefly”. This month's factsheet was made by IBC Fellow Francesca Ferguson.

When Life Gave Pennsylvania Spotted Lanternflies, Its Bees Made Spotted Lanternfly Honey

A smoky-sweet flavor, courtesy of an invasive species.

NSF’s Discovery Files discusses “The Business of Bees”, highlighting collaborative studies between University of Pittsburgh and Penn State

A University of Pittsburgh and Penn State University study finds bees and other pollinators play an extremely important role in agriculture.

A wing and a prayer: Chickens, praying mantises among likely lanternfly enemies

Potential predators of the spotted lanternfly are being brought into focus thanks to shutterbugs who have captured images of birds, insects, mammals and even fish consuming the invasive planthopper.

Master Gardeners to celebrate pollinator-friendly garden program milestone

The program, which started in 2011, educates home gardeners about how to create safe havens for pollinators. A how-to guide is located on the Pollinator Garden Certification website.

12 receive grants for conservation and research efforts in Pennsylvania

The state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources last week awarded grants to several individuals to help support field research and other projects.

Penn State tied for first nationally in NSF rankings reflecting research breadth

Penn State’s research enterprise ranks first nationally, tied with Johns Hopkins University, in the breadth and depth of its expertise, according to the latest National Science Foundation rankings of Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) research expenditures by key fields and subfields in science and engineering, released in January 2021.

Bug of the Month - March 2021

The Spicebush Swallowtail is a common butterfly across the eastern United States.

PSU Extension Note on carpenter bees out now!

Learn more about the biology and management of carpenter bees in and around your backyard by reading our new extension note.

InsectEye team, which includes IBC Fellow Mathis, is selected to compete in Nittany AI Challenge!

Twenty Penn State teams with students from seven different colleges and six campuses, including for the first time Penn State World Campus, will each be awarded $500 to compete in the Prototype Phase of the 2021 Nittany AI Challenge.

Undergraduate Research Award Funds Pollinator Photo Project

Penn State undergraduate Darya Alvarez recently completed a photography project aimed at helping viewers gain a greater appreciation of the critical role that pollinators play in the survival of terrestrial ecosystems. View her collection here. 2021 Apes Valente award applications are due April 1.

A Diamond in the Pumpkin Patch

CPR graduate student Laura Jones describes the joy of discovering a rare gynandromorph squash bee during the course of her field research.

Upon retirement, Arboretum's founding director leaves growing legacy

Forest biologist Kim Steiner to conclude a nearly five-decade Penn State career in June

Learn about squash bees in new PSU Extension Handbook

"The Biology and Pollination of Squash Bees" is now ready for download. This booklet was developed by CPR/IBC members Margarita López-Uribe, Shelby Fleischer and Kristin Brochu

What's The Buzz? Pollinator Garden Certification Newsletter Out Now

The Winter issue of PSU Extension's Pollinator Garden Newsletter features news stories written by Penn State Master Gardeners and CPR members. Read more about how to apply to the Pollinator Garden Certification Program here.

All you need to know about the Brood X Periodical Cicada in new Penn State Extension factsheet

IBC Fellow and Entomology graduate student Codey Mathis interviews Dr. Michael Skvarla on new publication about periodical cicadas

Frost Entomological Museum secures competitive NSF grant, plans to expand storage

IBC Fellow and Entomology graduate student Codey Mathis interviews Dr. Andy Deans regarding plans to expand Frost Museum storage capabilities

Helping Northeast Beekeepers Fight Mites

CPR Fellow Katie Barie highlights some of the extension acheivements of Dr. Kim Skyrm (President, Apiary Inspectors of America & Chief Apiary Inspector of MA), such as using IPM strategies to control the Varroa mite in managed honey bee colonies.

IPM Programs in developed v. developing countries

IBC graduate student fellow Edward 'Kwadwo' Amoah writes about Dr. Sulav Paudel's invited IBC lecture on IPM in developing countries