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

Winter survival guide for queen bumble bees

CPR graduate student Katie Barie profiles a recent paper written by PSU Entomology's own Erin Treanore and Etya Amsalem

2021 Dutch Gold Honey Undergraduate Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to undergraduates enrolled in the College of Agricultural Sciences who have completed or are registered for 300 and 400 level courses in Entomology. Applications due May 1.

Bug of the Month - February 2021

Bug of the Month is a student–run monthly post which highlights the diversity of insects found in Pennsylvania.

Summer weather conditions influence winter survival of honey bees

Winter survival of honey bee colonies is strongly influenced by summer temperatures and precipitation in the prior year, according to Penn State researchers, who said their findings suggest that honey bees have a "goldilocks" preferred range of summer conditions outside of which their probability of surviving the winter falls.

Seeding Hope: Community members breathe life into the new Pollinator and Bird Garden at Penn State

CPR graduate student Makaylee Crone discusses the upcoming launch of the PSU Arboretum's Pollinator and Bird Garden in Spring 2021

Incentivized Programs Help Farmers Protect Pollinators

Mace Vaughan, Xerces Society Pollinator Conservation Program Co-Director, highlights programs that support bee conservation as part of PSU Entomology's Global Perspectives in IPPM seminar series.

Bug of the Month — January 2021

Bug of the Month is a student–run monthly post which highlights the diversity of insects found in Pennsylvania.

Study: Bumble bees lacking high-quality habitat have higher pathogen loads

Bumble bees found in low-quality landscapes — characterized by a relative lack of spring flowers and quality nesting habitat — had higher levels of disease pathogens, as did bumble bees in areas with higher numbers of managed honey bee hives, according to research led by Penn State scientists.

Symposium builds collaborations across disciplines and industries

PlantVillage featured in 2020 PSU ICDS Symposium

Sorry to Burst Your Quarantine Bubble

Beth McGraw, professor and Huck Scholar in Entomology, who directs the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, comments on the effectiveness of "bubbles" and "pods" in avoiding the spread of COVID-19.

'Anti-antibiotic' allows for use of antibiotics without driving resistance

An inexpensive, FDA-approved drug — cholestyramine — taken in conjunction with an antibiotic prevents the antibiotic from driving antimicrobial resistance, according to new research by scientists at Penn State and the University of Michigan.

Bug of the Month — December 2020

Bug of the Month is a student–run monthly post which highlights the diversity of insects found in Pennsylvania.

The Virus Won’t Stop Evolving When the Vaccine Arrives

The coronavirus is not a shape shifter like the flu virus, but it could become vaccine resistant over time. That prompts researchers to urge vigilance.

Virus Evolution Could Undermine a COVID-19 Vaccine– But This Can be Stopped

The first drug against HIV brought dying patients back from the brink. But as excited doctors raced to get the miracle drug to new patients, the miracle melted away. In each and every patient, the drug only worked only for a while.

Flor Acevedo, Asst. professor of Entomology/Arthropod ecology, receives Strategic Networks & Initiatives Program Award

A total of eleven teams were awarded SNIP grants to help them build a network of colleagues and form an area of strength in the college for transformative research.

Spring symposium, seed grants to promote transdisciplinary biodiversity research

The Sustainability Institute at Penn State is hosting transdisciplinary symposia on biodiversity throughout the spring 2021 semester.

Virtual Graduate Student Recruitment Week

Join us February 1– 5, 2021, for our Virtual Graduate Student Recruitment Week

Could SARS-CoV-2 evolve resistance to COVID-19 vaccines?

Similar to bacteria evolving resistance to antibiotics, viruses can evolve resistance to vaccines, and the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 could undermine the effectiveness of vaccines that are currently under development, according to a paper published Nov. 9 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by David Kennedy and Andrew Read from Penn State. The authors also offer recommendations to vaccine developers for minimizing the likelihood of this outcome.

Pa. in peak season for number of ticks carrying Lyme disease

While most Lyme disease cases are confirmed in the summer, October and November are when the number of adult ticks carrying Lyme disease is highest and they are most active.

10-year-old Shaler student stops spotted lanternfly in its tracks

Ten-year-old Ludi Aguera didn’t realize the significance of the bug she squashed at the Shaler Area Elementary School track – she just thought it was a cool-looking moth.

Penn State spotted lanternfly study reveals insights on effective use of insecticides

Extermination during the spring egg hatching season may help, new research found

Podward State: Inside Penn State’s Coronavirus Response

On our second collaborative episode with Cole Hons of the Huck Institute of Life Sciences’ Symbiotic Podcast, Podward State hosts Matt Ogden and Matthew Paolizzi are joined by Andrew Read and Catharine Paules to discuss their roles as members of Penn State’s coronavirus task force.