Save milkweed and you help save monarch butterflies

As you trim the wild edges of your property this summer, you might want to be careful of which weeds you whack. Few plants are as valuable to North American conservation as the common milkweed.

Ticks - biology, threats, protections - are focus of 10-week Penn State webinar series

Ticks, Lyme disease, other tick-borne diseases and Pennsylvania’s No. 1 position in all of that will be explained in detail in a free, 10-part webinar series from Penn State Extension that begins Thursday, July 9, with weekly installments scheduled through September 17.

Murder hornets maybe not the deadly threat we thought

Asian giant hornets, which picked up the name “murder hornets” when they made headlines across the U.S. earlier this year, are probably less imposing that previously reported, according to a Penn State expert in insects.

More than 4 dozen new bee species in Pennsylvania, says Penn State study

A study of bees found in Pennsylvania has uncovered 49 species never before recorded in the state.

Invasive spotted lanternfly could threaten Western Pennsylvania trees, plants Mary Ann Thomas

Allegheny County could be overrun with the beautiful but disgusting spotted lanternfly within two years if the public doesn’t find and report them this year, according to a Penn State researcher.

Grape Growers Grapple With Increasing Population of Spotted Lanternfly

Spotted lanternflies damaged more than a quarter of Pennsylvania’s vineyards last year, and the persistent pest isn’t showing any sign of retreat this year.

Penn State researchers still need the public’s help to fight the spotted lanternfly, but a new tracking technique can help target emerging infestations

Penn State scientists have found new ways to track the spotted lanternfly and slow the spread of the plant damaging insect.

Gall fly outmaneuvers host plant in game of 'Spy vs. Spy'

Over time goldenrod plants and the gall flies that feed on them have been one-upping each other in an ongoing competition for survival. Now, a team of researchers has discovered that by detecting the plants’ chemical defenses, the insects may have taken the lead.

Virgil inspires donor to create endowed professorship in College of Ag Sciences

Thanks to a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor, the College of Agricultural Sciences and the Department of Entomology have established the Publius Vergilius Maro Professorship.

Bug of the Month - July 2020

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

Gene-edited mosquitoes are ready for the U.S. — but is the U.S. ready for them?

In mid-June, Florida’s department of agriculture and consumer services approved a plan to release millions of genetically modified mosquitoes into the wild. The idea is that, when released, these mosquitoes will venture out and mate with wild mosquitoes in the area, and due to their genetic modifications, produce offspring that never fully mature — thereby reducing the mosquito population over time.

Checklist of Pa. bees documents 49 new species and some that may be endangered

A study documenting bees that are reported to occur in Pennsylvania has found the presence of 437 species, including 49 never before recorded in the state. Researchers said the resulting checklist of bees in the commonwealth also identifies species not native to North America and several native species that may be of conservation concern.

Bug of the Month - June 2020

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

Penn State Extension educator offers advice on insecticide use for lanternflies

As summer progresses — and spotted lanternflies make themselves at home just about anywhere, including on residential properties — frustrated homeowners might find themselves wrestling with the idea of using insecticides to vanquish the insect interlopers.

Pollinator project supports biodiversity at Penn State Orchard Road solar array

An innovative project is creating a buzz around Penn State’s University Park campus, especially among the many species of pollinators that call Centre County home.

TikTok Videos Reveal Tiny Bugs Living In Strawberries

Viral TikTok videos dubbed the ''Strawberry Challenge’’ have some consumers squirming.

How to build a spotted lanternfly circle trap

The spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive insect that feeds on grapevines and trees. There are a variety of options for SLF management, but one way to kill a lot of SLF without using insecticides is to trap them. The immature lanternflies (called nymphs) are often blown out of the canopy of the trees where they are feeding. Nymphs then walk to the trunk of trees and climb back up to start feeding again. We can take advantage of this predictable behavior of the nymphs by using traps to catch them as they climb up trees.

First ASEV Invasive Pest Webinar Focuses on the Spotted Lanternfly

In introducing the speaker for the first ASEV webinar on invasive pests on June 3, moderator Michelle Moyer, a board member of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and associate professor of viticulture and extension specialist at Washington State University, commented that grape growers on the East Coast are very concerned about the problems presented by the spotted lanternfly (SLF) and that those on the West Coast should be. She then introduced the webinar presenter, Heather Leach, extension associate in entomology at Penn State’s College of Agriculture Sciences, who focuses specifically on the SLF.

Late planting robs slugs of buffet this year

If there was one good thing about farmers delaying planting this year, it created less of a buffet for pesky slugs to feed on emerging corn and soybeans.

Check it out: Resource can aid citizens in stopping spread of spotted lanternfly

A printable checklist developed by Penn State Extension and the state Department of Agriculture can help citizens tick all the boxes when it comes to preventing the spread of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that is threatening the agricultural, timber and ornamental industries.

Penn State Extension webinars focus on bee biology, ecology and management

An eight-part webinar series developed by Penn State Extension aims to teach people all about bees, discussing topics as diverse as colony survival, queen bee rearing and transforming one’s garden into a pollinator-friendly habitat.

Christina Grozinger named scholar-in-residence at Sustainability Institute

Christina Grozinger, distinguished professor of entomology and director of the Center for Pollinator Research, has been named scholar-in-residence at the Sustainability Institute.

Department Statement

In light of the recent disturbing events, the Department of Entomology at Penn State is compelled to voice its solidarity and support of the Black community.

Spotted Lanternfly in Forest Ecosystems: Spring 2020 Briefing

Join us for an informative webinar about the Spotted Lanternfly and ways to manage the spread of this invasive insect.

May is National Lyme Disease Awareness Month

With the prospect of quarantine measures slowly being lifted across the state in the coming weeks, many Pennsylvanians are relishing the prospect of getting outside and enjoying warming spring weather.

Malaria risk is highest in early evening

Wide-scale use of insecticide-treated bed nets has led to substantial declines in global incidence of malaria in recent years. As a result, mosquitoes have been shifting their biting times to earlier in the evening and later in the morning.

''Murder Hornets'' Not Likely In Pennsylvania For Years, Expert Says

People have been buzzing about an insect nicknamed the ‘’Murder Hornet’’ over the last few days.

Those ‘murder hornets’? They’re not here. But here’s what to do IF you see 1.

Michael Skvarla says the emails have been coming in fast and furious with questions about a newly infamous type of wasp, and they all have “murder hornet” in the subject line.

Spotted lanternflies don't care about social distancing; here's why that's bad for Lancaster County

As an ecologist, David Bowne has been aware of the destructive spotted lanternfly since it first arrived in Pennsylvania six years ago, but back then, Elizabethtown College was free from the invasive insect.

Penn State Extension to host a weekly pollinator webinar series beginning June 3rd

Learn about the bees in your neighborhood and how to support them by attending this summer’s free pollinator webinar series moderated by Tom Butzler and Dr. Margarita Lopez-Uribe from Penn State Extension. Webinars will cover a broad range of topics including drivers for bee declines, introductions to bee biology and diversity, and a discussion of what we can do as citizens to support local pollinator communities. The first seminar, ‘Pollinator Health Challenges: A bee’s perspective’, will feature Dr. Margarita Lopez-Uribe on Wednesday, June 3rd at 3:00 PM (ET).