PA Department of Agriculture Requires Spotted Lanternfly Permit For Some Businesses

Fearing the spread of the spotted lanternfly, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is requiring a permit for businesses transporting goods through a quarantine zone.

PA Ag Secretary: We must 'contain and suppress' spotted lanternfly

As far as Russell Redding is concerned, the fight against the invasive spotted lanternfly will be won the same way the state beat the plum pox virus — "contain and suppress."

Penn Staters working to reverse bee declines

Within the past decade, beekeepers across the globe have observed massive declines in managed honey bee populations. Similar declines have been observed in populations of wild bees and other pollinators. Understanding what is driving these declines is a vital question for researchers, beekeepers, growers, and the public. Several factors are being investigated, including habitat loss, climate change, disease and pesticide use.

New crop-destroying pest enters China amid devastating swine fever epidemic

A new pest that threatens key agricultural commodities is spreading through China as the nation is reeling from an African swine fever epidemic that may wipe out hundreds of millions of hogs.

Student Research Spotlight - Rachel McLaughlin

This is the 7th of eight short news articles written by students, during the professional development class, about each other's research.

Pa. Farm Bill touted as aid to fight spotted lanternfly

As the spotted lanternfly begins to hatch for a new season, state and federal agriculture officials are expanding their efforts to contain the destructive insect.

There are a lot more Lyme disease-carrying ticks in Pa. today, Penn State study finds

The tick responsible for most cases of Lyme diseases has boomed from near non-existence in Pennsylvania in the 1960s to the most commonly found tick across the state today, according to Penn State researchers.

Lyme Disease-Carrying Ticks Have Returned

The tick responsible for most Lyme diseases cases has boomed from near non-existence in the 1960s to become the most commonly found tick across the state of Pennsylvania, according to new research.

Growers prepare for spotted lanternfly onslaught

Wine grape growers in eastern Pennsylvania saw major losses from the pest last year.

Tree of heaven, a spotted lanternfly favorite, is named Pennsylvania's newest noxious weed

The Asian tree, Ailanthus altissima, has earned its new designation in part because of its meal appeal to the sap-sucking pest that recently started to hatch in Berks.

Tick season in full swing, ways to prevent being bitten by a tick

With summer quickly approaching, that means tick season is upon us. Experts say more ticks are starting to come out, which increases your chance of getting Lyme Disease.

Zombie fungus proves deadly to spotted lanternfly

The invasive spotted lanternfly has swept through southeast Pennsylvania over the past five years, chomping down on fruits and hops along the way. But scientists are studying whether it may have met its match in the form of a mind-altering fungus.

Fungus among us found to kill spotted lanternfly invaders

Heather Leach was driving to a Berks County park in August to follow up on a tip about something killing spotted lanternflies when she saw a bunch of grape vines and trees of heaven ― a favorite target of the invasive bugs.

Researchers discover natural predator that can kill spotted lanternflies

Penn State researchers who are trying to stop the spread of the invasive spotted lanternfly have recently discovered a natural predator that could be an effective and massive tool to kill the bug.

Invasion of the stink bugs: how a tiny insect roils global communities

A stinky bug eating its way through the economy of an agricultural region in Eastern Europe stands as a stark example of how climate change creates opportunities for pests and havoc for farmers.

New tick making its way into our area

Jennifer Frederick won't forget the time she found her son at home and realized something was wrong.

Yes, there are a lot more Lyme disease-carrying ticks in Pa. today: Penn State study

The tick responsible for most cases of Lyme diseases has boomed from nearly non-existence in Pennsylvania in the 1960s to the most commonly found tick across the state today, according to Penn State researchers.

Hope grows in lanternfly-killing fungi found near Berks fruit farm

A batch of dead lanternfiles on trees of heaven near the Angora Fruit Farm in Lower Alsace excites researchers.

Researchers Track Shift in Pennsylvania's Tick Population

The prevalence of the most abundant species of ticks found in Pennsylvania has shifted over the last century, according to Penn State scientists, who analyzed 117 years' worth of specimens and data submitted primarily by residents from around the state.

Cicada emergence draws near in part of Pennsylvania

Temperatures in southwestern Pennsylvania will climb into the high 60s and low 70s this week, signaling that it won’t be long before the region is buzzing under the emergence of hordes of 17-year cicadas.

Orchardists Face Spring Spray Decisions

With insects and diseases to suppress and blossoms to thin, fruit growers will be spending a lot of time with their sprayers in the coming weeks.

Spotted Lanternflies Ride Wind to Find Food

The spotted lanternfly is not a strong or frequent flyer, weaknesses that may hinder its ability to travel long distances by air, according to researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Student Research Spotlight - Jonathan Hernandez

This is the 6th of eight short news articles written by students, during the professional development class, about each other's research.

Spotted lanternfly egg hatching confirmed in Berks

The first known hatching of the pest's eggs this spring were discovered on Wednesday from eggs laid on the side of a building in Shillington, according to the PA Department of Agriculture.

Researchers find 2 fungi killed spotted lanternflies in Berks

The discovery could lead to a biological weapon to control the Asian pests.

5 Questions: Helping manage the Beescape in Carlisle

Each winter Pennsylvania beekeepers lose nearly 50% of their honey bee colonies and several wild bee species are threatened or endangered, reflecting trends around the world.

How the bumble bee got its stripes

Researchers have discovered a gene that drives color differences within a species of bumble bees. This discovery helps to explain the highly diverse color patterns among bumble bee species as well as how mimicry--individuals in an area adopting similar color patterns--evolves. A study describing the gene, which occurs in a highly conserved region of the genome that provides blueprints for segmentation, was led by researchers at Penn State and appears April 29, 2019, in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

How a parasitic fungus turns ants into 'zombies'

They walk among us: insects hijacked by parasitic fungi that control their every move.

Student Research Spotlight - Hannah Greenberg

This is the 5th of eight short news articles written by students, during the professional development class, about each other's research.

Invasive lanternfly wreaking havoc in the Northeast poses big threat to Michigan plants, crops

Invasive species can cause major damage to an ecosystem. They compete with native flora and fauna for resources, and often lack any natural predators to control their populations.