New microorganism survival commission aims to fill critical conservation gap

October 1, 2025

For the first time, the International Union for Conservation of Nature is formally including all microbial life in its framework by establishing a Microbial Conservation Specialist Group, which includes Seth Bordenstein, the director of Penn State’s One Health Microbiome Center, and will focus on the survival of species — even the smallest ones on the planet.

Organic beekeeping can be even more profitable than conventional methods

September 18, 2025

Organic beekeeping can support healthy and productive honey bee colonies, and a new study led by researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences found that adopting organic honey bee colony management is not only profitable, but in some cases, it can be even more profitable than conventional management.

Women scientists, love of nature inspire donor’s gift to the Ag Sciences

September 9, 2025

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and its Department of Entomology are benefiting from a $1.5 million gift from a donor who has chosen to remain anonymous. The gift, split into two parts, supports the creation of the Maria Sibylla Merian Endowed Faculty Position and the Rachel Carson Graduate Training Program.

Explore the wonderful world of insects at Penn State’s Great Insect Fair

September 8, 2025

Learn about the diverse world of insects at this year’s Great Insect Fair, the annual Penn State event that celebrates insects with a variety of activities, games, crafts and more.

Geography lecture to spotlight pollinator conservation and technology

August 29, 2025

Christina M. Grozinger, Publius Vergilius Maro Professor of Entomology at Penn State, will deliver a talk titled “Leveraging Technology to Conserve Pollinator Biodiversity” on Sept. 12 as part of the Penn State Department of Geography's Coffee Hour lecture series.

Penn State releases new guide on identifying bees in Pennsylvania

August 20, 2025

A new Penn State Extension publication, "Bees of Pennsylvania: A Guide to the Genera," is intended for those interested in learning to identify and learn about the diversity of over 440 bee species in Pennsylvania ecosystems.

Northern fowl mite treatment tested at Penn State receives FDA approval

August 14, 2025

A new way to treat poultry for fowl mites was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July, thanks in part to a team of researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Huck student receives U.S. National Science Foundation fellowship

July 28, 2025

Sophia Mucciolo, an ecology student affiliated with the Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, recently received a fellowship from the U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. She was one of eight students from Penn State selected for the program this year.

A Mission to Automate Pest Monitoring

July 21, 2025

This is the eighth short news article written by students, during the professional development class of Spring 2025, about each other's research.

Gardening questions answered by Master Gardeners at Ag Progress Days

July 16, 2025

From identifying pests to improving plant health, Penn State Extension Master Gardeners will provide research-based gardening advice in the Yard and Garden Area during Ag Progress Days, Aug. 12-14.

Grace Tiwari, Invited Panelist at DialogueNEXT

July 14, 2025

On March 25, 2025, Grace Tiwari, a doctoral student pursuing Ph.D. in Entomology at Penn State University, participated as an invited panelist at the World Food Prize Foundation's DialogueNEXT conference, "A Root Awakening," held at the Willard InterContinental in Washington, D.C.

What a bumble bee chooses to eat may not match ideal diet

July 2, 2025

Humans may not be the only species that struggles to eat the right amounts of the ideal foods. A new study led by researchers at Penn State suggests that what bumble bees choose to eat may not line up with their ideal nutritional needs.

Warmer spots within fields have more blooms and more bees

June 24, 2025

Climate can vary across large areas of land, but it also can vary within much smaller areas such as farms. A new study led by researchers at Penn State examined whether these microclimates affect pollination by both wild and managed bees and resulting wild blueberry yields.

How a genetic tug-of-war decides the fate of a honey bee

June 20, 2025

Despite having identical genetic instructions, female honey bee larvae can develop into either long-lived reproductive queens or short-lived sterile workers who help rear their sisters rather than laying their own eggs. Now, an interdisciplinary team led by researchers at Penn State has uncovered the molecular mechanisms that control how the conflict between genes inherited from the father and the mother determine the larva’s fate.

Uncovering How a Kind of Bacteria Can Be Used to Prevent the Spread of Deadly Human Diseases

May 22, 2025

This is the seventh short news article written by students, during the professional development class of Spring 2025, about each other's research.

VECTOR Library launches to strengthen response to vector-borne disease threats

May 15, 2025

As the United States observes Lyme Disease Awareness Month in May, public health and extension professionals across the country have a powerful new tool at their fingertips: the VECTOR Library, a centralized digital database of more than 1,400 educational materials on vector-borne diseases collected from the Cooperative Extension System across all U.S. states and territories.

Can Co-feeding of Two Tick Species on White-tailed Deer Reduce Lyme Disease?

May 12, 2025

This is the sixth short news article written by students, during the professional development class of Spring 2025, about each other's research.

The Hidden Lives of Solitary Bees: Uncovering Nature's Lesser-Known Pollinators

May 2, 2025

This is the fifth short news article written by students, during the professional development class of Spring 2025, about each other's research.

College of Agricultural Sciences graduate students receive awards

April 29, 2025

Graduate students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences were recognized for their accomplishments during the 2025 Graduate Student Award Celebration, hosted by the Office for Research and Graduate Education and held recently on the University Park campus.

Oh My Gourd! Nina Devine's Research on Squashing Pests and Drought

April 29, 2025

This is the fourth short news article written by students, during the professional development class of Spring 2025, about each other's research.

Grozinger appointed to National Academies committee on insect declines

April 24, 2025

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recently appointed Christina Grozinger, Publius Vergilius Maro Professor of Entomology and director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at Penn State, to an 18-member study committee to examine the status of insects in North America.

Mouse Madness: Ticks Tussle for Liquid Lunch

April 24, 2025

This is the third short news article written by students, during the professional development class of Spring 2025, about each other's research.

Pollination: What's All the Buzz?

April 21, 2025

This is the second short news article written by students, during the professional development class of Spring 2025, about each other's research.

The Hidden Revolt: How Bumble Bee Workers Challenge Their Queen

April 17, 2025

This is the first short news article written by students, during the professional development class of Spring 2025, about each other's research.

Feeling salty? Increased salt stress reduces tomato pest activity

April 15, 2025

Increased soil salinity can reduce damage from prominent tomato pests such as the tomato fruitworm, according to researchers at Penn State.

Even sublethal insecticide dose may disrupt pollinator mating process

April 9, 2025

Insecticides can help protect crops against troublesome pests, but they also pose a risk for beneficial insects such as pollinators. A new study led by researchers at Penn State provided insight into how even sublethal doses of insecticides can negatively affect pollinators by disrupting the mating process.

Buzzing with Discovery: Exploring the Applied Systems Ecology Lab with Heather Grab

April 7, 2025

One of several news spotlights about our new faculty and what research their labs are conducting to move the study of entomology in our world forward.

Picky eaters by day, buffet by night: Butterfly, moth diets sync to plant aromas

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.

Fifteen Penn Staters selected for Bayer Crop Science mentoring program

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. 

Fifteen Penn Staters selected for Bayer Crop Science mentoring program

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.