2020 Penn State Postdoctoral Society awards

September 18, 2020

The Penn State Postdoc Society is pleased to announce Dr. Karen C. Poh as the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Postdoc Award.

Study at Penn State to examine potential for birds to eat spotted lanternfly

September 18, 2020

Do birds find the spotted lanternfly to be a tasty treat or a nauseating nibble? That is one of the questions researchers at Penn State hope to answer, and they are seeking citizen scientists, especially bird watchers, to help in their quest for knowledge.

Researchers Warn of Food-Web Threats From Common Insecticides

September 17, 2020

In light of emerging evidence showing how a commonly used class of insecticides can spread through the environment to pollinators, predators and other insects they are not intended to kill, researchers are warning about the potential for widespread environmental contamination.

Study at Penn State to examine potential for birds to eat spotted lanternfly

September 17, 2020

Do birds find the spotted lanternfly to be a tasty treat or a nauseating nibble? That is one of the questions researchers at Penn State hope to answer, and they are seeking citizen scientists, especially bird watchers, to help in their quest for knowledge.

Tracking foraging patterns of bees with radar

September 15, 2020

Bee health is currently compromised in response to numerous environmental stressors including poor nutrition, exposure to pesticides, and climate change.

Rats in rowhouses, opossums in bottles: Philly exterminators see booming biz as trash sits

September 15, 2020

Michelle Niedermeier, Penn State’s community and environmental health program coordinator at the Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management office in Philadelphia, said there are various reasons why people have been seeing more pests lately.

More dengue fever and less malaria – mosquito control strategies may need to shift as Africa heats up

September 14, 2020

As it becomes too warm for comfort, the Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit malaria may lose the battle against climate change in Africa. But a new foe is on the horizon.

Insect Biodiversity Center to promote insect conservation, healthy ecosystems

September 8, 2020

A newly launched center at Penn State will create a focal point for the study and conservation of insects and the ecosystems with which they interact.

Bug of the Month - September 2020

September 8, 2020

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

Spotted lanternflies encroach on Weatherly area

September 8, 2020

The Hazleton area has been hearing about spotted lanternflies invading portions of the state for years, but only recently have they made an appearance locally.

Spotted lanternfly reports surge statewide with confirmed cases in Allegheny County

September 8, 2020

In just seven months, reports of the invasive and grotesque spotted lanternfly jumped 147% statewide. Confirmed cases in Allegheny County are creeping up in Swissvale, Avalon and some Pittsburgh neighborhoods, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

Insect Biodiversity Center to promote insect conservation, healthy ecosystems

September 8, 2020

The newly launched Insect Biodiversity Center at Penn State will create a focal point for the study and conservation of insects and the ecosystems with which they interact. The center brings together faculty researchers and educators from eight Penn State colleges.

Spotted lanternflies have infested the region and researchers are hard at work trying to control their spread

September 8, 2020

Spotted lanternflies landed on my hat, my face and every other available surface of my body on August 5, at The Woodlands in West Philadelphia. I was there tagging along with a team of Penn State researchers on a mission to collect 3,000 of the bugs that morning.

Beescape Monthly Update for September

September 2, 2020

Greetings, once again, from the Beescape Team! This is another entry in our monthly updates from us here at Beescape!

Help Test an App in Your Backyard While Learning About Pollinators!

September 1, 2020

Center faculty members and Insect Biodiversity Fellow Codey Mathis created an app on pollinators

Here's how you can protect yourself from ticks

August 31, 2020

Did you know that Pennsylvania is ranked No. 1 in the nation for Lyme disease cases?

Invasive Spotted Lanternflies Reach Eight New Jersey Counties

August 31, 2020

The insect is an ‘excellent hitchhiker,’ says the New Jersey Department of Agriculture

What happened to our butterflies this summer?

August 31, 2020

Many butterfly watchers across Pennsylvania, even those with pollinator or butterfly gardens or fields packed with butterfly-attracting wildflowers, have reported a noticeable decline in the big showy butterflies like monarchs and swallowtails, this summer.

Spotted lanternfly task force brings together expertise of scientists, agencies

August 31, 2020

Since its unwelcome arrival in Pennsylvania several years ago, the spotted lanternfly has been eating away at agricultural commodities, landscapes and the commonwealth's bottom line.

The Dreaded Lanternfly, Scourge of Agriculture, Spreads in New Jersey

August 31, 2020

The insect poses a serious threat to American crops, particularly vineyards, and inspires creative backyard methods of eliminating them.

$1.2 million grant will help researchers to develop AI tools for improving adolescents' diets

August 28, 2020

With a $1.2 million grant from Fondation Botnar, an international team of researchers will assess the feasibility of creating and launching a global-scale artificial intelligence (AI) app for mobile devices that diagnoses diet-related problems and offers nutritional advice to adolescent girls living in urban settings in Ghana and Vietnam.

Spotted lanternfly tree traps can be effective, but need careful installation

August 25, 2020

For homeowners dealing with spotted lanternfly infestations, tree traps can be a cost-effective, nonchemical option.

Reducing transmission risk of livestock disease

August 25, 2020

New research identifies livestock husbandry practices that increase transmission risk of deadly livestock virus PPRV

Merit-based NSF grant extension supports expansion of gene-editing technology

August 19, 2020

Researchers who developed an improved method of gene editing for the study of arthropods will expand the technology for use in vertebrate species such as mice, fish and birds after receiving new funding from the National Science Foundation.

Penn State Pollinator Webinar Series: Bumble bee biology and management for pollination (Erin Treanore)

August 18, 2020

In previous webinars, speakers have talked about how bees are very diverse and made up of over 20,000 distinct species. It is important to understand the different characteristics of these bee species, as they can greatly impact pollination management.

Cover crop mixtures must be 'farm-tuned' to provide maximum ecosystem services

August 18, 2020

Penn State researchers, in a recent study, were surprised to learn that they could take the exact same number of seeds from the same plants, put them in agricultural fields across the Mid-Atlantic region and get profoundly different stands of cover crops a few months later.

Merit-based NSF grant extension supports expansion of gene-editing technology

August 17, 2020

Researchers who developed an improved method of gene editing for the study of arthropods will expand the technology for use in vertebrate species such as mice, fish and birds after receiving new funding from the National Science Foundation.

Penn State Scientists Grozinger and Kilpatrick featured on PolliNation Podcast

August 14, 2020

PolliNation is a podcast from Oregon State University Extension Service that tells the stories of researchers, land managers and concerned citizens who are making bold strides to improve the health of pollinators.

CuriosityStream: Locust Swarm

August 11, 2020

Devastating swarms of locusts are devouring everything in their path from Africa to India. Scientists and citizens are waging a massive war with cutting edge technology to stop the infestation from becoming a deadly plague.

Why This Year's Locust Invasion Is Setting Off Global Panic

August 11, 2020

As if 2020 hasn’t thrown enough curveballs, desert locusts are setting off a global panic.