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Using Written Records – and Tweets – as a Roadmap for Plant Disease Spread

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

horse fly against a white background

May 27, 2025

How Do Horse Flies Bite? And Are They Dangerous?

Learn why horse flies bite humans, what attracts them, and if their bites carry health risks — as well as effective tips for preventing horse fly bites. 
dozens of fire ants crawl around a sandy surface

May 22, 2025

What’s in Fire Ant Venom? And How Can I Get Rid of Fire Ants?

Discover why fire ant stings hurt, how large their colonies can be, and effective methods to control and eliminate fire ants around your home. 
female southern black widow spider with red hourglass marking

May 14, 2025

Are Black Widows Dangerous? Facts and Myths About Black Widow Spiders

Are black widow spiders deadly? Learn the truth about their venom, identification tips, and safety precautions from experts. 
close-up view of several termites in tunnels they've carved into a piece of rotting wood

May 5, 2025

How Do I Protect My Home From Termites? Prevention and Control Tips

Discover effective tips for preventing and controlling termites in your home. Learn how to identify termite infestations early and protect your property. 
a lone star tick against a white backdrop

Apr 29, 2025

How Do I Protect Myself Against Ticks? Prevention and Removal Tips

Learn how ticks spread diseases, why tick bites are dangerous, and effective methods to prevent and remove ticks safely. 
a mosquito rests on someone's skin

Apr 21, 2025

How Can I Prevent Mosquito Bites? Effective Prevention Tips

Learn why mosquitoes bite, why mosquito bites itch, and the best methods to prevent mosquito bites and protect yourself outdoors. 
a brown cockroach against a white background

Apr 8, 2025

How Do I Get Rid of Cockroaches?

Learn why roaches infest homes, how quickly they breed, and effective ways to address cockroach problems. 
neatly planted rows of corn

Mar 17, 2025

Researchers Demonstrate New Technique for Boosting Plant Growth with Bacteria

The work paves the way for crop applications that make use of these beneficial bacteria in conjunction with agrochemicals. 
Green rhododendron leave with green blotches

Jan 31, 2025

Moving Plant Disease Diagnosis from Lab to Field for Faster Results

North Carolina State University researchers continue to push the field of plant disease diagnosis forward, developing simple-to-run tests capable of delivering results in minutes, sometimes before plants show visible signs… 
Potato leaf with late blight disease.

Jan 24, 2025

Study Points to South America – Not Mexico – as Birthplace of Irish Potato Famine Pathogen

Spud sleuth Jean Ristaino and lab members solve a longstanding mystery into the origin of the Irish potato famine pathogen. 
Powdery mildew on a blueberry plant.

Jan 8, 2025

Blueberries Beware: Powdery Mildew Spreading Across the Globe

Research on fungus spread could help growers predict, monitor and control disease affecting blueberries. 
Historic potato plant affected by pathogen.

Aug 5, 2024

Study Analyzes Potato-Pathogen ‘Arms Race’ After Irish Famine

Researchers examine both the pathogen's effector genes and the plant's resistance genes simultaneously in a first-of-its-kind analysis. 
A bed bug works its way through a bed net.

Jul 23, 2024

The Unintended Consequences of Success Against Malaria

Bed nets and insecticide sprays kept targeted mosquitoes at bay for decades, and those practices also killed household pests. Until they didn't. 
Rows of crops on a farm

Mar 25, 2024

New Software Boosts Accuracy of Tech to Measure Crop Health

A new tool improves the accuracy of electronic devices that measure the color of a plant’s leaves to assess health. 
Late blight disease on potato leaf.

Feb 15, 2024

Using Written Records – and Tweets – as a Roadmap for Plant Disease Spread

Examining keyword terms from historic and modern texts can help researchers track and visualize plant diseases like late blight.