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Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

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. 

Mosquito-resistant textile

Oct 18, 2023

Study Elucidates Evolution of Mosquitoes and Their Hosts

Study creates a mosquito family tree to better understand disease transmission and host choice. 

Tobacco budworm on a leaf.

Aug 1, 2023

Male Moth ‘Aphrodisiac’ Revealed

Study reveals for the first time a powerful pheromone chemical used by males moths to entice females. 

Scanning electron microscopy image of a chigger.

Jul 12, 2023

Bacterium Associated With Disease Found in N.C. Chiggers

The disease, scrub typhus, presents symptoms similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever. 

Picture of florescent flies.

Jun 12, 2023

CRISPR/Cas9-Based Gene Drive Could Suppress Agricultural Pests

Researchers use for the first time a gene-drive system on an important agricultural pest. 

image shows an electronic patch attached to the leaf of a tomato plant

Apr 12, 2023

Multifunctional Patch Offers Early Detection of Plant Diseases, Other Crop Threats

The patch can be applied to the leaves of plants to monitor crops for different pathogens – such as viral and fungal infections – and stresses such as drought or salinity. 

Fall armyworm moth.

Apr 11, 2023

Perfume Component Helps Lure Male Moth Pests

A small amount of nonanal added to a traditional blend of sex pheromones draws the attention of fall armyworm males looking for a good time. 

Potato plant with leaf blight

Apr 3, 2023

NC State Researchers Assemble Pathogen ‘Tree of Life’

Researchers provide open-access tool to capture new data on a global plant destroyer, Phytophthora. 

Bee visiting a flower

Mar 8, 2023

Wildflowers Near Lawns Can Increase Bee Abundance

Planting strips of wildflowers near lawns can help pollinators, an NC State Extension expert found. 

Queen bee on flower.

Feb 23, 2023

N.C. Effort to Help Pollinators Shows Successes, Limitations

Bee abundance and species diversity increased in agricultural pollinator habitats, but maintaining the habitat played a key role in effectiveness. 

Yam seeds in banana paper ready for planting.

Feb 21, 2023

Yams Benefit From Banana ‘Paper’ Cocoon

"Wrap-and-plant" technique shows promise for increasing tuber size, yields and storage quality. 

Mosquitoes

Dec 16, 2022

Study Examines Bacteria Living In and On Mosquitoes

NC State entomologists find more bacterial diversity internally than externally, a surprising result. 

Chicken used to test drugs' effectiveness in killing bed bugs.

Nov 29, 2022

Common Veterinary Drugs Show Effectiveness Against Bed Bugs

Fluralaner and ivermectin, used widely against pests like fleas and ticks, show varying levels of success in tests conducted on resurgent bed bugs. 

screwworm larva

Oct 31, 2022

Podcast: Max Scott, the New World Screwworm, and Zombie Deer

Max Scott talks about the New World screwworm, Panamanian "fly factories" and some really gross infestations - including the case of the "zombie deer." 

Corn earworm attacking corn plant.

Sep 5, 2022

Soil Temperature Can Predict Pest Spread in Crops

Researchers use historical soil temperature data to learn about - and predict - overwintering success of the nasty corn earworm.