Skip to main content
Lack of Water is Key Stressor for Urban Trees

entomology

Photo of scale insects on a maple tree in Raleigh, N.C.

Mar 4, 2019

Dying Trees in Cities? Blame It on the Concrete

A study of the effects of urbanization, scale-insect abundance and latitudinal warming on trees shows a surprising result. 
stink bug

Feb 28, 2019

Why Do Stink Bugs Stink?

Why do stink bugs stink? How do they make that smell? Are stink bugs dangerous? 
Photo of a female German cockroach.

Jan 27, 2019

‘Bug Bombs’ Are Ineffective Killing Roaches Indoors

Bug bombs don't effectively remove cockroaches indoors, according to a new NC State study. 
brown spider

Jan 10, 2019

‘Is This a Brown Recluse?’ A Year of Looking at Spiders

What happens when three scientists launch a public service for people with spider questions? 
painting of insects

Dec 12, 2018

College Textbooks Largely Overlook the Most Common Animals

Biology textbooks devote less than 1 percent of their text to discussing insects, which make up more than 60 percent of animal species. 
Do termites fart? Yes. Termites are champion farters. This photo shows two termites chowing down on a piece of wood. This will probably lead to them making more farts.

Nov 29, 2018

Do Insects Fart? (They Sure Do!)

Do bugs fart? You bet. In fact, some of them pass an enormous amount of gas. 
Photo of researcher in the lab.

Aug 15, 2018

In the Wild and the Lab, Female Mosquitoes Get Choosy Quickly to Offset Invasions

Female mosquitoes show rapid genetic changes when threatened by invading cousin mosquitoes. 
Map shows urban heat islands in and around Raleigh and several other N.C. cities.

Jul 18, 2018

Cities as Study Proxies for Climate Change

Cities can be useful surrogates for studying climate change, according to NC State research. 
Caterpillar with purple head

Jun 26, 2018

10 of the Most Diabolical Crop Pests in North Carolina

Ten of the most vexing pests that prey on agriculture in North Carolina. 
Pseudoscorpion with egg sack on a piece of white fabric.

Jun 21, 2018

7 Fascinating NC Arthropods (That You’ve Never Heard Of)

Meet seven little critters that live around North Carolina -- and that you've probably never noticed. 
A large longhorn beetle on a Venus flytrap blossom.

Jun 12, 2018

4 of North Carolina’s Oddest Pollinators (They Aren’t Bees)

An NC State entomologist lists four of North Carolina's oddest pollinators. 
A female blowfly on a white background

Jun 7, 2018

Researchers Gain Insight Into Chromosome Evolution in Flies

NC State researchers have shed new light on the evolution of fly chromosomes by identifying a gene indispensable for male survival in a devastating livestock pest species. What they found could have important implications for genetic pest control. 

Mar 21, 2018

Could Insects Help Us Find New Yeasts for Big Business?

Yeasts are tiny fungi – but they play key roles in producing everything from beer and cheese to industrial chemicals and biofuels. 

Mar 19, 2018

Termite Queen, King Recognition Pheromone Identified

Forget the bows and curtsies. Worker termites shake in the presence of their queens and kings. New research explains how these workers smell a royal presence. 

Mar 13, 2018

Lack of Water is Key Stressor for Urban Trees

A recent study finds that urban trees can survive increased heat and insect pests fairly well – unless they are thirsty.