entomology

Feb 21, 2018

Flowers Aren’t Enough: How Urban Heat Affects Bee Populations

In cities, even gardens rich with flowers do not have the same bee abundance or diversity as natural areas. Why not? 

Feb 12, 2018

Bed Bug Histamines Are Substantial, Persistent in Infested Homes

Bed bugs may soon be considered more than a nuisance pest. New research shows that bed bugs produce a lot of histamines that trigger allergic reactions in humans, and that these histamines don't go away for long periods of time - even if the bed bugs are eliminated. 

Feb 8, 2018

Will a Cold Winter Kill Off Ticks?

Cold weather won’t kill off ticks. But a brutal winter could still have an effect on tick populations. Maybe. 

Feb 6, 2018

Study Sheds New Light On Antibiotics Produced by Ants

A new study finds some ant species make use of powerful antimicrobial agents – while other ant species produce none at all. 

Feb 6, 2018

Venus Flytraps Don’t Eat The Insects That Pollinate Them

Researchers discover which insects pollinate Venus flytraps – and learn that flytraps don’t dine on them. 

Feb 5, 2018

How Solitary Cockroaches Gave Rise to Social Termites: Tales from Two Genomes

Termites are "social cockroaches." NC State researchers examine the genomes of both termites and cockroaches to find clues about how this evolution occurred. 

Dec 22, 2017

Get a Little Closer: Moth Females Use Scent Proximity to Attract Mates

Female moths with an ineffective pheromone blend can use proximity to better-smelling females to attract mates. 

Oct 2, 2017

Recluse or Not? Scientists Use Twitter to Tackle Spider Questions

Don't panic! Scientists want to use social media to help folks learn more about brown recluses (and their lookalike spider kin). 

Sep 6, 2017

Buggin’ Out: NC State’s Insect Museum Grows

NC State’s Insect Museum, which already includes more than 1.5 million specimens, has now received a gift of 60,000+ insects. 

Jun 26, 2017

Hot Cities Spell Bad News for Bees

A new study finds that common wild bee species decline as urban temperatures increase. 

May 17, 2017

The Boll Weevil War, or How Farmers and Scientists Saved Cotton in the South

The boll weevil is not much to look at, but it was powerful enough to forge an unprecedented partnership between farmers, legislators and scientists. 

May 9, 2017

Research Yields New Details About Trap-jaw Ants – and They Look Amazing

Trap-jaw ants, with their spring-loaded jaws and powerful stings, are among the fiercest insect predators, but they begin their lives as spiny, hairy, fleshy blobs hanging from the ceiling and walls of an underground nest. 

May 3, 2017

‘Princess Pheromone’ Tells Ants Which Larvae Are Destined to Be Queens

For Indian jumping ants (Harpegnathos saltator), becoming royalty is all about timing. 

Apr 3, 2017

Study IDs Ways to Encourage ‘Refuge’ Planting, Slowing Resistance to Bt Crops

A study finds a shortfall in the amount of “refuge” cropland being planted in NC – increasing the rate at which crop pests evolve the ability to devour genetically engineered Bt crops. 

Nov 14, 2016

Engineering a New Mosquito

NC State entomologists are developing genetic systems that could replace mosquito populations with strains that have a reduced capacity for transmitting disease.