entomology

Jun 9, 2015

Experts Convene to Discuss How to Protect Bees, Other Pollinators

This autumn, researchers, educators, and industry experts from around the country will descend on a small town in rural North Carolina to discuss a question with repercussions for both the economy and the environment: what can be done to protect bees and other pollinators? 

Jun 8, 2015

Yes, That Ant Does Smell Like Blue Cheese

How curiosity, blue cheese, and a buried coconut revealed something new about the chemistry of ants. 

Jun 2, 2015

Researchers Seek Sneak Peek Into the Future of Forests

NC State scientists are bringing in researchers from around the country to participate in a project to get a glimpse of the future of forests in a warmer world. 

May 20, 2015

Field Study Shows How a GM Crop Can Have Diminishing Success at Fighting Off Insect Pest

Research finds the toxin in a widely used GM crop is having little impact on the crop pest called corn earworm – which is consistent with predictions made almost 20 years ago that were largely ignored. 

May 5, 2015

Top 5 Reasons to Garden for Native Bees

Five good reasons to take steps to make your garden welcoming to native bee species. 

Apr 22, 2015

From Punk Guitarist to Research Entomologist

Scientists don't fit stereotypes. Clint Penick studies the evolution of social traits in insect societies. He also recorded and toured as a punk rock guitarist. 

Apr 1, 2015

Isotope Study Shows Which Urban Ants Love Junk Food

Research finds that some – but not all – of the ant species on city streets have developed a taste for human food, offering insight into why certain ants are thriving in urban environments. The findings stem from a study that tested isotope levels in ants to determine the makeup of their diet. 

Mar 16, 2015

How Science Can Help Beekeepers Protect Their Colonies

David Tarpy and his lab are using advanced diagnostic tools to help beekeepers keep their honey bee colonies healthy and productive. 

Mar 2, 2015

The Environment May Change, but the Microbiome of Queen Bees Does Not

Researchers have published the first thorough census of the gut microbiome – which consists of all the microorganisms that live in the gut of the organism – in queen bees. And the findings were surprising. 

Feb 9, 2015

The Cankerworm Chronicles

Cankerworms can be a serious threat to trees and other vegetations -- and researchers are taking an active role in finding ways to combat them. 

Dec 2, 2014

Study Finds Insects Play Important Role in Dealing with Garbage on NYC Streets

In the city that never sleeps, it’s easy to overlook the insects underfoot. But that doesn’t mean they’re not working hard. A new study shows that insects play a significant role in disposing of garbage on the streets of Manhattan. 

Nov 19, 2014

Warmer Temperatures Limit Impact of Parasites, Boost Pest Populations

Research shows that some insect pests are thriving in warm, urban environments and developing earlier, limiting the impact of parasitoid wasps that normally help keep those pest populations in check. 

Nov 17, 2014

Something Resistant This Way Comes: An Insect Mystery

An NC State entomology researcher has found that a feared crop pest found in North Carolina is becoming resistant to a common method used to protect crops. 

Nov 12, 2014

Inhabit(ants) of New York City: High Diversity Underfoot in Urban Environments

Cities have more species diversity than you’d expect. A study of ants in Manhattan found not only a wide range of species, but also significant differences in the levels of biodiversity in different urban areas. 

Sep 30, 2014

The Root(worm) of the Problem: Unexpected Obstacles on the Road to Research

Scientists often have to spend an enormous amount of time becoming experts in things outside their field of study in order to do research they think is important. This is where a corn-eating beetle and a guy named Clay Chu come in.