entomology

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. 

Sep 2, 2014

Asian Camel Crickets Now Common in U.S. Homes

Non-native species of camel crickets, known for their propensity for eating anything, including each other, have spread into homes across the eastern United States. 

Aug 28, 2014

Cities as a Glimpse of the Future

How researchers learned that cities may serve as a crystal ball for the impact of climate change on an important insect pest. 

Aug 27, 2014

Three Things You Didn’t Know About the Arachnids That Live on Your Face

Right now, in the general vicinity of your nose, there are at least two species of microscopic mites living in your pores. Scientists have just published a study about these little-known mites. 

Aug 27, 2014

Museum Specimens, Modern Cities Show How an Insect Pest Will Respond to Climate Change

Researchers from North Carolina State University have found that century-old museum specimens hold clues to how global climate change will affect a common insect pest that can weaken and kill trees – and the news is not good.