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Author: Mick Kulikowski

Photo of a diseased leaf.

Jun 11, 2021

Irish Potato Famine Pathogen Stoked Outbreaks on Six Continents

NC State researchers track the evolution of pathogen that causes late-blight disease in potatoes and tomatoes. 

Corn in a Rowan County field

May 17, 2021

To Preserve Global Food Security, New Tools Needed to Prevent Plant Disease Pandemics

Global plant disease surveillance and detection systems – along with plant disease modeling – are needed to protect plants – and the food supply. 

Photo of sand fly.

May 6, 2021

Surprising Sand Fly Find Yields New Species of Bacteria

Researchers discover a new species of bacteria while examining sand fly larvae rearing area. 

bed bugs

Jul 15, 2020

Bed Bugs Modify Microbiome of Homes They Infest

Bed bugs aren’t just an annoying, blood-feeding pest. They also seem to change the bacterial community in the homes they infest. 

Jun 5, 2020

Volcanic Glass Spray Shows Promise in Controlling Mosquitoes

An industrial mineral called perlite could help reduce mosquito populations and, in turn, malaria transmission. 

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. 

Large-scale study is needed to test new approaches for slowing pest resistance. Photo by Roger Winstead, NC State University.

May 17, 2018

What Happens If We Run Out? Pesticide Resistance Needs Attention, Large-Scale Study

How can we slow pest resistance to herbicides and pesticides? NC State researchers say large-scale studies are needed to test new strategies. 

A female German cockroach. A new paper compares cockroach and termite genomes to find clues to the evolution of sociality. Photo courtesy of Matt Bertone.

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. 

Close up on exposed corn ears in field

Jul 24, 2017

Researchers Find Corn Gene Conferring Resistance to Multiple Plant Leaf Diseases

A specific gene in corn appears to be associated with resistance to two and possibly three different plant leaf diseases. 

Commercial bees face some challenges, but providing more nutrition to traveling bees may mitigate those challenges. Photo courtesy of NC State University.

Aug 24, 2016

Nutrition Matters: Stress From Migratory Beekeeping May Be Eased by Access to Food

Traveling presents challenges for honey bees used to pollinate crops, but research shows that some of these challenges can be mitigated by providing other food sources while bees are on the road.