Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Apr 12, 2018

CALS Book Club: Explore The Secret World Of Insects

Dr. Eleanor’s Book of Common Ants: This behind-the-scenes look at the lives of ants by entomology alumna Eleanor Spicer Rice and Applied Ecology Professor Rob Dunn won coast-to-coast acclaim in… 

Apr 9, 2018

Grad Student: Bug Bombs Don’t Live up to Claims

Setting off a bug bomb may seem like an easy solution to a roach infestation, but research by an award-winning NC State alumnus shows that it may actually harm the homeowner more than the roaches. 

Mar 22, 2018

Termite Queen, King Recognition Pheromone Identified

Researchers at North Carolina State University have for the first time identified a specific chemical used by the higher termite castes – the queens and the kings – to communicate their royal status with worker termites. The findings could advance knowledge of termite evolution, behavior and control. 

Mar 14, 2018

NC State Researcher Awarded Grant to Improve Honeybee Health

CALS' David Tarpy won a grant to research the impact of pesticide exposure on honeybee colony disease prevalence and reproductive potential. 

Feb 23, 2018

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

Simply adding flowers to otherwise hot sites with lots of impervious surface cover is unlikely to restore pollinator communities, says CALS Entomologist Steve Frank. In NC State's science blog, the Abstract, Frank describes recent research in and around Raleigh that shows urban heat is a factor. 

Feb 15, 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 12, 2018

Will a Cold Winter Kill Off Ticks?

The bad news is that even particularly harsh winter weather – like that experienced by much of the East Coast this year – won’t kill off ticks. However, a brutal winter could still have an effect on tick populations. 

Dec 19, 2017

Scientist to the Senators: Ph.D. Student Johanna Elsensohn

Entomology Ph.D. student Johanna Elsensohn's first trip to Washington, D.C., to speak with policymakers was almost two years ago — and it changed everything. 

Dec 18, 2017

Fieldwork in Africa Informs Science – and Changes a Scientist

William Sharpee, a postdoctoral scientist in NC State’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, describes his life-changing work in Kenya to help farmers manage cassava mosaic disease. 

Nov 30, 2017

NC State Team Helped Growers Transition Away From Methyl Bromide

A recent news story by the U.S. Department of Agriculture acknowledged an NC State research and extension program for its success in helping strawberry, tomato and pepper growers maintain yields as they transition away from methyl bromide.