Cornell Department of Entomology

10/26/2026

What an incredible day! Insectapalooza 2026 welcomed 4,915 visitors through the main entrance, featured 29 exhibitor tables, and hosted 22 workshop talks attended by 647 participants.
We are very grateful to our amazing co-organizers, volunteers, exhibitors, presenters, and the many members of the entomology communities in Ithaca and Geneva who shared their time, expertise, specimens, activities, and enthusiasm with the public. Your dedication brings science to life and makes this event possible.
We are especially grateful to Dr. Linda Rayor and Dr. Cole Gilbert, whose vision and years of commitment have helped make Insectapalooza a signature event of our department.
Special thanks to the Cornell University Insect Collection , Albert R. Mann Library at Cornell University at Cornell Lab of Ornithology , Cornell Botanic Gardens , the Johnson Museum of Art , the Dairy Bar, and Amazing Pete's Balloons for helping create an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. From insect specimens, books, and educational activities to art, nature, ice cream, and amazing balloon costumes, your contributions helped make Insectapalooza 2026 a fun, engaging, and memorable day for our community. 🐞🦋✨

Finally, thank you to our generous donors and supporters. Your contributions help us continue sharing research, discovery, and a love of insects with our community.

We love what we do, and we are already looking forward to seeing everyone at Insectapalooza 2027! 🐜✨

10/19/2026

🦋 Join us on Saturday, October 24, from 9 AM to 3 PM at Stocking Hall, Cornell University, for our annual Science Festival!
🧬 Discover the fascinating world of insects through live arthropods, hands-on science activities, interactive demonstrations, and engaging workshops on topics including scorpions, frozen bugs, aquatic insects, pest management, insect conservation, contemporary art inspired by insects, entomology careers, and much more.
🎨 Crafts for kids | 🐜 Arthropod Zoo | 🧠 Fun for all ages
🔗 Check the link for the full workshop schedule: https://cals.cornell.edu/entomology/research-extension-outreach/insectapalooza

We can't wait to see you there!

Photo credits: Todd Ugine and Nadia Martins

09/17/2026

Shoutout to Entomology PhD student Sylvana Ross for her recent feature in the Cornell Chronicle! In the article, she shares insights into her projects and how her research journey began, highlighting the value of engaging communities in urban ecology and shedding light on the diverse insect life thriving in our cities. 🐞🌱 Ross’ research is among the first to examine how the historical structuring of cities affects biodiversity, offering new insights into the relationship between urban development and ecological communities.

Follow Queen City Pollinator Project to learn more about the project!

🔗 Read the full article at the link below:

Doctoral student Sylvana Ross and a team of Cincinnati youths spent their summer studying city-dwelling insects, amassing data that can inform decisions that support healthy green spaces.

09/08/2026

The annual Bee Course recently wrapped up in southeastern Arizona! Dr. Bryan Danforth, along with former Cornell students and post-docs and collaborators from other institutions, led the course, which is administered through the American Museum of Natural History and hosted at the in Portal, AZ. The course this year included 24 students from the US, Canada, Ecuador, Uruguay, Panama, Sri Lanka, and Israel, representing a wide range of backgrounds—from academic institutions, conservation organizations, and federal and state agencies. The course focuses on the biology, systematics, ecology, and natural history of bees. The Chihuahuan desert is a bee biodiversity hotspot, and therefore an ideal location for engaging students in the diversity of bees. Thanks to everyone who contributed to and participated in the Bee Course this year, and to the SWRS for hosting us! For more information on the Bee Course, see our website. Link below:
👉https://www.thebeecourse.org

09/02/2026

08/27/2026

Protecting crops and pollinators takes teamwork. 🌻🐝 Cornell Department of Entomology researchers and Cornell Integrated Pest Management are working with New York growers to address the challenges and opportunities created by the state's new pesticide ban. Read more:

Preliminary Cornell research on managing the dreaded seedcorn maggot is giving hope to growers across the state ahead of New York’s 2029 ban on neonicotinoid pesticides in field crops: Side-by-side farm trials of neonic-treated vs. untreated corn showed no difference in yield.

08/26/2026

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Dyce Lab for our 2026 honey extraction! 🍯🐝 It was great to connect, share our excitement for bees (and birds!), and send everyone home with a sweet treat to welcome the fall semester. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
Below are the numbers for this year:

Number of participants: ~550
Youngest participant: 8 weeks old (unless I missed someone younger!)
Furthest travelled to get to Dyce: Busan, South Korea
Most enthusiastic participant: James the dog (as usual)
Total honey extracted: ~156 gallons (1872 lbs)
Taken home by wonderfully helpful participants (thank you!): ~130 gallons (1560 lbs)
Consumed by the most enthusiastic participant: Not too much this year! But there’s still some cleaning to do...🐝

08/26/2026

Preliminary Cornell research on managing the dreaded seedcorn maggot is giving hope to growers across the state ahead of New York’s 2029 ban on neonicotinoid pesticides in field crops: Side-by-side farm trials of neonic-treated vs. untreated corn showed no difference in yield.

08/20/2026

🦟 Today, August 20, is World Mosquito Day! Take a tour of the Murdock Lab Insectary and learn some fun facts about these tiny creatures and the important research being conducted, from caring for larvae to feeding adult mosquitoes. Special thanks to PhD student Brit Johnson for taking us behind the scenes.
What do we feed our mosquitoes?
Larvae are fed fish food pellets. Adult mosquitoes are fed blood. Depending on the species, this may be cow, chicken, or human blood obtained from a blood bank.

What do we study in our lab?
We investigate how environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, affect mosquito fitness and their ability to transmit diseases like malaria and dengue.

How long do mosquitoes live?
It depends on the species and their environment. In the wild, mosquitoes typically live for 3 to 4 weeks. In the lab, they can survive for up to 60 days when provided with optimal conditions.