Insect specimens

Insect Biodiversity Center

The Insect Biodiversity Center addresses complex issues in insect management and conservation through transdisciplinary partnerships across Penn State and beyond.

Who We Are

The Insect Biodiversity Center creates a unique, transdisciplinary ecosystem that integrates disparate centers of excellence at Penn State in insect biology, management, ecology, technology development, Earth and environment monitoring systems, data science and modeling, decision support systems, human dimensions, communication science, and education.

By fostering transdisciplinary research across a rich and diverse collective of individuals, the Center strives to leverage expertise outside of the domain of the biological sciences to tackle complex biological, environmental, social, economic, and political drivers underlying changes in insect species abundance and distribution.

As such, we strive to explore, understand, and promote insect conservation efforts that maintain and restore balance to natural ecosystems, while also mitigating the adverse effects of economically and environmentally harmful insect species.

The IBC is supported by the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, the Department of Entomology, the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, and the Institutes of Energy and the Environment.

News

Warmer spots within fields have more blooms and more bees

Climate can vary across large areas of land, but it also can vary within much smaller areas such as farms. A new study by researchers at Penn State examined whether these microclimates — the climate of a very small or restricted area — affect pollination by both wild and managed bees and resulting wild blueberry yields.

How a genetic tug-of-war decides the fate of a honey bee

Despite having identical genetic instructions, female honey bee larvae can develop into either long-lived reproductive queens or short-lived sterile workers who help rear their sisters rather than laying their own eggs. Now, an interdisciplinary team led by researchers at Penn State has uncovered the molecular mechanisms that control how the conflict between genes inherited from the father and the mother determine the larva’s fate.

Urban heat portal aims to tackle rising temperatures, protect at-risk residents

As heat and associated risks intensify in cities around the world, a new tool developed by researchers in the College of Arts and Architecture’s Stuckeman School at Penn State and the Department of Urban Policy at Hunter College aims to shed light on how rising temperatures affect New York City’s neighborhoods — and what can be done to protect the most vulnerable communities.

News

Warmer spots within fields have more blooms and more bees

Climate can vary across large areas of land, but it also can vary within much smaller areas such as farms. A new study by researchers at Penn State examined whether these microclimates — the climate of a very small or restricted area — affect pollination by both wild and managed bees and resulting wild blueberry yields.

How a genetic tug-of-war decides the fate of a honey bee

Despite having identical genetic instructions, female honey bee larvae can develop into either long-lived reproductive queens or short-lived sterile workers who help rear their sisters rather than laying their own eggs. Now, an interdisciplinary team led by researchers at Penn State has uncovered the molecular mechanisms that control how the conflict between genes inherited from the father and the mother determine the larva’s fate.

Urban heat portal aims to tackle rising temperatures, protect at-risk residents

As heat and associated risks intensify in cities around the world, a new tool developed by researchers in the College of Arts and Architecture’s Stuckeman School at Penn State and the Department of Urban Policy at Hunter College aims to shed light on how rising temperatures affect New York City’s neighborhoods — and what can be done to protect the most vulnerable communities.

Some water conservation programs may get more value by targeting rural farms

Conservation programs aimed at boosting environmentally friendly practices by incentivizing farmers may get more bang for their buck by targeting rural farms rather than more urban ones, according to a study led by researchers at Penn State.