Department of Entomology

In the 1880s, California farmers saved their citrus crops from the invasive cottony cushion scale by introducing the Vedalia beetle—a landmark success in biological control. Today, scientists like Dr. Mark Hoddle are exploring similar methods, such as parasitic wasps, to...

Bumble bee queens take breaks from laying eggs early in colony formation to conserve energy. A UCR Entomology student, Blanca Peto, found these pauses align with brood development and are triggered by cues from pupae. This flexible behavior helps queens...

The UC Riverside Entomology department has developed an effective new treatment for drywood termites using bistrifluron, a chemical that prevents molting by blocking exoskeleton formation. When combined with pinene, a chemical lure that attracts termites, the treatment kills up to...

The book consolidates much of the recent research on the phylogenomics of Chalcidoidea. It is co-authored by many of the world authorities and focuses on the systematics and biology of chalcidoid wasps. It provides an introduction to the family, a...

UC Riverside has received seven grants from the U.S. Department of Education’s Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need ( GAANN ) Program. The program offers grants to academic departments and programs at higher education institutions to fund graduate fellowships...

A doctoral student in entomology is being honored by the world’s largest entomological society for her contributions to the field. Link to Article: Doctoral Student

Egg production in the United States has changed significantly in the last century. From the 1920s to the 1960s, egg production underwent a significant evolution, driven by advancements in breeding and husbandry practices ( Kidd and Anderson, 2019 ). In...

Originally from central Asia, the house fly ( Musca domestica) is found pretty much anywhere humans live. In large numbers it can be a nuisance, and it is known to transmit more than 200 pathogens to humans and animals. One...