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After Death, the Necrobiome Helps Drive the Circle of Life

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Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · 1d

The term "necrobiome" was first coined in 2013 by MSU entomologist Dr. Eric Benbow and refers to the entire community of organisms associated with the decomposition of dead organic matter.

Learn more here: www.discovermagazine.com/after-death-...

#Entomology #Ecology #Decomposition #Forestry🧪🌎🍁

The necrobiome is kind of gross and often smelly, but learn more about how this community keeps the wheels of life turning.

www.discovermagazine.com

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Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · 7d

The SCN Coalition is naming October 6th National Nematode Day to raise awareness about SCN among soybean farmers. Soybean cyst nematodes are known to be the most damaging pest to soybean crop yields in the U.S.

Learn more: www.thescncoalition.com/nematodeday/

#nematodeday #ecology #entomology 🌎🧪🍁

What is National Nematode Day? | The SCN Coalition

October 6th is National Nematode Day! Discover what this means for soybean farmers and how you can get involved – including the chance to win $250.

www.thescncoalition.com

Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · 7d

MSU entomologists Anthony Cognato and Sarah Smith traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to collect over 12,000 bark beetle specimens, expanding MSU's A.J. Cook Collection to include more than 2,200 species of these beetles!

Learn more: www.canr.msu.edu/news/from-th...

#Entomology #Ecology #Arthropod

Sarah Smith with a bunch of boxes and suitcases in front of a sign that says, "Chiang Mai Night Safari."

Fellowship Focus: Entomology fellowship leads Amelia McGinnis to graduate school at CANR

Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · 9d

In 2023, LCC student Amelia McGinnis joined the Entomology Research and Outreach Fellowship, gaining her first hands-on research experience. Now starting her Ph.D. at MSU, her story shows the impact of creating opportunities for talented students.

Read more: www.canr.msu.edu/news/fellows...

Discovering her passion for research as an undergraduate Lansing Community College student through the Entomology Research and Outreach Fellowship, Amelia McGinnis is now pursuing her Ph.D. in the Dep...

Dr. Eric Benbow - Bug Talk

Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · 15d

Max Helmberger is an Academic Specialist in the Department of Entomology. His work mainly focuses on researching soil invertebrates, but he also has engaged in science communication projects by creating Claymation videos and board games about a variety of ecological topics!

#Entomology #Ecology 🌍🧪🍁

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Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · 21d

After a 3 year hiatus, the Bug Talk podcast is making a comeback with Dr. Eric Benbow! In this episode, we learn a lot about Dr. Benbow’s ongoing projects, as well as some of his experiences working abroad in Africa and South America!

Listen here: www.buzzsprout.com/911479/episo...

#Entomology 🧪🌍🍁

In this episode, we chatted with Dr. Eric Benbow, a professor of aquatic and decomposition ecology at Michigan State University. His work highlights the broad applications of entomology, with a primar...

www.buzzsprout.com

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Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · 29d

Congratulations to MSU Entomology professor Dr. Eric Benbow on the release of the second edition of "Carrion Ecology, Evolution, and Their Applications"!🌍🧪🍁

Read more here🔗: www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/1...

#Entomology #Ecology #Forensics #Carrion

Carrion Ecology, Evolution, and Their Applications | M. Eric Benbow, J

The first edition of Carrion Ecology, Evolution, and Their Applications brought together multiple scientific disciplines to shed light on the importance of

www.taylorfrancis.com

Reposted by Michigan State University Department of Entomology

Gwen Pearson @bug-gwen.bsky.social · Aug 22

It's my birthday today, and I'd love it if you could donate any amount to @msu-entomology.bsky.social to help fund weekend insect programs. 🐛🪲 😀🎂

Gwen Pearson @bug-gwen.bsky.social · Jun 23

Hey Bug and Education Friends! The @msu-entomology.bsky.social Bug House is crowdfunding to expand their outreach programs to Saturdays. Any amount you can donate will help: givingto.msu.edu/causes-to-su...

A student in a green MSU Bug House t-shirt is showing an excited boy an insect in his hand. Another adult is looking on curiously.

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Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · Aug 20

MSU Entomology is excited to announce the Tatter Family Entomology Graduate Fellowship! This fully funded opportunity includes a $35K salary, tuition, benefits and $5K research/travel support.

Apps open Sept 1, 2025: www.canr.msu.edu/ent/graduate... #Entomology 🧪🌍🍁

MSU welcomes back Jeff Barrick and the landmark Long-Term Evolution Experiment

Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · Aug 12

MSU Entomologist Dr. Jeffrey Barrick is returning as a Hannah Distinguished Professor with joint appointments in MSU Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology and Entomology, bringing back the landmark Long-Term Evolution Experiment.

Read more: www.canr.msu.edu/news/msu-wel...

#Entomology #Ecology🍁🌎🧪

Barrick re-joins the MSU community to continue a landmark experiment and expand his research on honeybee microbiomes.

Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · Jul 22

Asparagus beetles cause damage not only when they feed on spears and lay their eggs, but also when they feed on the ferns, making it difficult for the plant to store energy for the next season.

Learn about available treatment options here🔗: www.canr.msu.edu/news/tacklin...

#Entomology #Ecology 🌎🧪🍁

Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · Jul 22

The Bee Urban Growers (BUG) Project is hosting a free urban agriculture and native pollinators field day with an open-to-all poster presentation session!

Learn more/RSVP here: events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?ev...

Sign up to present here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

#Entomology #Agriculture 🌎🧪🍁

The Bee Urban Growers Project Field Day. People, Plants, & Pollinators. Growing our food in cities with the help of native pollinators. Free event: Saturday August 9, 1-4 PM. 16745 Lamphere, Detroit. Resources, talks, and activities for urban growers of all ages! Native plant care & ID, Bumble bee petting zoo, Beneficial insect identification, Crop pollinator bingo, Habitat management workshop, Community science bash. RSVP with QR code attached to flyer. Questions? Contact Karma Thomas or Jen Roedel thom2787@msu.edu and zavalnit@msu.edu

Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · Jul 21

MSU Department of Entomology PhD student Christopher Brown wants your moth illustrations! The MothEr Program is collecting hand drawn moth illustrations for an upcoming art project.

Learn more and submit your work here🔗: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

#Entomology #MSU #Moth #MSU #GoGreen 🌎🧪🍁

Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · Jul 3

MSU Entomology alum Nikki Rothwell has been named the 2025 Cherry Industry Person of the Year for her impactful research and grower-focused solutions to fruit pest challenges in Michigan. 🍒👏

Read more: www.canr.msu.edu/news/cherry-... #MSU #CherryIndustry #Entomology #Ecology 🌎🧪🍁

Reposted by Michigan State University Department of Entomology

Gwen Pearson @bug-gwen.bsky.social · Jun 23

Hey Bug and Education Friends! The @msu-entomology.bsky.social Bug House is crowdfunding to expand their outreach programs to Saturdays. Any amount you can donate will help: givingto.msu.edu/causes-to-su...

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Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · Jul 2

A new Michigan Fruit Decision website allows apple growers and crop consultants to search pest control methods by apple growth stage, specific pests or control measures!🍎🌳

The website is available for free on desktop and mobile!

Learn more: www.canr.msu.edu/news/apple-p...

#Entomology #Ecology🌎🧪🍁

Stateside: Friday, June 13, 2025

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Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · Jul 1

Earlier today, Dr. Amanda Lorenz was interviewed by WLNS-TV 6 News about some of the incredible insects at MSU's Bug House, as well as to talk about an ongoing fundraiser to expand their programming!🪳🪲🕷️

Watch the interview here🔗: www.wlns.com/top-stories/...

#Entomology #Fundraiser #Ecology

www.wlns.com

Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · Jun 25

Have you been wondering where all the mayflies are this year?

Former MSU Entomology professor Richard Merritt breaks everything down in a Michigan Public Stateside interview!

Full episode (Skip ahead to 12:39 for the mayfly segment): www.michiganpublic.org/show/statesi...

#Entomology #Ecology🌎🧪🍁

What’s brewing for school budgets as Republicans in the state Legislature make a case for major structural changes. Also, an entomologist explains why swarms of mayflies, annoying as they may be, are ...

www.michiganpublic.org

Stakeholder Driven Agroecosystem Research in Michigan

Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · Jun 16

MSU Entomology recently hosted a three-day training event that brought Bark and Ambrosia beetle experts together to provide a small group of participants with hands-on training to identify this difficult subfamily of insects! 🌎🧪

Learn more🔗: events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?ev...

#Entomology #Ecology

Dr. Anthony Cognato at the Bark and Ambrosia Beetle Identification Workshop

Group picture of workshop participants outside of the Natural Sciences Building.

Collection of bark/ambrosia beetle specimens. Label says, "BFL Insect Collection. Dr. John C. Abbott. Section of Integrative Biology. 1 University Station #C0930. University of Texas. Austin, TX 78712."

Workshop participant observing beetle specimens under a microscope.

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Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · Jun 11

MSU Entomology PhD Student DeShae Dillard was recently featured in a KBS LTAR StoryMap because of his work as an applied ecologist studying how agriculture impacts pollination and decomposition by fly communities!

Learn more🔗:
storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/82a8...

#Entomology #Agriculture #MSU 🌎🧪🍁

Scroll to read about the purpose and impact of the Kellogg Biological Station Long-Term Agroecosystem Research program.

storymaps.arcgis.com

Reposted by Michigan State University Department of Entomology

MSU Plant Resilience Institute @msupri.bsky.social · May 12

Meet the Great Lakes Plant Science Conference featured faculty speakers:

🦠 Sarah Lebeis, MSU
☀️ Alizée Malnoë, IU Bloomington
🍃 Adam Mott, UTSC
🧬 Ronan O’Malley, UChicago

Attend #GLPSC2025 to network with cutting-edge plant scientists! Register and view the full agenda: research.msu.edu/glpsc2025

A graphic promoting the GLPSC 2025 featured speakers with a background image of blurred leaves and an outline of the Great Lakes. The text says, "1st Great Lakes Plant Science Conference, September 12-14, 2025, Lansing, Michigan. Learn more and register: research.msu.edu/glpsc2025” Contained in blue boxes, the graphic also includes headshots of the plenary keynote speaker Sarah Lebeis and the three thematic session faculty speakers Alizée Malnoë, Adam Mott, and Ronan O’Malley and lists their affiliations and talk titles.

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Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · May 8

Fulbright scholar Solo Arman Peralta Mercene recently earned his master’s in entomology at MSU. As he returns to the Philippines to help farmers fight pests, he reflects on how it all began—with a photo of his dad unknowingly wearing an MSU sweatshirt years earlier.

www.canr.msu.edu/news/spartan...

Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · May 6

Curious about bees in urban spaces?

Join our FREE webinar, hosted by the BUG Project at MSU, on May 8 (6–7:30 PM) to learn how YOU can help track bee-plant interactions in your city!

🔗 Register: events.anr.msu.edu/UBee_Com_Sci/ #Entomology 🧪🌍🍁 #pollinators #iNaturalist #UrbanEcology

Collecting Urban Bee Data: Community Science Training
Thursday May 8 6-7:30 PM
Online over Zoom
Join us for a FREE online event to learn about native bees in urban spaces and how to collect community science data that supports them! During the event, learn how to get involved in a new iNaturalist project "Urban Bees of the Great Lakes Region" Help scientists learn about urban bees by sharing observations from your city!

Insect Artist Jennifer Angus Visits MSU

Michigan State University Department of Entomology @msu-entomology.bsky.social · Apr 29

Insect artist Jennifer Angus is turning science into art—using ethically sourced bugs to create intricate, textile-inspired designs that challenge how we see the natural world. #Art #Entomology #Ecology 🌎🧪🍁

Read more here: www.canr.msu.edu/news/insect-...

Artist Jennifer Angus, known for her insect-based installations, returned to MSU for a lecture and to reconnect with the Department of Entomology after serving as a panelist at its Excellence in Insec...