Congratulations to Maile C. Neel, whose paper, “Predictability of demographic rates based on phylogeny and biological similarity” was recently published in Conservation Biology.

​This study examines the efficacy of using data from biologically similar or closely related species to inform conservation status assessments.
​
Check out the full article at ​https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13135

​We are excited to announce the launch of UMD Entomology's latest website- Insect Drawings! Most illustrations are by Dr. Francis Eugene (Gene) Wood and Dr. John A. Davidson. Additional images were contributed by Dr. Michael J. Raupp, colleagues Elaine R. Hodges and Arthur D. Cushman (SEL, ARS, USDA), and by students Amy K. Bartlett, Manya B. Stoetzel, and Warren E. Steiner, Jr.

Visit http://insectdrawings.umd.edu/ to start viewing these amazing drawings.
​

​Entomology faculty member Dennis vanEngelsdorp has been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure effective August 2018!
 
Since joining the UMD Department of Entomology in 2014, Dr. vanEngelsdorp has developed a nationally and internationally recognized research program focusing broadly on pollinator health. His epidemiological approach includes both broad-based field assessments and laboratory investigations of mechanisms underlying declines in pollinator health. Dennis has received numerous competitive research grants from USDA-NIFA, among other agencies to fund this important work.
 
His extension program - also nationally and internationally recognized - has at its heart the Bee Informed Partnership (BIP), which allows beekeepers and other stakeholders to interact with millions of data points related to honey bee health, making it the largest such database in the world. Dr. vanEngelsdorp’s research and extension work has resulted in dozens of publications in research and extension journals, and it has brought the state of honey bee health to the public through radio, TV, and print media.
 
In addition to research and extension, Dennis has made significant contributions to teaching through his “Insects” and highly popular “Introductory Beekeeping” courses, and through advising numerous undergraduate research, graduate students, and postdoctoral associates.
 
In recognition of these and many other achievements, Dr. vanEngelsdorp received the 2017 CMNS Board of Visitors Junior Faculty Award, which you can read more about here.
 
Congratulations on reaching this important, well-deserved milestone!
 
Learn more about the vanEngelsdorp Lab’s work here.   

Congratulations to ENSP student Max O'Grady and BSCI students Megan Wickless and Lily Durkee who successfully presented their entomology honors theses.

Max O'Grady, "Factors that Influence Wax Production in Honey Bees",  van Englesdorp/Hamby Labs

Lily Durkee, "Does goose exclusion impact the benthic macroinvertebrate community of a restored freshwater marsh?",  Gruner Lab

Meg Wickless, "Time and Dosage Effects of Fluvalinate on Apis mellifera Olfactory Associative Learning",  van Englesdorp/Hamby Labs​

Congratulations to UMD Biological Sciences student Chloe Garfinkel who successfully defended her entomology honors thesis, "Habitat influence on food resources available for male Calopteryx maculata reproductive potential." Her research looks into the effects of habitat on adult damselfly size and nutritional content. It has been great having Chloe in Entomology's Lamp Lab these last few years. We wish her all the best in future endeavors!

Dr. Marcia Shofner and BSCI students welcomed 55 sixth graders from Carole Highlands Elementary School (CHES) to Principles of Biology II lecture on Tuesday, April 17, 2018.

The elementary school students visited the UMD campus to experience college life. CHES school counselor, Ms. Thomas puts a strong emphasis on what she calls “Kids to College.” 99% of CHES students who participated in the biology lecture would be 1st generation college attendees.  Dr. Shofner says “and that is what we wish to happen by making their visit fun and motivating.” BSCI student mentors greeted CHES students personally, sat with them during the college lecture, worked alongside them to complete activities based on lecture, and answered the youth's questions about STEM and college.

Dr. Shofner has been hosting CHES students since 2013. Shofner says, “I’m proud of how excited our UMD students are about being a positive influence to these kids!”