About
The Department of Entomology was founded in 1896 at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, New York.
Our mission is threefold: to pursue studies to understand basic and applied aspects of insect biology; to provide a robust and modern curriculum as part of preeminent undergraduate and graduate programs; and to inform and educate the public about the issues related to insects and other arthropods.
Our faculty primarily works on two campuses: Cornell University’s main campus in Ithaca and Cornell AgriTech in Geneva. We also work in two agricultural field stations in New York state. Our department houses some of the world’s preeminent resources for the study of entomology, including one of the world’s largest insect collections, working farms of all sizes, a major honey bee colony and state-of-the-art laboratories.
Credit: Allison Usavage
Credit: Sreang "C" Hok (UREL)
Credit: Allison Usavage
Entomology at a glance
Did you know?
Nation’s first entomology textbook
Founding faculty entomologists John Henry Comstock and Anna Botsford Comstock wrote the nation’s first textbook on entomology.
Limnology pioneer
In 1908, entomologist James G. Needham (Ph.D. 1898) is credited with teaching the nation’s first course in limnology, the study of the biological, chemical and physical features of lakes and other bodies of fresh water.
Small fruits research
Entomologists at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva were trailblazers for conducting the first major research program on insect and mite pests of strawberry, raspberry and other small fruits in the eastern U.S.
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Latest entomology news & discoveries
News
Christine Smart, a crop pathologist known for her leadership in protecting the health of specialty crops across New York state, has been appointed the Goichman Family Director of Cornell AgriTech, effective Oct. 1. Olga Padilla-Zakour will...
News
A new study finds that nest boxes of commercial eastern common bumblebees (Bombus impatiens) lead to the deaths of wild queens who are attracted to the brightly colored hives.