an insect with wings on a white background

News

Box Tree Moth

New York State residents are encouraged to keep on the lookout for a new invasive species that has established itself in Western New York. Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) was first discovered in July 2021 and the IDL has been working closely with New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, as well as USDA, in monitoring the spread of the moths. 

Read New York state's press release

Giant Hornets

There is a lot of concern about an Asian hornet in a few places in western USA, but as of May 2020 it is not found in eastern USA. All of the “giant hornets” we have been sent photos of in New York and nearby areas, are instead actually the European hornet (Vespa crabro), which has distinctive markings of black and yellow on the abdomen, and red-brown color on the front of the body. 

Read the PSU Factsheet

Spotted Lanternfly 

A new invasive pest of orchards, vineyards, and tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus), the Spotted Lanternfly (“SLF”) has been found in southeastern Pennsylvania and Virginia, and is continuing to show up in new locations in 2018, including 2 sites in New York State.

For updates on Spotted Lanternfly infestations and other information

Other news

Illustration of dogs sniffing near tree with spotted lantern fly on it

News

Dogs sniff out devastating spotted lanternflies for early detection

Growers and conservationists have a new weapon to detect invasive spotted lanternflies early and limit their spread: dogs trained to sniff out egg masses that overwinter in vineyards and forests.

  • Natural Resources and the Environment
  • Animals
  • Entomology
Poinsettias in full bloom at Emma's Garden Growers, a Long Island plant wholesaler whose owners have been relying on Cornell's services for generations.

News

Cornell helps NYS growers hone the art and science of poinsettias

From root rot and powdery mildew to white flies and Lewis mites, the threats to poinsettias abound - NYS growers persevere with the support and expertise of Cornell faculty and staff.

  • Cornell AgriTech
  • Cornell Cooperative Extension
  • Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station
Students in a field of goldenrod

News

Teaching through action: Insect Ecology students learn at Dilmun Hill
Kendrick Nakamura ‘24 kept ants as a hobby for years while maintaining a career in IT, before realizing that the insects were his real passion. He came to Cornell to major in Entomology and said that one of his favorite courses was Insect...
  • Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station
  • Dilmun Hill Student Farm
  • Entomology
Brown soil and green plants in a field

News

$1.6M supports land-grant research for NY farms, forests, communities

Fifty-four research projects addressing New York’s agriculture, environment and communities have collectively received $1.6 million from the USDA.

  • Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station
  • Biological and Environmental Engineering
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Ann Fraser, a consultant on the grant and retired biology professor from Kalamazoo College, hand pollinates an apple flower in Uttarkhand region, India. Photo by Kiran Cunningham.

News

NYS-Himalaya pollinator project receives $1.8M grant

The project will compare smallholder apple farms in the Western Himalayas and in Central New York to study how people might act collectively to promote wild pollinator health.

  • Cornell AgriTech
  • Department of Entomology
  • Natural Resources and the Environment