Did you know that one out of every three bites of food has been influenced by animal pollination? Pollinators are involved in the production of healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Additionally, they are also involved in the pollination of some less-commonly known products such as cacao (chocolate), vanilla, agave, and even coffee!
For #NationalPollinatorWeek, we would love to take a moment to bring the spotlight to the poster-child of pollinators:
The European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is not native to North America but has become an integral part of agriculture in the United States. Honey bees are generalists in that they forage on a variety of plant species, including many of the food crops that are also not native to the U.S.
Check out these photos of these hoverflies!
In lieu of National Pollinator Week, we would like to bring chimney bees, a wonderful little pollinator, to the spotlight!
This is a time to recognize and celebrate the diversity of pollinators and what we can do to support them.
Check out all the pictures that were taken at our last outreach experience with 4-H!
ESA Meeting 2019 Faculty, post-docs, staff, and students from the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology participated in the Annual Entomological Society of America National meeting held in St. Louis, MO. Seven graduate students presented oral papers either in the Student Competition or in the invited Symposium. Swati Mishra, a PhD student working with Dr. Juan Jurat-Fuentes, co-organized two symposia, and three students were invited to speak in a symposium. Congratulations to two EPP students for winning first place in their individual student competitions. Rebecca Butler, a PhD student working with Dr. Becky Trout Fryxell, won 1st place for her study of ecological relationships of ectoparasites on rodents in western Tennessee. Matthew Longmire, an MS student working with Dr. Jerome
A Veteran in Entomology & Plant Pathology Dr. Paris Lambdin has been with our department since 1974 (45 years!) and is a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was in the Marine Corps from 1967-1969 (pictured above). In January 1968, he arrived in Việt Nam, during the outbreak of The Tet Offensive and where he engaged in 5 campaigns during his 13-month deployment. This week was dedicated to him and the many others who served. Thank you for your service!
The Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology Crawling to the Top at Ag Day Every year, the University of Tennessee’s Institute of Agriculture hosts an event that encompasses agriculture, tailgating, and Big Orange spirit. While Ag Day includes many departments, none of them quite leave the same impression as ours does. The photo above has Rosie, Dr. Grant’s rose-haired tarantula, trying to get a peek at the festivities. Check out the other photos to see our team represent UT spirit:
The Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology is represented well at Down on the Farm at the TVA&I Fair in Knoxville. Matthew Longmire, David Bechtel, and Jerome Grant are sharing insects with ca. 1,000 students today!