First study of its kind reveals the benefits of droplets on leaves Small watery droplets on the edges of blueberry bush leaves are loaded with nutrients for many insects, including bees, wasps and flies, according to a Rutgers-led study, the first of its kind. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society […]
Entomology
Bat Tick Found for the First Time in New Jersey
A tick species associated with bats has been reported for the first time in New Jersey and could pose health risks to people, pets and livestock, according to a Rutgers-led study in the Journal of Medical Entomology. This species (Carios kelleyi) is a “soft” tick. Deer ticks, which carry Lyme disease, are an example of “hard” ticks. […]
National Moth Week Continues to Spread its Wings: 2020 Event Drew Record Numbers
Despite worldwide restrictions and lockdowns preventing participation in many summertime activities, the ninth annual National Moth Week – held in July 2020 – broke several records and attracted hundreds of new “moth-ers.” With mothing one of the safest, most enriching activities that families and individuals could do in their own backyards during the pandemic, National […]
Where Did the Asian Longhorned Ticks in the U.S. Come From?
The invasive population of Asian longhorned ticks in the United States likely began with three or more self-cloning females from northeastern Asia, according to a Rutgers-led study. Asian longhorned ticks outside the U.S. can carry debilitating diseases. In the United States and elsewhere, they can threaten livestock and pets. The new study, published in the […]
National Moth Week, July 18-26, Offers a Safe, Enriching Activity for All Ages; Perfect for Social Distancing
Editor’s Note: National Moth Week – an international citizen science event – stems from a local effort and was co-founded by SEBS Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences researcher Liti Haramaty, and Department of Entomology alum David Moskowitz. Looking for an activity that’s safe, fun and enriching for all ages while social distancing or sheltering […]
Dangerous Tick-Borne Bacterium Extremely Rare in New Jersey
The mystery behind the rise in spotted fever cases continues There’s some good news in New Jersey about a potentially deadly tick-borne bacterium. Rutgers researchers examined about 1,000 ticks in the Garden State and found that none were carrying Rickettsia rickettsii, the bacterium that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever. But cases of tick-borne spotted fevers have […]
Message from Chancellor Brian Strom: Taking Action to Prevent Eastern Equine Encephalitis
September 23, 2019 Dear Members of the Rutgers Community: The New Jersey Department of Health has been actively working to spur action from New Jerseyans to take precautions to prevent the spread of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus (EEEV), a serious and sometimes deadly virus transmitted to people and horses by the bite of […]
National Moth Week 2019 Breaks Records With Events in 46 Countries and All 50 U.S. States
International citizen science initiative started by SEBS researcher Liti Haramaty, Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences and alum David Moskowitz, Department of Entomology, spreads awareness of moths’ diversity and vital roles in the ecosystem. The eighth annual National Moth Week, a global citizen science project that spotlights moths’ beauty, diversity and ecological importance, broke records […]
Fighting Mosquitoes in Your Backyard with Scientists’ Help
Rutgers develops Citizen Action through Science approach Thanks to an innovative mosquito control approach developed at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, residents in several Maryland neighborhoods reduced populations of invasive Asian tiger mosquitoes by an impressive 76 percent, on average. The Rutgers-led project, called Citizen Action through Science (Citizen AcTS), mobilizes neighbors guided by scientists to address […]
Rutgers Study Reveals Residents’ Attitudes and Home Sanitation Predict Presence of German Cockroaches
With the support of a grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture Northeastern Integrated Pest Management Center, Changlu Wang, associate extension specialist in the Department of Entomology, and his team of researchers discovered that home sanitation and residents’ attitudes were a good predictor of the presence of German Cockroaches (Blattodea: Ectobiidae) in their apartments. The study […]










