“We are starting to see and will continue to see shifts in the range” of West Nile virus, says Laura Harrington, professor of entomology, “and shifts in some of the avian hosts that are most important.” 

Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), which humans have inadvertently spread around the globe, arrived in China roughly 4,000 years ago, according to a new population genomics study that adds to our understanding of the insect’s global migration, demography, gene flow and adaptations.

This op-ed discusses the decline of insects around the country. The authors cite research done by the Lab of Ornithology in 2019 announcing that the United States has lost 3 billion birds.

With each episode, postdoc Eleanor Paynter speaks with experts who highlight how multidisciplinary, multi-species perspectives on migration help us understand key global issues. In season 1, we are broadening our scope of understanding by focusing on highly relevant themes like pandemics, climate, racial justice, and more. Keep an eye out for new episodes, released on the first Monday of every month.

Our world is increasingly in motion. In a new interdisciplinary course, "Migrations: A Global, Interdisciplinary, Multispecies Examination" (DSOC 4940), we approach migrations as multispecies phenomena emerging from dynamic socioecological systems. 

Assistant professor of entomology, Scott McArt's new research found one in 11 flowers carries disease-causing parasites known to contribute to bee declines. “Both bee diversity and fewer of the social bees make it less likely for bees [overall] to be infected. That’s another win for conservation: if we promote bee diversity, there will be less disease,” he explains.

Entomology professor, Bryan Danforth found that honeybees will go to almost any host plant for pollen and nectar, while other bees can be highly specialized, visiting just a single plant species. “If their preferred host plant disappears, these pollen-specialist bees will likely go extinct, as well,” he says.

Leaf-eating caterpillars strip millions of trees of their leaves.

Our ability to understand migrations and address real-world migration challenges is dramatically improved by working together, as evidenced by this panel's discussion, recorded on June 5, 2020, as part of Cornell's virtual reunion weekend.

A new study on bees, plants, and landscapes in upstate New York sheds light on how bee pathogens spread, offering possible clues for what farmers could do to improve bee health.