Berry Crops Entomology at MSU

04/29/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AeR9bQEPk/
Our new study on the parasitoid wasps attacking SWD is published in this Special Edition. Led by Steve Van Timmeren, with former technicians Martín Brubaker and Jackie Perkins, we explore the ecology of these recent arrivals to Michigan fruit farms.

A new special collection in the Journal of Economic Entomology details a decade of advances in the use of parasitoid wasps in biological control of the invasive fly pest spotted-wing drosophila.

02/22/2026

Our Ph.D student Rekha Bhandari has worked with Andy Fles for a few years on the insect components of sour rot in his vineyards, as part of her SARE graduate student project. This is a great overview from Andy. Thanks North Central SARE!

In Michigan, Andy Fles at Shady Lane Cellars has been working to compare the efficacy of a soft chemistry spray program to that of a conventional synthetic p...

05/11/2024

Thanks for having us at the event today, to share some bee facts and conservation tips!

04/30/2024

Bloom came early this year, but the wild bees were ready. This Andrena miner bee was busy collecting pollen and pollinating blueberries in SW Michigan yesterday afternoon.

04/03/2023

The bee science presentation by Ronnie, Jenna, Ila, and Taylor was a big hit at the MSU Science Festival over the weekend.

People of all ages can dip their toes into the scientific side of life at the Michigan State University Steam Expo. Steam stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

08/16/2022

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/spotted-lanternfly-detected-in-michigan-whats-next-for-fruit-hop-growers

None found in fruit crops, but be on the lookout for spotted lanternfly this fall.

06/08/2022

This Deep Look video is an amazing set of close-up footage from KQED showing how SWD infests berries and the wasp that we hope will soon limit the pests' populations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJsI50wQELU

05/16/2022

Blueberry pollination season is here

03/01/2022

https://www.goodfruit.com/spotted-wing-drosophila-resistance-its-getting-worrisome/ A good write-up about SWD resistance research, featuring our colleagues at UC Davis.

Entomology researcher Joanna Chiu picks out females

12/25/2021

Celebrating the season with a tasty English trifle, and giving thanks to the farmers, farmworkers, and of course the pollinators that made this possible. Our best wishes for 2022!