CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Honey bee larvae lack the sophisticated olfactory capabilities of adult honey bees, a new study finds. Scientists point to this temporary loss-of-function as a side effect of the nurse bees’ heroic level of brood care, calling it a consequence of social evolution.The new findings...
In a recent publication with The Conversation, Entomology Associate Professor Ester Ngumbi reveals groundbreaking insights into the hidden costs of fertilizer use. While fertilizers are vital for crop production, Ngumbi highlights how excessive use can damage essential soil microbes that underpin...
The value of basic science into insect biology is no more evident than when a crisis arises involving a devastating insect pest like the New World screwworm, says University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign entomology professor and...
Entomology professor Esther Ngumbi became interested in the chemical communication between plants and insects when she was growing up on her family’s farm in Kenya.“Halfway through the growing season, I would actually watch a lot...
The College of LAS is where curiosity drives impact, and the new Curiosity to Impact (C2I) Fund helps faculty members to do exactly that.Announced in fall of 2025, the C2I Fund is part of the college’s Strategic Investment Program....
Over the past several years, Dr. Esther Ngumbi has been diligently working to bring science to the public. She has become a standout figure in science communication—writing for national outlets, mentoring young scientists, and advocating...
As SIB marks its 25th anniversary, the occasion offers an opportunity to reflect on how far the School has come and how much SIB has shaped biology education and research at Illinois. SIB was formally recognized by the university on July 1, 2000, after emerging from a pivotal reorganization of the...
A newly published study in the Journal of Chemical Ecology offers new insight into how plants respond when faced with multiple environmental challenges at once. This work was led by former undergraduate researchers in the lab of...
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign presents the Campus Awards for Excellence in Faculty Leadership each year to distinguished faculty who enrich the intellectual vitality of the university and the broader community.The awards were presented in three categories — faculty...
