University of Georgia
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

News Stories - Page 122

Joro spiders, which can be nearly 3 inches across when their legs are fully extended, are roughly the same size as banana spiders and yellow garden spiders, but they have distinctive yellow and blue-black stripes on their backs and bright red markings on their undersides, which are unique. CAES News
Like it or not, Joro spiders are here to stay 10/26/20 Beth Gavrilles
Chances are, if you live in northeast Georgia you’ve come across an East Asian Joro spider this fall.  
University of Georgia's Distance Diagnostics through Digital Imaging technology will be used for the first time in Central America to make accurate and rapid diagnoses in agriculture. CAES News
Imaging software supports food safety initiatives 10/26/20 Ashley Crain
Many countries struggle with food shipments being damaged or destroyed by invasive insects and plant disease. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, between 20% and 40% of global crop production is lost to pests, with plant diseases costing the global economy around $220 billion and invasive insects around $70 billion. The University of Georgia developed technology to identify these pests and is now partnering with a government organization in Central America — OIRSA — to implement this useful tool.
Students participate in socially distant hands-on learning in 4-H environmental education classes. Pictured is a group at Burton 4-H Center in Tybee Island, Georgia. CAES News
Georgia 4-H provides virtual and in-person environmental education 10/23/20 Austin Clark
The Georgia 4-H Environmental Education program is accommodating the needs of students around the state by offering both virtual and socially distant in-person visits at its six facilities in Georgia.
Produce in a grocery store. CAES News
UGA food scientist is tracking ‘hitchhiker’ genes 10/19/20 Josh Paine
Antibiotic resistance – one of the biggest threats to global health, according to the World Health Organization – occurs when germs learn how to defeat the drugs designed to kill them. The problem of resistance threatens the efficacy of antibiotics, making simple infections untreatable.
"Hearts of Glass" will be available to the UGA community for viewing Oct. 23 through Oct. 30. A free and interactive discussion will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, on Zoom. CAES News
Award-winning documentary guides conversation about growing plants, community and inclusion 10/19/20 Sean Montgomery
The University of Georgia Department of Horticulture, together with UGA's Institute on Human Development and Disability, Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Program, Office of Sustainability, Sustainable Food Systems Initiative, and UGArden, are excited to share the award-winning “Hearts of Glass” documentary to the university community beginning Friday, Oct. 23.
A supergene is a collection of neighboring genes located on a chromosome that are inherited together due to close genetic linkage. Studying these unique genes is important to understanding the potential causes for differences among the social structure of fire ants, specifically for controlling the species and building upon the existing knowledge base. CAES News
Supergene in fire ants may lead to understanding of developmental behaviors 10/15/20 Sean Montgomery
A unique study conducted by University of Georgia entomologists led to the discovery of a distinctive supergene in fire ant colonies that determines whether young queen ants will leave their birth colony to start their own new colony or if they will join one with multiple queens. Researchers also found that ants were more aggressive toward queens who don’t possess the supergene, causing colony workers to kill them. This critical finding opens the door to new pest control methods that may be more efficient in eradicating problematic fire ant colonies. 
A student studies a plant sample under a microscope in the lab. CAES News
Three CAES students selected for UGA research scholarship 10/13/20 Stephanie Schupska
This fall, the University of Georgia recognized nine undergraduates in its 2020-21 incoming class as CURO Honors Scholars, the university’s top undergraduate research scholarship. Three students in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences were selected for the award.
Julie Borlaug will deliver the 2020 D.W. Brooks Lecture, "Using Innovation and Technology to End Hunger and Poverty," as part of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences annual faculty awards celebration. CAES News
D.W. Brooks Lecture to focus on ending hunger through technology 10/13/20 Josh Paine
Julie Borlaug is continuing the legacy of her late grandfather, agronomist and Nobel laureate Norman E. Borlaug, and inspiring the next generation by advocating for innovation and technology in agricultural production to end world hunger.
UGA faculty helped agriculture educators connect to their subject areas and enhance students’ problem-solving skills during a two-day virtual professional development training session. CAES News
Grant project creates culturally responsive agriculture and life sciences lessons 10/12/20 Kathryn Kao
In collaboration with James Anderson, an associate professor in UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Paula Mellom and her team in the University of Georgia Mary Frances Early College of Education helped develop and deliver a training session for 17 agricultural education and science teachers from the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences and the Harold S. Vincent High School in Milwaukee.