Margarita Lopez-Uribe

Associate Professor of Entomology


Margarita Lopez-Uribe

Research Summary

How environmental change and human management shape bee health and long-term persistence of their populations in agricultural areas.

Huck Affiliations

Links

Most Recent Publications

Pollination services to squash insufficient despite abundant specialist bees

Nicholas A. Ivers, Hannah L. Gray, Elizabeth Lopez, Brad G. Peter, John L. Neff, Scott Longing, Margarita M. López-Uribe, Shalene Jha, 2025, Agro-Ecosystems

Phylogenetic Structure of Two Euglossine Communities Divided by the Colombian Andes

Edward Hernan Molina-Henao, Oscar Julián Valdez-Benítez, Nolan D. Amon, Stephania Sandoval-Arango, Maria Margarita López-Uribe, Joel Tupac Otero-Ospina, 2025, Neotropical Entomology on p. 58

Adapting to change: bee pollinator signatures in anthropized environments

Margarita M. López-Uribe, Eduardo AB Almeida, Denise Araujo Alves, 2025, Current Opinion in Insect Science

Bee Systematics and Conservation

Eduardo A.B. Almeida, Margarita M. Lopez-Uribe, Laurence Packer, Diego S. Porto, Gabriela P. Camacho, 2025, Sociobiology

Host-parasite interactions between Xenoglossa pruinosa (Apidae: Eucerini) and Triepeolus remigatus (Apidae: Epeolini) are characterized by tolerance and avoidance

Stephania Sandoval-Arango, Thomas C. Baker, Margarita M. López-Uribe, 2024, Apidologie

Automated entrance monitoring to investigate honey bee foraging trips using open-source wireless platform and fiducial tags

Diego Penaloza-Aponte, Sarabeth Brandt, Erin Dent, Robyn M. Underwood, Benedict DeMoras, Selina Bruckner, Margarita M. López-Uribe, Julio V. Urbina, 2024, HardwareX

Simulation of early season herbivory via mechanical damage affects flower production in pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo ssp. pepo)

Hannah L. Gray, Nicholas A. Ivers, Leeah I. Richardson, Margarita M. López-Uribe, Shalene Jha, 2024, Annals of Botany on p. 815-825

Low-density migratory beekeeping induces intermediate disturbance effects on native bee communities in Tibetan Plateau alpine meadows

Anthony D. Vaudo, Michael C. Orr, Qing Song Zhou, Chao Dong Zhu, Junpeng Mu, Margarita M. López-Uribe, Johanne Brunet, 2024, Journal of Insect Science

Mating frequency estimation and its importance for colony abundance analyses in eusocial pollinators: a case study of Bombus impatiens (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Sydney A. Bird, Nathaniel S. Pope, Carley M. Mcgrady, Shelby Jay Fleischer, Margarita M. López-Uribe, 2024, Journal of Economic Entomology on p. 1712-1722

Bee monitoring by community scientists: Comparing a collections-based program with iNaturalist

Nash E. Turley, Sarah E. Kania, Isabella R. Petitta, Elizabeth A. Otruba, David J. Biddinger, Thomas M. Butzler, Valerie V. Sesler, Margarita M. López-Uribe, 2024, Annals of the Entomological Society of America on p. 220-233

Most-Cited Papers

Scientists' warning on climate change and insects

Jeffrey A. Harvey, Kévin Tougeron, Rieta Gols, Robin Heinen, Mariana Abarca, Paul K. Abram, Yves Basset, Matty Berg, Carol Boggs, Jacques Brodeur, Pedro Cardoso, Jetske G. de Boer, Geert R. De Snoo, Charl Deacon, Jane E. Dell, Nicolas Desneux, Michael E. Dillon, Grant A. Duffy, Lee A. Dyer, Jacintha Ellers, Anahí Espíndola, James Fordyce, Matthew L. Forister, Caroline Fukushima, Matthew J.G. Gage, Carlos García-Robledo, Claire Gely, Mauro Gobbi, Caspar Hallmann, Thierry Hance, John Harte, Axel Hochkirch, Christian Hof, Ary A. Hoffmann, Joel G. Kingsolver, Greg P.A. Lamarre, William F. Laurance, Blas Lavandero, Simon R. Leather, Philipp Lehmann, Cécile Le Lann, Margarita M. López-Uribe, Chun Sen Ma, Gang Ma, Joffrey Moiroux, Lucie Monticelli, Chris Nice, Paul J. Ode, Sylvain Pincebourde, William J. Ripple, Melissah Rowe, Michael J. Samways, Arnaud Sentis, Alisha A. Shah, Nigel Stork, John S. Terblanche, Madhav P. Thakur, Matthew Brian Thomas, Jason M. Tylianakis, Joan Van Baaren, Martijn Van de Pol, Wim H. Van der Putten, Hans Van Dyck, Wilco C.E.P. Verberk, David L. Wagner, Wolfgang W. Weisser, William C. Wetzel, H. Arthur Woods, Kris A.G. Wyckhuys, Steven L. Chown, 2022, Ecological Monographs

Physiological thermal limits predict differential responses of bees to urban heat-island effects

April L. Hamblin, Elsa Youngsteadt, Margarita M. López-Uribe, Steven D. Frank, 2017, Biology Letters on p. 20170125

The role of citizen science in addressing grand challenges in food and agriculture research

S. F. Ryan, N. L. Adamson, A. Aktipis, L. K. Andersen, R. Austin, L. Barnes, M. R. Beasley, K. D. Bedell, S. Briggs, B. Chapman, C. B. Cooper, J. O. Corn, N. G. Creamer, J. A. Delborne, P. Domenico, E. Driscoll, J. Goodwin, A. Hjarding, J. M. Hulbert, S. Isard, M. G. Just, K. Kar Gupta, M. M. López-Uribe, J. O’Sullivan, E. A. Landis, A. A. Madden, E. A. McKenney, L. M. Nichols, B. J. Reading, S. Russell, N. Sengupta, L. R. Shapiro, L. K. Shell, J. K. Sheard, D. D. Shoemaker, D. M. Sorger, C. Starling, S. Thakur, R. R. Vatsavai, M. Weinstein, P. Winfrey, R. R. Dunn, 2018, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Crop domestication facilitated rapid geographical expansion of a specialist pollinator, the squash bee Peponapis pruinosa

Margarita M. López-Uribe, James H. Cane, Robert L. Minckley, Bryan N. Danforth, 2016, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences on p. 20160443

Defining Pollinator Health: A Holistic Approach Based on Ecological, Genetic, and Physiological Factors

Margarita M. Lopez-Uribe, Vincent A. Ricigliano, Michael Simone-Finstrom, 2020, Annual Review of Animal Biosciences on p. 269-294

Towards a U.S. national program for monitoring native bees

S. Hollis Woodard, Sarah Federman, Rosalind R. James, Bryan N. Danforth, Terry L. Griswold, David Inouye, Quinn S. McFrederick, Lora Morandin, Deborah L. Paul, Elizabeth Sellers, James P. Strange, Mace Vaughan, Neal M. Williams, Michael G. Branstetter, Casey T. Burns, James Cane, Alison B. Cariveau, Daniel P. Cariveau, Anna Childers, Christopher Childers, Diana L. Cox-Foster, Elaine C. Evans, Kelsey K. Graham, Kevin Hackett, Kimberly T. Huntzinger, Rebecca E. Irwin, Shalene Jha, Sarah Lawson, Christina Liang, Margarita M. López-Uribe, Andony Melathopoulos, Heather M.C. Moylett, Clint R.V. Otto, Lauren C. Ponisio, Leif L. Richardson, Robyn Rose, Rajwinder Singh, Wayne Wehling, 2020, Biological Conservation

Urbanization increases pathogen pressure on feral and managed honey bees

Elsa Youngsteadt, R. Holden Appler, Margarita M. López-Uribe, David R. Tarpy, Steven D. Frank, 2015, PLoS One

Phylogeny, new generic-level classification, and historical biogeography of the Eucera complex (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

A. Dorchin, M. M. López-Uribe, C. J. Praz, T. Griswold, B. N. Danforth, 2018, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution on p. 81-92

Nest suitability, fine-scale population structure and male-mediated dispersal of a solitary ground nesting bee in an urban landscape

Margarita M. López-Uribe, Stephen J. Morreale, Christine K. Santiago, Bryan N. Danforth, 2015, PLoS One

Beekeeping management practices are associated with operation size and beekeepers’ philosophy towards in-hive chemicals

Robyn M. Underwood, Brenna E. Traver, Margarita M. López-Uribe, 2019, Insects

News Articles Featuring Margarita Lopez-Uribe

Jul 10, 2026

Penn State Master Gardeners to share gardening expertise at Ag Progress Days

Whether diagnosing plant problems, identifying insects or planning a landscape, Penn State Extension Master Gardeners can help visitors tackle gardening questions with research-based advice in the Yard and Garden Area during Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, Aug. 11-13, at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs.

Full Article

Jun 22, 2026

Penn State Master Gardeners support pollinator research across Pennsylvania

A Penn State Extension Master Gardener might spend one day helping a home gardener select pollinator-friendly plants and another collecting data that could help researchers better predict which flowers attract bees and butterflies. During National Pollinator Week, June 22-28, Master Gardeners across Pennsylvania continue to support several pollinator-focused research, education and conservation efforts.

Full Article

Apr 13, 2026

Communication, Science & Society Initiative awards four interdisciplinary grants

The Communication, Science & Society Initiative (CSSI), a research partnership between Penn State’s Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences in the College of the Liberal Arts, has announced the grant recipients from its 2025 request for proposals. The initiative has awarded $52,000 to four projects that bring together teams of life scientists, humanists and social scientists who aim to address multi-dimensional societal problems.

Full Article

Jan 22, 2026

Domestication has changed the chemicals squash flowers use to attract bees

In a new study published in the Journal of Chemical Ecology, a team led by researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences found that domesticated flowers have different scent chemical profiles than wild plants in several species of squash. Additionally, the specialized pollinators of these plants—squash bees—detect different compounds, called floral volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in wild plants that they co-evolved with than in domesticated plants.

Full Article

Oct 09, 2025

Wild lupine genetics could be key to conservation of species

Researchers at Penn State studying declining populations of sundial lupines in the eastern part of the United States are closer to determining how the plant's genetics could be used to inform reseeding strategies to help with conservation efforts of the blue flowering plant.

Full Article

Sep 28, 2025

Organic beekeeping is healthier for bees - and their keepers

In a new study, researchers at Penn State report that organic beekeeping offers a route that avoids synthetic pesticides and may raise profits.

Full Article

Sep 18, 2025

Organic beekeeping can be even more profitable than conventional methods

Organic beekeeping can support healthy and productive honey bee colonies, and a new study led by researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences found that adopting organic honey bee colony management is not only profitable, but in some cases, it can be even more profitable than conventional management.

Full Article

Sep 15, 2025

PSU releases new guide on identifying bees in Pennsylvania

A new Penn State Extension publication, Bees of Pennsylvania: A Guide to the Genera, is intended for those interested in learning to identify and learn about the diversity of over 440 bee species in Pennsylvania ecosystems.

Full Article

Feb 06, 2025

Native bee populations can bounce back after honey bees move out

Managed honey bees have the potential to affect native bee populations when they are introduced to a new area, but a study led by researchers at Penn State suggests that, under certain conditions, the native bees can bounce back if the apiaries are moved away.

Full Article

Jan 31, 2025

What is it like to be a bee? These tiny QR tracking tags helped science find out

In rural Pennsylvania and New York, researchers have attached tiny QR codes to hundreds of honey bees in an effort to track the insects’ foraging habits.

Full Article

Jan 31, 2025

Penn State researchers use QR codes to track honeybee movements

Penn State University is looking to revolutionize the way we think about our commonwealth's bee population by using something we humans scan with our phones all the time.

Full Article

Jan 28, 2025

Tiny QR codes help scientists track bee movements

New insights into bee movements and life cycles have been uncovered after researchers tracked the insects using tiny QR codes glued onto their backs.

Full Article

Jan 27, 2025

Mystery of How Far Bees Travel to Collect Pollen Is Revealed

Biologists have tagged hundreds of bees with QR codes so they can track their movements.

Full Article

Jan 26, 2025

Scientists Strapped QR Codes Onto Thousands of Bees to Learn How Far They Actually Fly

Entomologists and engineers in the U.S. glued tiny QR codes to the backs of tens of thousands of honey bees in rural areas of Pennsylvania and New York.

Full Article

Jan 24, 2025

López-Uribe awarded presidential honor for early career scientists

Margarita López-Uribe, the Lorenzo L. Langstroth Early Career Professor of Entomology in the College of Agricultural Sciences, was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers by President Biden earlier this month.

Full Article

Jan 24, 2025

Researchers glued teeny-tiny QR codes to 30,000 bees

Entomologists are gluing tiny QR codes on honey bees to better track the pollinators’ travel habits and life cycles.

Full Article

Jan 24, 2025

32,000 bees tagged with QR codes unlock mystery of pollen-collecting behaviors

A collaboration between electrical engineers and entomologists at Penn State is analyzing the time spent by bees while foraging outside their hives, research that is going to be useful for both scientific research and organic beekeeping.

Full Article

Jan 24, 2025

Researchers glued teeny-tiny QR codes to 30,000 bees

It's like a scannable ID card—but for bees.

Full Article

Jan 24, 2025

Three faculty receive Presidential Early Career Award for scientists, engineers

Three Penn State researchers have been awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the White House announced on Jan. 14.

Full Article

Jan 22, 2025

‘Buzz me in:’ Bees wearing itty bitty QR codes reveal hive secrets

Researchers attached QR codes to the backs of thousands of bees to track when and for how long they left their hives.

Full Article

Dec 19, 2024

Pollinators most vulnerable to rising global temperatures are flies, study shows

New research led by Penn State scientists suggests flies are increasingly at risk due to rising global temperatures.

Full Article

Dec 02, 2024

Q&A: Penn State COP16 delegation contributes to biodiversity efforts

A delegation of Penn State faculty and graduate students attended the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Cali, Colombia.

Full Article

Aug 22, 2024

Volunteers record bee biodiversity and discover new species in Pennsylvania

A new study, recently published in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America, evaluated the efficacy of a monitoring program, finding that 26 trained program volunteers were more than twice as effective at documenting bee diversity than thousands of users of the photo-based app iNaturalist.

Full Article

May 23, 2024

Inside WA’s struggling honeybee industry

Pollinators are a cornerstone to the world around us and they’re threatened from virtually every angle, threats best seen through the niche beekeeping industry responsible for an estimated third of the national food supply.

Full Article

May 15, 2024

Bee body mass, pathogens and climate influence heat tolerance

How well bees tolerate temperature extremes could determine their ability to persist in a changing climate. But heat tolerance varies between and within populations, so a research team led by Penn State entomologists examined bee physical traits — such as sex differences in body mass — to understand how these traits interact with environmental conditions, pathogens and other factors.

Full Article