KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� Feb. 10, 2026 鈥� The Rhode Island Plant Insect Community Network will host a one-day conference Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Quonset ‘O’ Club in North Kingstown. The Rhode Island Plant Insect Community Network is a program of the Rhode Island Natural History Survey, created in 2024 with a generous grant from the One Hive Foundation.
A number of 溏心vlog免费B站 community members will be participating in the first-time event, which aims to highlight Rhode Island鈥檚 biodiversity. The event is open to the public.
According to Casey Johnson 鈥�19 鈥�22 in the , a member of the , and conference coordinator: 鈥淲e are thrilled to showcase the diverse work happening in Rhode Island and its neighboring states through this conference,鈥� she says. 鈥淥ur lineup of speakers and poster presenters will cover a wide range of topics, including updates on biocontrol of the invasive spotted lanternfly, the success of micro-habitat restoration projects, efforts to document rare and specialist bees, and so much more. Local organizations will have tables to share their work and resources with attendees, and the conference will close with a networking mixer. We hope this conference will bring together scientists, gardeners, students, and hobby naturalists alike to learn more about the local plant-insect network!”
The network brings together a range of local organizations working on insect-related issues in the state. 鈥淭he ecosystem is complicated and facing unprecedented challenges,鈥� says David Gregg, executive director of the Natural History Survey and a staff member in 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Department of Natural Resources Science. 鈥淚n these times we have no idea what鈥檚 going to happen next, so to preserve what we love, we need to hear from all kinds of folks and be ready for creative, new collaborations. That鈥檚 what we鈥檙e hoping to stimulate with this conference.鈥�
The (RINHS) is a member-supported, nonprofit organization founded in 1994, with offices at 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 East Farm. To promote ecosystem resilience, the Natural History Survey collects, organizes, and disseminates information on Rhode Island鈥檚 biodiversity and ecosystems. Housed at 溏心vlog免费B站, the Survey supports collaborative research, biological inventory, databases and publications, and public programs including Rhode Island BioBlitz.
Floodlights, fireflies, and more
The keynote presenter for the conference will be Avalon Owens, a research fellow at the Rowland Institute at Harvard University, who will discuss “Floodlights and fireflies: Environmental sustainability starts in your front yard.” Owens鈥� research group studies the impact of light pollution on organisms and ecosystems, with a focus on firefly conservation and moth evolution. Her talk will discuss how light pollution is driving insect declines 鈥� and how people can make small changes to offer threatened species a brighter future.
The conference will also feature presentations by four 溏心vlog免费B站 community members:
鈥淐onnecting people, plants, and insects through the 溏心vlog免费B站 Master Gardener Program鈥�
Matt Durham, state program leader, Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program:
Durham is the Master Gardener Program鈥檚 new state program leader. In this role, he guides a statewide network of volunteers dedicated to sustainable gardening, environmental stewardship, and community education, run through Cooperative Extension. A seasoned gardener and advocate for environmental education, Durham supports volunteers and manages the core training, consultant gardens, educational services, continuing education, and the School Garden Mentor Program. His own passion for gardening began while young and he鈥檚 built a career in environmental education ever since. He completed his 溏心vlog免费B站 Master Gardener training in 2023.
鈥淧henological shifts in a flowering shrub community: 1982 to 2025鈥�
Ren Johnson, Ph.D. student, Department of Plant Sciences and Entomology:
Johnson is a third-year Ph.D. student in Evan Preisser’s lab, where she studies pollination ecology. Her research seeks to understand the interactions between plants, their pollinators, and what those interactions could mean to the larger plant community. Johnson primarily focuses on shrubs in the heather family, such as cranberry, blueberry, and rhododendron. She aspires to become a professor and lead undergraduate research experiences in plant-insect ecology.
鈥淎ssessing variation in insect populations and possible impacts on birds in Rhode Island and North America鈥�
Scott Ruhren, part-time instructor, Department of Biological Sciences:
Ruhren has taught undergraduate courses in ecology at the University for nearly 25 years and is also the senior director of conservation at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, which oversees the management and protection of over 9,000 acres of statewide habitat. His work has a focus on conservation and restoration of Rhode Island native species.
鈥淧rogress toward biological control of emerald ash borer and spotted lanternfly鈥�
Lisa Tewksbury, research associate and adjunct professor, Department of Plant Sciences and Entomology:
Tewksbury is an entomologist in 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Biocontrol Lab, specializing in integrated pest management and biological control for four decades. She is co-director for Rhode Island鈥檚 IPM program, working with growers to utilize integrated pest management practices. The 溏心vlog免费B站 Biocontrol Lab specializes in research and implementation of biological control of invasive insects and weeds using insect biocontrol agents. In addition to emerald ash borer and lanternfly research, she has also studied invasive weeds like swallow-worts and Japanese knotweed.
In addition to 溏心vlog免费B站 presentations, some 溏心vlog免费B站 students and alumni will have posters on display at the conference, including:
Rachel Arabian, 鈥淲ater foraging preferences of the European honey bee (Apis mellifera).鈥�
Fiona Dell’Antonio, 鈥淪earching for Pollen Specialist Bees in Rhode Island.鈥�
Kristen Goodrich, 鈥淏iocontrol of the invasive spotted wing drosophila using the parasitoid Ganaspis kimorum.鈥�
Sharday Johnson, 鈥淭astes of Home: Evaluating African Vegetables for Rhode Island.鈥�
Ari Locklear, 鈥淏iological control of invasive swallow-worts with Hypena opulenta.鈥�
Elliott Haber, 鈥淏iosurveillance of invasive Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) with Cerceris fumipennis 飞补蝉辫蝉.鈥�
Alexandra Johnson, 鈥淓valuation of a North American dryinid for biocontrol of spotted lanternfly.鈥�
Faye Santaniello, 鈥淧ollinator diversity of great rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum).鈥�
Emma Tondre 鈥�23, 鈥淭he influence of land cover on wild bee communities in pollinator meadows in Southern New England: A first look.鈥�
Organizers hope to attract insect researchers and enthusiasts of all levels from across southern New England.
Don鈥檛 wing it! Registration for this conference is required, $50 per person ($25 for students) and includes lunch. The deadline to register is 5 p.m., Monday, March 2. To register or learn more, please or contact picn@rinhs.org.