Rate My Professor Anne Averill

Professor Anne Averill served as a professor in the Department of Environmental Conservation, School of Earth and Sustainability, College of Natural Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She was also co-director of the Environmental Science Major. As the cranberry entomologist at the UMass Cranberry Station under the Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment, Averill focused her 36-year career on understanding insect behavior to manage cranberry insect pests and studying native pollinators. She retired on October 31, 2024, following outstanding research and dedication to the cranberry industry and growers. Her work included leading large projects on native pollinator habitats and the stresses these insects face, contributing to sustainable management strategies.

Averill's research addressed the ecology of native bees in natural and agricultural systems, examining major stressors on their health and how these interact, with emphasis on pathogens, pollen and nectar sources, land use impacts, and exposure to pesticides. She conducted long-term surveys of native pollinators to assess changes in diversity and abundance, particularly for bumble bee species. Her interests extended to fundamental and applied insect-plant interactions, informing biointensive, reduced-risk management strategies for pests and conservation of beneficial species. Averill co-edited the Massachusetts Pesticide Certification Manual for Cranberries and contributed to the Cranberry Production Guide and Cranberry Chart Book. She provided extension through newsletters, management update meetings, pesticide safety events, and insect clinics, supporting growers with practical guidance on pests like leafhoppers, scales, flea beetles, and black bugs. Her efforts advanced pollinator conservation and integrated pest management in agricultural settings.