A New Stink Bug Species Named After a Stink Bug Person
A newly described species of stink bug is named in honor of distinguished entomologist and stink-bug expert Jay McPherson, Ph.D., whose advice to an early-career entomologist led to the specimen being deemed its own species rather than a subspecies.
When the Path Less Traveled Leads to Hissing Cockroaches for a More Inclusive Tomorrow
Get to know Alex Bryant, extension agent and 4-H educator, whose curriculum using Madagascar hissing cockroaches has introduced more than 2,400 Kentucky middle school students to entomology and science.
How Entomology Students With ‘Graduphobia’ Can Face Their Fear of the Unknown
Entomology students face plenty of pressure, from conducting research to getting published to presenting at conferences. And, perhaps most daunting: embarking upon a career after graduation. Ph.D. student Lina Bernaola calls the stress of the final stages of academic coursework "graduphobia."
Donna Leonard: At the Helm of a World-Renowned Forest Insect Management Program
Donna Leonard, forest entomologist at the U.S. Forest Service, has piloted one of the most successful forest insect-management programs in the world for over 20 years running, all while navigating a career in a male-dominated field.
A Day in the Life: Entomology in the Big Apple
For many entomologists, field experiments happen in actual "fields"—croplands or prairies, for instance—but urban ecologist Elsa Youngsteadt, Ph.D., often finds herself in much different spaces, such as the Broadway median in New York City's Upper West Side.
From Garden Peonies to a Career Studying Ant-Plant Interactions
Kate Mathis, Ph.D., postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arizona and soon-to-be assistant professor at Clark University, got hooked on entomology at a young age, when she saw ants swarm peonies in her mother's garden every spring as they bloomed. Today, she carries that fascination into her research on complex species interactions.
An Entomologist’s Review of ‘An Entomologist’s Love Story’
In An Entomologist's Love Story, insect mating rituals stand as metaphors for human dating behavior—and the entomological themes and humor hold up under inspection, says entomology Ph.D. student Emily Bick.
Researchers Propose Standardized Naming of Lab-Reared Insect Stocks
Entomologists at the Great Lakes Forestry Centre in Canada have crafted a standardized naming convention for their laboratory insect stocks, and they suggest other similar facilities could adopt the naming format, as well.
Anatomy of a Great Entomological Research Poster
What makes a great research poster? Authors of past winning posters at Entomological Society of America meetings recommend good storytelling, succinct wording, appealing visuals, and a simple presentation overall—great advice for entomology students and professionals alike as they prepare their posters for Entomology 2018.
Team Develops New Protocol for Embedding Insects in Resin
Insect and arthropod specimens set in clear resin are a valuable tool for teaching entomology both in the classroom and in public outreach. A team at Texas A&M University has developed an efficient, cost-effective process for resin casting and shares the instructions with the entomological community.
Award Opportunities Abound for Students in Entomology
For an entomology student, earning an award from the Entomological Society of America can be a source of encouragement, an opportunity to gain name recognition, and a chance to meet new colleagues and role models at ESA meetings. One past student award winner shares her experience and advice.
Bodycams Can Make for Better Agricultural Pest Management, Too
In a new study at the University of Arizona, researchers used body-mounted cameras to evaluate the efficiency of two insect pest sampling techniques—a sweepnet and a vacuum—in a cotton field. The perspective offered new insights into how such methods can be evaluated and could help growers and integrated pest management professionals further fine-tune their sampling techniques.
Fruit DNA in Invasive Flies’ Guts Could Help Track Their Dispersal
A recent study at North Carolina State University shows that DNA analysis of spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) flies can detect whether they fed on strawberries as much as seven days prior. Researchers hope the proof of concept will lead to more accurate analysis of the invasive pest's dispersal in the field.
10 Tips for a Winning Entomology Conference Presentation
Every year, students and professionals in entomology present their research at the Entomological Society of America's Annual Meeting. It's a chance to share the latest updates from their work with an audience of fellow experts in insect science, and, with a little preparation, it doesn't have to be a nerve-racking experience.
How an “Insect Ecologist at Heart” Got Focused on Pest Management Research
Lauren Diepenbrock, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University and soon to be an assistant professor at the University of Florida, says she enjoys "figuring out how insects, particularly invasive species, make use of the available resources to be successful."
A Day in the Life of an Urban Insect Ecologist
Meet Sarah Parsons, urban insect ecologist and Ph.D. candidate at NC State University. Parsons offers a glimpse into her work studying the mechanisms that drive urban ecosystems.