How a Childhood Project Inspired a Life-Long Career
Meet Michael Skvarla, Ph.D., extension entomologist and director of the Insect Identification Laboratory at Penn State University, whose career path began with a Cub Scout insect-collection project. Skvarla is the subject of the next edition of our "Standout Early Career Professionals" series.
Collection of Frozen Beetles Passes 20,000 Vials
The University of Florida's Forest Entomology Lab hosts the world's largest cryo-collection of bark and ambrosia beetles. Stored at –80 degrees Celsius, the samples are critical for study of the beetles' DNA and fungal symbionts, as well as for identification of beetle outbreaks in forests.
Collaboration Brings Beetle Collection and Curation From Illinois to Cambodia
Backed by an international development grant, entomologist Tommy McElrath visited Phnom Penh to teach a three-week course on beetle collection and curation to students at the Cambodian Entomology Initiatives.
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.