USA National Phenology Network Aids Management of Pest Insects With Life-Stage Forecast Maps
It's easier to manage an insect pest if you can predict where and when it's likely to show up, rather than trying to react after it appears. The USA National Phenology Network's "Pheno Forecast" maps offer daily updates that model the temperature conditions necessary for a dozen forest insect pests. A new article in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America showcases the tool, part of a new special collection on geospatial analysis of invasive insects.
Iral Ragenovich: A Career Devoted to Caring for the Land and Serving People
A trailblazer for women in forestry, the U.S. Forest Service's Iral Ragenovich has worked on managing more than a dozen different forest pests in her 46-year career. Get to know Ragenovich in the next installment in Entomology Today's "Behind the Science" series.
It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s an Ecological Field Study!
In a recent study in Germany, targeted delivery of insecticides by unmanned aerial vehicles was effective against oak processionary moths. Researchers say such drones are suitable for aerial spraying during field studies and may open new doors for "precision forestry."
Impact of Invasive Japanese Barberry Cascades Through Local Food Webs
Dense thickets of invasive Japanese barberry significantly reduce the diversity and numbers of insects and arthropods in forests, according to new research. The ripple effects can extend upward throughout local ecosystems, even affecting human health via an increased presence of Lyme disease.
Little, Fuzzy, But Not So Cute: The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
A new profile in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management takes an in-depth look at the hemlock woolly adelgid, a pernicious pest of hemlocks in eastern North America, and the latest guidance on managing it.
A Year Older, A Year Wiser: 5 More Things I’ve Learned About a Career in Extension
Extension entomologist David R. Coyle, Ph.D. shares another round of advice for success in the extension career, a role that requires efficiency, flexibility, and customer service.
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.
Eastern Larch Beetle Outbreak Just Keeps Going When Winter’s Not So Cold
The current outbreak of eastern larch beetle in northern Minnesota is going into its 18th year, and researchers have found that at least some eastern larch beetles are able to reach maturity without requiring an overwintering period. In short, warmer winters mean eastern larch beetle is killing trees faster than it can be managed.
Emerald Ash Borer: How Cities and Towns to Prepare for Invasion
In Pennsylvania, where emerald ash borer has been present since 2007, municipalities have found successful ash-management plans under guidance of the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and they offer a model for other regions to follow.
After Emerald Ash Borer, Invertebrates on the Ground Get to Work
What happens in the forest after Emerald Ash Borers kill a tree?
Dispatch From Puerto Rico: Entomological Research Faces Rebuilding—and Opportunity—After Hurricane Maria
By Timothy D. Schowalter, Ph.D. In an article in the Fall 2017 issue of American Entomologist, “Long-term Entomological Research on Canopy Arthropods in a Tropical Rainforest in Puerto Rico,” I […]
Alternatives: Entomologists Who Use Their Hard-Earned Research Skills in Non-Research Careers
By Laurel Haavik, Ph.D. Editor’s Note: This is the next installment in the “Behind the Science” series by Laurel Haavik that peeks into the lives of scientists. See other posts […]
From Research to Extension: 5 Things I Learned When I Changed My Science Career Path
By David R. Coyle, Ph.D. A couple of years ago, I changed careers. No, I didn’t leave science altogether; rather, I switched from a research career (the “tenure-track” path, if […]
Forest Pest Invasions Can—And Should—Be Studied Before They Happen
What can we learn about ambrosia beetles in their native host ranges?
Ken Raffa Shares His Passion for Working with People to Understand Insects as Agents of Change
Editor’s note: This is the third installment in the “Behind the Science” series by Laurel Haavik that peeks into the lives of scientists. See other posts in the series. By […]