MSU's Central Asia IPM CRSP Project welcomed Abdujabbor Shirinov, Tajikistan's ambassador to the United States, to the MSU campus on May 23. Dr. Karim Maredia, lead investigator of the Central Asia IPM CRSP, invited Ambassador Shirinov to meet with the project’s team, learn about its food security work and share his ideas about enriching the collaboration in his country. The project encompasses IPM research and extension in tomatoes, potatoes and wheat, all key crops for the region. The project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and managed by the Virginia Tech University.
The Ambassador noted that the project’s blend of socio-economic work along with the specific crop-based research is appreciated. He would like to see further exchange of students for capacity-building in both short training and degree-granting programs.
During his time with the team, the Ambassador visited the lab of Dr. Dave Douches, a potato breeder working to identify suitable varieties for production of certified seed within the region. Douches is collaborating with Drs. George Bird and Walter Pett to train a doctoral student who will setup the seed certification process in Central Asia and advise farmers in growing the seed and food potatoes. This effort will position the region to have better potato seed that is produced locally. Other components of the IPM CRSP include enhancing landscapes to encourage natural enemies of wheat pests led by Dr. Doug Landis, and biological control of tomato pests in greenhouses and fields directed by the University of California-Davis’ Dr. Frank Zalom. Learn more about the project at its website.
| Gary Parsons can tell you what it’s like maintaining over 1.5 million specimens in the A.J. Cook Arthropod Research Collection. As the collection's manager, Parsons does everything from displaying and arranging the insects in an understandable way, to teaching students and overseeing the maintenance of the MSU Entomology Bug House. Parsons was recently featured in a staff profile by MSU News. Read the story. |
Gary Parsons, A.J. Cook Arthropod Research Collection manager. Photo by G.L. Kohuth
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Dr. Mark Scriber enjoys having an avocation with vocational relevance. He recently published in Association for Tropical Lepidoptera Notes (June 2011) an article, From Emperor Moths to Zulu Kings: Early Entomophagy and Charlotte’s Web of Missionary Letters. He notes, “While consumption of insects in human diets has been known and documented for 200 years, the unusually high nutritional value of insects has only relatively recently been analyzed and recognized.” Read the article…
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Woman harvesting mopane worms. (Botswana March 18, 1985) |
The department is offering an on-line course forensic entomology course: The Role of Insects in Crime Scene Investigations. The instructors are Drs. Ryan Kimbirauskas and Rich Merritt. Forensic entomology is a branch of forensic science that involves the use of insects and related arthropods to assist in legal investigations and to solve violent crimes. This course describes the various ways insects can and have been used as evidence in court and explains the science behind how they solve crimes. Case studies are used to emphasize major points and a virtual crime scene was designed to test each student’s skills as a crime scene investigator (CSI). The final exam includes interpreting insect evidence, calculating a postmortem interval, and submission of a final report including time of death estimates. For more information or for permission to enroll please contact Ryan Kimbirauskas or Richard Merritt.
Entomology students receive awards at annual student-hosted picnic. The Department honored these students on April 29 at Lake Lansing. Congratulations to:
- Megan Fritz – Robert Dreisbach Award
- Emily Campbell – Eugeneia McDaniel Award
- Megan Woltz – Outstanding Bug House Volunteer
- Amanda Lorenz – Outstanding Bug House Volunteer
- Ryan Paul – Undergraduate Scholarship Winner
- Matthew Aardema – Paul Wooley Award
- Carolyn Lewis – James Bath Award
- Ryan VanderPoppen – James Bath Award
- Courtney Weatherbee – Undergraduate Scholarship Winner.
Thanks to GUESS for organizing a wonderful evening. View more details and picnic photos.
Five Entomology students received degrees at the 2011 Spring Commencement. On Friday, May 6, Ryan Kimbirauskas was hooded by Dr. Rich Merritt; and Danielle Donovan and Loren Wernette received their Master of Science degrees. On Saturday, May 7, Casey Rowley and Shawna Ryan received their Bachelor of Science degrees. Drs. Chris DiFonzo and Walt Pett served as Marshals. Congratulations to our outstanding students: Dr. Kimbirauskas, Casey, Danielle, Loren and Shawna!
Dr. Ke Dong has studied the effects of scorpion venom with hopes of finding new ways to protect plants from insect pests. The work, a collaboration with researchers from Tel Aviv University and the University of California at Irvine, was published in the current issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry. The results have revealed new ways in which the venom works. Read more…
MSU Entomology is hiring a Tree Fruit Integrator. Visit MSU’s job web and search in the academic staff section for Posting Number 4564. Job posting closing date is May 7, 2011.