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Welcome
New Distance Masters Students:
Spring 2007: Edward Snow, Blanding, UT
Fall 2007: Linda Johns, Highwood, MT; James Cannon, Columbus, OH
Erica Lindroth is a new Ph.D. student working under the supervision of Drs. John Foster and Tom Hunt. Erica received her B.S. degree in biology and Russian area studies from Gustavus Adolphus College. She received her M.S. degree in entomology from University of Missouri-Columbia where she worked under the
supervision of Dr. Tom Clark.
Lanae Pierson will be pursuing a M.S. degree under the supervision of Drs. Tiffany Heng-Moss and Tom Hunt. Lanae graduated in December from UNL and was our first graduate from the insect science major at UNL. She also minored in biological
sciences and psychology.
Sandra Schaeffer is a new M.S. student working under the supervision of Drs. Fred Baxendale and Tiffany Heng-Moss. Sandra graduated from UNL this past December
with a double major in diversified agricultural studies and agronomy with a minor in insect science. Sandra is a past president of the Insect Science Club.
Mitch Stamm will be pursuing a M.S. degree under the supervision of Drs. Fred Baxendale and Tiffany Heng-Moss. Mitch graduated from UNL this past December with a B.S. degree in plant protection sciences and minors in insect science
and diversified agricultural studies. Mitch has assumed Tom Eickhoff’s position as Research Technician III in the Turfgrass Entomology Laboratory.
Congratulations
The following students graduated in December 2006:
| Resident Graduate: | Sabine C.Becker, M.S. (Advisor: Dr. Lance Meinke)
Eliseu J. Pereira, Ph.D. (Advisor: Dr. Blair Siegfried)
Benjawan Siriwetwiwat, Ph.D. (Advisors: Dr. John Foster and Gary Hein)
Abby R. Stilwell, M.S. (Advisors: Drs. Thomas Hunt and Robert Wright) |
| Distance M.S.: | Kimberly A. Dickinson, Bruce J. Eckholm, Susan L. Harvey, Cheryl K. Osterloh, Sheri A. Roan, Bryon W. Van Ballegooyen and Richard M. Wearsch | | Undergraduate: | Lanae M. Pierson |
Drs. Steve Danielson and Tiffany Heng-Moss were each awarded a “Certificate of Recognition for Contributions to Students” and were honored by the UNL Teaching Council and the UNL Parents Association at an annual recognition ceremony on February 2. This was the second time that Steve has received this honor and the fourth time Tiffany has been honored.
| Several UNL Department of Entomology faculty and graduate students received awards and recognition at the annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America (ESA), in Indianapolis, IN, December 10-13, 2006.
Dr. Z B Mayo, Associate Director of the Agricultural Research Division, was elected an Honorary Member of ESA. Honorary membership is awarded to acknowledge those who have served the field of entomology with distinction and have participated actively in the affairs of the Society.
Dr. Shripat Kamble was recognized for serving six years on the ESA Governing Board as representative of Section F (Crop Protection Entomology).
Dr. Gary Hein, Panhandle Research & Extension Center at Scottsbluff, NE, was recognized for service as President of the North Central Branch of ESA.
Tim Husen was awarded 1st Place for his poster presentation and Laura Campbell received 1st Place for her paper presentation. Andrea Gutsche and Leonardo Magalhaes each were runners-up in the paper presentations.
A team of UNL Entomology graduate students, Nick Aliano, Mathew Brust, Michael Fisher, Tim Husen and alternate, Andre Crespo, won the National Championship of the Linnaean Games. The Linnaean Games are a college bowl-style competition on entomological facts played between university-sponsored student teams. Toss-up questions cover knowledge about apiculture, biological control, ecology, economic entomology, medical and veterinary entomology, physiology and biochemistry, taxonomy and toxicology. Bonus questions can come from any area of entomology including history and people. The National Champion Team’s coaches were Drs. Ken Pruess and Bob Wright.
Dr. Leon Higley has been selected as the Founder's Memorial Lecturer for the 2007 ESA Meeting in San Diego, CA.
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Dr. Mary Liz Jameson was presented a plaque of appreciation by the Coleopterists Society for her two years of work as the President of the Coleopterists Society at the Society's annual meeting in Indianapolis, IN.
Drs. Brett Ratcliffe and Miguel Morón were presented the "Outstanding Paper of the Year" award by the Coleopterists Society at the Society's annual meeting in Indianapolis, IN for their paper in the 2005 Coleopterists Bulletin entitled, “Larval descriptions of eight species of Megasoma Kirby (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) with a key for identification and notes on biology.” Coleopterists Bulletin 59: 91-126.
The CASNR’s Dean List for the past fall semester included insect science majors, Ashley Effken, Becca Striman, Crystal Ramm,and Ransom Sitz, and insect science minors, Sarah Mack, Sandra Schaeffer, and Mitch Stamm.
Neil and Cheri Spomer are the proud parents of a daughter, Olivia Kate, born January 19, 2007. Olivia weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz., and was 20 inches long. Congrats to Neil, Cheri, and big sister, Rylan.
Publications
Berkebile, Dennis R., Agustin Sagel, Steven R. Skoda, and John E. Foster. 2006. Laboratory Environment Effects on the Reproduction and Mortality of Adult Screwworm (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Neotropical Entomology 35(6): 781-786.
Carter, D.O., D. Yellowlees, and M. Tibbett. 2007. Cadaver decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems. Naturwissenschaften, 94(1):12-24.
Clark, Pete L., Jaime Molina-Ochoa, Samuel Martinelli, Steven R. Skoda, David J. Isenhour, Donald J. Lee, Jeffrey T. Krumm, and John E. Foster. 2007. Population variation of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, in the Western Hemisphere. Journal of Insect Science 7(5).
http://0-www.insectscience.org.library.unl.edu/7.05/
Paulsen, M.J. 2006. A new species and new records of Aphodius Illiger (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) from mammal burrows in Nebraska. Insecta Mundi 20: 95-100.
Ratcliffe, B.C. 2006. Scarab beetles in human culture (pp. 85-101). In Jameson, M.L. and B.C. Ratcliffe (editors), Scarabaeoidea in the 21st Century: a Festschrift Honoring Henry F. Howden. Coleopterists Society Monograph 5, 216 pp.
Heath, Robert R., Peter E. A. Teal, Nancy D. Epsky, Barbara D. Dueben, Stephen D. Hight, Stephanie Bloem, James E. Carpenter, Thomas J. Weissling, Paul E. Kendra, Juan Cibrian-Tovar, and Kenneth A. Bloem. 2006. Pheromone-Based Attractant for Males of Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Environmental Entomology 35(6): 1469-1476.
Edited Volume:
Jameson, M.L. and B.C. Ratcliffe (editors). 2006. Scarabaeoidea in the 21st Century: a Festschrift Honoring Henry F. Howden. Coleopterists Society Monograph 5, 216 pp.
Presentations
Cave, R.D. and B.C. Ratcliffe. The dynastine scarab beetles of Mesoamerica. Entomological Society of America, Indianapolis, IN.
Jameson, M.L. Scarab biodiversity on-line. VII REUNIÓN LATINOAMERICANA DE SCARABEOIDOLOGÍA, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Jameson, M.L. Evolution and Diversification of Grass-associated Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeidae: Anomalinae: Anisopliini). Entomological Society of America, Indianapolis, IN.
Paulsen, M. Phylogeny and systematics of the southern South American genus Pycnosiphorus (Lucanidae). SOLA, Entomological Society of America, Indianapolis, IN.
Ratcliffe, B. and R.D. Cave. A biotic survey and inventory of the dynastine scarab beetles of Central America, North America and the Caribbean Region. VII REUNIÓN LATINOAMERICANA DE SCARABAEOIDOLOGÍA, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
| The Entomology Department Faculty Meetings for Spring 2007 will be held on Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. in PI 214 on the following dates: February 21, March 21, April 18, and May 23. |
Meet a Distance Student
Distance M.S. Student - Marc Gilkey
There is nothing more fascinating to me than the plight of a Monarch butterfly, than the journey of an ant, or the flight of a bumble bee. It was the termite that started this fascination with insects; invertebrates in general have always been the most enthralling of organisms to me. I’m sure the polar bear is intriguing, the albatross enthralling, and the cobra spellbinding; but let’s face it, they don’t hold a candle to the mosquito, or a tiger beetle, or even the fruit fly!
Well, having alienated every vertebrate biologist in the world, I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Marc Gilkey. Currently I live in Mexico City, where I work for the USDA in the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) as a Foreign Service Officer. Our duties are very diverse and range from trade facilitation to capacity building to responding to plant and animal health outbreaks (i.e. avian influenza and Mediterranean fruit fly) under the framework of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) obligations each nation has to one another.
I grew up in California where I received my B.S. in Entomology from San Francisco State. I have worked for the USDA for twelve years in numerous positions that have afforded me the opportunity to travel extensively. The distance Master’s program is perfect for my situation. I actually applied to the distance program, was accepted, and took Insect Evolution while living in Kabul, Afghanistan. I have taken tests while in Beijing and listened to lectures while in Islamabad.
The staff has been wonderful and very accommodating for those of us in the distance program. As I write this, I just received my lectures in the mail for Insect Physiology. I will listen to them next week while in Irvine, CA then in Raleigh, NC and finish them back here in Mexico City.
I have one last thing to add, from all of you actually in Nebraska, may I ask permission to consider myself a Husker?
Graduate Student News
Tom Eickhoff has accepted a position with Monsanto. Beginning on February 16, Tom will be training at the Monsanto Learning Center in Monmouth, IL, before moving to his permanent position as a Technical Development Representative. There was a farewell reception for Tom on February 9, his last day in the department.
Chelsey Wasem has accepted a position with Kansas State University Extension beginning in April. Chelsey will be serving as a Horticultural Extension Agent (Educator) in Olathe, KS.
Chelsey Wasem received a $300 Travel Support Award from the Department of Entomology’s Swenk Fund to attend the Turfgrass Entomology Meeting in Wooster, OH.
The following students received a Travel Support Award from the Department’s Swenk Fund to attend the National ESA Meetings in Indianapolis, IN in December: Nick Aliano ($300), Laura Campbell ($300), Andre Crespo ($150), Michael Fisher ($150), Tim Husen ($300), Leo Magalhaes ($150), Neil Spomer ($150), Sheri Svehla ($150), and Luciana Toda ($150).
Grants
Carter D.O., R.A. Drijber, S.L. Forbes, and M.M. Marks. Using fatty acid methyl esters and lipid phosphate in soil to estimate postmortem interval. The Forensic Sciences Foundation, Inc. Total awarded: $1,000.
Meeting News
The 15th Annual Urban Pest Management Conference was held January 23-24, 2007 at The Cornhusker-Marriott Hotel in Lincoln, NE. Dr. Shripat Kamble, conference coordinator, reported that 87 pest management professionals attended the conference, with 18 vendors displaying new products. There were 34 speakers who presented 40 different topics. Thank you to staff and students for their help during this conference.
The 83rd Annual Meeting of the Kansas (Central States) Entomological Society will be held April 21, 2007 at Emporia State University, Emporia, KS. Invited speakers will give talks in the morning on aspects of insect evolution. The afternoon session will be paper presentations by members on general entomological topics. There will also be student poster presentation awards for best three presentations and posters. For more information, go to http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/kes/annual_mtg.htm
Travel
Drs. Brett Ratcliffe, Mary Liz Jameson, and Fede Ocampo traveled to Santa Cruz, Bolivia to attend the biannual meeting of Latin American Scarabaeoidologia. Brett and Mary Liz collected in Bolivia after the meetings, and Fede collected in Argentina after the meetings.
Drs. Brett Ratcliffe, Mary Liz Jameson, and Matt Paulsen attended the annual meetings of the Coleopterists Society (Mary Liz is President, Brett is Secretary) and the Entomological Society of America (Brett organized and moderated a systematics symposium) in Indianapolis, IN. Additionally, Brett and Mary Liz traveled to the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa to conduct collections-based research prior to the meetings.
Dr. Mary Liz Jameson traveled to Chile in January for two weeks.
From the Office
International Student and Scholar Income Tax Seminar and VITA volunteers in March and April 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007, 4:00 p.m., Nebraska Union Auditorium - City Campus
NOTE: Individual tax assistance is not offered at this session. Individual assistance will be provided by trained VITA volunteers in March and April.
Beginning March 6, 2007; 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.; VITA volunteers will be available every Tuesday through April 11, 2007. They will be located in the lower level of International Affairs, 420 University Terrace. They will provide free tax preparation assistance. We encourage international students/scholars to attend the seminar prior to submitting their tax returns for 2006. If you have specific questions regarding this topic please contact the IANR Finance & Personnel payroll office: financeandpersonnel@unlnotes.unl.edu
Property purchased with University funds
All property purchased with any University funds is owned by the University, not by the individual for whose use it was purchased. Therefore, unless it is purchased by the employee using personal funds, no property purchased with any funds from any university account is personal property. Therefore, it must be returned to the department if the employee leaves UNL. This applies to items purchased with funds that could have been wages, but which the employee chooses to not take as wages to avoid taxation, including funds that would have been paid as stipends, awards, or small grants to faculty, staff, or students. It includes, but is not limited to books, software, computers, cameras, or any other equipment. It applies to anything purchased from any account - grant funds, Foundation funds, auxiliary, revolving state, or regular state funds. The only exceptions are items consumed during the employee's stay or arranged through the Office of Research and/or Business & Finance to be transferred to the employee's new institution.
Change in research F&A rate for proposals.
Norm Braaten, Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs, has announced that, effective immediately, the F&A rate on all research proposals is 47.5%. Please use this rate on any proposal you are preparing. An announcement is expected later on the teaching, extension, and off-campus rates. Please contact Allen Specht, if you have any questions.
Condolences
Tim Huntington’s grandmother, Zelma Buetner, passed away on January 30, 2007. She was 85 years old and lived in Decatur, IN. Funeral services were held Saturday, February 3, 2007. Our deepest sympathy goes to Tim and his family.
| Calendar of Events
February 12, 2007
• Entomology Seminar - Julia Colby, Graduate Student, Department of Entomology, 4:00 p.m., East Campus Union
February 17, 2007
• Beginning Beekeeping Workshop, ARDC, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
February 19, 2007
• Entomology Seminar - Dr. Gary Brewer, Department of Entomology, 4:00 p.m., East Campus Union
February 19-22, 2007
• Southwestern Branch-ESA Meeting, Corpus Christi, TX
February 21, 2007
• Entomology Faculty Meeting, 214 PI, 9:00 a.m.
February 26, 2007
• Entomology Seminar - Dr. Raul Guedes, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brazil
March 4-7, 2007
• Southeastern Branch-ESA Meeting, Knoxville, TN
March 5, 2007
• Entomology Seminar - Dr. Roger Santer, School of Biological Sciences, UNL, 4:00 p.m. East Campus Union
March 11 - 18, 2007
• Spring Break (UNL offices are open Monday through Friday)
March 12, 2007
• Entomology Seminar - Mathew Brust, Graduate Student, Department of Entomology, 4:00 p.m., East Campus Union
March 19, 2007
• Entomology Seminar - Dr. Ludek Zurek, Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, 4:00 p.m., East Campus Union
March 21, 2007
• Entomology Faculty Meeting, 214 PI, 9:00 a.m.
March 25-28, 2007
• North Central Branch-ESA Meeting, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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| An equal opportunity educator and employer with a comprehensive plan for diversity.
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| Do you know someone who’s thinking about college? Do you know someone who may be interested in entomology or agriculture as a career? The Department’s undergraduate Insect Science or Diversified Agriculture majors are looking for interested students. If you know of a student that would like more information on either major, send their name and contact information to Lisa Silberman, lsilberman1@unl.edu |
Send items of interest for the next issue of the Hexapod Herald to JCUNNINGHAM1@UNL.EDU
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