Department Newsletter

Entomology Stridulations
A Newsletter of The Ohio State University Department of Entomology

Autumn 2020 Department Announcements
From the Chair, Dr. Jamie Strange

To say that autumn 2020 was an unusual semester would be an understatement, yet we have made it halfway through the academic calendar. We are still mostly working from home, but our labs and classrooms still remain active. The department started the fall semester with most of our classes online, but a few still had in-person lectures and labs. It is amazing to me, but our faculty managed to keep teaching in person as long as Ohio State allowed it, right up to Thanksgiving break. The effort to continue offering our courses both online and in person will continue this spring, and our faculty and graduate associates continue to work hard to modify courses so that we can deliver content safely and effectively. Our Seminar Series will remain online for the spring semester. Please be sure to check our speaker lineup. 

While research and extension have required extra effort this year, the department has remained productive, evidenced by the selected publications and events highlighted in this edition of our departmental newsletter. Our faculty, staff, and students have modified their work to deliver valuable outreach and extension to our stakeholders. It wasn’t without some bumps along the way, but we managed to move our Wooster-based operations from Thorne Hall and Annex into the new Wooster Science Building in December. This was a herculean effort led by Andy Michel and Jim Hacker. The official ribbon cutting occurred on January 14, even though we continue to move items from Thorne Hall and unpack the labs and offices. Once we can meet safely, we will hold an open house so everyone can come see our new home, which includes modern open labs and office space, a cafe, and the United Titanium Bug Zoo located in the lobby. Watch highlights from the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

As we start 2021, we are hopeful that we can return to a more normal way of operating in the coming months. We will be interviewing candidates for a new specialty crop entomologist position in March and hope to welcome a new faculty member this year. Our graduate student recruitment will be virtual this spring, but as always, we have a strong slate of applicants. We continue to look for ways to grow and improve in the current, challenging environment, and we wish you all a fruitful 2021.

  1. Entomology Stridulations | Department Newsletter

    Mar 2, 2021

    Entomology Stridulations 

    Autumn 2020 Semester Recap

  2. Artist's rendering of future science building

    Thank you for Supporting the BugZooWoo!

    Sep 14, 2020

    Thank you for Supporting the Bug Zoo's big move to the new science building!

  3. Protecting Pollinators from Pesticides, webinar with Elizabeth Long

    Aug 21, 2018

    In this webinar, Elizabeth Long provides a brief overview of the factors that influence pesticide exposure risks for beneficial insects across the landscape. She summarizes current knowledge of the different routes of pesticide exposure for pollinators, discusses the research methods used to identify these risks, and highlights steps we can take to promote and protect pollinators in our home, urban, and agricultural landscapes.

  4. Dave Shetlar, "The Bug Doc," visits Good Day Columbus to talk bugs.

    Aug 21, 2018

    Dr. David Shetlar stopped by Good Day Columbus to talk about the bugs making a comeback this fall, and how you can try to stop them from taking over your home (August, 2018).

  5. Department Student Award Winners

    Aug 17, 2018

    Please join us in congratulating this year’s graduate student award winners.  These students, as well as the winners of the spring DeLong competition, were recognized at the department's summer recognition event. Congratulations to all of our award winners and kudos to everybody who competed!

    2018 Susan W. Fisher Teaching Award                     James Radl

    2018 David J. Horn Service Award                           Yvan Delgado de la Flor

    2018 Lowell R. “Skip” Nault Research Award          Ashley Yates

  6. Entomology research featured in Cleveland event

    Aug 22, 2017

    Research underway in Cleveland by graduate student Denisha Parker, undergraduate Ryan Byler, and entomologist Mary Gardiner was featured in the city's ciCLEvia event July 16.

    In its second year, ciCLEvia is an open streets movement that periodically closes down sections of the city to motorists and opens it to everything from yoga to cycling to giant Jenga games and hula hooping. 

  7. Insecticide Can Hamper Yield Increase from Bees in Soybeans (Bee Culture magazine)

    Aug 17, 2016

    Although soybean aphids remain at low levels, Reed Johnson and Andy Michel, two Ohio State University researchers are concerned that many growers are going to add insecticides to spray tanks when applying fungicides.

    “Well, I’m going over the field anyway so I thought I’d add an insecticide for insurance purposes! The insecticide is relatively cheap and soybeans are worth so much!” is what researchers say they hear from farmers this time of year.

    The researchers are clear that they do not recommend this practice, and feel an IPM approach is much better for everyone and everything, including the environment. They do not recommend an insecticide application unless there is a need.

     

  8. Entomology Graduate Student Selected as a Fellow for AIARD’s Future Leaders Forum

    May 16, 2016

    Diego Orellana Vintimilla, a M.S. student in the Department of Entomology, was recently named a fellow to the Future Leaders Forum – a competitive program managed by the Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development(AIARD) aimed at fostering student interest in international agriculture and rural development issues and their solutions.

  9. 4-H honey bee challenge

    Bees Create a Buzz with Annual 4-H Challenge

    May 4, 2016

    COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Honeybees don’t just buzz. They dance.

    And thousands of students in Ohio and seven other states will learn why that’s a vital aspect of honeybee pollination as they participate in this year’s 4-H Ag Innovators Experience, the Honey Bee Challenge.

    The challenge was developed by specialists with Ohio State University Extension.

    It’s the third consecutive year that OSU Extension has developed the challenge used for the annual innovators experience, sponsored by the National 4-H Council and Monsanto Company.

    “There’s a lot of interest and concern about honeybees,” said Beth Hecht, grant manager for the National 4-H Council. “This topic seemed like a natural for our annual challenge.”

  10. Protecting and Enhancing Pollinators in Urban Landscapes: New Multi-state Bulletin

    Apr 12, 2016

    This 30 page full-color bulletin includes plant lists for bees and butterflies (including annuals, herbaceous perennials, shrubs and trees) and details steps to create and maintain pollinator habitat. Pollinator-friendly pest management strategies are outlined. A season-long plant sequence is included.

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