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By: Amanda Brucchieri and Helen Craig
On any given day, Dr. Tanisha Williams might be found exploring the desert in search of bush tomatoes, analyzing historical herbarium samples, or nurturing a vibrant community of Black botanists. What underscores all her work is the elevation and exploration of the relationships between people and plants, especially in the context of human mediated climate change caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gases (IPCC, 2013). In her work, Dr. Williams investigated how this change is affecting the phenology and diversity of plants, particularly in the context of climate change and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). written by: Ben Gregory and Minh Le
Vampires do exist – they’re just tiny and have six legs. Blood-feeding insects, such as mosquitoes, feed on the blood of other animals to complete their life cycle. Blood provides many essential nutrients that aren’t easy to get elsewhere in nature. Unfortunately for us, blood-feeding insects can carry pathogens that cause human diseases, like malaria, West Nile, and Zika. For this reason, many scientists are interested in learning how the process of blood feeding works, and what we might be able to do to keep ourselves safe from it. One of these scientists, Dr. Chloé Lahondère of the Department of Biochemistry at Virginia Tech, has spent years learning about one unusual element of blood-feeding that you probably haven’t considered: how to stay cool. Your blood is hot – about 100°F in your body! Given that insects are cold-blooded animals and must maintain their body temperature below a certain level, the question arises “how does a blood-feeder feed on piping hot blood without overheating? Dr. Lahondère is using the kissing bug (Figure 1, Left) to answer this question.  Samantha Rosa We are thrilled to extend a big CONGRATULATIONS to Samantha Rosa, for being selected to join the esteemed cohort of NOAA’s Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellows! Samantha Rosa is a graduate student in the Gruner and Espíndola Labs. As part of the fellowship Samantha will conduct collaborative research with the Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve in Ka-waha-o-ka-manō on the island of O‘ahu. Her research will focus on developing K-12 Community-Driven Science curriculum and programming that draws on Indigenous and contemporary knowledge to empower children and educators to lead biocultural restoration and management of Hawai‘i's cultural and ecological systems. Samantha is excited to contribute her experience as a classroom teacher and ecologist towards enhancing the education programs at the only NOAA reserve formally recognized as an Indigenous and community-conserved area.
 Karen Rane (center, in peach polo) at mini retirement celebration | photo credit: Amy Yaich Dr. Karen Rane has been the Director of the University of Maryland’s Plant Diagnostic Lab (PDL) since 2007. After 17 years of service and a WOW # of plant samples processed, she has decided to turn in the towel and retire this semester. We thank Karen for lending her expertise to our Departments, the University and broader community and wish her all the best in retirement. For more on Karen and her service check out the write up from her National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) - Lifetime Achievement Award and recent(ish) graduate student blog about her work, "Catching bugs isn’t just for entomologists: Inside the University of Maryland’s plant diagnostic lab"
This semester the Department was saddened by the loss of Professors Emeriti Don Messersmith and Charlie Mitter. They both left an indelible mark on students, colleagues and the field of Entomology. Here we take a brief look back at their legendary careers. Congratulations to Dr. Margaret Palmer on her election to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences! We are thrilled to see her receive this prestigious honor, sharing in President’s Pines sentiments…
“Margaret Palmer's election to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences is a richly deserved honor," said university President Darryll J. Pines. "Her unwavering commitment to both academic excellence and real-world impact is truly inspiring. The University of Maryland is incredibly fortunate to count her among our faculty.” Check out the University's full press release here>>
As the Spring semester draws to a close, we extend our THANKS to everyone for their dedication and hard work in teaching, extension, and research. This term has been filled with achievements, learning experiences, and moments of both joy and sorrow. In this newsletter, we reflect on Spring 24 and look forward to summer. Join us https://mailchi.mp/.../department-of-entomology... (MD Day volunteers | photo credit: Evans)  |
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