Department of Entomology
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Entomology isn’t the only unit focused on insects

6/13/2025

 
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Turns out FM has its eye on insects, too. Members of the Facility Maintenance Pest Management team, Jorge and Joe, prioritize sustainable, safe pest control strategies that protect both the campus environment and its community. Their integrated approach includes installing physical barriers, using traps, limiting pesticides, and consulting experts, like entomologists, for guidance.

When a swarm of honey bees settled near the SECU Stadium just before a major field hockey match, Jorge and Joe partnered with Eric Malcolm from the Bee Lab to safely capture and relocate the bees. Swarming is a natural process. As temperatures rise, the queen along with thousands of bees leave the hive to start a new colony.  If you encounter a swarm, don't kill the bees! Follow Jorge and Joe’s lead; contact a beekeeper to relocate bees to a more suitable environment where they can continue to thrive and pollinate. 

In another case this semester, there was a sudden boom in ant activity outside a well-known campus building, prompting concern. Uncertain about the species, Jorge brought the sticky trap loaded with specimens to Dr. Jeff Shultz’s lab for identification. Dr. Shultz confirmed the ants were Prenolepis imparis, aka false honey ant, writing to Jorge, “It is common in Maryland and most active this time of year (cool). Can be a nuisance but rarely, if ever, a pest.”

The Department of Entomology is proud to be a resource for FM’s Pest Management Team. Jorge and Joe's thoughtful, science-based responses to insect issues on campus shows their commitment to meeting human needs while still being considerate of environmental impacts.

Longtime PDL Director, Dr. Karen Rane, Retires

5/17/2024

 
Group Photo of Karen Ranes Celebration in Gahan Conf Room
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"

IN MEMORIAM

5/17/2024

 
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.
Don and Jennie with bird specimens on loading dock.
Mitter on a hike at harpers ferry

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Ento Undegrad Co-founds Company Exploring the Health Benefits of Fungi

3/12/2024

 
Harriet Harris, an undergrad pursuing a minor and honors in ento w/ Dr. vanEngelsdorp, shines in Maryland Today. In addition to being an accomplished student and kick-butt roller derby player, Harriet is co-founder of BaltiSpore, a company that markets "functional" mushroom products for various health benefits.
 
Share Harriet's fungipreneurial spirit with your networks on facebook, X or wherever you like to excitedly holler about fun interesting things.

Raupp Quoted in WaSHINGTON POST

7/27/2023

 
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Meet one of the "craziest creatures" University of Maryland Professor Emeritus Mike Raupp has ever seen, the hammerhead worm. Not only is this worm aptly named for the shape of its head, it secretes the same neurotoxin found in puffer fish & has cannibalistic tendencies.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/07/22/hammerhead-worms-invasive-poisonous-dc/

https://bugoftheweek.com/blog/2023/7/24/hammer-time-in-the-dmv-hammerhead-worms-bipalium-spp

Share this info on the "craziest creature" with friends, family and coworkers via facebook, twitter or other platforms. ​

Lamp's new course encourages students to explore the science behind the headlines

6/2/2023

 
stream collection
Undergraduates from across disciplines joined Dr. Bill Lamp & Grad Assistant Amanda Rae Brucchieri for an i-series course ripped from the headlines, “BSCI145 The Insect Apocalypse: Real or Imagined”, a new course that encouraged students to learn more about the natural world and interpret scientific information presented to them. Over the semester students applied their knowledge through hands-on experiences in the classroom, lab and even field trips.


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Thorne quoted in NY Times

5/30/2023

 
Earlier in May while some of us were scrolling through photos of the coronation across the pond, Prof Emerita Dr. Barbara Thorne was quoted talking about another monarch - the Termite King. She told The New York Times that "“There are some parallels to our monarchy system for humans.” Read article here>>

Dr. Hawthorne chats with The Diamondback about bee campus certification

4/14/2023

 
The Dept of Entomology is buzzing with excitement as University of Maryland moves closer to bee campus certification. Dr. Hawthorne shares with The Diamondback that obtaining this certification could be beneficial to the well-being of the campus. Not only by enhancing pollinator habitat but by expanding courses on plants, pollinators and their interactions.

https://www.facebook.com/UMDEntomology/posts/pfbid0v6SSeu6pYryeUT6dgT9MMjp6BV57A6jMKVRQM4rfPXJwJUunJq2QL1hzL6r8Hojl

https://twitter.com/UMDEntomology/status/1642887187057221635?s=20

Insect Zoo Travels to DC Bilingual School

3/17/2023

 
Kids engaging with Insect Zoo insects and spiders
InsectTerps (Kensie, Sankara, Emiliano & Todd) and the U.S. Forest Service travel to DC to meet with some of the areas youngest insect enthusiasts at DC Bilingual Public Charter School. Students got to meet some charismatic bugs from the Insect Zoo- Hissing Cockroaches, Vinegarroons and Tarantulas - & the amazing University of Maryland researchers who work with these arthropods.

Raupp Talks Warm Winter Impacts with Local WTOP Station

2/28/2023

 
Does warm winter weather affect insects? WTOP turns to Raupp for answers.  “The warmer it is, the quicker they develop, the more active they become,” Raupp says. 

See full article here on WTOP. Share with your networks via twitter and Facebook 

Bill Katsereles Retires After 42 years with UMD

12/21/2022

 
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It is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of Bill Katsereles effective Dec. 31, 2022. Bill has served in public higher education for 42 years with the University of Maryland (even more yrs. if we count his undergrad!). Bill Katsereles received his B.S. degree in accounting in 1980 from the University of Maryland, College Park. After graduating, Bill worked as an Accountant here at the University of Maryland’s Agricultural Experiment Station. A few years in (and a couple of cow purchases later) Bill was promoted to Business Manager at Wye Research & Education Center. In 1993, Bill started in the Department of Entomology where he has been instrumental in the financial administration and development of the department for the past 29 years.

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Earth Island Journal chats with Maggie Hartman about the benefits of dragonflies

11/18/2022

 
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Photo by Henry T McLin
The College quotes Grad Student Maggie Hartman (Lamp Lab) about the benefits of dragonflies:

"Dragonflies have stood the test of time. We need to expand what we expect of them," University of Maryland Department of Entomology graduate student Margaret Hartman shared with Earth Island Journal.

Beyond indicating a healthy ecosystem, dragonflies can also prey on agricultural pests. 


Follow link for full article by Earth Island Journal

Raupp chats Ants w/ the Weather Channel

10/18/2022

 
Prof Emeritus Mike Raupp tells the The Weather Channel yes, ants are indeed abundant, reaching every continent except for Antarctica. "They outweigh birds and all wild mammals which is is simply a huge huge amount of mass" Raupp says. & not only are the sheer # and distribution of ants amazing but so is the extraordinary contributions ants make to our planet. Learn more here: 

The Diamondback Shines spotlight on insect Zoo

9/27/2022

 
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photo credit: Autumn Hengen/The Diamondback
The Dept of Entomology is fostering an appreciation for insects one event at a time. “People go from being afraid of bugs and swearing they will never hold something to not being able to leave the table because they’re having such a great time. It seems like they’re having a profound change of mind,” Todd Waters said to The Diamondback. Read more about how the University of Maryland Insect Zoo is capturing the hearts and minds of DMV residents.

link to article: 
https://dbknews.com/2022/09/26/entomology-zoo-burtonsville-day/?fbclid=IwAR1MAlOEMEe3pwM2Uh3d6Zjn6grdpzCJBI2t6WqBNaq8t9v4-M9aHPKX6eA

Raupp tells Washington Post climate change is extending mosquito season

9/27/2022

 
Sorry DMV residents, mosquitoes are predicted to follow us well into the fall season. University of Maryland Prof Emeritus Mike Raupp shares why with the Washington Post.

Quote: Because they’re coldblooded, insect development is very closely tied to ambient temperature, so the warmer it is, the faster they develop,” Raupp said. “Our mosquitoes can have multiple generations every year. So as we move into a warming world — because it gets warm earlier, it stays warm later and it’s generally hotter — we simply have more generations of these mosquitoes every single year.

link to article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/09/25/mosquito-season-washington/

Lamp's Freshwater Bio gets mention in MD Today

9/20/2022

 
With a bit of help from UMD's Teaching and Learning Innovation Grant, Drs Lamp and Avanesyan show Freshwater Biology students how to use innovative tech to extract DNA from insects and ID species. Read more at MD Today article "From Bugs to Bronze Age, Nearly 300 Courses Get Creative Boost"

Insect Terps attend EntoQuest Summer Meeting

9/19/2022

 
Fac and students at EntoQuest - group photo outside cabinphoto credit: Amanda Rae Brucchieri
Earlier this month UMD Entomology faculty and students attended EntoQuest, a premiere summer event put on by the ESA’s Eastern Branch. Located in the beautiful mountains outside Front Royal, Virginia the meeting was designed to instill a sense of community, bringing together students, professors and professionals from all over. Events throughout the weekend provided chances to network, learn, explore, and collect with fellow insect enthusiasts. There were opportunities to gain knowledge about aquatic macroinvertebrates, forensic entomology, collection techniques and the pestering lantern fly. Experts shared their knowledge through laid back conversations and casual poster viewing. Amanda Rae Brucchieri, 1st yr grad student in Lamp lab said, “The first ever Eastern Branch Summer EntoQuest was a great way for attendees to enjoy the company and knowledge of others, wrapping up a summer full of data collection and running around perfectly.” See photo of Amanda and other UMD attendees below. & if you are interested in future Eastern Branch events, check out plans for the next meeting in Providence, Rhode Island.
https://www.entsoc.org/membership/branches/eastern/meeting

President Pines celebrates Ag research w/ Dr. Hamby

7/29/2022

 
hamby lab in soybean field
photo credit: President Pines
With selfie, President Pines celebrates Ag research w/ Dr. Hamby and crew -Emma, Kyree, Shea and Arthur. Surrounded by soybean crops Dr. Hamby gave Pres Pines a rundown of the lab's research into the impacts of planting dates on soybean pests & the effects of pyrethroids tank mixes on both soybean pests and beneficial insects. Thanks for stopping by the farm Pres Pines and championing Ento’s work!

Share on facebook and twitter

Raupp Gives NBC4 Tips on How to Fight the Mosquitoe Bite this Summer

7/1/2022

 
PicturePhoto Credit: NBC4
Hot humid weather with scattered storms make conditions ideal for mosquitoes in the DMV. The Bug Guy, Prof Emeritus Mike Raupp, gives NBC4 tips on how individuals and their communities can fight the bite:
- eliminate breeding sites
- apply personal protection
- and use Gravid Aedes Trap
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/how-to-attack-those-pesky-mosquitoes/3068274/

Raupp and alum Gimpel on tick borne illness & climate change

5/24/2022

 
As weather warms lone star ticks are expanding their territory North. Mike Raupp explains in the New York Times more about the tick, including why its bite can lead to a red meat allergy called alpha-gal syndrome. & The Washington Post interviews alum William Gimpel about his experience after developing the syndrome. 

Quote from Raupp in NYT: “What we’re now seeing is a wide-open door for ticks to continue expanding their range further northward”

Quote from Gimpel in Post: "I developed hives, fainted, my blood pressure dropped, and I told my wife on the way to the ER that I could not see. That has been my most serious reaction."

Read NY Times article here>>
Read Washington Post article here>>

New course explores sustainable pest management

5/24/2022

 
PictureDr. Shrewsbury guest leads BSCI487 field trip to Bell Nursery.
This spring Dr. Hamby kicked off a new course BSCI487, “IPM: science-based decision making for sustainable pest management.” The course explores sustainable pest management in agroecosystems using the integrated pest management (IPM) paradigm. The class of 11 students met each Tuesday and Thursday for lecture, discussion, lab and the occasional field trip.

Sankara Ganesh, an undergraduate Biological Sciences major specializing in Ecology and Evolution with a minor in Entomology and Sustainability, describes the course as the perfect overlap between his interests in biology and sustainability. The class taught him about the various consequences of pesticide overuse including risks to human health, environmental contamination, non-target effects on beneficial arthropods, and the development of pesticide resistance. Now that Sankara has taken the course he feels even more enthused about IPM, saying “The key to managing pests while minimizing consequences lies within IPM.”

Sankara highly recommends the course, saying “It's the kind of course that students from any major can enjoy and succeed in as long as they make an effort to learn and participate. Also, Dr. Hamby is a very patient and understanding professor who treats all of her students with respect and kindness.” So, if you are interested in learning more about pest management, sustainable food production and the health of our planet, consider registering for BSCI487 when it is offered next. The course is acceptable toward Biological Specialization Areas: ECEV and GENB (Ecology, Behavior & Organismal category) and the Entomology minor.

MSU's Bug Talk Interviews Dr. Fritz about career and family

3/4/2022

 
​Tune into Bug Talk for honest reflections from scientist Dr. Megan Fritz on starting a family while pursuing a #STEM career. This semester Megan connected with her alma mater Michigan State University, Department of Entomology. While there she chatted with Bug Talk's Zsofia about her path to entomology, her choice to start a family in graduate school, raising children while completing her Ph.D. and the supportive environment that MSU cultivated for female students with children.  

Check out Bug Talk's podcast to listen to full Fritz episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/911479/10162569

Share on facebook and twitter. 

Shultz Quoted in New York Times

2/21/2022

 
Dr. Jeff Shultz, quoted in The New York Times commenting on a recent publication out in Molecular Biology and Evolution that suggest rather than occupying their own individual lineage, horseshoe crabs are in the same family as arachnids. 

Quote: “Personally, I think it is an interesting finding,” said Jeffrey Shultz, a professor of entomology at the University of Maryland who studies arachnid evolution, “but experience shows that results can change when the same data are analyzed by different workers, when new data are added to the mix or when new insights into genomic evolution come to light.”
​
Link to article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/18/science/horseshoe-crabs-arachnids.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage&section=Science

NATHALIE STEINHAUER TALKS BEE SURVIVAL

12/17/2021

 
How can we keep native bee species alive? 
Dr. Nathalie Steinhauer, UMD postdoc and Bee Informed Partnership science coordinator says to Capital News Service MD:
Support companies working to reduce the environmental impacts affecting bee populations.

& how in the world did bees survive for weeks under volcano ash following the Canary Islands eruption? Nathalie tells the New York Times:
That behavior is typical of honeybees, who use propolis, which they produce from substances they collect from plants and buds, to plug tiny gaps in the hive to protect it from rainwater and drafts, said Nathalie Steinhauer, a researcher in the department of entomology at the University of Maryland

Still, the fact that the bees on the island managed to spend weeks inside the hive insulating themselves from such oppressive conditions was surprising — and even inspirational, Dr. Steinhauer said.

“It is a very empowering story,” she said. “It tells a lot about the resilience of honeybees.

INSECT ZOO LOOKS BACK AT 2021

12/10/2021

 
Picture
By Todd Waters

​After only making it to a handful of outreach events in 2020, the Entomology Department was eager to reimagine how we would continue community outreach in a world that requires connections in unordinary ways. With a bit of creativity, more video cams and even more sanitizer we are happy to say InsectTerps, with the help of our living arthropod ambassadors of the Insect Zoo, are once again introducing the public to the extraordinary and amazing universe of arthropods. The live insects of the Insect Zoo were used for 13 events reaching over 1,000 people in 2021. This effort has been aided by new connections with teachers, after school program coordinators, and the US Forest Service Urban Outreach and Partnerships program, and most importantly, by people in this department going above and beyond to make these events possible. 

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Department of Entomology 
University of Maryland 
4112 Plant Sciences Building 
College Park, MD 20742-4454
USA

Telephone: 301.405.3911 
Fax: 301.314.9290
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Web Accessibility
  • About
    • At a Glance
    • Welcome
    • Code of Conduct
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion >
      • DEI Working Group
      • Resources
    • Departmental History
    • For Alumni
    • Support Entomology >
      • Steinhauer Scholarship Fund
    • Contact >
      • Directions
  • News
    • News
    • Seminar Blog
    • Seminar Schedule
    • Awards
  • People
    • Faculty
    • Post Docs
    • Students
    • Staff
    • Alumni
    • For PI/Faculty
    • Proposal Resources
  • Academics
    • Graduate >
      • Admissions
      • MS Degree Requirements
      • PhD Degree Requirements
      • Graduate Student Resources
      • Forms for Grad Students
      • Financial Assistance
      • Award & Funding Opportunities
      • Entomology Student Organization
    • Online Masters in Applied Entomology
    • Undergraduate >
      • Entomology Minor
      • Honors Program
  • Research
    • IPM & Biological Control of Agricultural, Urban & Forest Pests
    • Ecology, Conservation, Restoration, Climate Change >
      • Pollinator Science and Apiculture
    • Evolution, Systematics and Evo-Devo
    • Genetics & Genomics and Medical Entomology
  • Extension/Outreach
    • Educational Outreach
    • Insect Camp
    • Insect Drawings
    • Insect Identification
    • Pesticide Education and Assessment Program
    • Plant Diagnostic Laboratory (PDL)