Released: February 14, 2007

K-State Entomology Students, Faculty Give Presentations, Receive Awards

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Several Kansas State University students and faculty members made presentations and received awards at the Entomological Society of America’s National Meeting in Indianapolis.

John Diaz-Montano, a K-State graduate student in host plant resistance with John Reese, won first place at the meeting, which was held in December, for his poster “Feeding behavior by the soybean aphid on resistant and susceptible soybean genotypes.” Joe Louis and Leslie Campbell were other co-authors.

Punya Nachappa, a graduate student in insect ecology and biological control with David Margolies and Jim Nechols, won second place for her oral presentation: “Can increased predator foraging efficiency contribute to a more effective biological control program for two-spotted spider mites in greenhouses?”

Paul Flinn, an adjunct professor of entomology and research scientist at the U.S. Grain Marketing Production and Research Center in Manhattan, received the Entomological Foundation Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management.

“Paul Flinn has a diverse and highly-productive research program on integrated pest management of stored grain insects, with emphasis on modeling, expert systems, sampling, and biological control,” said Jim Nechols, interim head of K-State’s Entomology Department.

Flinn was the North Central Branch nominee and competed with distinguished nominees from the Society’s other four branches, Nechols said.

C. Michael Smith, professor of entomology, was recognized as a Fellow of the Entomological Society of America, one of six entomologists elected by the ESA Governing Board. Candidates were elected based on outstanding contributions in research, teaching, extension and/or administration.

“We congratulate these individuals, as well as the 40 students, faculty, post-docs and other staff who participated in symposia, gave short talks, or presented posters highlighting their diverse contributions to insect biology and pest management,” Nechols said.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Mary Lou Peter-Blecha
mlpeter@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News