Announcements and Press Releases

Annapolis, MD; October 14, 2026—On October 2, the Entomological Society of America was notified by one of its third-party vendors of a data breach in which contact information for past ESA event attendees was accessed and downloaded by an unauthorized party. The data accessed was contact information that attendees and exhibitors at ESA's 2021 and 2022 Annual Meetings provided when logging in to use the "Eventscribe" mobile app. No payment info, account passwords, or other private user information was accessed, nor was any data housed in any ESA-owned systems.

Annapolis, MD; October 9, 2026—Chris Stelzig, CAE, executive director of the Entomological Society of America, has notified the ESA Governing Board that he will resign after January 4, 2027. Stelzig has served as ESA executive director since December 2019 after working in various roles for the Society since 2000. He has accepted a new role with a nonprofit professional society that is yet to be announced.

Annapolis, MD; August 31, 2026—The Formal & Informal Teaching (FIT) Section has been approved by ESA members as a new full Section of the Society. During the ESA Summer Elections, 84% of voting members approved a bylaws amendment to add FIT as an ESA Section, following a three-year pilot phase. Serving entomologists who specialize in teaching, outreach, and science communication, the FIT Section becomes the fifth discipline-based interest Section of the Society.

Annapolis, MD; August 31, 2026—In recognition of their long-term dedication and significant contributions to the Entomological Society of America (ESA), two entomologists have been selected as Honorary Members of the Society in 2026. ESA's 2026 Honorary Members are Bill Hutchison, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota, and Bill Lamp, Ph.D., of the University of Maryland, College Park.

Annapolis, MD; August 31, 2026—Jesus F. Esquivel, Ph.D., research entomologist at the USDA Agricultural Research Service in College Station, Texas, has been elected by members of the Entomological Society of America as the organization's next Vice President-Elect.

Annapolis, MD; August 18, 2026—Congratulations to the recipients of the Entomological Society of America's 2026 awards. ESA Awards & Honors recognize scientists, educators, and students who have distinguished themselves through their contributions to entomology. Awardees will be showcased during Entomology 2026, November 8–11, in Columbus, Ohio.

Annapolis, MD; August 5, 2026—Nine scientists have been selected as new Fellows of the Entomological Society of America for their outstanding contributions to the field of entomology. Election as a Fellow of ESA acknowledges achievements in insect science via research, teaching, extension, administration, military service, or public engagement and science policy.

Annapolis, MD; June 23, 2026—Brian Nault, Ph.D., professor of entomology at Cornell University, has been selected to deliver the Founders' Memorial Award Lecture at Entomology 2026 on November 11 in Columbus, Ohio. Nault's lecture will honor his father, Lowell R. "Skip" Nault, Ph.D. (1940–2024), a pioneer in research on the ecology, evolution, and transmission biology of insect and mite vectors during his 36-year career at The Ohio State University.

Annapolis, MD; May 21, 2026—Lauren A. Esposito, Ph.D., an entomologist specializing in arachnology and evolutionary biology, has been named the next editor-in-chief of American Entomologist, the Entomological Society of America's quarterly membership magazine. Esposito will succeed Rebecca A. Schmidt-Jeffris, Ph.D., who resigned from the position in December 2025.

Annapolis, MD; April 27, 2026—More than 100 experts in public health, entomology, epidemiology, healthcare, and veterinary specialties gathered in Atlanta this month to boost our nation's preparedness for the growing public health threat of New World screwworm. The two-day event was hosted by the Entomological Society of America in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.