Announcements and Press Releases

Annapolis, MD; May 31, 2023—Tracy Leskey, Ph.D., director and research leader at the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service's Appalachian Fruit Research Station, has been selected to deliver the Founders' Memorial Award Lecture at Entomology 2023, the Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America.

Annapolis, MD; May 17, 2023—Rebecca A. Schmidt-Jeffris, Ph.D., research entomologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, has been named the next editor of American Entomologist, the Entomological Society of America's quarterly membership magazine. The ESA Governing Board approved the selection of Schmidt-Jeffris after an open search was conducted in early 2023 by an appointed search committee. Schmidt-Jeffris will succeed Zsofia Szendrei, Ph.D., who resigned from the position in late 2022.

Annapolis, MD; April 20, 2023—At a time when tick-borne diseases are experiencing a global resurgence, the need to understand tick biology is perhaps greater than ever. And, for the researchers hard at work in that pursuit, a book first published in the Soviet Union more than 50 years ago remains one of the foundational resources illuminating what makes ticks such successful vectors of disease. In 2023, the English volume has been re-published anew, with detailed annotations that update the foundational text for today's generation of researchers.

Annapolis, MD; November 2, 2022—David W. Onstad, Ph.D., senior research scientist at Corteva Agriscience, has been selected as the new editor-in-chief of the Annals of the Entomological Society of America. The ESA Governing Board approved Onstad's selection in November after an open search. Onstad will succeed Lawrence E. Hurd, Ph.D., who will step down at the end of 2022 after 15 years of dedicated service in the role.

Annapolis, MD; October 18, 2022—Lisa G. Neven, Ph.D., research entomologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), has been selected as a new co-editor-in-chief of the Entomological Society of America's Journal of Economic Entomology. The ESA Governing Board approved Neven's selection in October after an open search. Neven will replace Frank Zalom, Ph.D., distinguished professor of entomology at the University of California, Davis, who will step down as a co-editor-in-chief after a four-year term that concludes at the end of 2022.

Annapolis, MD; September 1, 2022—The Entomological Society of America congratulates the recipients of its 2022 awards. ESA Awards & Honors recognize scientists, educators, and students who have distinguished themselves through their contributions to entomology. Award honorees will be showcased during the 2022 Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Societies of America, Canada, and British Columbia, November 13-16, in Vancouver.

Annapolis, MD; August 24, 2022—In recognition of their long-term dedication and significant contributions to the Entomological Society of America, three entomologists have been selected as Honorary Members of the Society in 2022. ESA's 2022 Honorary Members are Melody Keena, Ph.D., U.S. Forest Service; Walter Leal, Ph.D., University of California, Davis; and Alvin Simmons, Ph.D., USDA Agricultural Research Service.

Annapolis, MD; August 24, 2022—Lina Bernaola, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center in Beaumont, Texas, has been elected by members of the Entomological Society of America as the organization's next Vice President-Elect. ESA members also elected six other members to begin or continue positions on the ESA Governing Board.

Annapolis, MD; August 8, 2022—The Governing Board of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) has elected nine new Fellows of the Society for 2022. Election as a Fellow of ESA acknowledges outstanding contributions to entomology in research, teaching, extension and outreach, administration, or the military. 

Annapolis, MD; July 25, 2022—The Entomological Society of America has adopted "northern giant hornet" for the species Vespa mandarinia in its Common Names of Insects and Related Organisms List. Vespa mandarinia is an invasive hornet native to Asia that has been the target of eradication efforts in Washington state, USA, and British Columbia, Canada, after individual hornets were first discovered there in 2019. It has been referred to elsewhere as "Asian giant hornet" or "murder hornet."