Distinguished status awarded for extraordinary service to ESA
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.
Honorary Membership acknowledges those who have served ESA for at least 20 years through significant involvement in the affairs of the Society that has reached an extraordinary level. Candidates for this honor are selected by the ESA Governing Board and then voted on by the ESA membership.
This year's honorees will be recognized during Entomology 2026, November 8-11, in Columbus, Ohio.
ESA's 2026 Honorary Members are:
- Bill Hutchison, University of Minnesota
- Bill Lamp, University of Maryland, College Park
Bill Hutchison
University of Minnesota
Bio: Dr. William ("Bill") Hutchison, emeritus professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Minnesota (UMN), is internationally recognized for developing sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) programs in horticultural and field crops. His research emphasizes early pest detection, statistically sound sampling, resistance management, and areawide assessment of genetically engineered (GE) crops on pest dynamics and economic outcomes, including impacts on non-GE crops. He earned a B.S. in agronomy from the University of Arizona (1977), an M.S. in entomology from Mississippi State University (1980), and a Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Wisconsin (1984). He began his career as a research entomologist with USDA-ARS in Phoenix. In 1989, he joined UMN as an assistant professor, was promoted to professor in 2000, served as department head from 2010 to 2015, and later coordinated the Minnesota Extension IPM Program from 2015 to 2020.
Throughout his career, Hutchison has focused on applied ecology as the basis for sustainable IPM strategies. As an undergraduate in Arizona, a summer internship implementing areawide mating disruption for pink bollworm in cotton sparked his long-term interest in entomology. At UMN, his early work centered on European corn borer (ECB) and corn earworm (CEW). In 1995, he conducted the first efficacy trials of genetically engineered Bt sweet corn in the Midwest. This work coincided with his team documenting pyrethroid resistance in CEW, reinforcing the importance of insect resistance management (IRM).
With the adoption of Bt corn, Hutchison co-led NC-246 collaborations among researchers, extension specialists, and industry partners to develop a consensus high-dose-refuge insecticide resistance management (IRM) strategy in 1997. These efforts culminated in a landmark study published in Science (2010), assessing the economic benefits of Bt corn across five states. The study estimated a cumulative benefit of $6.9 billion from 1996 to 2009, with 62 percent of the gains accruing to non-Bt (refuge) corn growers. This outcome reflected areawide pest suppression—often termed the "halo effect"—as well as the absence of Bt technology fees for non-Bt crops, providing a strong economic incentive for maintaining IRM strategies.
To strengthen resistance monitoring, Hutchison introduced the concept of using Bt sweet corn as an "in-field screen," or sentinel plots, a method now widely adopted across more than 22 U.S. states and in Canada. Beyond Bt systems, he also addressed the growing impact of invasive species in Minnesota agriculture, leading research efforts on spotted-wing drosophila, brown marmorated stink bug, and Japanese beetle. Working with graduate students and collaborators, Hutchison co-authored more than 200 journal articles (with over 13,000 citations), 23 book chapters, and numerous extension publications. His research has received broad media coverage, including features by the Associated Press, NPR, the Los Angeles Times, and The Guardian (U.K.).
Hutchison has been an active member of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) since 1978 and has contributed in numerous leadership roles. He served as the second president of the Plant-Insect Ecosystems (P-IE) Section in 2009, following early collaboration with founding leaders to shape its vision and programming. As one of ESA's largest sections, P-IE benefited from inclusive feedback sessions during its formative years (2008–2010). At the inaugural meeting in 2008, Hutchison organized a well-attended panel on Bt crops and IRM, drawing more than 250 participants. He also introduced the tradition of serving pie at section meetings, fostering a collegial and informal networking environment. In 2009, he helped establish new student awards to support emerging scientists.
In editorial service, Hutchison was one of three co-editors for the Journal of Economic Entomology from 1994 to 1996, later serving on the Editorial Board and as a subject editor (2002–2004). He promoted increased visibility for the journal by encouraging more forum articles addressing emerging issues. Within ESA's North Central Branch (NCB), he served as program chair (1999) and local arrangements chair (2011), emphasizing expanded symposia, broader topical diversity, and increased recruitment of undergraduate students, particularly from liberal arts colleges. He also introduced undergraduate awards for oral and poster presentations.
In 2009, Hutchison collaborated with Dr. Carlos Blanco and members of ESA's Southwestern, North Central, and Pacific Branches to organize an international symposium on Bt crops and IRM in Mexico. The event drew strong participation and resulted in 16 published articles, further advancing global dialogue on resistance management.
Hutchison's contributions have been widely recognized through numerous honors, including the ESA Distinguished Extension Award (1997), ESA IPM Team Award (2011), P-IE Recognition Award (2018), election as ESA Fellow (2021), Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society (2023), the NCB Legacy Contribution Award (2024), and the P-IE Lifetime Achievement Award (2024).
Bill Lamp
University of Maryland, College Park
Bio: Dr. Bill Lamp is a professor of entomology at the University of Maryland and has been a member of the Entomological Society of America since 1977. His research is interdisciplinary, applying integrated pest management practices within sustainable agriculture systems with a focus on forage-based agriculture. Since starting at the University of Maryland in 1985, his research has included plant-insect interactions, aquatic entomology, non-target risk analysis, and biological control.
Lamp has published three books on forage management, 15 chapters, and 76 refereed articles. He has given 65 invited presentations for his research, and received 78 grants, including 24 from USDA (e.g., Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, Alfalfa and Forage Research, and Biotechnology Risk Assessment Program). He has taught courses in integrated pest management, plant protection, biology of insects, sustainability, insect biodiversity, freshwater biology, and "Insect Apocalypse: Real or Imagined" over the last 40 years, and he received a Distinguished Teaching Award from the ESA Eastern Branch Entomological in 2009. He also received Undergraduate Mentor of the Year in 2002 and the Winston Family Honors Faculty Award in 2021 at the University of Maryland.
Lamp has advised 12 master's and 14 Ph.D. students. While participating in a number of professional societies, he has long believed in the value of identifying with one: the Entomological Society of America (ESA). His service to ESA includes leadership in the former Section Cd (Biology and Bionomics) and as committee member on the American Entomologist Board, Publications Council, and Finance Committee. For the Eastern Branch, he has served as member-at-large for the Executive Committee and served as Branch president in 2021-2022. During his presidency, he created EntoQuest, an annual meeting focused on informal interactions among students and ESA members in a natural setting, since held four times. He also received the Herb T. Streu Meritorious Service Award from the Eastern Branch in 2016. Finally, Lamps has served as science editor for 16 National Geographic Kids books.
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CONTACT: Joe Rominiecki, jrominiecki@entsoc.org, 301-731-4535 x3009
ABOUT: ESA is the largest organization in the world serving the professional and scientific needs of entomologists and people in related disciplines. Founded in 1889, ESA today has nearly 7,000 members affiliated with educational institutions, health agencies, private industry, and government. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, the Society stands ready as a non-partisan scientific and educational resource for all insect-related topics. For more information, visit entsoc.org.