Talking Bugs

Jun 22 2021 64

Talking Bugs Podcast artwork

The field of entomology is incredibly vast, with professionals focusing on viruses vectored by the deadliest animal (mosquitoes), academics studying the mechanisms of freeze tolerance, government researchers tackling insects that could pose biosecurity threats, and forensic entomologists arriving at the crime scene. In this series, learn a bit more about who these entomologists are, what inspired them to get into the field, and discuss some of their most recent research.

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Biological Control with Dr. Gerben Messelink, Wageningen University

Jun 22 2021 44 mins

Dr. Messelink is a Special Professor in Biological Pest Control in Greenhouse Production Systems and Senior Research Entomologist at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. He has an extensive background in conducting research using predators and parasitic wasps to manage common pests in greenhouse production. We discuss one of his recent publications looking at using a generalis

Ep. 7. Dr. Anjel Helms, Chemical Cues in Plant Defenses

Sep 08 2020 46 mins

Dr. Helms investigates questions regarding chemical cues between predators, herbivores, and their plants, and how their interact both below and above-ground. In this interview, we learn more about a specific study that looked at how chemical cues from a below-ground predator could potentially 'prime' plant defenses against above-ground herbivores.For the full study, check out:Helms

Ep. 6. Dr. Juliana Rangel, Swarm Intelligence

Aug 25 2020 57 mins

Dr. Juliana Rangel is an Associate Professor at Texas A&M University. Her research lab focuses their work on honey bee health, studying subjects such as bee viruses, pesticide residues in bee wax, and honey bee nutrition.For the full research article:Payne, A. N., T. F. Shepherd, and J. Rangel. 2020. The detection of honey bee (Apis mellifera)-associated viruses in ants. Sci. R

Ep. 5: Dr. Patrick Rydzak: High-resolution melting

Aug 11 2020 51 mins

Dr. Rydzak currently works for the F.B.I. He made his way there through studying plant viruses that are vectored by insects. In this episode, we learn about what motivated Dr. Rydzak, how he learned about opportunities to work for the F.B.I., and his recent research that used a combination of multiplex PCR and high-resolution melting to discriminate between several viruses found in

Ep. 4: Dr. Astri Wayadande: Electropenetrography

Jul 28 2020 41 mins

Dr. Astri Wayadande is known for her work in our understanding of insect feeding. Using a technique referred to as electrical penetration graph or electropenetrography, sucking insects are integrated into a low-voltage circuit. Upon feeding, the insect completes the circuit and different electrical signal patterns indicate different types of feeding behavior.Watch the full intervie

Ep. 3: Dr. Brent Sinclair: Insect Cold Tolerance (Pt. 2)

Jul 14 2020 37 mins

In this second part, we learn about a recent publication exploring a new potential organism for studying freeze tolerance. Dr. Brent Sinclair is known for his research in low and high temperature tolerance of arthropods, such as fruit flies and crickets. Some insects can tolerate being completely frozen and thawing out alive, whereas others cannot. This is the second part of a two-

Ep. 2: Dr. Brent Sinclair: Insect Cold Tolerance (Pt. 1)

Jun 30 2020 42 mins

Dr. Brent Sinclair is known for his research in low and high temperature tolerance of arthropods, such as fruit flies and crickets. Some insects can tolerate being completely frozen and thawing out alive, whereas others cannot. Dr. Sinclair shares some of his stories during his early career as a graduate student and postdoc. This is the first part of a two-part episode with Dr. Sin

Ep. 1: Dr. Jenny Cory - Insect Pathogens

Jun 16 2020 26 mins

Dr. Jenny Cory is a Professor and Thelma Finlayson Chair in Biological Control at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada. She is also the Director of the Masters in Pest Management Program; a research-based masters that has slightly more numerous and focused coursework in the area of integrated pest management. We have an interesting conversation about insect viruses a

Intro: Talking Bugs Trailer

May 26 2020 1 mins

Insects are some of the most important organisms impacting humans every day; from the deadliest animals (mosquitoes) to those eating our agricultural crops. They also have several incredibly fascinating characteristics that we can learn from, such as freeze tolerance and swarm intelligence. Every episode, I will interview a new entomologist to learn about how they became entomologi