Insect Mural at the U.S. Botanic Garden

ESA Newsletter Information for the Members of the Entomological Society of America JUNE 2007 • VOLUME 30, NUMBER 6 Insect Mural at the U.S. Botanic Garden University of California, Davis Class Uses Art to Teach Science June is a great month to visit artists to create undergraduate the United States Botanic Gar- courses. den (www.usbg.gov) in Wash- “It’s a new paradigm for ington, DC, and for insect teaching science, in particular enthusiasts it just got better. biology,” Ullman said. “When ESA member Diane Ullman, students have the opportunity an entomology professor and to fuse these two great creative associate dean for undergradu- powers—art and science—a ate programs in the College wonderful synergy occurs that of Agricultural and Environ- allows them to learn in a new mental Sciences at the Univer- way.” sity of California, Davis, has 65 people, mostly students teamed up with university art- with little or no artistic train- ists, students and staff to cre- ing, participated in creating ate a mural made up of 130 the mural, and brochures and ceramic tiles depicting plants field guides containing short and insects. The mural will be Diane Ullman’s students learn about insects through art. statements about the painted on display at the Botanic Gar- Photo: Debbie Aldridge specimens were created by den, which is located near the design students. It is estimated U.S. Capitol Building on the National Mall, ed to developing an undergraduate curricu- that the outdoor exhibit will be seen by over from June 7 to October 1, 2007. lum that uses the fusion of art and science as 300,000 people. In October, it will be sent The mural is a product of the U.C. Davis a model for teaching physical and biological back to California, where it will be housed Art-Science Fusion Program, which is devot- sciences, bringing together scientists and permanently at the U.C. Davis Arboretum. Less Pesticide, Fewer Fruit Flies in California Pesticide use to keep exotic fruit flies biocontrols such as augmentative releases of In the 1990s, ARS developed a bait that from becoming established has been cut parasitic wasps, and better ways to manage more readily attracts medflies because it as much as 8,000-fold by the state of Cali- crops to minimize fruit fly infestation have smells like a gourmet dinner to fruit flies. fornia, as a result of Agricultural Research all come from research by the ARS U.S. That new bait is now used in combination Service (ARS) work toward more effective Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center with spinosad, a more environmentally control measures. (PBARC) in Hilo, Hawaii, and the ARS Kika friendly insecticide developed by Dow Because fruit flies are such a big risk to de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Re- AgroSciences LLC. The effective dose is as California’s economy, large amounts of search Center in Weslaco, Texas. little as 0.00025 pound of AI per acre. pesticides previously were used there when In particular, more effective and more spe- Read more at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/ chemicals were the only tool for eradica- cies-specific lures and baits have made pos- AR/archive/may07/flies0507.htm. tion. If just one species of exotic fruit fly, sible the deep reductions in insecticide use ARS News Service such as the Mediterranean fruit fly— Cera- in states such as California and Florida. titis capitata, commonly called the med- In the 1930s, California used lead arse- fly— had become established, it could have nate sprays at rates as high as two pounds of In this issue.... cost California more than $1.4 billion a year active ingredient (AI) per tree— about 260 President’s Corner .................... 2 in lost markets, export sanctions, treatment pounds of AI per acre— and still did not costs and reduced crop yields, in addition to succeed in completely eradicating walnut Student News ........................... 3 the loss of 14,000 jobs. husk fruit fly infestations. That’s according to Annual Meeting News ............. 5 Techniques such as improved ways of Robert V. Dowell, program supervisor of the Member News ......................... 6 producing sterile male fruit flies for release Integrated Pest Control Branch of the Califor- Datebook ................................ 8 to short-circuit the breeding cycle, new nia Department of Food and Agriculture. June 2007 ESA Newsletter 1 P RESIDENT ’ S C ORNER Scott H. Hutchins, 2007 ESA President hese are exciting times for the ESA! tier citation index These are just two indicators of the fact that Your Governing Board has been ac- status (knowing that we see the ESA working to tie entomologists Ttively seeking improvements in the key the rejection rate of and entomology associations in the global programs and operations of the Society over submitted papers will community together for our common ben- several years, and, as a result of work done rise significantly)? efit. There is room for numerous entomol- by numerous passionate volunteers and ESA Should we expand our ogy associations in the United States and in Staff, has been making excellent progress on international appeal all parts of the world, but we would like the many fronts. and marketing (and with what tradeoffs)? ESA to be the “United Nations” of entomol- Should we develop “specialty” journals now ogy, providing the best meeting venue, the Publications that electronic creation and distribution is best journals, and the best networks as a Our scientific publications represent a routine? These (and many more) questions means of tying them all together. core purpose and product of the ESA. In the should be the basis of a strategic plan for our These are but a few of the strategic im- past several years we have invested heavily publications, and although we do not have provements for which the ESA has invested to improve virtually all aspects of our pub- answers to these questions at present, we are heavily in the past years on behalf of our lications, including (1) the adoption of the committed to beginning this journey now. membership. But, the reality is that these online Rapid Review system for faster manu- and all other activities are successful only script review, enabling easier interaction be- Annual Meeting because of volunteers—members who are tween editors, authors, and reviewers, and Most of our members remember that less themselves passionate about our purpose, (2) the use of electronic publishing, which than five years ago we all used 2x2 slides our profession, and our Society. has made it possible to provide each ESA as the only method of presentation. Now To all of you, THANK YOU for making member access to all four of our journals—a the use of digital projectors with an on-site ESA a stronger and more vibrant organiza- benefit that very few other associations network is our standard practice, and we tion. To those of you who are contemplat- provide. Over 70 volunteer editors, working are moving toward even newer technolo- ing volunteerism within the ESA, just let closely with the editors-in-chief and Director gies such as live webcasts with international us know your interest and we’ll put you in of Communications Alan Kahan, make our participation. What used to require a special contact with the right focal points! Regard- publications enterprise work. “Technology Committee” has now been less of your volunteer level, we sincerely So, operationally speaking, we have in- folded into the role profile of the Local Ar- appreciate the fact that you have elected to vested heavily to improve and modernize rangements Committee, which underscores join the ESA, and we promise to keep work- our journals. But is it enough? If an organi- how the new technologies have allowed us ing toward excellence and continuous im- zation truly believes in continuous improve- to streamline our resources. provement in all that we do. ment, then nothing is ever enough. Our Annual Meetings have come a long Because publication of our journals is so way in a relatively short period of time, and critical to ESA and our members, we are we intend to go further by allowing each ©2007 Entomological Society of America. The ESA Newsletter (US ISSN 0273-7353) is beginning a new journey of improvement Program Committee the flexibility and the published monthly by the Entomological Soci- in two phases. First, we plan to benchmark opportunity to apply new innovations to en- ety of America (ESA), 10001 Derekwood Lane, operations against peer organizations, ad- hance the scientific and the social aspects of Suite 100, Lanham, MD 20706-4876; ph. 301- dress short-term operational questions, and the meeting. In San Diego later this year, for 731-4535; fax 301-731-4538; rlevine@entsoc. org; http://www.entsoc.org. The deadline for all establish long-range goals. Then, based on example, we will be providing childcare op- submissions is the first of the month, one month this, we plan to develop a long-term strategy tions and emphasizing “networking” as part prior to publication. to position our journals to achieve our goals. of the overall theme of “Making Connec- POSTMASTER: Subscription rate for members To begin, we will enlist the services of tions.” With greater financial wherewithal, is $10, which is included in the dues. The rate a scholarly publications consulting firm to we are also strengthening the Program En- for nonmembers is $30; institutions, $46. First class and international postage are additional. help us assess our strengths and areas for hancements in several areas, and we antici- Periodicals postage paid at Lanham-Seabrook, development, and to provide recommenda- pate an excellent meeting on all fronts. For MD, and other mailing offices.

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