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2010 Annual Tennessee Entomological Society Meeting Next Month

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – When the 37^th Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Entomological Society (TES) convenes next month in Knoxville, scientists and concerned citizens from around the state will learn about the current trends and best practices pertaining to pest management.

That’s because one of the leaders in that field, Dr. Gus Lorenz, professor of entomology at the University of Arkansas, will deliver the meeting’s keynote address with his speech, “Insect Issues in Row Crops in the Mid-South of the U.S.”

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – When the 37^th Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Entomological Society (TES) convenes next month in Knoxville, scientists and concerned citizens from around the state will learn about the current trends and best practices pertaining to pest management.

That’s because one of the leaders in that field, Dr. Gus Lorenz, professor of entomology at the University of Arkansas, will deliver the meeting’s keynote address with his speech, “Insect Issues in Row Crops in the Mid-South of the U.S.”

Lorenz was the 2009 recipient of the John W. White Outstanding Extension State Faculty Award, and he has been the major adviser for several graduate students at the University of Arkansas. He is also a leader in the development and implementation of integrated pest management educational programs throughout that state.

This year’s TES meeting will be held Oct. 7-8 at the Plant Biotechnology Building on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville. The meeting begins at 1 p.m. that Thursday in the Plant Science Hollingsworth Auditorium.

            In addition to Lorenz’s keynote address, the meeting will feature various presentations by students and professional entomologists from Tennessee. Dr. Steve Hamilton, Austin Peay State University professor of biology and director of the Center of Excellence for Field Biology, and Dr. Don Sudbrink, APSU assistant professor and chair of the APSU Department of Agriculture, each hold several key positions in TES.

            “This is a great opportunity for students, professionals and Tennessee citizens to learn about what is happening in Tennessee entomology,” Hamilton said. “Few people really understand the impact that insects have on their daily lives. Whether it be the importance of honey bees and the effects of colony collapse disease on food production, the threat of invasive insects like the emerald ash borer and gypsy moth on timber and paper production, or the potential for the spread of west Nile virus, Lyme disease and other infectious microbes by mosquitoes, ticks and other biting arthropods.”

            In conjunction with the meeting, Hamilton, TES publicity chair, has asked Gov. Phil Bredesen to proclaim the week of Oct. 3 as Tennessee Entomology Week, in recognition of the importance of insects to the economy and health of Tennessee citizens and the value of native insects in contributing to the tremendous biodiversity of Tennessee.

In addition to the meeting, TES will host an insect fair for area elementary school students from 9 -11:30 a.m. that Thursday. More than 50 students will gather in the Plant Science Hollingsworth auditorium, where they’ll be introduced to the field of entomology through this fair.

Anyone with an interest in entomology is encouraged to attend the meeting. For more information contact Dr. Steven Hamilton, 931-221-7783 or hamiltonsw@apsu.edu, or Dr. Don Sudbrink, 931-221-7266 or sudbrinkd@apsu.edu.