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Entomology (Study of Bugs)/Expert Profile
Expertise
Will accept most questions in general entomology, including those related to medical entomology, taxonomy, ecology, arthropod surveillance, and pest management. If you are requesting a 'mystery bug' identification, PLEASE either attach an image to your question, or post an image on a web page (such as Flickr) so that I can look at it, as verbal descriptions frequently are insufficient for a definitive identification.
Experience in the area
21 years in the U.S. Army as a medical entomologist; duties varied from surveillance of pest populations (including mosquitoes, cockroaches, ticks, and stored products pests) to conducting research on mosquito-virus ecological relationships and mosquito faunal studies. Ten years as a civilian analyst for the Department of Defense, primarily on distribution of vector-borne diseases worldwide. Limited experience on surveillance of agricultural insects in North Dakota and Indiana.
Organizations
Entomological Society of America, West Virginia Entomological Society, Society for Vector Ecology, National Speleological Society, West Virginia Association for Cave Studies.
Publications
American Journal of Public Health, Contributions of the American Entomological Institute, Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology, Journal of Economic Entomology, Mosquito News, and Mosquito Systematics.
Education/Credentials
B.S. in entomology from North Dakota State University in 1963, M.S. in entomology from Purdue University in 1967.
What do you like about this subject?
So many insects; so little time......
What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?
Contribute to knowledge base of distribution of terrestrial insects in southeastern West Virginia; assist in monitoring populations of caverniculous invertebrates in same area.
Average Ratings
Recent Reviews from Users
K = Knowledgeability C = Clarity of Response P = Politeness| User | Date | K | C | P | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cessna151 | 02/08/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thanks! |
| Jane | 02/02/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you for the quick response. |
| Farley | 01/30/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | I was impressed that Mr. S pursued ..... |
| Carol | 01/30/12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Attention Saugy: Thank you for the information ..... |
| Emily | 01/30/12 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
Recent Answers from Ed Saugstad
2012-01-29 Moth identification:
Dear Emily - I regret that I cannot provide a specific identification offhand; I will have to a bit of research and get back to you as soon as possible. It does not appear to be among the commoner species
2012-01-25 Mystery Millipede?:
Dear Luke - Unfortunately, your image is not clear enough for me to see any detail that would be useful in identification. There are no millipedes in Britain that pose any danger to humans; they are all
2012-01-12 what is this beast:
Dear Murphy - This is a cobweb/comb-footed spider (family Theridiidae) in the genus Steatoda. It belongs to the same family as the notorious widow spiders (Latrodectus sp.), but is not dangerous to humans
2012-01-10 Mystery bug ID please:
Dear Michael - This is a larva of a beetle, but your image is too small for me to make out enough detail for a more definitive identification. At any rate, it does not appear to be a pest species of any
2012-01-09 Flour or Mould Mites:
Dear George - I really can't give you a definitive answer, as the circumstances you describe seem somewhat unusual to say the least, and they might be something other than mites. At any rate these sound
Answers by Expert:
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