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Entomology (Study of Bugs)/Expert Profile
Expertise
I have expertise in identifying insects, many types of spiders, and other arthropod critters that infest lawns, ornamentals, structures, trees, pets and livestock. Mites are not a strong point of mine, but I can provide some help. I'm not a licensed doctor, so I cannot provide medical diagnosis of conditions possibly related to insects. If you've got an interesting photo for me to see, let me know and I'll give you my email so the picture will get to me. If you have hosted an insect photo on a website, please include the link so I can go look at it and provide a faster ID for you. Don't forget...you can now attach pictures to your questions as well!
Experience in the area
17 Years' Experience as an entomologist: 5 years as a biologist with Merck Animal Health and 7 years as a Pest Management Specialist in San Antonio, Texas with Texas Cooperative Extension.
Publications
Veterinary Parasitology, Southwestern Entomologist, San Antonio Express News, San Antonio Gardener Newsletter
Education/Credentials
BS - Entomology from Texas A&M University in 1992.
Board Certified Entomologist, 1996-2000 - Medical and Veterinary Entomology Specialty (Entomological Society of America)
Awards and Honors
2000 Texas A&M University Vice Chancellor's Award in Excellence for leadership on the Texas Fire Ant Program Educational Team.
What do you like about this subject?
Insects are one of the most diverse and interesting groups of creatures on the planet. They are found everywhere except the poles and the deepest oceans.
What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?
Better public understanding of insects and the benefits of having insects around. Only 2% of all insect species are actually pests and they spoil it for the rest of the insect world.
Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:
Texas is home to more native and migratory butterfly species that any other state in the U.S.!
Something controversial or provocative about this subject
1) During their sleep, people swallow an average of 8 spiders during their lifetime! Urban legend or truth??? 2) There are ~1 million species of insects identified on earth, but experts believe there may be as many as 30 million species of insects total.
Average Ratings
Recent Reviews from Users
K = Knowledgeability C = Clarity of Response T = Timeliness P = Politeness| User | Date | K | C | T | P | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ian | 02/07/10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | |
| Gary | 01/21/10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you very much for your help ..... |
| Myrna | 01/13/10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you so much for the quick ..... |
| Bobbi | 01/09/10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thanks! At least they are bigger than ..... |
| Nicole | 12/15/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Fastest answer ever - within an hour! ..... |
Recent Answers from Nathan Riggs
2010-01-26 Tiny Centipedes in my Sink:
They can be controlled with any type of spray, but most likely these came from outside. You can impede their progress by spraying around the outside of the home with a spray designed for the yard (anything
2010-01-26 Tiny Centipedes in my Sink:
These centipedes are attracted to moisture and decaying organic material. In this case, it is probably moisture. Centipedes are not good with smooth surfaces, so they are probably crawling along and
2010-01-19 consistency of number of millipede legs:
There is one constant in the arthropod world when it comes to millipedes and centipedes: Millipedes have 2 PAIRS OF LEGS per segment and centipedes have ONE PAIR OF LEGS per segment. This does not
2010-01-05 microscopic "bug" pooling in purplish colored piles around house and forest:
This sounds like a large population of springtails (collembola). They feed on organic materials and can develop huge populations with the right set of environmental conditions. There is a species of
2010-01-03 Damselfly Identification:
I am not an expert on identifying dragonflies/damselflies to species. However, I have a link to a wonderful website here in Texas with pictures of damselflies that might match yours. Go to this link:
Answers by Expert:
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