Rob Williams

COLLEGE STATION, Texas –A total of 396 participants got a glimpse of new urban insect biology and management techniques during the 69^th annual Texas A&M Urban Pest Management Conference in early January.

Held from January 6-8, the conference is designed to help those that work in the pest management field to learn about the latest developments, techniques and regulations in the industry that can be used to help improve their business practices.

The first session began with Entomology Department Head Dr. David Ragsdale introducing Dr. Ed Vargo as the new Endowed Chair for the Urban and Structural Entomology program during the opening presentations. Additionally, Dr. Robert Puckett was introduced as Assistant Professor and Extension Entomologist who has also joined the urban entomology program.

Ragsdale was pleased to comment on the progress of the construction of the Rollins Urban and Structural Entomology Facility and praised all the participants that helped with the fundraising efforts.

“We want to thank you for helping us support our program,” he said. “It is the most remarkable facility we have ever had and will serve the program for decades to come.”

After Ragsdale spoke, Don Ward and Tom Collier of the Texas Pest Control Association introduced themselves and Gold delivered his final report from the Endowed Chair. Current Endowed Chair Dr. Ed Vargo presented this year’s Jim and Marilyn Ivey Lecture in the main room. Vargo presented on how DNA and other genetic studies are advancing termite biology and management.

In addition to the Ivey Keynote Lecture, Laura Higgins of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute presented a talk on the dangers of distracted driving and how to avoid becoming distracted when driving. Chris Gorecki also followed up afterwards with a session on risk management and how to limit liability while operating their businesses.

Wednesday’s other sessions also included topics on controlling bed bugs, IPM of biting and stinging insects and updates on laws and regulations affecting pest control businesses and a tour of the new Rollins Urban and Structural Entomology Facility.

Thursday’s sessions included talks on IPM of different invaders such as pantry pests and house flies by Wizzie Brown and managing turfgrass insect pests by Diane Reynolds. Dr. Puckett presented research on the biology, ecology, and management of tawny crazy ants. The concurrent sessions included topics on school IPM compliance, various research vignettes, commodity and structural fumigation techniques.

Between sessions, participants also tested their insect identification knowledge during “The Ultimate Challenge” and had a chance to visit with vendors at the vendor showcase.

Participants also received lots of hands-on experience with three short courses in commercial food establishments at Covenant Presbyterian Church in College Station, termite biology and control, and fumigation located at Riverside Campus. All of the workshops were designed to help pest control professionals receive hands-on experience and learn the latest pest management techniques.

BRYAN, Texas –More than 90 faculty and friends came to celebrate 25 years of hard work and dedication for Professor and Endowed Chair for Urban and Structural Entomology Dr. Roger Gold during a dinner at the Astin Mansion on January 8.

Gold retired on January 16 after 25 years of service with the Department. He started with the Department in 1989 as Professor and Endowed Chair of the Urban and Structural Entomology program.

As Professor and Endowed Chair, he was responsible for overseeing research, extension and teaching programs dealing with urban entomology issues. During his tenure as the chair he has taught nine courses, including the popular course “Insects in Human Society” which is taught to non-science majors that may have an interest in entomology.

With all of his courses, Gold relies heavily on interactive demonstrations and hands-on experiences to teach his students during his courses to help students become more involved in learning about entomology.

In addition to teaching undergraduates, he has mentored 16 Ph.D. students, 35 masters students, and six postdocs. Gold also has received numerous awards, including the Pest Management Professional Hall of Fame Award, the Excellence in Teaching Undergraduate & Graduate Students, and Continuing Education Programs Award, and the Texas A&M Vice Chancellor Awards in Excellence for Undergraduate Teaching in 2007.

Gold currently holds memberships in several professional and scientific organizations, including the Entomological Society of America, American Council on Science and Health, the American Chemical Society, and the Texas Structural Pest Control Board. He also has served on many committees such as the Task Force for Pest Management and the Environment, as well as treasurer of the National Conference on Urban Entomology.

Gold also was instrumental in raising funding for the newly-constructed Rollins Center for Urban and Structural Entomology, which is scheduled to be completed in January.

Entomology Department Head Dr. David Ragsdale welcomed and thanked guests for celebrating and acknowledging all the hard work Roger has done the last 25 years at Texas A&M, Department of Entomology.

“Roger played a major role in getting the Rollins Center built. With this new facility, we’ve ensured our research, teaching and extension in urban entomology will continue for decades to come.,” he said. “It’s an amazing legacy Roger has left us.”

COLLEGE STATION, Texas –The Department of Entomology would like to announce that Dr. Edward Vargo was recently selected to become the next endowed chair of the Urban and Structural Entomology Chair and arrived in early December.

The present chair Dr. Roger Gold retires on January 15, 2015. Vargo will be continuing the work of the urban and structural entomology program’s goals.

Before coming to Texas A&M, Vargo was professor and interim head of the Department of Entomology at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. As interim head, Vargo was instrumental in securing funding to improve the Department’s computers, teleconferencing facilities and teaching technology for classrooms. He also has been a representative for the Department where he was instrumental in discussing ways to enhance public-private partnerships with agrochemical and agro-biotech industries.

Vargo also has been the academic advisor for Pest Management Technology majors in the NCSU Agricultural Institute from 1998 to 2012 and a faculty adviser to the department’s Entomology Graduate Student Association (EGSA) from 2004 to 2005. As a graduate committee member, he has mentored over nine Master’s and 12 Ph.D. students during his term and has been a Thesis Committee Adviser for 5 Masters and 3 Ph.D. students.

Some of the grants Vargo received at NCSU include a grant from the USDA’s National Research Initiative (NRI) Competitive Grants Program to do comparative studies of colony and population genetic structure of Reticulitermes termites and a Tropical & Subtropical Agriculture Research grant to work on a genetic analysis of colony organization and elimination in Formosan subterranean termites. He has also worked on several grants relating to the Texas Imported Fire Ant Program and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and his research has been strongly supported by the pest management industry.

Vargo is currently a member of several professional organizations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Entomological Society of America, and the International Union for the Study of Social Insects. He also has received the Entomological Society of America’s Recognition Award in Urban Entomology both at the national and the Southeastern Branch levels in 2006.

Vargo received his Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Georgia and his Bachelor of Science in Biology at the Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa.

“I am very excited to be joining the Department of Entomology at TAMU as the next endowed chair in urban and structural entomology,” he said. “It’s a great honor to be given the opportunity to lead the world class program built by Dr. Gold. I look forward to working with my new colleagues at Texas A&M and the pest management industry to continue to advance the science and practice of urban pest management.”