Announcements and Press Releases

Annapolis, MD; July 7, 2021—The Entomological Society of America has removed “gypsy moth” and “gypsy ant” as recognized common names for two insect species in its Common Names of Insects and Related Organisms List. The changes are made in conjunction with the launch of a new ESA program to review and replace insect common names that may be inappropriate or offensive. Entomologists, scientists in related fields, and the public are invited to participate in identifying and proposing alternatives for insect common names that perpetuate negative ethnic or racial stereotypes.

Annapolis, MD; June 28, 2021—Drones keep getting smaller and smaller, while their potential applications keep getting bigger and bigger. And now unmanned aircraft systems are taking on some of the world’s biggest small problems: insect pests. From crop-munching caterpillars to disease-transmitting mosquitoes, insects that threaten crops, ecosystems, and public health are increasingly being targeted with new pest-management strategies that deploy unmanned aircraft systems (UAS, or drones) for detection and control. And a variety of these applications are featured in a new special collection published this week in the Journal of Economic Entomology.

Annapolis, MD; May 24, 2021—Vernard Lewis, Ph.D., BCE, emeritus cooperative extension specialist at the University of California, Berkeley, has been selected to deliver the Founders' Memorial Award lecture at Entomology 2021, the Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America (ESA).

Annapolis, MD; March 22, 2021—Last week’s horrific events in Atlanta, amid an ongoing rise in violence and hateful acts toward Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders nationwide, are a sobering reminder of the persistence of racism, misogyny, and hate and their tragic consequences in the United States of America. My colleagues and I on the Governing Board of the Entomological Society of America condemn these acts, and we express our sympathies to ESA members of Asian heritage who have been affected by this deplorable trend in our country.

Annapolis, MD; February 17, 2021—When the invasive spotted lanternfly arrived in the United States in 2014, it was immediately recognized for the threat it posed to native plants and crops. A community of researchers and experts in science, agriculture, and government sprang into action to respond, improving our chances for containing the pest and curbing its potential for damage. While the effort continues, a new collection curated by the Entomological Society of America’s family of journals showcases the growing body of research that is helping us understand the spotted lanternfly’s biology and how to contain it. The collection features 25 articles published in ESA journals since 2015, with 16 of them new additions since June 2020.