Talking Bugs artwork

Talking Bugs

16 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago -

The field of entomology is incredibly vast, with professionals focusing on viruses vectored by the deadliest animal (mosquitoes), academics studying the mechanisms of freeze tolerance, government researchers tackling insects that could pose biosecurity threats, and forensic entomologists arriving at the crime scene. In this series, learn a bit more about who these entomologists are, what inspired them to get into the field, and discuss some of their most recent research.

Natural Sciences Science Education
Homepage Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed

Episodes

Biological Control with Dr. Gerben Messelink, Wageningen University

June 22, 2021 21:00 - 44 minutes - 61.4 MB

Dr. Messelink is a Special Professor in Biological Pest Control in Greenhouse Production Systems and Senior Research Entomologist at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. He has an extensive background in conducting research using predators and parasitic wasps to manage common pests in greenhouse production. We discuss one of his recent publications looking at using a generalist predator to manage two key pests (whiteflies and thrips) on gerberas. Leman et al. (2020). The omnivorous ...

Ep. 7. Dr. Anjel Helms, Chemical Cues in Plant Defenses

September 08, 2020 22:30 - 46 minutes - 63.5 MB

Dr. Helms investigates questions regarding chemical cues between predators, herbivores, and their plants, and how their interact both below and above-ground. In this interview, we learn more about a specific study that looked at how chemical cues from a below-ground predator could potentially 'prime' plant defenses against above-ground herbivores. For the full study, check out: Helms, A. M., S. Ray, N. L. Matulis, M. C. Kuzemchak, W. Grisales, J. F. Tooker, and J. G. Ali. 2019. Chemical cu...

Ep. 7. Dr. Anjel Helms, Texas A&M University

September 08, 2020 21:30 - 46 minutes - 63.5 MB

Dr. Helms investigates questions regarding chemical cues between predators, herbivores, and their plants, and how their interact both below and above-ground. In this interview, we learn more about a specific study that looked at how chemical cues from a below-ground predator could potentially 'prime' plant defenses against above-ground herbivores. For the full study, check out: Helms, A. M., S. Ray, N. L. Matulis, M. C. Kuzemchak, W. Grisales, J. F. Tooker, and J. G. Ali. 2019. Chemical cues ...

Ep. 6. Dr. Juliana Rangel, Swarm Intelligence

August 25, 2020 13:45 - 57 minutes - 79.3 MB

Dr. Juliana Rangel is an Associate Professor at Texas A&M University. Her research lab focuses their work on honey bee health, studying subjects such as bee viruses, pesticide residues in bee wax, and honey bee nutrition. For the full research article: Payne, A. N., T. F. Shepherd, and J. Rangel. 2020. The detection of honey bee (Apis mellifera)-associated viruses in ants. Sci. Rep. 10: 1–8.

Ep. 6. Dr. Juliana Rangel, Texas A&M University

August 25, 2020 12:45 - 57 minutes - 79.3 MB

Dr. Juliana Rangel is an Associate Professor at Texas A&M University. Her research lab focuses their work on honey bee health, studying subjects such as bee viruses, pesticide residues in bee wax, and honey bee nutrition. For the full research article: Payne, A. N., T. F. Shepherd, and J. Rangel. 2020. The detection of honey bee (Apis mellifera)-associated viruses in ants. Sci. Rep. 10: 1–8.

Ep. 5: Dr. Patrick Rydzak: High-resolution melting

August 11, 2020 13:30 - 51 minutes - 46.7 MB

Dr. Rydzak currently works for the F.B.I. He made his way there through studying plant viruses that are vectored by insects. In this episode, we learn about what motivated Dr. Rydzak, how he learned about opportunities to work for the F.B.I., and his recent research that used a combination of multiplex PCR and high-resolution melting to discriminate between several viruses found in cereals. Watch the full interview at: https://youtu.be/XzcbryqQuSs Research Publication: Rydzak, P., Ochoa C...

Ep. 4: Dr. Astri Wayadande: Electropenetrography

July 28, 2020 12:00 - 41 minutes - 56.5 MB

Dr. Astri Wayadande is known for her work in our understanding of insect feeding. Using a technique referred to as electrical penetration graph or electropenetrography, sucking insects are integrated into a low-voltage circuit. Upon feeding, the insect completes the circuit and different electrical signal patterns indicate different types of feeding behavior. Watch the full interview at: https://youtu.be/1DiA9pUOr-Q Research article: Wayadande, A.C., E.A. Backus, B.H. Noden, T. Ebert and ...

Dr. Astri Wayadande: Electropenetrography

July 28, 2020 11:00 - 41 minutes - 56.5 MB

Dr. Astri Wayadande is known for her work in our understanding of insect feeding. Using a technique referred to as electrical penetration graph or electropenetrography, sucking insects are integrated into a low-voltage circuit. Upon feeding, the insect completes the circuit and different electrical signal patterns indicate different types of feeding behavior. Watch the full interview at: https://youtu.be/1DiA9pUOr-Q (https://youtu.be/1DiA9pUOr-Q) Research article: Wayadande, A.C., E.A. B...

Ep. 3: Dr. Brent Sinclair: Insect Cold Tolerance (Pt. 2)

July 14, 2020 12:00 - 37 minutes - 50.9 MB

In this second part, we learn about a recent publication exploring a new potential organism for studying freeze tolerance. Dr. Brent Sinclair is known for his research in low and high temperature tolerance of arthropods, such as fruit flies and crickets. Some insects can tolerate being completely frozen and thawing out alive, whereas others cannot. This is the second part of a two-part episode with Dr. Sinclair. Watch the video interview at: https://youtu.be/tfX570tQooE Toxopeus, J., A.H. ...

Dr. Brent Sinclair: Insect Cold Tolerance (Pt. 2)

July 14, 2020 11:00 - 37 minutes - 50.9 MB

In this second part, we learn about a recent publication exploring a new potential organism for studying freeze tolerance. Dr. Brent Sinclair is known for his research in low and high temperature tolerance of arthropods, such as fruit flies and crickets. Some insects can tolerate being completely frozen and thawing out alive, whereas others cannot. This is the second part of a two-part episode with Dr. Sinclair. Watch the video interview at: https://youtu.be/tfX570tQooE (https://youtu.be/tf...

Ep. 2: Dr. Brent Sinclair: Insect Cold Tolerance (Pt. 1)

June 30, 2020 15:00 - 42 minutes - 32.6 MB

Dr. Brent Sinclair is known for his research in low and high temperature tolerance of arthropods, such as fruit flies and crickets. Some insects can tolerate being completely frozen and thawing out alive, whereas others cannot. Dr. Sinclair shares some of his stories during his early career as a graduate student and postdoc. This is the first part of a two-part episode with Dr. Sinclair. Watch the video interview at: https://youtu.be/vnoyovW-nXw

Dr. Brent Sinclair: Insect Cold Tolerance (Pt. 1)

June 30, 2020 14:00 - 42 minutes - 32.6 MB

Dr. Brent Sinclair is known for his research in low and high temperature tolerance of arthropods, such as fruit flies and crickets. Some insects can tolerate being completely frozen and thawing out alive, whereas others cannot. Dr. Sinclair shares some of his stories during his early career as a graduate student and postdoc. This is the first part of a two-part episode with Dr. Sinclair. Watch the video interview at: https://youtu.be/vnoyovW-nXw ( https://youtu.be/vnoyovW-nXw)

Ep. 1: Dr. Jenny Cory - Insect Pathogens

June 16, 2020 15:00 - 26 minutes - 20.4 MB

Dr. Jenny Cory is a Professor and Thelma Finlayson Chair in Biological Control at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada. She is also the Director of the Masters in Pest Management Program; a research-based masters that has slightly more numerous and focused coursework in the area of integrated pest management. We have an interesting conversation about insect viruses and how they may relate to the current global pandemic (SARS-CoV-2). Citation for the scientific paper discus...

Dr. Jenny Cory - Insect Pathogens

June 16, 2020 14:00 - 26 minutes - 20.4 MB

Dr. Jenny Cory is a Professor and Thelma Finlayson Chair in Biological Control at Simon Fraser University (https://www.sfu.ca/) in British Columbia, Canada. She is also the Director of the Masters in Pest Management Program; a research-based masters that has slightly more numerous and focused coursework in the area of integrated pest management. We have an interesting conversation about insect viruses and how they may relate to the current global pandemic (SARS-CoV-2). Citation for the ...

Intro: Talking Bugs Trailer

May 26, 2020 15:00 - 1 minute - 2.18 MB

Insects are some of the most important organisms impacting humans every day; from the deadliest animals (mosquitoes) to those eating our agricultural crops. They also have several incredibly fascinating characteristics that we can learn from, such as freeze tolerance and swarm intelligence. Every episode, I will interview a new entomologist to learn about how they became entomologists and discuss some of their most recent research. Episodes will be released every two weeks through all majo...

Talking Bugs Trailer

May 26, 2020 14:00 - 1 minute - 2.18 MB

Insects are some of the most important organisms impacting humans every day; from the deadliest animals (mosquitoes) to those eating our agricultural crops. They also have several incredibly fascinating characteristics that we can learn from, such as freeze tolerance and swarm intelligence. Every episode, I will interview a new entomologist to learn about how they became entomologists and discuss some of their most recent research. Episodes will be released every two weeks through all major...