LSU AgCenter entomology professor Fangneng Huang receives the 2013 Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management from G. David Buntin, of the University of Georgia and president of Southeastern Branch Entomological Society of America on March 5 in Baton Rouge. (Photo by Johnny Morgan)

BATON ROUGE, La. –Two professors in the LSU AgCenter Department of Entomology were recognized at the 87th annual meeting of the Southeastern Branch Entomological Society of America in Baton Rouge on March 5.

LSU AgCenter entomology professor Fangneng Huang received the 2013 Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management, and Gene Reagan, the LSU AgCenter Austin C. Thompson Distinguished Professor of Entomology, received the first award as the ESA subject matter expert and liaison to the U.S. EPA Office of Pesticide Programs.

“The 2013 Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management is given to the scientist who has made the most significant contributions to the research programs of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station during the past years,” said Tim Schowalter, LSU AgCenter entomology department head.

Huang’s research efforts have focused on resistance development in insects a

Gene Reagan

s part of the IPM program, which looks at the entire population of pests on a crop, Schowalter said.

Haung has directed over 40 research projects and acquired over $1.7 million in external support for his research programs, according to the conference website.

Huang said he has worked with Bt corn since 1993 and has developed an effective program that can detect early changes in Bt resistance frequency in field populations for several species of Bt corn. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a soil bacterium that produces insecticidal toxins and can be inserted into crop plants.

Reagan’s research projects span the fundamental and applied spectrum, often emphasizing multi-crop landscape perspectives, integration across disciplines and extensive collaboration with scientists and practitioners on the development and use of IPM systems.

Reagan has more than 230 scientific publications, including 75 in peer-reviewed, high-profile journals. During the past nine years, he has acquired more than $1.5 million in national competitive grant support.

The Entomological Society of America was founded in 1889 and is a non-profit organization serving the scientific and professional needs of nearly 6,000 entomologists and individuals in related disciplines. ESA's membership includes representatives from educational institutions, government, health agencies and private industry.

Johnny Morgan