News Release Distributed 09/26/13

BATON ROUGE, La. – Jeff Lockwood, a professor at the University of Wyoming and award-winning writer, will present a lecture about his book “Six-Legged Soldiers: A History of Insects in Torture, Terrorism, and Warfare” on Oct. 4 at 2 p.m., Room A101, Life Sciences Annex, on the LSU campus.

The lecture is one in the Jerry B. Graves Distinguished Seminar Series sponsored by the Department of Entomology, according to Tim Schowalter, department head.

An insect ecologist, Lockwood is a professor of natural sciences and humanities. His position is split between the philosophy department and the master of fine arts program in creative writing, along with an appointment in the ecology program.

He teaches courses in environmental ethics and the philosophy of ecology, along with workshops in nature and environmental writing. His essays have been honored with a Pushcart Prize, a John Burroughs Award and inclusion in Best American Science & Nature Writing.

His new book “The Infested Mind: Why Humans Fear, Loathe and Love Insects” is to be published in November.

In his book “Six-Legged Soldiers,” Lockwood paints a portrait of the many creative, frightening and powerful ways in which insects have been used as weapons of war, terror and torture. He concludes with a critical analysis of today's defenses and homeland security's dangerous shortcomings with respect to entomological attacks.