K-State Department of Entomology

Congratulations to David Martell on passing his defense! We wish him the best as he continues his study at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine after being accepted into their program ✨

Incoming graduate students! RSVP https://www.k-state.edu/grad/admissions/incoming-students/orientation/fall.html

This Friday, we are hosting Camp Sketchapod Jr. from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the K-State Southwest Research-Extension Center. Register at k-state.edu/sketchapod 🎨

During the 1-day, bug-tastic experience for middle and high school students, campers will explore the basics of entomology field work and visual recording techniques used in scientific illustration. Activities will be led by K-State faculty and undergraduate students from the K-State Art Department and Entomology. Sketching materials and lunch will be provided!

Secure your camper's spot for $25! Cost includes camp t-shirt, swag, sketching materials and lunch. Registration will begin 30 minutes before the start time. Camp Sketchapod Jr. is hosted by Nature Collab and sponsored by the Chapman Center for Rural Studies' Interdisciplinary Research Grant.

Insect Farming Initiative (IFI) at 2026 Insects to Feed the World 🌎!

Christos Athanassiou from IFI attended the 2026 Insects to Feed the World (IFW) international conference, a key insect farming forum that brings together researchers, stakeholders and policy makers from all over the world.

This year, the conference was held in Torino, Italy, locally organized by Laura Gasco from the University of Torino. With more than 600 participants, topics covered all aspects of insect farming and beyond, such as alternative protein sources, valorization of byproducts, insects in medicine and cosmetics, legislation, consumers' acceptance and many more. Christos presented the goals and vision of IFI and also shared some of the scientific results that have been produced by the IFI group. For more info, see https://www.ifw2026.org/

On Insect Farming Fridays, we share about all things related to the Insect Farming Initiative!

Students who participated in this year's K-State Department of Plant Pathology Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) took their research to the next level by presenting their findings in concise 3-minute pitches. Acquiring hands-on experience and learning to distill complex information into engaging stories, they developed essential skills in scientific communication, including clarity, concision, and confidence!

We are grateful to host four students this summer and see other entomology students explore the diverse research happening here at K-State. Congratulations to this year's cohort!

The K-State Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research-SDUR offers a series of workshops for undergraduate researchers throughout the summer! The 3-minute prep and pitch is a part of their endeavors to elevate undergraduate research.

This is Lillian Francis, an entomology undergraduate student working in Dr. Yoonseong Park's Arthropod Molecular Physiology Laboratory this summer!

Her summer research is focused on the regional differences of Alpha-Gal in lone star tick salivary glands. The lab noticed there were fewer documented cases of alpha-gal syndrome (red meat allergy) in certain southern states, so they are comparing ticks from South Carolina to those from Kansas for her study.

This research has given her many valuable experiences. "I have learned how to feed ticks using artificial feeding chambers (which is really cool!), proper dissection methods for retrieving the salivary glands that we use for testing, good lab practices and safety, and how to conduct ELISA testing. There is so much more, but those are the key elements."

She was originally drawn to Dr. Park’s lab because of her interest in working with parasites. "Parasites are such a fascinating group, and I wanted to further my knowledge in the field." This summer experience has helped foster that goal.

When asked how K-State has supported her professional growth, she replied, "I am incredibly grateful and proud of my college for the opportunities they offer such as this summer internship. I have learned and experienced more than I could have thought and have had many doors opened for future development. I am looking forward to future entomological conferences where I can learn, share, and be a part of the professional world. I want to give a huge thank you for this opportunity."

Lillian's summer research is made possible through NIFA funded Research and Extension Experience from Undergraduates (REEU) directed by K-State Department of Plant Pathology. See comments for more information about the program!

Mark your calendar and support David Martell, Entomology Graduate Student (M.S.) advised by Dr. Cassandra Olds, at his defense entitled "Stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans) impacts on feedlot cattle." It will take place on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. CST in Waters Hall 126. Virtual option available.

Light refreshments will be provided. If you are interested in attending virtually, please comment requesting online meeting information.

In early July 2026, Drs. Brenda Oppert and Christos Athanassiou visited Kirkos Ag, a company specializing in raising premium mealworms and producing high-quality frass fertilizer, based in Fremont, Nebraska.

Cheryl Powers, Co-Owner and Managing Director, took Brenda and Christos on a tour of the Kirkos Ag facilities, sharing technological advancements and challenges in mass rearing protocols in yellow mealworms.

Collaborating with Kirkos Ag is a prime example of the partnerships we are forging at the Insect Farming Initiative at Kansas State University where we share information on insect farming techniques and improve market-oriented approaches.

Meet Caitlynn Langton, Animal Science major and Entomology minor, working in the Dr. Olds Veterinary Entomology Lab this summer! Read about her summer research and journey so far at K-State.

"My summer research has been about helping the lab out wherever needed and learning things along the way! I've done tick ID, blood aliquoting, PCR, fly colony maintenance, and many other cool things. I believe that all of this is valuable, but the tick ID really stands out to me. Many things I'm learning will be useful if I pursue a career in research, but the tick ID will be useful to me for the rest of my life no matter what direction I go. I plan on owning a lot of animals and, of course, will encounter ticks on myself, so being able to identify the species and potential threats it poses will be extremely useful!

I was drawn to veterinary entomology for a few reasons. I originally wanted to be a vet when I started college, only to get a bit more experience and realize that wasn't what I wanted, but I was looking for veterinarian related fields. I got into the entomology section of that because of Dr. Olds! Her classes set me up to be excited about entomology and gave me a desire to learn more. I truly believe that if it had been another professor or if Dr. Olds wasn't as amazing as she is, I wouldn't have been as eager to follow this path.

I have found a lot of amazing opportunities through K-State! This internship, my job at the USDA, my shadowing hours, and volunteer hours have all been presented to me through K-State in one way or another and have all supported my professional development. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life, but each experience has given me crucial knowledge of how industries function, I've learned and improved many skills, and gained valuable connections.

This may seem like a wide net, but I believe the work the Olds Lab does is valuable to everyone. Of course, anyone who eats beef is especially affected because the research done in the Olds Lab supports cattle, producers, and consumers. But the extension work the Olds Lab does reaches far beyond the beef industry. There is no way to get around ever encountering a fly or tick. The knowledge about such species and the diseases they transmit provided by the Olds Lab and other similar labs is crucial to public health and education."