3 UC Riverside entomologists honored by Entomological Society of America

Three entomologists at the University of California, Riverside have won awards from the Entomological Society of America (ESA).

Timothy Paine, a professor of entomology, won the Distinguished Achievement Award in Horticultural Entomology, which honors an entomologist who has contributed to the American horticulture industry. Bradley Mullens, also a professor of entomology, won the Recognition Award in Entomology, which recognizes entomologists who have made or are making significant contributions to agriculture. Former graduate student Allison Hansen won one of five John Henry Comstock Graduate Student Awards, which promote interest in entomology at the graduate level.

Paine's research focuses on improving integrated pest management of insects affecting woody ornamental plants. His lab also studies the biology and ecology of introduced insects in urban environments. He and his students have worked with arthropod pests across nine different orders. Paine is a National Academies Education Fellow in the Life Sciences and a fellow of the Entomological Society of America as well as the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Mullens works in veterinary entomology. Research in his laboratory focuses on the biology, ecology, and integrated management of arthropod pests of livestock, poultry and wildlife. His honors and awards include the Lifetime Achievement Award in Veterinary Entomology and the best paper award from Medical and Veterinary Entomology (2005-06).

Hansen, who worked in Paine's lab until June 2009 and is now a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Arizona, investigated the potential role and maintenance of bacterial endosymbionts in their insect hosts. In 2008, she discovered and named a new bacterial pathogen associated with "psyllid yellows," a disease that infects and kills tomato and potato plants.

Paine and Mullens will receive their awards on Dec. 13, 2009 and Hansen will receive her award on Dec. 15, 2009 at the ESA Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Ind.

Source: University of California - Riverside