Richard S. Zack Graduate Faculty Associate Professor, Associate Entomologist and Cooperative Extension Specialist Director of the M. T. James Entomological Collection Washington State University Pullman, WA 99164-6382 Office: FSHN 157 Phone: 509-335-3394 E-Mail: zack@wsu.edu

Areas of Interest:

Research
My research interests are varied but center around insect systematics and entomological diversity as broad fields of exploration - I often refer to this as "ecosystematics." I am interested in the interactions of insects with their environments, especially as these environments are harsh, unusual, or vanishing. This can, and often does include areas that are managed such as parks, reserves or reservations, and even agricultural lands. For the past many years, several students and I have been conducting an intensive survey, with concurrent ecological studies, of the Hanford Nuclear Site which is located in southcentral Washington State.

My systematic interests are also varied with the primary groups of study including the dipterous family Ephydridae (shoreflies), leafhoppers (as collaborative projects with Andy Hamilton) and aquatic Coleoptera and Hemiptera in general.

I am also involved in applied studies, especially as they exam or build-upon general principles of entomology. Recent projects have been in corn (especially corn earworm management) and tree fruits. For the most part, I am looking at the distributions and interactions and management of noctuid and other moths with the commodity. Much of this research is done on a collaborative basis with Pete Landolt at the USDA lab in Wapato, WA.

Teaching
I am interested in how insects and people interact - at all levels including those often termed cultural entomology. Most of my activities are at the undergraduate level where I teach a course titled "Insects and People" to non-science majors. I also teach agricultural entomology at the undergraduate level. I enjoy teaching and the opportunity to interact with students at all educational levels. My graduate students are often involved in my teaching as are gifted undergraduates.

Education:

Ph.D. Washington State University - Systematic Entomology - l982
Dissertation: Biologies and Distribution of Certain Pacific Northwest Shore Flies (Diptera: Ephydridae).

M.S. Kent State University - Biology - l976
Thesis: Utilization of Algal Monocultures by Shore Flies (Diptera: Ephydridae).

B.S. Ohio State University - Entomology - 1974

Selected Publications:

Landolt, P. J., T. Adams, H. C. Reed, and R. S. Zack. 2001. Trapping alfalfa looper moths, Autographa californica (Speyer) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), with single and double component floral chemical lures. Environmental Entomology 30: 667-672.

Strenge, D. L. and R. S. Zack. 2001. Observations on the life history of the sagebrush sheep moth, Hemileuca hera hera (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). Northwest Science 75(2): 118-121.

Epstein, D. L., R. S. Zack, J. F. Brunner, L. Gut, and J. J. Brown. 2001. Ground beetle activity in apple orchards under reduced pesticide management regimes. Biological Control 21(2): 97-104.

Zack, R. S. and C. N. Looney. 2001. A new record of Cononotus lanchesteri Van Dyke (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Agnathinae) in Washington State, with notes on habitat. Coleopterists Bulletin. 55(1): 67-69.

Hamilton, K. G. A. and R. S. Zack. 1999. Systematics and range fragmentation of the Nearctic genus Errhomus oman (Rhynchota: Homoptera: Cicadellidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 92: 312-354

Zack, R. S., N. D. Penny, J. B. Johnson, and D. L. Strenge. 1998. Raphidioptera and Neuroptera from the Hanford Site of southcentral Washington state. Pan-Pacific Entomologist 74: 203-209

Zack, R. S. 1998. Shore Flies (Diptera: Ephydridae) of the Hanford Site, Washington. Northwest Science 72: 127-141

Recent Awards:

Outstanding Service Award as Editor of Book and Media Reviews. Entomological Society of America, December 2000.

R.M. Wade Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching, College of Agriculture and Home Economics, WSU, April 2001

Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching, Entomological Society of America, Pacific Branch, June 2001

Teaching Award of Merit, National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture, April 2001

College of Agriculture and Home Economics Faculty Marshal, WSU Commencement, May 2001

Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching, Entomological Society of America, Pacific Branch, March 2003

The Matthew R. Weaver Distinguished Professor Award, The Daily Evergreen, Washington State University, March 2003

Graduate and Professional Student Advisor Award, Graduate and Professional Student Association, Washington State University, April 2003

Recent Awards to Graduate Students:

Todd Adams - Graduate Student Award for Leadership in Applied Entomology. Entomological Society of America, Pacific Branch, June 2001.

Todd Adams - First Place, Student poster competition, Entomological Society of America, Pacific Branch, June 2001.

Todd Adams - First Place, Student poster competition, Entomological Society of America, National Meeting, December 2001.

Diana Johnson – Second Place, Student paper competition, Entomological Society of America, Pacific Branch, March 2003

Diana Johnson, Entomological Society of America Student Achievement Award, Pacific Branch, March 2003

Diana Johnson – Second Place, Student paper competition, Entomological Society of America, Pacific Branch, June 2002

Diana Johnson, The President’s Award, Washington State University, April 2002 (recognition by the President of the University of Outstanding students)

Diana Johnson, Outstanding Graduate Student in the Department of Entomology, Washington State University, 2001/2002

Recent Presentations:

Plenary Presentation. Insects, an Underutilized Tool – Entomological Diversity of the Hanford Site. Joint Conference of the Society for Ecological Restoration and Society of Wetland Scientists. Portland, OR. 26 March 2003.

The Hanford Nuclear Site: A changing Mandate. Symposium - Arthropod Ecology: Current and Changing State of Affairs, Pacific Branch of the Entomological Society of America, Park City, UT. June 2001.

The Hanford Nuclear Reservation and Insect Biological Diversity - Was that a Two-Headed, Six-Foot Tall ant I Just Saw? Department of Entomology, University of Missouri, Initial, invited presentation in a semester long series on Biological Diversity. January 2001.

Arthropods and Enthusiasm - an unbeatable combination. Entomological Society of America, Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada. Formal Conference - Teaching. December 2000.

Pauroctonus boreus (Scorpionida: Vejuvidae) in Central Washington. Entomological Society of America, Montreal, Canada (with C. N. Looney). December 2000

The Value of Entomological Diversity - Creation of a New National Monument. Entomological Society of America, Montreal, Canada (with C. N. Looney). 2000

Courses Taught:

ENTOM 101: Insects and People: A Perspective.

ENTOM 340: Agricultural Entomology.

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