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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
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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 those environments are
harsh, unusual, or vanishing. This often includes areas that are managed
such as parks, reserves and reservations and even agricultural lands.
For many years, some of my students and I conducted intensive survey work
and concurrent ecological studies of the Hanford Nuclear Site located
in south central Washington State. We currently have biodiversity survey
studies of several native Palouse Prairie sites that are located in eastern
Washington.
My systematic interests also are varied with primary groups of interest
including the dipterous family Ephydridae (shore flies), moths, and aquatic
Coleoptera and Hemiptera in general. Current investigations include general
studies of the insect fauna of Guam (and Micronesia), especially shore
flies, and the moths of the Washington. We also have cooperative studies
in Guatemala.
I am also involved in applied studies, especially as they exam or build-upon
general principles of entomology. Recent projects are in corn (especially
corn earworm) management and field crops. I am looking at the distributions
and management of noctuid moths. I am also pursuing studies that examine
at the chemical ecology of non-pheromone insect attractants for moths
and pestiferous wasps. Much of this research is conducted in collaboration
with Dr. Peter Landolt at the USDA ARS 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 courses titled "Insects and People"
and "Entomology and Human Health" to non-science majors. 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:
MacKenzie, J. K., P. J. Landolt, and R. S. Zack. 2006. Attraction to ornamental
peony (Paeonia lactiflora, Paeoniaceae) by Polistes dominulus Christ
(Hymenoptera: Vespidae) demonstrated using olfactometers. Journal of the
Kansas Entomological Society 79: 231-238.
Landolt, P. J., T. Adams, and R. S. Zack. 2006. Field response of alfalfa
looper and cabbage looper moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Plusiinae) to
single and binary blends of floral odorants. Environmental Entomology
35: 276-281.
Zack, R. S., C. N. Looney, and R. D. Gordon. 2006. A new species of winter
active dung beetle, Stenotothorax woodleyi (Coeloptera: Scarabaeidae),
associated with shrub-steppe habitat in Washington State. Proceedings
of the Entomological Society of Washington 108: 45-50.
Zack, R. S., D. E. Ruiter, D. L. Strenge, and P. J. Landolt. 2006. Adult
caddisfly (Trichoptera) phenology at the Hanford Reach National Monument,
Washington State. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
108: 131-138.
Johnson, D. J., B. C. Carstens, W. S. Sheppard, and R. S. Zack. 2005.
Phylogeny of leafhopper subgenus Errhomus (Erronus) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)
based on mitochondrial DNA sequences. Annals of the Entomological Society
of America 98(2): 165-172.
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:
Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching, Entomological Society of
America, November 2005
Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching, Entomological Society of
America, Pacific Branch, 2005
Western Region Award for Excellence in College and University Teaching
in the Food and Agricultural Sciences. Higher Education Programs of the
United States Department of Agriculture/National Association of State
Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC). 2004
Marian E. Smith Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award, Washington State
University, 2003-2004
Distinguished Member, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, 2003
The Matthew R. Weaver Distinguished Professor Award, The Daily Evergreen,
Washington State University, March 2003
Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching, Entomological Society of
America, Pacific Branch, 2003
Teaching Award of Merit, National Association of Colleges and Teachers
of Agriculture, April 2001
Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching, Entomological Society of
America, Pacific Branch, June 2001
R.M. Wade Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching, College of Agriculture
and Home Economics, WSU, April 2001
Graduate Students:
- Christophor Looney, MS
Thesis: Seasonality and Distribution of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera:
Carabidae) on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.
Currently a PhD student at the University of Idaho
Awards:
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- •Invited Speaker, Rocky Mountain Entomological Conference, 1999.
Mark Hitchcox, MS (with Peter Landolt and Jay Brunner)
Thesis: Seasonal Phenology and Monitoring of Lacanobia subjuncta
(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Apple Orchards of Washington State.
Currently working for the United States Environmental Protection Agency
Todd Adams, MS (with Peter Landolt)
Thesis: Developing a More Species Specific Pheromone Monitoring System
for Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae) and the Seasonal Phenology
of Helicoverpa zea and Heliothis phloxiphaga.
Currently working for the United States Department of Agriculture
Awards:
•Graduate Student Award for Leadership in Applied Entomology,
Entomological Society of America, Pacific Branch, June 2001
•First Place, Student Poster Competition, Entomological Society
of America, Pacific Branch, June 2001
•First Place, Student Poster Competition, Entomological Society
of America, national meeting, December 2001
Diana Johnson, MS
Thesis: Phylogeny of the Leafhopper Subgenus Errhomus Based on Mitochondrial
DNA Sequences
Currently the Forensic Entomologist with New Jersey State Police and a
PhD student at West Virginia University.
Awards:
•Second Place, Student Paper Competition, Entomological Society
of America, Pacific Branch, June 2002
•The President's Award, Washington State University, April 2002
(recognition of outstanding students by the President of the University)
•Outstanding Graduate Student in the Department of Entomology for
2001/2002
•Second Place, Student Paper Competition, Entomological Society
of America, Pacific Branch, March 2003
•Entomological Society of America Student Achievement Award, Pacific
Branch, March 2003
John MacKenzie, MS (with Peter Landolt)
Discovery of Feeding and Sex Attractants in the Invasive Social Wasp Polistes
dominulus Christ (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).
Currently Self-Employed
Leonardo Camelo, PhD (with Peter Landolt)
Dissertation: Floral Lures for Attract and Kill and for Seasonal Monitoring
of Alfalfa Looper, Corn Earworm, and Cabbage Looper Moths
Currently employed by a private agricultural research and consulting company
Jessica Thompson, MS
Thesis: Biological Diversity of Macromoths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) in a
Native Palouse Prairie Remnant Site.
Currently employed
Robert Brown, MS
Biology and Chemical Ecology of Thrips
Current Student
Melissa Gaver, PhD
Biology and Ecology of Spiders in Urban Environments
Current Student
Courses Taught:
ENTOM
101: Insects and People: A Perspective.
ENTOM 340: Agricultural
Entomology.
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