Pi Chi Omega Announces 2006 Scholarship Recipients

WILMINGTON, Del. — Pi Chi Omega, the national fraternity of pest control professionals, announced its 2006 scholarship recipients. Each year, Pi Chi Omega awards scholarships to promising students majoring in urban or industrial pest control or closely related areas.

Here's a look at the 2006 winners and their research.

Ricky Vazquez, University of Florida
Ricky Vazquez has been in the entomology PhD program at the University of Florida for about 16 months. He also is a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Reserves and recently put his entomology skills to work while deployed in Alexandria, Egypt. He writes, “As the sole medical entomologist I provided guidance on arthropod vector-borne diseases to senior medical staff. The large number of flies encountered in Egypt was the perfect scenario for my research project, which focuses on evaluating new chemistries for house fly management. I was able to reduce the population levels of filth flies around the dining and housing areas.”

Jason Meyers Texas A&M University
Myers studied Paratrachina sp.nr pubens, a nuisance ant found southwest of Houston. Meyers is studying the control of this pest in laboratory and field situations. Phylogenetic and morphometric analysis will be conducted for identification and corroboration of this exotic species. Immature development and colony growth will be studied for larval instar size, degree-day estimations, fecundity and general observation. Meyers’ dissertation is expected to be completed by May 2008.

SandraWoolfolk, Mississippi State University
Woolfolk’s research Is on Solenopsis Invicta, the imported red fire ant and her main objectives of the project are: (1) Temporarily compare biodiversity indices of culturable bacteria and fungi associated with RIFAs, mound soils and plant debris from three geographical regions in Mississippi; (2) Further evaluate biodiversity indices between culturable bacteria and fungi isolated from external and internal body regions of RIFAs; (3) Test 50% most common and 20% least common bacteria and fungi as potential biological control agents against RIFAs in laboratory and field-caged settings.

Neil Spomer, University of Nebraska
Spomer is researching the Eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes and time permitting the Formosan termite. Objective 1: Investigate the possibility of secondary treatment by termites of termite galleries using radiolabeled C-fipronil measured by scintiallation counting.
Objective 2: Establish LC50 toxicity values.
Objective 3: Determine the rate and mode of entry of C-fipronil into the termite body.
Objective 4: Attempt to quantify increased efficacy of liquid termiticides and baits by adding a trail-following pheromone mimic.
Objective 5: Establish the soil degradation profile of trail-following pheromone mimics.
Objective 6: Investigate effects of sublethal exposure to commonly used termiticides on the symbiotic gut fauna of termites.