A pair of Cornell University entomologists have been recognized for their exceptional research and teaching by the world’s premier entomological organization. Gregory Loeband Linda Rayor each received awards from the Eastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America during a presentation Jan. 6 in Philadelphia.
Professor Loeb earned the Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management in part for his research on the principal forces influencing the population dynamics and species interactions of herbivores in agricultural and natural ecosystems. Loeb’s research has led to the development and implementation of multi-tactic pest management programs for the integrated control of specific arthropod pests of grapes and small fruit crops.
Much of his current research focuses on management of the invasive species spotted wing drosophila, a significant pest of soft-skinned fruit crops throughout much of North America and abroad. Projects include chemical ecology and behavior of host finding as the basis for behavioral management; overwintering and spring biology; monitoring and decision making, interactions with microbes, including biological control with entomopathogens; mechanical control using netting; and optimizing chemical control.
Loeb expressed appreciation for the IPM award while emphasizing the contributions of the many undergraduate and doctoral students, research technicians, collaborators at Cornell and elsewhere, and the growers who have aided his research.
“I am honored by the award and the recognition of the dedicated team at Cornell that makes this research successful. Pests pose a serious threat to the New York agricultural industry and economy, and it’s only by broadening our scientific knowledge that we can manage and limit the destructiveness of these insects.”
Rayor, senior lecturer and research associate in the Department of Entomology, received the Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching. The society recognized her innovation as a communicator and her outstanding courses on Spider Biology, Insect Behavior, and the Naturalist Outreach Practicum, a course on how to do effective science outreach. Rayor was recognized for her K-12 STEM outreach program in the central New York region, development of the annual Insectapalooza insect-fair held at Cornell, and her work in Discovery Science’s Monster Bug Wars on predatory arthropods.
As a behavioral ecologist, Rayor specializes in arthropod social behavior, with research focusing on the costs and benefits of group living in social and solitary Australian huntsman spiders
This is not the first time Rayor has been recognized for her teaching: other acknowledgments include the 2015 Animal Behavior Society career teaching award; the CALS Innovative Teacher Award in 2007; and Kaplan Family Distinguished Faculty Fellowship in Service-Learning in 2005. She previously won Distinguished Achievement in Teaching Award from eastern branch of the ESA in 2008.
“I am delighted to receive this award and the recognition it places on the importance of teaching.” Rayor said. “Enthusiastic teaching inspires a joy of learning, and better yet, encourages students to continue to communicate the value of science through their careers. The best teachers affect real changes in the lives of students to better the world in their own ways after they leave Cornell.”
