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Celebrating 125 Years of Entomology at the University of Nebraska

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A Work in Progress This presentation documents only a small part of the rich history of entomology at the University of Nebraska some of the people and events associated with the building now known as Entomology Hall. We plan to expand this documentary in the future, to include teaching activities, changes in research emphases, and research and extension activities conducted out-state over the years. We hope you enjoy this brief history.

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Early Work Samuel Aughey Professor of Natural Science, University of Nebraska Investigated the Rocky Mountain locust, the chinch bug, and other pests (1871) "Fortunately, it is now only a question as to which of all the methods proposed is the best, since the conviction is becoming more and more general that if the destruction of the locusts is commenced early in the season, no farmer needs to lose his crops from them. the Daily State Journal of Lincoln on May 30, 1877, published an open letter from Samuel Aughey to Nebraska farmers. [He] began by pointing out the role played by natural predators such as birds and by parasites, which reduced substantially the number of locusts. Aughey believed the surviving grasshoppers could be controlled by determined human effort.

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University of Nebraska Experiment Station 1887 Conway McMillan, a botanist, appointed as 1 st Station entomologist. Marks the first organized work in entomology in Nebraska 1888 McMillan publishes report, Twenty-two Common Insects of Nebraska, listing many of the states important pests 1888 leaves Nebraska for the University of Minnesota, where he serves as Professor of Botany April 1888 Lawrence A. Bruner appointed Station Entomologist

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Bruner first reports on grasshopper species in Nebraska in an 1876 paper in Canadian Entomologist. He continues to write reports on Nebraska insects for the United States Entomological Commission and the Division of Entomology USDA (1881 1894). In 1893, the professor of entomology is given additional duties and the title Acting State Entomologist.

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First Home: University Hall The entomologist was first housed or located between two museum cases in the west room of the north wing of University Hall. [For several years] one room serves as lecture room, students laboratory, library, research laboratory and professors private office; it also contained the collection of insects whichhad begun to assume fair proportions. --Lawrence Bruner

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Whats in a name? 1895 Department of Entomology and Ornithology established 1906 Renamed Department of Systematic and Economic Entomology. Ornithology transferred to Zoology c. 1911 Renamed Department of Entomology Bruner serves as Chairman until 1919.

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A Home of Their Own In 1912, the Plant Industry Building is built to house Entomology and other departments. Total cost: $97,500 ($85,000 in general construction costs and $12,500 for fixtures)

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I am confident that this building is dedicated to practical science in its largest sense; a practice based on science, and a science that illuminates and extends practice. And beneath it all is that finest of all impulses, the impulse to serve the community that has expressed its confidence in giving this building, and that has a right to expect large things. John M. Coulter, Practical Science (June 10, 1913)

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October 1917 - First extension work begins. Ceases a year later when the extension entomologist, C. E. Mickel, leaves the University. 1918 - Extensive grasshopper damage in western Nebraska, an estimated $1.5 million loss. 1919 - Lawrence Bruner resigns as Chairman of the Department of Entomology. Basement floor plan, Plant Industry Building

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1919 Myron H. Swenk becomes the second Chairman, serving until his death in 1941. 1924 Observation of Hessian fly safe dates saves wheat growers thousands of dollars 1927 1 st Cooperative Project between the Entomology and Plant Pathology Departments

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First floor plan, Plant Industry Building Orlando S. Bare - organizes the extension program in entomology in 1929. 1936 & 1937 Worst grasshopper infestations since pioneer days. In 1937, 78,000 Nebraska farmers use more than 16,000 tons of bait composed of dry bran, arsenicals, and water.

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Second floor plan, Plant Industry Building H. Douglas Tate serves as Chairman during the World War II years (1941-1946). 1944 Heaviest potato leafhopper infestation on record on potatoes in eastern & central Nebraska Western corn rootworms more numerous & serious in central Nebraska First record of European corn borer in state, near Lincoln

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Milestones in early pest control 1941 Control of potato insects: insecticidal dusts as effective as high-pressure spray applications 1942 Chinch bug barrier: small line of 2-4 dinitro-ortho-cresol dust in a shallow furrow 1944 DDT most promising insecticide for control of potato insects in Nebraska 1945 First aerial applications of insecticides in Nebraska. DDT applied to potatoes in the western part of the state 1946 Grasshopper control in western Nebraska: benzene hexachloride dust or fog

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Third floor plan, Plant Industry Building the whole policy of the department changed during this period (1941-1946). Previously it had appeared to be primarily taxonomy at one end and practical control at the other with nothing in between. Tate started the laboratory to permit physiological [and toxicological] studies and he insisted on the need for an insectary and labs. --R.W. Goss (UNL plant pathologist), as told to Roscoe E. Hill

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Ephriam Hixson chairs the Department (1946-1950) European corn borer continues to spread across Nebraska: 1946 6 counties infested 1947 27 counties 1948 48 counties 1949 66 counties (estimated losses of $11.4 million) 1948 Entomology is made a Division of the University of Nebraskas State Museum, providing more continuous care of the insect collections.

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Roscoe E. Hill, Chairman (1950-1966) Insect-plant virus transmission research wheat streak mosaic European corn borer research begins Corn rootworms cause heavy losses research efforts increased 1953 New Insectary Building completed 1954 Grasshoppers cause $28 million losses statewide 1958 Department approved to offer Ph.D. degree with major in Entomology 1963 Building and 20 acres of land at the Universitys Field Laboratory in Mead

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Entomologys Chair/Heads (1966 Present) We plan to document additional departmental history during the tenures of : EARLE S. RAUN, Chair (1966-1970) E. A. DICKASON, Head (1970-1984) ROGER E. GOLD, Head (1985-1988) Z. B. MAYO, Interim Head (1988-1989) JOHN E. FOSTER, Head (1990-1993) Z. B. MAYO, Interim Head (1993-1995) SHARRON S. QUISENBERRY, Head (1995-1999) Z. B. MAYO, Interim Head (1999) Z. B. MAYO, Head (2000-2005) FREDERICK P. BAXENDALE, Head (2005-2006) GARY J. BREWER, Head (2006- )

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Unplanned Renovations August 1975 The Plant Industry Building catches fire. Damages are so substantial that researchers are relocated. After the fire, the Plant Pathology Dept. moves from Plant Industry to the Plant Sciences Building.

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Unplanned Renovations Restoration of the Plant Industry Building costs more than $600,000. Main Office damages Damage, Extension area

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A Planned Renovation (2010-2012)

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New Spaces to do large things Welcome to Entomology Hall !

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Sources Timeline and Narrative: Hill, R.E. 1969. Some Historical Hi-Lights of Nebraska Entomology. Unpublished. Slide 1: Postcard image, UNL Dept. of Entomology Slide 2: Monarch image, Canadian Wildlife Federation (http://cwf-fcf.org) Slide 3: Photo of Samuel Aughey found at http://nebraskastudies.org. Quote from Samuel Aughey, Nebraska State Historical Society (http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/timeline/aughey- samuel.htm). Photo of grasshopper plague, opening illustration of Grasshoppered: Americas Response to the 1874 Rocky Mountain Locust Invasion by Alexandra M. Wagner, Nebraska History (Winter 2008) Slide 4: Bruner images, Lawrence A. Bruner Collection, Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries Slide 5: Background scan, Canadian Entomologist, Vol. 8 (1876), pp.123-125 Slide 6, 7: Photo of University Hall, Buildings and Grounds Collection, Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries Slide 8: Original building plans, UNL Dept. of Entomology Slide 9: Photo of Plant Industry Building & 1913 Dedication Program, Buildings and Grounds Collection, Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries Slide 10: Original building plans, UNL Dept. of Entomology Slide 11: Photo of Myron Swenk & publication images, Biographical and Bibliographical Collection, Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries Slides 12, 13: Original building plans, UNL Dept. of Entomology Slide 14: DDT structure, Wikipedia Slide 15: Original building plans, UNL Dept. of Entomology Slide 16: European corn larva, UNL Dept. of Entomology Slide 17: Corn rootworm beetles, IANR publications Slide 18: Monarch image, Canadian Wildlife Federation (http://cwf-fcf.org) Slide 19, 20, 21, 22: UNL Dept. of Entomology