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Major offers 'endless opportunities' ranging from Purdue to Disney

Purdue Exponent
By Brittni Ballard
April 7, 2008

Monarch Butterfly

Tupperware in the refrigerator seems commonplace, as does disposing of old containers and contents. Usually.

A tour of the department of entomology's rearing house defies this rule - that when bugs get in, the Tupperware goes out. One quick glance shows plastic containers holding insects kept in modified refrigerators under heat lights.

Off to the side of the room is a blender and microwave. These appliances, however, are not used for the eating enjoyment of people; individuals use these tools to prepare meals for insects.

These ordinary items are used because there just aren't any professional entomology-driven companies, said Jonathan Neal, associate professor of entomology.

Neal's office looks ordinary, too; there are no stereotypical nets or hats to be seen. His bookcase, though, includes such film titles as the classic insect movie "Them" and newer productions like "Mimic" and "The Swarm."

"I have always been interested in biology, insects and especially the environment," he said.

This, in addition to his concern for pest control issues, led him to the major of entomology.

Entomology is the study of insects and is "fundamentally biology," Neal explained.

Students more interested in the biology of the whole animal and who want a challenge outside of the test tube, he said, are the ones who choose to major in entomology.

There are even international opportunities for agricultural students who have entomology backgrounds, Neal said. Because there are limited times when agricultural experiments can be performed due to short crop-growing periods, experiments need to be held in many different locations. Knowledge of possible pests proves beneficial.

Students choose to major in entomology for various reasons. Graduate Desiree Richardson started at Purdue with a major in business management, but after an introductory entomology class with professor Tom Turpin, quickly switched.

Richardson, quality management specialist at The Steritech Group, Inc., said in an e-mail that even though her parents were concerned with her new career prospects, the high degree of individual attention assured her and her parents that she "would be fine."

After graduating, Richardson completed an eight-month internship at the Land Exhibit in Disney World's Epcot. During this time, she raised biological control insects to release in the greenhouses and in the parks.

"These are beneficial insects that reduce pest insect populations," Richardson said.

Currently, she works at Steritech in the Food Safety Division after a transfer from the Pest Prevention Division.

Richardson said, "I conduct inspections of customers' properties for various issues and teach them how to hold themselves at the standards their company expects ... I also train new auditors and have lately been helping create training manuals."

Though she admits she doesn't use her entomological skills as much now as she did in previous positions, she is still passionate about entomology.

"No matter what I do with my career and where I go in life," Richardson said, "I will always consider myself an entomologist."

Whether a person wants to be a professor or work at Disney World, one thing is certain, Richardson says -- entomology can help.

"It was entomology that got me here ... there are endless opportunities when it comes to insects."