T. Eugene Reagan, Chris Carlton and Aaron Ashbrook

Louisianans encounter insects and related arthropods almost daily during warm seasons of the year. These encounters provoke feelings ranging from fear of being bitten to appreciation of the natural beauty of more charismatic species such as the Louisiana state butterfly, the Gulf fritillary (Dione vanillae). The LSU AgCenter’s Bug Biz publications are Louisiana-focused online articles that feature taxonomic, biological and management information relevant to the interests and needs of Louisiana agricultural practitioners, gardeners and residents who are curious or concerned about the various bugs they encounter.

Homeowners and gardeners must deal with occasional invaders and biting insects, as well as pests that feed on plants and threaten structures and stored products. These interactions incite curiosity about what the organisms are, what they do and whether they pose a threat to people, pets, plants and more. In large-scale agriculture, integrated pest management (IPM) programs rely on taxonomic precision and detailed knowledge of species biology to develop and implement management methods that are effective and maximize biocontrol agents by allowing native predators and parasitoids to survive by minimizing the use of broad-spectrum pesticides, as shown in scholarly papers written by T. Eugene Reagan and Megan Mulcahy in 2019 and M.J. Way in 1977. Identification provides a starting point for understanding their life histories and roles in the regional ecological landscapes of Louisiana and the broader southern U.S. Correct identifications are critical to assessing potential threats to agriculture, structures and health. Afterward, if warranted, an IPM program can be developed that is both locally and regionally effective and minimizes off-target effects.

The Bug Biz publication series originated around the year 2000 as short, concise articles dealing with specific insects within the authors’ areas of expertise. Articles were published occasionally until 2018, when the series was refreshed thanks to funding provided by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Crop Protection and Pest Management Extension Implementation Grant awarded to Reagan, who was the principal investigator for the grant at the time. Reagan was an internationally recognized expert on IPM and a chief supporter of this project.

From 2018 to the present, more than 150 two- to three-page fact sheets about insects and related arthropods (spiders, millipedes and terrestrial crustaceans) have been published on the LSU AgCenter and LSU Department of Entomology websites. These short articles focus on physical descriptions of organisms with images, life cycles, ecological significance, pest status and management guidelines when appropriate. References from both primary and secondary literature sources are included, along with details specifically relevant to Louisiana and the surrounding mid-southern U.S. Organisms that are agricultural pests, commonly encountered by the public or are otherwise relevant to Louisianans are prioritized.

A graduate student training component was added in 2018 through a special problems course (ENTM 7008) in the Entomology Department curriculum. This course, dedicated to the preparation of Bug Biz manuscripts, serves as a formal mechanism for graduate students to research and prepare Bug Biz articles as primary authors. Objectives include improvement of writing skills by preparing articles that transfer technical information to the public, experience in subject editing and proofing of contributions prepared by colleagues in the class, and the chance to provide contributions to students’ professional portfolios by publishing as lead authors. Six articles are prepared by each student during the semester, with subsequent editing, preparation of final versions and submission to AgCenter Communications by the instructor. These articles are then processed for publication and made available online.

As the demand for Bug Biz articles and other entomological content has grown, the long-term potential of this body of information has become apparent. Project leaders see this as the foundation for “Common Insects and Arthropods of Louisiana,” a forthcoming book which will cover up to 1,000 insects and arthropods occurring within the state, with brief descriptions, life histories and historical significance to Louisiana culture.

While a number of general guides about insect and arthropod identification are available, regional guides provide better targeted coverage and can be fine-tuned to local interests or concerns. Members of the LSU AgCenter Department of Entomology recognize the need for a Louisiana guide to insects and related arthropods. A large percentage of arthropod species in North America do not occur in or near Louisiana and do not need to be included, making for a more concise, easy-to-use resource. By contrast, species such as the rice billbug (Sphenophorus pertinax) and Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) are pests of increasing importance to Louisiana agricultural interests and homeowners.

Other unique facts can be shared in the book about the state’s entomological fauna. For example, the honeybee (Apis mellifera) is the Louisiana state insect even though it is not native to Louisiana, the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) was once called the New Orleans ant and “New Orleans tea,” which was brewed with American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana), was thought to have medicinal properties.

Preparation of the book is underway, and many of the organisms covered are the subjects of Bug Biz articles. Given the book’s focus on Louisiana insects and history, Reagan’s legacy will continue with its completion.

T. Eugene “Gene” Reagan, a professor of entomology with the LSU AgCenter, died in December 2023. Chris Carlton is an emeritus professor in the Department of Entomology and assistant curator of the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum. Aaron Ashbrook is an assistant professor and extension entomologist for the LSU AgCenter.

This article appears in the summer 2025 edition of Louisiana Agriculture.

Acknowledgment

This work is supported by USDA/NIFA Grants 2017-70006-27283, 2021-70006-35487, 2024-70006-43560. This work was also supported by the many agricultural extension agents and farmers who have assisted with various aspects of this project.

Thomas Eugene “Gene” Reagan

1947-2023

This article is dedicated to Reagan’s memory in honor of his support of the Bug Biz project, integrated pest management and Louisiana agriculture in general. Reagan was an expert on IPM and an authority on the sustainable management of insect pests of sugarcane. Among the many highlights of his career was his service to the Environmental Protection Agency, LSU AgCenter Office of Pesticide Programs and the Entomological Society of America. Reagan was posthumously inducted into the Southern IPM Center Hall of Fame. He was an avid fan of LSU athletics, a student of regional history and was a regular at Tiger Stadium.