An LSU AgCenter entomologist and two entomology graduate students received awards from the Entomological Society of America at the society’s Entomology 2017 meeting held Nov. 5-8.

Daniel Swale received the Early Career Professional Research Award. The award recognizes an entomologist who has made outstanding research contributions to the field of entomology.

Swale’s research looks at controlling insects using pathways in the nervous system and feeding organs and enhancing honeybee health by reducing the physiological burden of stressors.

Swale has been with the LSU AgCenter since 2015.

“Entomology provides you a unique opportunity to do science that is on the forefront of what we’re doing as a society and can lead to products that can help increase quality of life around the globe,” Swale said.

Lina Bernaola received the Student Certification Award, which recognizes outstanding entomology graduate students with interest in the mission of the society’s certification program.

Bernaola’s research involves investigations of the mechanical basis of plant resistance against above-ground and below-ground organisms in rice. She is studying the effects of mycorrhizal fungi, a symbiotic soil-borne organism, on rice resistance to insects that feed on the plant.

Emily Kraus received the Kenneth and Barbara Starks Plant Resistance to Insects Graduate Student Award. Kraus studies plant resistance in rice to insect herbivores, mainly looking at the rice water weevil.