I research dung beetles, which benefit the environment by removing cattle dung from pastures. The dung beetles push the dung down into the soil and live inside it.

By burying dung in the soil, the beetles improve soil fertility by increasing organic matter, which leads to greater forage production. Dung beetles are also efficient at controlling horn flies, because they eat the dung before the flies start to lay eggs in it. This helps ranchers to save money on fertilizers and fly control.

My research focuses on how different cattle management practices, prescribed fires and different insecticides impact dung beetle populations.

Oklahoma produces $52 million worth of grain sorghum annually. My job is to save sorghum farmers money. Multiple caterpillar and chinch bug species attack grain sorghum, also known as milo, resulting in low yields for producers.

I research which chemicals to apply, how much to apply and when to apply to reduce chemical resistance in insects and environmental impact to inform producers on the cost of chemical application versus insect damage.

I’m researching the prairie arogos skipper, a rare butterfly dependent on healthy native prairie habitat. Its caterpillars feed on bluestem grasses, so when these grasses disappear, the butterfly does too. The arogos skipper is important to the food web and pollinates native plants, flowers and other things.

Widespread habitat loss has led to the decline of the species and its range to the point that it is being considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Little is known about the arogos skipper, so my research aims to answer questions about its population and activities. I’m also developing in-captivity rearing protocols to help future conservation efforts.

I conduct research on the swift tiger beetle, an important species that helps us understand the health of our local environment. The swift tiger beetle is a native species that was historically found across the Great Plains but is now found only in a few small pockets.

The swift tiger beetle is found on gypsum deposits in native grasses in western Oklahoma, where the beetle lays its eggs and hunts for prey. Gypsum is an important mineral used in the construction industry, and if it is overharvested, this important beetle will miss out on an essential part of the ecosystem it needs to complete its life cycle and survive.

Swift tiger beetles are generalist predators that serve Oklahoma’s prairies by assisting in regulating the populations of pest insects. Their presence in a habitat helps researchers understand the health of the Great Plains in Oklahoma, and their absence can indicate negative environmental changes.