Erika Machtinger

Every year, tick-borne diseases spread further, threatening families nationwide. With critical funding for research & prevention at risk, we need leaders to act NOW. Urge Congress to Reauthorize the Kay Hagan Tick Act - our health depends on it! Demand action: bit.ly/4l1Ntsk

Hear from @machtingerlab.bsky.social if you should be worried about ticks.

Neanderthals likely ate fermented meat with a side of maggots New research highlights the prevalence of maggots as an easily obtained, nutrient-rich supplement of ancient hominin diets.

Today’s special: Meat with a side of maggots. 🪰

New research suggests Neanderthals may have eaten fermented, maggot-rich meat, not just for survival, but as a routine (and nutritious) part of their diet.

theconversation.com/neanderthals...

#science #anthropology

Key takeaways from our discussion:
✅ Early detection saves lives
✅ Simple prevention strategies work
✅ Climate change is expanding tick habitats
Learn more about protecting yourself and your family

Understanding and preventing tick-borne disease in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania is one of the top states in the U.S. for reported cases of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. To better understand the risks and how to stay safe, we spoke with Erika Machtinger...

I recently shared insights on the growing challenge of tick-borne diseases in our state with Penn State's Institute of Energy and the Environment. From Lyme disease to emerging threats, understanding prevention is key to keeping our communities safe.

iee.psu.edu/news/blog/un...

📢Workshop Announcement📢

We have exciting news! The VectorED Network and PSU Extension are hosting a hands-on ectoparasite workshop at the ESA August meeting in Baltimore, MD on August 10th. 🦟🔬

Learn more and register now!
entsoc.org/events/ecopa...

So excited to see one of my articles out in the wild (@ Abington Equine Hospital)! Lots of good information on fly management in this issue.

Permission to bite: White‐footed mice show no increased grooming response to tick infestation White-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) are one of the most frequently studied hosts of blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis); however, interactions between white-footed mice and ticks are not easily....

Read the paper 👉 doi.org/10.1111/jzo....

This work was from the graduate studies of Dr. Jessica Brown (now at the CT Ag Experiment Station).

Permission to Bite: Exploring White-Footed Mice and Their Surprising Tick Responses Attachment Issues: New Frontiers in Ectoparasites Research · Episode

Want to understand Lyme disease and host-parasite interactions better? We learned more about how white-footed mice (key Lyme disease reservoirs) respond to ticks. The results might surprise you! #PublicHealth #TickBorne #Research
Listen to the podcast 👉: spti.fi/mORwnw1

VECTOR Library launches to strengthen response to vector-borne disease threats | Penn State University As the United States observes Lyme Disease Awareness Month in May, public health and extension professionals across the country have a powerful new tool at their fingertips: the VECTOR Library, a cent...

A searchable database with over 1,200 educational materials from Land Grant Extension services focused on science-based education on vectors and vector-borne diseases.

Read more about it here ⬇️
www.psu.edu/news/agricul...

And visit the website yourself and look around! ⬇️
www.vector-education.org

Want more information on how to prevent tick bites? Want to watch a video? Or read a fact sheet? Want horse-specific information? Or something about dogs? You can find it all in the new Vector Education, Communication, and Training Online Resource (VECTOR) Library!

The 2025 field season is off to a great start! Our VectorED TEC interns are learning deer handling, out in the field mouse trapping, and conducting tick surveillance. They are also learning some vet skills, including skin biopsies and sutures and blood draws. A lot to get through in just two weeks!

Wrapped up year 3 collaborating with BFREE in Belize looking at tick diversity. Another amazing trip and 🤞 for upcoming proposals so we can continue!

www.bfreebz.org

Tapir!

Another amazing day in Belize. Anyone want to guess the animal these ticks are on?

Another amazing trip to Belize. Can anyone guess what animal these ticks are on?

First morning back in the jungle @ Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education - Full day of tick dragging and grant planning ahead!

Background: Tick tubes are small cardboard tubes filled with permethrin-treated cotton or other nesting material designed to target ticks at their primary hosts—rodents, particularly white-footed mice.

If you were to place tick tubes around your home, or in public lands that you manage, would you be more likely to stake these down or not? We are trying to answer this very simple question to develop a protocol for evaluation of these tubes at tick control, so I'd LOVE your responses!

Response requested!! I'm asking those of you that have homes, farms, or manage property (public or private) to answer one question regarding Tick Control Tubes!
pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Missed this one, but interested in taking this workshop? Keep checking back to see where our next one will be held!

www.vectorednetwork.org/workshops

From Bites to Insights workshop has started! Gearing up for a full day for vector and ectoparasite education and training.

A VectorED Network and Penn State Extension collaboration with the MUVE section and Eastern Branch of Entomological Society of America

Tick Summit 14 in the books! Great job Gabby & Mia putting together your posters! Thanks to the organizers at the MD Department of Health and others for yet another awesome event and networking opportunity.

Open Position: Assistant/Associate Professor of Public Health Entomology

Come work with me!
Public Health Entomologist (assistant/associate level)

ento.psu.edu/news/open-po...

Open Position: Assistant/Associate Professor of Public Health Entomology

Come work with me!
Public Health Entomologist (assistant/associate level)

ento.psu.edu/news/open-po...

Erika Machtinger Assistant Professor of EntomologyExtension Educator for the Poultry and Equine TeamsExtension Educator for the Vector-borne Disease Team

Interested but not going to the meeting? Shoot me an email and I can give you a registration code for just the workshop!

extension.psu.edu/erika-machti...

📢Workshop Announcement📢

The VectorED Network and PSU Extension are hosting a hands-on ectoparasite workshop at the ESA Eastern Branch Meeting in Harrisburg, PA on March 15th.
www.entsoc.org/membership/b...

Action Intent Links | Bluesky Authors, websites, and apps can use action intent links to implement "Share on Bluesky" buttons, or similar in-app actions. Logged-in users will be directed to the corresponding action view in the Blu...

We strongly suggest that academic publishers and other platforms that host research rapidly implement a Share to Bluesky button for their articles. Here's how:

docs.bsky.app/docs/advance...

#AcademicSky #HigherEd #Altmetrics

I am continuously in awe of students in my lab and former lab members. Congrats to Karen Poh on the ECP Reseach Award and Paige Alexander and Valeria Lee on their student awards at #EntSoc24

Starter packs BIOLOGY Ecology Macroecology https://go.bsky.app/GBn9pNZ Global ecology https://go.bsky.app/V6tN4cv Trait based ecology and evolution https://go.bsky.app/PThMXeX Invasion biology https://go.b...

hey everyone! i made a list of some useful starter packs (primarily biology/earth sciences with a few bonus things thrown in) to share with friends who have joined bsky in the last week and thought it may be useful for some people here too! 🌍🧪 #SciSky #BioSky docs.google.com/document/d/1...