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About Ed Saugstad
Expertise
Will accept most questions in general entomology, including those related to medical entomology, taxonomy, ecology, arthropod surveillance, and pest management.
If you are requesting a 'mystery bug' identification, PLEASE either attach an image to your question, or post an image on a web page (such as Flickr) so that I can look at it, as verbal descriptions frequently are insufficient for a definitive identification.
Experience
21 years in the U.S. Army as a medical entomologist; duties varied from surveillance of pest populations (including mosquitoes, cockroaches, ticks, and stored products pests) to conducting research on mosquito-virus ecological relationships and mosquito faunal studies. Ten years as a civilian analyst for the Department of Defense, primarily on distribution of vector-borne diseases worldwide. Limited experience on surveillance of agricultural insects in North Dakota and Indiana.
Organizations
Entomological Society of America, West Virginia Entomological Society, Society for Vector Ecology, National Speleological Society, West Virginia Association for Cave Studies.
Publications
American Journal of Public Health, Contributions of the American Entomological Institute, Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology, Journal of Economic Entomology, Mosquito News, and Mosquito Systematics.
Education/Credentials
B.S. in entomology from North Dakota State University in 1963, M.S. in entomology from Purdue University in 1967.
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You are here: Experts > Science > Insects/Spiders > Entomology (Study of Bugs) > brick repointing?
Expert: Ed Saugstad - 11/2/2009
Question
QUESTION: We are experiencing bites,have had 2 exterminators here and no one
can find anything.We recently had to discard all our plants that were dying and our building had extensive brick repointing.It was
1 week after the work outside our windows was finished that we
noticed ankle bites.I discovered small 'dots' no bigger than the
period at the send of this sentence.I have placed some in alcohol and some on tape and would like to send them somewhere for identi-
fication.Can you advise us?
ANSWER: Dear Jere - As you may already realize, identifying the cause of 'mystery bites' is extremely difficult without actually catching/seeing the culprit(s) in the act of biting; it may well be that what you have found could be coincidental rather than causal in nature. That aside, the best place you could send/submit specimens for identification would be your county office of your state's Cooperative Extension service. These offices usually are included under county government listings in your phone book, but if you have trouble finding it, please get back to me with your state of residence, and I should be able to assist you.
Hope this helps,
Saugy
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: We live in Massachusetts.A contack phone and/or address would be great!
thanks,
jere m obrien
Answer
Dear Jere - If you go to the University of Massachusetts' Cooperative Extension web page at http://tinyurl.com/c63ox9, you will see a state map where you click on the area of the state where you live. This will bring up a listing of all extension service offices in that area, including street addresses and phone numbers. If no one at your local office can assist in identifying your critters, they should be able to forward them to the appropriate university office. Also, if your bite symptoms persist, you may consider having a medical evaluation done, as there are other causes of skin lesions/irritations that easily can be mistaken for bug bites.
Hope this helps,
Saugy
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