Contact Information

Entomology & Plant Pathology
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS 39762-9775

TEL: (662) 325-2085
FAX: (662) 325-8837

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John J. Riggins, Ph. D.

Assistant Professor of Forest Entomology

Contact Information

Mailing Address:
Box 9775
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS 39762-9775

Office: (662)-325-2984
Fax: (662)-325-8837
Email: jriggins@entomology.msstate.edu Lab Web Page: http://forestentomology.org.msstate.edu/index.html

Education

B.S. Biology, University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2002.
M.S. Biology, University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2004.
Ph.D Entomology (Forest Entomology and Remote Sensing), University of Arkansas, 2008.

Research

 My research goals are summarized by the following broad objectives:
  1. broaden applied scientific knowledge regarding the best integrated pest management of native (e.g. southern pine bark beetle guild) and introduced forest insect pests (e.g. emerald ash borer, redbay ambrosia beetle, Eurasian woodwasp);
  2. expand basic scientific knowledge about the biology, behavior, ecological roles, and biodiversity of non-pest forest insects;
  3. study the "disturbance ecology" of forest insects (both pests and non-pests) in response to various anthropogenic and environmental disturbances (e.g. climatic disturbances, habitat restoration, pollution, etc);
  4. develop and utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing techniques to enhance detection, monitoring, prediction, and ecological modeling of the forest insect systems.

See my lab webpage for a list of ongoing research projects!

Teaching

  • EPP 3124 Forest Pest Management:
    • Study of the biology, damage, survey techniques, and control of forest diseases and insects. Emphasis on pest management in southern forests.
  • EPP 7000 Directed Individual Study in Forest Entomology:
    • Concepts of forest entomology, including insect-plant interactions, population biology, insect ecology, and new and emerging insect threats to forest health.