
Dr. Mike Stout, who for 19 years served as a rice entomologist, was named head of the Louisiana State University Department of Entomology. He replaces Jim Ottea, who served as interim head.
Stout received a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a doctorate from UC Davis. He came to the LSU AgCenter in 1997.
Over the years, his research has examined the effects of nitrogen fertilizer applied prior to permanent flood on the interaction between rice and the rice water weevil , variations of susceptibility among different rice lines to rice water weevil infestations, and the effects of rice panicle age on quantitative and qualitative injury by the rice stink bug.
Stout will continue to conduct research on plant-insect interactions and teach a course on plant resistance, according to a news release.
“We have an extremely talented faculty working on issues that have global relevance – Zika virus, termites, crop pests,” he said in the release. “My vision is to grow the department and build on the strong foundation that is already there.”
The Department of Entomology has 14 faculty members and 35 graduate students. The department also teaches undergraduates through general education courses and a minor in entomology.