Professor of Entomology
Urban Entomology, Social Insect Biology, Molecular Ecology
3312 Gardner Hall
Department of Entomology
Campus Box 7613, 100 Derieux Place
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7613 Visit the Vargo Lab
Ph.D., University of Georgia (1986)
We use molecular ecological approaches to address basic and applied questions concerning population biology and breeding systems in urban insect pests. We use primarily microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA markers to study several important structural pests, including subterranean and drywood termites, ants, cockroaches and bed bugs. Specific projects include:
- Development of microsatellite markers for use in molecular ecology studies
- Colony breeding structure, parentage, inbreeding and life history of subterranean termites
- Population genetics and phylogeography of subterranean termites
- Colony densities and foraging dynamics of subterranean termites
- Effects of field applications of baits and liquid termiticides on subterranean termite colonies
- Invasion biology of termites, primarily Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes flavipes
- Colony and population genetic structure of invasive ants
- Population genetics of German cockroaches in urban and agricultural environments
- Phylogeographic and population genetic analysis of the common bed bug
ENT 032 Urban Entomology (Fall Semester), Academic Adviser for AGI students in the Pest Management Technology program
ENT 591C/791C Techniques in Molecular Ecology and Evolution (Spring Semester, odd numbered years), co-taught with Fred Gould and Brian Wiegmann
ENT 601/801 Molecular Ecology Seminar