Entomology

Professor Emeritus

Contact

Email: dsmessersmith@comcast.net

Office Phone: 301-405-3924

Fax: 301-890-1952

Office Address: Entomology Department * Plant Sciences Building * University of Maryland * College Park, MD 20742

Teaching

Although I taught many courses before retirement, these are the courses I currently teach:

U.S.D. A. Agric. Graduate School (1965-present):: Introduction to Ornithology; Bird Life; Insect Life

Research Interests

Investigations in Culicoides (Biting gnats) as potential disease vectors in poultry and humans. Studies on the biology and taxonomy of Culicoides of Virginia. Mass rearing techniques for Culicoides. (These investigations on Culicoides were supported by the National Institutes of Health under an $11,000 per year grant). Slide-making for the U.S. National Museum. (This was a cooperative agreement between Radford College and the U.S. Department of Agriculture at $2,000 per year). Preservation of Wood. (Director of this National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Program for $1,820; 1963-64). General collecting of insects in many parts of the world for donation to the Smithsonian Institution collections.

Studies on the bionomics of Culicoides in Maryland.
Studies on the bionomics and taxonomy of Forcipomyia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in North America. (U.S.D.A. Cooperative Agreement).
Research on blackbird depredations: testing of chemosterilants to reduce red-winged blackbirds; testing of scare devices of both audio and visual types; damage estimation in the field (U.S.D.A. Regional Project). Chairman of Technical Committee and author of Regional Research Proposal, 1968. Summer roost selection ecology and management. This is also a Regional Project.
Identification of a collection of Iceland and Greenland insects and the assembling of a bibliography of the insects of these countries. (General Research Board Grant).
Bionomics of Blackflies (Simuliidae). A Regional Project.
Survey of Avifauna of University of Maryland, College Park Campus. 1973-1999.
Mosquito Survey of Columbia, Md. for Urban Wildlife Research Center. 1978.
A Survey of the Culicoides of Belize, Central America. 1981.
Earthwatch Expedition to Study Bird Migration in Northeast
China - 1984
Insects of Stored Cocoa Beans. 1985.
Control of Midge and Bird Damage on Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, Washington, DC. 1988-1993.
Study of Black-necked cranes on wintering grounds in Southwest China - 1995
Earthwatch Expedition to Study Rare Marsupials in Victoria, Australia. 2000.

Other Professional Interests and Activities:

International, National, State, and Regional Activities:

International

International Congress of Ornithology - Ithaca, NY, 1962

International Congress of Ornithology - Oxford, England, 1966

International Congress of Ornithology - Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1970

International Congress of Zoology - Washington, D.C., 1963

International Congress of Entomology - London, England, 1964

International Congress of Entomology - Canberra, Australia, 1972

International Congress of Entomology - Washington, D.C., 1976

International Winged Bean Conference - Sri Lanka, 1981

International Crane Workshop - China, 1987

Have lectured in China, Sri Lanka, Guernsey, Canada, India, Cyprus, Egypt

National: Entomological Society of America (7 years); American Ornithologists' Union (1year); American Institute of Biological Sciences (2 years); American Association of University Professors (1 year); American Association for the Advancement of Science (1 year); Wildlife Society (1 year); Alliance for Environmental Education (1 year); North American Association of Environmental Education (1 year); National Association of Interpreters (3 years)

Regional: Eastern Branch, Entomological Society of America (10 years); The Control of Bird Depredation (9 years); Roost Management of Blackbirds (3 years); Black Fly Damage, Biology and Control (2 years); Association of Interpretive Naturalists (2 years)

State: Maryland Ornithological Society (14 years); Virginia Society of Ornithology (13 years)

Miscellaneous Activities

Travel in 50 states including Alaska and Hawaii, 8 Canadian provinces, 117 foreign countries, 24 trips to Europe, 17 Asia, 10 to S. America, 10 to Central America, 4 to Africa, 6 to Australia, 1 to Antarctica, and leader of American Youth Hostel groups and Crowder Nature tour groups. Co-founder and President of the World Nature Association, an international conservation organization 200 + members in 6 countries. Founder and President of World Nature Tours, Inc. We organized and I often led birding and general nature tours to all parts of the world. Five to twenty tours were organized each year. We pioneered nature trips to Bhutan, Micronesia, Cuba, China, Hungary. Sent to India and Sri Lanka, Summer, 1975, to collect insects for the U.S. National Museum. Organized and led an Earthwatch Expedition to Belize to collect insects for the U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Summer, 1981 and to China, May, 1984 to study bird migration in northeast China. Surveyed birding tour possibilities in People's Republic of China, July, 1982. On expedition to discover wintering grounds of cranes in China, January, 1985. Elderhostel Leader, 1989-1993.

Recent Publications

Messersmith, D.H. 2008. A History of Birding in Prince George's County, Maryland
Messersmith, D. H. 2001. Montgomery County, MOS, Chapter in Montgomery County, Site Guide.
Messersmith, D. H. 2001. A Memory Book of the Potomac Area Council, American Youth Hostels, 50 years, 1943-1993. Published by Hosteling International Potomac Area Council. 104 pgs.
Messersmith, D. H. 2001. Montgomery County, MOS, Chapter in Montgomery County, Site Guide.

Awards

Agricultural Alumni Excellence in Teaching Award, 1973.
Distinguished Teaching Award of Entomological Society of America, 1976.
Fellow, The Explorer's Club, 1978.
Nominated for the Student Award for Outstanding Teaching, 1979.
Sigma Xi (Science)
Phi Sigma (Biological Research)
Beta Beta Beta (Biology)
Chi Beta Phi (Science)
Phi Alpha Theta (History)
ARX (Men's Honorary, University of Toledo)
Who's Who Among Students,1951
Who's Who in the Southeast, 1969.
Scientific Advisor to Heilongjiang (China) Academy of Sciences, 1988
Professor Emeritus, 1990
Toledo DeVilbiss High School "Hall of Fame" 2001
Audubon Naturalist Society: "The Paul Bartsch Award for Distinguished Contributions to Natural History" 2002
Master Educator, Maryland Ornithological Society, 2005
Faculty Excellence Award, USDA Graduate School, 2006
"Birding Treasure," Montgomery County Bird Club, 2008

Education

B. Ed., University of Toledo, 1951, Major: Biology, Education
M. S., University of Michigan, 1953, Biology
Ph. D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 1962, Entomology