Jerry Cook Associate Professor Ph.D., Texas A&M University Office: LDB 103B (LDB 143) Phone: (936) 294-3620 Fax: (936) 294-3940 Website: http://www.shsu.edu/~bio_jlc E-mail: jcook@shsu.edu

Research Interest

I have several areas of research interest within the discipline of Entomology. My research can generally be put into the context of diversity. I am conducting survey and inventories of the Texas Big Thicket region. I study ants, and I am currently using them in the context of terrestrial indicator species. My lab has projects in Forensic Entomology, and I also conduct research on the taxonomy and systematics of Strepsiptera.

Current Projects

My current funded research includes survey and inventory of aquatic insects in the Texas Big Thicket; management of a rare ant species; biological control of fire ants using phorid flies; and monitoring forest health using ants as an indicator species. These projects are funded by NSF, Texas National Guard, and the National Forest Service, respectively. I am also conducting research on Strepsiptera in collaboration with the California Academy of Sciences' survey of Madagascar and the University of Kentucky's survey of Colombia.

Recent Selected Publications

Cook, J. L. 2006 Review of the genus Mengenilla Hofender 1910 (Strepsiptera: Mengenillidae), with description of a new species from Madagascar. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, (In Press)

Derr, D. P. and J. L. Cook. 2005. Morphology of the antenna of Caenocholax fenyesi Pierce (Strepsiptera: Myrmecolacidae) based on scanning electron microscopy. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 107(4): 762-769.

Reeves, W. K. and J. L. Cook. 2005. First record of Triozocera vernalis Kifune and Brailovsky (Strepsiptera:Corioxenidae) from the United States, with additional records for Strepsiptera in South Carolina. Entomological News, 116(3): 191-192.

Cook, J. L., L. A. Calcaterra, and L. Nunez. 2004. First record of Caenocholax fenyesi (Strepsiptera: Myrmecolacidae) parasitizing Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Argentina with a discussion on its distribution and host range. Entomological News, 115(2): 61-66.