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Entomologist takes love of insects on the road

“Insects and other arthropods like spiders, centipedes and crustaceans are unsung heroes and villains of ecosystems." — Austin Jones

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

Aug. 23, 2024

Fast Facts:

  • Jones credits professor with instilling love for entomology
  • To schedule a visit, contact Jones at akj003@uark.edu

(677 words)
(Newsrooms: with art)

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Austin Jones wants the world to know that there’s so much more to insects and arthropods than creatures that sting or ruin your picnics, and he’s taking that message on the road.

Jones is an instructor based in Fayetteville. He also serves as the director of undergraduate education and the outreach coordinator for all things entomological. He has one foot in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, and another in the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Cooperative Extension Service.

Thank you Update
Young insect enthusiasts pose in front of the trailer that is becoming the Ento Roadshow, a mobile entomology classroom. (Image courtesy Austin Jones)

For the past few months, he’s been raising money to complete his Ento-Roadshow, a mobile entomology STEAM classroom. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Schools and youth organizations that would like to schedule a visit can contact Jones at akj003@uark.edu.

Unsung heroes

“Insects and other arthropods like spiders, centipedes and crustaceans are unsung heroes and villains of ecosystems that rarely get noticed by most folks unless they are biting, stinging, eating their food, or just plain annoying them,” Jones said. “But not only are most bugs beneficial to society, but they are also the most diverse and easily accessed animals for study and collection by the average person.”

Putting their collective magnitude in perspective, Jones said two out of every three known living things on earth are insects.

“They are everywhere and doing everything imaginable from flying across continents and oceans to liquifying their own bodies to metamorphosize,” he said. “They are extremely economically important as pests, pollinators, decomposers, producers of products like honey and silk, sources of nutrition for wildlife, livestock and people, and even as entertainment.

“You wouldn't believe the number of songs, TV shows, movies, artworks and legends that involve bugs!” he said.

Catching the bug

Growing up in eastern Benton County, Jones always had an interested in insects. However, he didn’t really catch the entomology bug until his senior year at the University of Arkansas.

“My love of entomology was sparked by the great Dr. Max Meisch,” Jones said. “I took his class senior year of my bachelor's degree and not only was he a great teacher, but also had great content to work with.

“I took the class because I thought I knew bugs pretty well and that it would be a breeze, but when I got a net in my hand for making the required insect collection, I quickly realized that I didn't know much,” Jones said. “ Every day I went out with that net I saw insects I had never seen before even though they had been around me my entire life.

“Entomology really makes you appreciate subtlety,” he said. “The experiences gained in Dr. Meisch's class are what drew me back for a master's degree in entomology.”

Jones went on to earn a Ph.D. in entomology.  

Sharing the passion

“It was always a dream of mine to have a mobile outreach vehicle that could easily deploy for community events,” Jones said.

That dream has coalesced around a 16-foot cargo trailer that was custom-ordered to accommodate pass-through viewing of displays and to be accessible by those using mobility devices. It took nearly a year to get it.

“Once in-house, I began outfitting the interior with shelving for pinned insect displays, non-slip flooring, equipment storage, media screens, an awning, tables and chairs, and an onboard power bank,” Jones said. “Design and buildout of the interior was something I took on personally and completed in a little more than a year of nights and weekends.” 

Jones said he is eager to take his knowledge and specimens housed in Fayetteville “and get them out to the rest of Arkansas,” with particular emphasis on rural locations. So far, I have made it to nine stops in three counties and have goals once the exterior is completed to visit all 75 counties of Arkansas. 

“That was of special interest to me having been a rural home-schooled kid here in the Natural State,” he said. “It has been so amazing to see it come alive and to now have it on the road.”

To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.

 About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices.

Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 25 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. 

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Media contact: Mary Hightower
mhightower@uada.edu

 

 

 

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