Erika Machtinger
Associate Professor of Entomology
-
004A Chemical Ecology Lab
University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 - She/Her
- etm10@psu.edu
- 814 865-9162
Research Summary
Veterinary entomology, including vector-borne diseases. Focus is on ecology and behavior associated with host-parasite interactions to improve or develop new control methods.
Huck Graduate Students
Huck Affiliations
Links
Most Recent Publications
Infestation by Sarcoptes scabiei causes distinct differences in sarcoptic mange disease syndromes among sympatric carnivoran species
Hannah S. Tiffin, Justin David Brown, Kathleen Kelly, Kyle R. Van Why, Mark Ternent, Andrew C. Camire, Edward J.A. Schuler, Richard T. Marconi, Erika T. Machtinger, 2025, International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
PREVALENCE OF DIROFILARIA MICROFILARIA IN AMERICAN BLACK BEARS (URSUS AMERICANUS) IN PENNSYLVANIA, 2018-2020
Alia Mazzatosta, Christopher A. Cleveland, Michael J. Yabsley, Ellen Haynes, Hannah S. Tiffin, Erika T. Machtinger, Joshua B. Johnson, Mark Ternent, Emily Carrollo, Justin David Brown, 2025, Journal of Parasitology on p. 172-177
A scoping review of applied tick control research in North America: funding, implementation, and advancement
Áine Lehane, Emily M. Mader, Joseph D. Poggi, Kaci D. McCoy, Jeff Gruntmeir, Caroline T. Weldon, Erika Machtinger, 2025, Journal of Medical Entomology on p. 236-276
Highlights of veterinary entomology, 2023: beyond the barnyard: exploring the wild side of veterinary entomology
Erika T. Machtinger, 2025, Journal of Medical Entomology on p. 1-7
Maximizing and sustaining the efficacy of tick tubes for management of Ixodes scapularis through optimized deployment strategies
Hannah S. Tiffin, Kylie D. Green, Edwin R. Burgess, Erika T. Machtinger, 2024, Journal of Medical Entomology on p. 1459-1469
Commercial products are not effective at repelling European deer keds, Lipoptena cervi (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) but may increase mortality after exposure
Michael J. Skvarla, Karen Poh, Calvin Norman, Erika T. Machtinger, 2024, Journal of Medical Entomology on p. 1435-1442
Frequencies of house fly proto-Y chromosomes across populations are predicted by temperature heterogeneity within populations
Patrick Foy, Sara Loetzerich, David Boxler, Edwin Burgess, R Trout Fryxell, Alec Gerry, Nancy Hinkle, Erika Machtinger, Cassandra Olds, Aaron Tarone, Wes Watson, Jeffrey Scott, Richard Meisel, 2024, Journal of Heredity
Comparative susceptibility of adult house fly (Diptera: Muscidae) and an important predator, Carcinops pumilio (Coleoptera: Histeridae), to Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae)
Christopher Geden, Roxie White, Alexandra Pagac, Erika T. MacHtinger, 2024, Journal of Medical Entomology on p. 1009-1015
Aggressive interactions among white-Tailed deer (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) at 4-poster devices for host-Targeted tick control
Ningzhu Bai, Risa Pesapane, Erika T. Machtinger, Andrew Li, 2024, Journal of Medical Entomology on p. 975-983
An integrative framework for tick management: the need to connect wildlife science, One Health, and interdisciplinary perspectives
Erika T. Machtinger, Karen C. Poh, Risa Pesapane, Danielle M. Tufts, 2024, Current Opinion in Insect Science
Most-Cited Papers
House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae): Biology, Pest Status, Current Management Prospects, and Research Needs
C. J. Geden, D. Nayduch, J. G. Scott, E. R. Burgess, A. C. Gerry, P. E. Kaufman, J. Thomson, V. Pickens, E. T. Machtinger, 2021, Journal of Integrated Pest Management on p. 39
Deer keds (Diptera: Hippoboscidae: Lipoptena and Neolipoptena) in the United States and Canada: New state and county records, pathogen records, and an illustrated key to species
Michael J. Skvarla, Erika T. Machtinger, 2019, Journal of Medical Entomology on p. 744-760
Use of pupal parasitoids as biological control agents of filth flies on equine facilities
Erika T. Machtinger, Christopher J. Geden, Phillip E. Kaufman, Amanda M. House, 2015, Journal of Integrated Pest Management
Effects of four commercial fungal formulations on mortality and sporulation in house flies (Musca domestica) and stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans)
E. N.I. Weeks, E. T. Machtinger, S. A. Gezan, P. E. Kaufman, C. J. Geden, 2017, Medical and Veterinary Entomology on p. 15--22
Tick Control in a Connected World: Challenges, Solutions, and Public Policy from a United States Border Perspective
Hannah Tiffin, Edwin George Rajotte, Joyce Megumi Sakamoto, Erika Machtinger, 2022, Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease on p. 388
Practical guide to trapping Peromyscus leucopus (Rodentia: Cricetidae) and Peromyscus maniculatus for vector and vector-borne pathogen surveillance and ecology
Erika T. Machtinger, Scott C. Williams, 2020, Journal of Insect Science
Toxicity of fluralaner, a companion animal insecticide, relative to industry-leading agricultural insecticides against resistant and susceptible strains of filth flies
Edwin R. Burgess, Christopher J. Geden, Kimberly H. Lohmeyer, B. H. King, Erika T. Machtinger, Jeffrey G. Scott, 2020, Scientific Reports
Oviposition deterrence and immature survival of filth flies (Diptera: Muscidae) when exposed to commercial fungal products
E. T. Machtinger, E. N.I. Weeks, C. J. Geden, 2016, Journal of Insect Science
Linear dispersal of the filth fly parasitoid Spalangia cameroni (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and parasitism of hosts at increasing distances
Erika T. Machtinger, Christopher J. Geden, Norman C. Leppla, 2015, PLoS One
Filth Fly Impacts to Animal Production in the United States and Associated Research and Extension Needs
Erika T. Machtinger, Alec C. Gerry, Amy C. Murillo, Justin L. Talley, 2021, Journal of Integrated Pest Management
News Articles Featuring Erika Machtinger
Mar 31, 2025
Machtinger harnesses the power of collaboration to solve complex problems
Erika Machtinger is a veterinary entomologist whose work impacts wildlife, agriculture, industry, and public health across the U.S. Her efforts hinge upon the unique, interdisciplinary ecosystem of researchers and resources at Penn State.
Full Article
Nov 25, 2024
Tick tubes help reduce the parasites on mice, but time and frequency matters
A new study led by researchers at Penn State analyzed the effectiveness of a simple, inexpensive strategy for controlling ticks that homeowners can use in their backyards.
Full Article
Sep 06, 2024
Do flies vomit on our food and make us sick?
Not only do flies vomit on food, but that vomit may also contain pathogens they picked up from an earlier meal
Full Article
Feb 28, 2024
Three Ecology students receive Ag Sci awards
A trio of graduate researchers from the Huck's Ecology program were recently honored by the College of Agricultural Sciences.
Full Article
Oct 16, 2023
Grants awarded to Penn State faculty for tropical ecosystems research in Belize
Three projects have been awarded seed grants as part of the Penn State-Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education Research and Education Initiative to develop agroforestry systems .
Full Article
Jun 12, 2023
Penn State announces tenure-line faculty promotions, effective July 1, 2023
The following is a list of academic promotions for tenured and tenure-line faculty members at Penn State, effective July 1, 2023.
Full Article
Jun 01, 2023
‘Vector Biology Boot Camp’ empowers disease professionals
Penn State Extension, in partnership with the Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, recently hosted the three-day “Vector Biology Boot Camp” to provide hands-on experience for vector-borne disease professionals in field collection and identification of medically important ticks and mosquitoes in the Northeast.
Full Article
May 02, 2023
The bite stops here: Fighting Lyme disease with prevention
As spring temperatures rise, many people will spend more time on outdoor activities, increasing their risk of encountering pathogen-carrying ticks.
Full Article
Oct 26, 2022
'Prescribed' Fires' Hidden Bonus: Fewer Ticks
A tool used to restore forest ecosystems could also be key to the battle against tick-borne disease, researchers say.
Full Article
Oct 21, 2022
Prescribed fire could reduce tick populations and pathogen transmission
Prescribed fire — a tool increasingly used by forest managers and landowners to combat invasive species, improve wildlife habitat and restore ecosystem health — also could play a role in reducing the abundance of ticks and the transmission of disease pathogens they carry, according to a team of scientists.
Full Article
Jun 18, 2022
8 best insect repellents: DEET and DEET-free bug sprays
One preventative and protective measure you can take to avoid bug bites is applying insect repellent. Figuring out which ones are actually effective can be confusing, though, seeing as the labels are often covered with complicated ingredients and jargon like “DEET” and “all-natural.”
Full Article
Apr 29, 2022
It's tick season: Learn to protect yourself and your animals with free webinars
To educate the public about tick risk and tick bite prevention in these companion animals, Penn State Extension will offer the spring 2022 “Tick Webinar Series.” The vector-borne disease extension team will hold three webinars in May — Lyme Disease Awareness Month — at no cost to participants.
Full Article
Aug 08, 2020
Ticks and mosquitoes may await the pandemic-weary seeking outdoor exercise
Pandemic-weary Americans have begun walking and hiking in recent months to get out of the house while avoiding infection with the novel coronavirus. At the same time, resource-strapped local health departments have been forced to divert money and people to covid-related activities, unwillingly creating openings for outside exercisers to get sick in other ways.
Full Article
Aug 05, 2020
Ticks - biology, threats, protections - are focus of 10-week Penn State webinar series
Ticks, Lyme disease, other tick-borne diseases and Pennsylvania’s No. 1 position in all of that will be explained in detail in a free, 10-part webinar series from Penn State Extension that begins Thursday, July 9, with weekly installments scheduled through September 17.
Full Article
Jul 07, 2020
Ticks - biology, threats, protections - are focus of 10-week Penn State webinar series
Ticks, Lyme disease, other tick-borne diseases and Pennsylvania’s No. 1 position in all of that will be explained in detail in a free, 10-part webinar series from Penn State Extension that begins Thursday, July 9, with weekly installments scheduled through September 17.
Full Article
Jun 02, 2019
Parasitic Deer Fly Now Spreading Across US Says Study
Entomologists from Pennsylvania State University found that deer flies, which sometimes bite humans, are more prevalent in the United States than originally thought.
Full Article
May 30, 2019
New records show spread of parasitic deer flies across the US
With flattened bodies, grabbing forelegs and deciduous wings, deer keds do not look like your typical fly. These parasites of deer — which occasionally bite humans — are more widely distributed across the U.S. than previously thought.
Full Article
May 25, 2019
Pa. Lyme disease cases appear to hit plateau, but that shouldn’t change your outdoors routine
There’s good news about Lyme disease, Pennsylvanians. After a couple of years of leading the nation in “confirmed and probable” cases of the tick-borne disease, the experts expect the number of cases to level off.
Full Article
May 07, 2019
Institutes of Energy and the Environment announces seed grant recipients
Several Huck researchers are among the recipients of 2018-19 IEE seed grants.
Full Article
Dec 13, 2018
Asian tick that clones itself could spread fast and far in the US, study says
The Asian longhorned tick most likely began invading the United States years ago. Now found in nine states, the tick may soon occupy a large swath of eastern North America as well as coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest, according to research published Thursday in the Journal of Medical Entomology.
Full Article
Aug 01, 2018
What you need to know about the new invasive tick species found in Centre County
State health and agriculture officials are urging the public to be vigilant in checking humans and animals for ticks after a new invasive species was found in Centre County.
Full Article