Erika Machtinger

Assistant Professor of Entomology

Erika Machtinger

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

Publication Tags

Muscidae Diptera Musca Domestica Horses Parasitoids Hymenoptera Stomoxys Calcitrans Oviposition Biological Control Livestock Animals Pteromalidae Parasitoid Pests Poultry Monitoring Wildlife Pathogens Houseflies Methodology Spalangia Cameroni Biological Control Agents Parasitism Deer Ticks

Most Recent Publications

Tissue-damaging marking methods do not affect tick burdens on field captured Peromyscus spp.

Chloe E. Roberts, Edwin R. Burgess, Taylor M. Miller, Anna Marie Wise, Cera J. Dickerson, Michael J. Skvarla, Andrew Y. Li, Erika T. Machtinger, 2022, Wildlife Society Bulletin

Filth Fly Parasitoid (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) Monitoring Techniques and Species Composition in Poultry Layer Facilities

Alexandra A. Pagac, Christopher J. Geden, Edwin R. Burgess, Montana R. Riggs, Erika T. Machtinger, 2022, Journal of Medical Entomology on p. 2006-2012

Human Tick Removal Kit

Erika Machtinger, 2022,

Evaluation of tick control tube month of placement and modifications to increase visitation by small mammals

Kylie D. Green, Hannah S. Tiffin, Jessica E. Brown, Edwin R. Burgess, Erika T. Machtinger, 2022, Ecosphere

Tick and Mosquito Repellent Guide and Card

Erika Machtinger, 2022,

Human Tick ID Card

Erika Machtinger, 2022,

Protecting Horses from Horse and Deer Fly Bites

Erika Machtinger, 2022,

High Prevalence of Antibodies against Canine Parvovirus and Canine Distemper Virus among Coyotes and Foxes from Pennsylvania: Implications for the Intersection of Companion Animals and Wildlife

Caellaigh N. Kimpston, Amanda L. Hatke, Benjamin Castelli, Nathan Otto, Hannah S. Tiffin, Erika T. Machtinger, Justin D. Brown, Kyle R. van Why, Richard T. Marconi, 2022, Microbiology spectrum

A Call for the Development of a Sustainable Pest Management Program for the Economically Important Pest Flies of Livestock: A Beef Cattle Perspective

K. V. Smith, K. L. Delong, C. N. Boyer, J. M. Thompson, S. M. Lenhart, W. C. Strickland, E. R. Burgess, Y. Tian, J. Talley, E. T. Machtinger, R. T. Trout Fryxell, 2022, Journal of Integrated Pest Management

Pests and Parasites of Horses

Erika Machtinger, Emma Weeks, Christopher Geden, Erika Lacher, 2022, on p. 396

Most-Cited Papers

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

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

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

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

Comparison of Host-Seeking behavior of the Filth Fly Pupal Parasitoids, Spalangia cameroni and Muscidifurax raptor (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

E. T. Machtinger, C. J. Geden, P. E. Teal, N. C. Leppla, 2015, Environmental Entomology on p. 330-337

House and Stable Fly Seasonal Abundance, Larval Development Substrates, and Natural Parasitism on Small Equine Farms in Florida

E. T. Machtinger, N. C. Leppla, J. A. Hogsette, 2016, Neotropical Entomology on p. 433-440

Development and oviposition preference of house flies and stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae) in six substrates from Florida equine facilities

E. T. Machtinger, C. J. Geden, J. A. Hogsette, N. C. Leppla, 2014, Journal of Medical Entomology on p. 1144-1150

Biological control with parasitoids

Erika T. Machtinger, Christopher J. Geden, 2018, on p. 299-336

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

News Articles Featuring Erika Machtinger

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