The YANG Lab is looking for one PhD student (or two Master students) who are interested in the topic of insect-microbial interactions using social insects and their associated microbes as the model systems.

We are particularly interested in individuals who have prior research experiences with Wolbachia, virology, insect-microbe interactions or myrmecology.

​

Interested individuals should email Scotty with the followings attached:

1) Research experience

2) Research interests

3) CV

​

Starting date can be flexible but preferentially Fall 2021.

Scotty's email: scottyyang@vt.edu

Scotty is onboard!! He and his family have set foot on Blacksburg, Virginia since March 24, 2021. If you would like to reach out to Scotty, please use scottyyang@vt.edu

Here is some more information: 

Office: 206, 2F, Fralin Hall

Lab: 215, 2F, Fralin Hall

The manuscript entitled "Predation of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys by the Japanese acrobat ants, Crematogaster matsumurai and Crematogaster osakensis" by Matt and co-authors has just been accepted in Biological Control today. Congrats, Matt, for securing the very first ant paper!!

The paper entitled "Deformed wing virus in two widespread invasive ants: geographical distribution, prevalence and phylogeny" by Tony and co-authors has just been published online in Viruses today. Coincidentally, today is Tony's birthday - apparently the best birthday gift ever for him.

​

Here is the article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/11/1309

A huge congratulation to Arki for being awarded First Price of Oral Presentation Conpetition at the Taiwanese Entomologist Association Meeting, affiliated with the 2020 Annual Review of American Entomological Society. Good job, Arki!!

Our manuscript on deformed wing virus in invasive ants was just accepted by Viruses today. The title is "Deformed wing virus in two widespread invasive ants: geographical distribution, prevalence and phylogeny". This concludes Tony's hard work when he was with us in Kyoto as a postdoctoral researcher. Tony will be leaving for University of Florida for his next life chapter very soon.

We are excited that two manuscripts from this lab are published online on the same day.

One on Insects, and it's about the invasive litchi stink bug and its ecological and genetic profiles in an introduced area. The article link: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/10/690

​

The other on Microorganisms, and it's about a uniquely high level of Wolbachia infection in the yellow crazy ant across a wide geographical range. We also discuss Wolbachia-host coevolutionary history. The article link: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/10/1569

Second litchi stink bug paper from this lab was just accepted by Insects today. The title is "Population monitoring, egg parasitoids and genetic structure of the invasive litchi stink bug, Tessaratoma papillosa in Taiwan". The galley proof was just returned to the publisher. The first author, Yi-Hui Wu, is a former student of Scotty's at NTU. She is currently an assistant researcher at the Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Taiwan. Find her profile at https://www.mdais.gov.tw/theme_data.php?theme=staff&id=49

Congrats on Arki whose manuscript was just accepted by Microorganisms today. The title is "Ongoing coevolution of Wolbachia and a widespread invasive ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes". The galley proof is on its way.

Congrats on Arki and Max who have secured a prestigious postdoc position with University of Haifa, Israel and Academia Sinica, Taiwan, respectively. Arki is estimated to start coming Spring, whereas Max will be onboard January 2021.

Just wanted to let you know that Scotty has left Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University and will be joining Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech as a faculty member coming Spring. He will be primarily working on insect-microbial interactions using pathogens and invasive/urban ants (not limited to though) as a model system at Virginia Tech, and meanwhile will remain active in the research fields of population genetics and applied ecology of invasive/urban insect pests. During transitioning, he will be stationed at Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan as a visiting scientist.

The paper entitled "Complete genome sequences of two novel dicistroviruses detected in the yellow crazy ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes" by Arki has been published online in Archives of Virology!!

​

Here is the article link: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00705-020-04769-2

Congrats on Arki whose manuscript was just accepted by Archives of Virology today. The title is "Complete genome sequences of two novel dicistroviruses detected in the yellow crazy ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes". Looking forward to receiving the galley proof!!

Delighted to announce the book chapter entry "Tramp Ants" in "Encyclopedia of Social Insects" is published online today. The article is available via this link

​

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90306-4_128-1

​

This book by far is arguably the most comprehensive collection of literally every aspect of social insects. You certainly don't want to miss out other chapters!!

​

​

Scotty joins the editorial board of the journal "Asian Myrmecology".

​

This is an exciting journal that publishes quality research on Asian ants. The journal also considers articles with a broader geographic focus. So, check it out and submit your next article to AM!

Congrats to Max who successfully defended his PhD thesis! His thesis title is "The host-pathogen interaction and its pest management implication: Dicistroviruses and invasive ants as a model".

Good job, Max! Best wish to your JSPS postdoc fellowship!!

​

The paper entitled "Analysis of recent interception records reveals frequent transport of arboreal ants and potential predictors for ant invasion in Taiwan" by Dr. Ching-Chen Lee has been published online in Insects!!

​

Here is the article link: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/6/356

Congrats on Dr. Ching-Chen Lee whose manuscript was just accepted by Insects today. The title is "Analysis of recent interception records reveals frequent transport of arboreal ants and potential predictors for ant invasion in Taiwan". The article will be online soon!!

​

Coincidentally, today is Dr. Lee's birthday, and the acceptance of this manuscript simply is the best birthday gift ever. HBD, Dr. Lee!! Dr. Lee was a former postdoc at Scotty's NTU lab, and is currently an Assistant Researcher in the Center for Ecology and Environment, Tunghai University, Taiwan.

A book chapter entitled "Tramp Ants" in "Encyclopedia of Social Insects" authored by Scotty and DeWayne is almost ready to publish, as Scotty has just submitted the corrected proof to the publisher. Also don't miss out other chapter contributions by amazing social insect people!!

​

"Encyclopedi of Social Insects" https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030281014

Check this book out!! A piratical, solid, yet fun-to-read guide to biology and ecology of non-native ants. Scotty contributes a chapter (yellow crazy ant) to this book, with translation assistance by mighty Dr. Hashimoto.

"外来アリのはなし" http://www.asakura.co.jp/books/isbn/978-4-254-17172-3/

Sue's paper entitled "Evidence for common horizontal transmission of Wolbachia among ants and ant crickets: kleptoparasitism added to the list" is now published online! Check it out via the link: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/6/805

Congrats on Sue, our former PhD student, whose manuscript was accepted by Microorganisms. The title is "Evidence for common horizontal transmission of Wolbachia among ants and ant crickets: kleptoparasitism added to the list". Should be online very soon!!

Brian's paper entitled "Ant crickets (Orthoptera: Myrmecophilidae) associated with the invasive yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): evidence for cryptic species and potential co-introduction with hosts" is published today. Don't miss out the blog article for more fun facts on these tiny crickets and Brian himself. Here is the article link: https://myrmecologicalnews.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=1562&Itemid=435

Scotty is appointed as an Associate Editor of Journal of Economic Entomology, a prestigious journal belonging to the Entomological Society of America publication group. JEE is also the most-cited entomological journal as it covers a broad spectrum of applied research on insects and arthropods of economic significance. 

Congrats on Brian, our former Master student, whose manuscript is accepted by Myrmecological News. The title is "Ant crickets (Orthoptera: Myrmecophilidae) associated with the invasive yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): evidence for cryptic species and potential co-introduction with hosts". Should be out online in next couple of weeks.

A review article "Invader at the gate: The status of red imported fire ant in Australia and Asia" that Scotty serves as a coauthor was published in Ecological Research. Check it out via https://esj-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1440-1703.12076

​

​