Erika T. Machtinger, Ph.D.
- Assistant Professor of Entomology
University Park, PA 16802
- Email etm10@psu.edu
- Office 814-865-9162
- Pronouns She/Her
Areas of Expertise
- Veterinary Entomology
- Tick ecology and control
- Filth fly management and behavior
- Wildlife entomology
- Arthropod behavior
Education
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, USDA, ARS
- Ph.D., Entomology, University of Florida
- M. S., Entomology, University of Florida
- B. S., Wildlife Conservation, University of Delaware
Web/Social
Graduate Students
Hannah Tiffin (Ph.D. student, Entomology)
Jessica Brown (Ph.D. student, Ecology)
Jesse Evans (MSc student, Entomology)
Postdoctoral Scholars
Karen Poh, Ph.D. (Post-doctoral Scholar)
Research Support
Arash Maleki (Research Technologist)
Anya Watts (Research Associate)
Baxter Bierbaum (Research Associate)
Kylie Green (Research Associate)
Zoey Cole (Research Associate)
Anna-Marie Wise (Research Associate)
Chloe Roberts (Research Associate)
Research
The mission of the Veterinary Entomology Laboratory is to investigate the ecological relationships between vertebrates and their ectoparasites and other arthropod pests to facilitate the development of control methods and integrated pest management strategies. We don't study a specific taxa or phenomenon but rather problems associated with non-human vertebrates. Of particular interest are filth flies affecting livestock, poultry, and equids and ticks and tick-borne disease ecology.
Publications
Patterns of deer ked (Diptera
Parasites and Vectors, Poh, Karen C., Evans, Jesse R., Skvarla, Michael J., Kent, Cody M., Olafson, Pia U., Hickling, Graham J., Mullinax, Jennifer M., Machtinger, Erika T., 2022
High Prevalence of Antibodies against Canine Parvovirus and Canine Distemper Virus among Coyotes and Foxes from Pennsylvania
Microbiology spectrum, Kimpston, Caellaigh N., Hatke, Amanda L., Castelli, Benjamin, Otto, Nathan, Tiffin, Hannah S., Machtinger, Erika T., Brown, Justin D., van Why, Kyle R., Marconi, Richard T., 2022
Pests and Parasites of Horses, Machtinger, Erika, Weeks, Emma, Geden, Christopher, Lacher, Erika, 2022
An Exploratory Study on the Microbiome of Northern and Southern Populations of Ixodes scapularis Ticks Predicts Changes and Unique Bacterial Interactions
Pathogens, Kumar, Deepak, Downs, Latoyia P., Adegoke, Abdulsalam, Machtinger, Erika, Oggenfuss, Kelly, Ostfeld, Richard S., Embers, Monica, Karim, Shahid, 2022
Landscape distribution and abundance of animal-associated adult filth flies on commercial swine facilities in North Carolina, US
Medical and Veterinary Entomology, Machtinger, E. T., Brown, J. E., Burgess, E. R., 2021
Tick abundance and life-stage segregation on the American black bear (Ursus americanus)
International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, Tiffin, Hannah S., Skvarla, Michael J., Machtinger, Erika T., 2021
Spatial Heterogeneity of Sympatric Tick Species and Tick-Borne Pathogens Emphasizes the Need for Surveillance for Effective Tick Control
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, Machtinger, Erika T., Nadolny, Robyn M., Vinyard, Bryan T., Eisen, Lars, Hojgaard, Andrias, Haynes, Scott A., Bowman, Loretta, Casal, Cory, Li, Andrew Y., 2021
The Keds Are Alright
Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Evans, Jesse Ray, Poh, Karen C., Skvarla, Michael, Machtinger, Erika T., 2021
Sudden Mortality in Captive White-Tailed Deer with Atypical Infestation of Winter Tick
Journal of Medical Entomology, MacHtinger, Erika T., Springer, Hayley R., Brown, Jessica E., Olafson, Pia U., 2021
Surveillance of Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in Suburban Natural Habitats of Central Maryland
Journal of Medical Entomology, Milholland, Matthew T., Eisen, Lars, Nadolny, Robyn M., Hojgaard, Andrias, Machtinger, Erika T., Mullinax, Jennifer M., Li, Andrew Y., 2021
Pathogen Coinfections Harbored by Adult "Ixodes scapularis" from White-Tailed Deer Compared with Questing Adults across Sites in Maryland, USA
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, Milholland, Matthew T., Xu, Guang, Rich, Stephen M., MacHtinger, Erika T., Mullinax, Jennifer M., Li, Andrew Y., 2021
An Extension of Their Work
American Entomologist, Poh, Karen C., MacHtinger, Erika T., 2021
Tick Shower Hanger, Machtinger, Erika, Tejada de Rivero, Maria, 2021
Tales from the field: Training undergraduate researchers for fieldwork
American Entomologist, Poh, Karen, Tiffin, Hannah, Evans, Jesse, Brown, Jessica, Skvarla, Michael, Machtinger, Erika, 2021
House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae): Biology, Pest Status, Current Management Prospects, and Research Needs
Journal of Integrated Pest Management, Geden, C. J., Nayduch, D., Scott, J. G., Burgess, E. R., Gerry, A. C., Kaufman, P. E., Thomson, J., Pickens, V., Machtinger, E. T., 2021
Horn Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) - Biology, Management, and Future Research Directions
Journal of Integrated Pest Management, Brewer, Gary J., Boxler, Dave J., Domingues, Luisa D., Trout Fryxell, Rebecca T., Holderman, Chris, Loftin, Kelly M., Machtinger, Erika, Smythe, Brandon, Talley, Justin L., Watson, Wes, 2021
Filth Fly Impacts to Animal Production in the United States and Associated Research and Extension Needs
Journal of Integrated Pest Management, Machtinger, Erika T., Gerry, Alec C., Murillo, Amy C., Talley, Justin L., 2021
Toxicity of fluralaner, a companion animal insecticide, relative to industry-leading agricultural insecticides against resistant and susceptible strains of filth flies
Scientific Reports, Burgess, Edwin R., Geden, Christopher J., Lohmeyer, Kimberly H., King, B. H., Machtinger, Erika T., Scott, Jeffrey G., 2020
A Technique for dissecting the salivary glands from the abdomens of deer keds (Diptera: Hippoboscidae: Lipoptena Nitzsch, 1818 and Neolipoptena Bequaert, 1942)
Journal of Insect Science, Skvarla, Michael J., Poh, Karen C., Evans, Jesse R., Machtinger, Erika, 2020
Special Collection: Protocols in Medical and Veterinary Entomology
Journal of Insect Science, Machtinger, Erika T., Poh, Karen C., 2020
A tissue digestion protocol for measuring Sarcoptes scabiei (astigmata: Sarcoptidae) density in skin biopsies
Journal of Insect Science, Tiffin, Hannah S., Cockerill, Robert, Brown, Justin D., Machtinger, Erika T., 2020
Practical guide to trapping Peromyscus leucopus (Rodentia Cricetidae) and Peromyscus maniculatus for vector and vector-borne pathogen surveillance and ecology
Journal of Insect Science, Machtinger, Erika T., Williams, Scott C., 2020
Collecting deer keds (diptera: Hippoboscidae: Lipoptena nitzsch, 1818 and neolipoptena bequaert, 1942) and ticks (acari: Ixodidae) from hunter-harvested deer and other cervids
Journal of Insect Science, Poh, Karen C., Skvarla, Michael, Evans, Jesse R., Machtinger, Erika T., 2020
Trapping white-tailed deer (artiodactyla cervidae) in suburbia for study of tick-host interaction
Journal of Insect Science, Roden-Reynolds, Patrick, Machtinger, Erika T., Li, Andrew Y., Mullinax, Jennifer M., 2020
Choice of laboratory tissue homogenizers matters when recovering nucleic acid from medically important ticks
Journal of Medical Entomology, Jones, Amanda M., Van De Wyngaerde, Marshall T., Machtinger, Erika T., Rajotte, Edwin G., Baker, Thomas C., 2020
Tick tubes reduce blacklegged tick burdens on white-footed mice in Pennsylvania, USA
Journal of Applied Entomology, Brown, Jessica E., Miller, Taylor M., Machtinger, Erika T., 2020
Host distribution and pathogen infection of fleas (Siphonaptera) recovered from small mammals in Pennsylvania
Journal of Vector Ecology, Fedele, Kaila, Poh, Karen C., Brown, Jessica E., Jones, Amanda, Durden, Lance A., Tiffin, Hannah S., Pagac, Alexandra, Li, Andrew Y., Machtinger, Erika T., 2020
Behavioral inhibition of the house fly (Diptera
Journal of Economic Entomology, Tuorinsky, Elizabeth V., Machtinger, Erika T., 2020
Evaluation of filth fly species composition and abundance using two monitoring methods in swine confinement housing
Journal of Medical Entomology, MacHtinger, Erika T., Burgess, Edwin R., 2020
Livestock Pests
Forensic Entomology: International Dimensions and Frontiers, Talley, Justin, Machtinger, Erika, 2020
Tick Bite Risk and Tick-Borne Disease Perceptions of School District Administrators in the Mid-Atlantic United States
Journal of School Health, Machtinger, Erika T., Li, Andrew Y., Liu, Yifen, 2019
Tick control bait box use by Peromyscus spp. influenced by habitat placement but raises questions on disease ecology
Ecosphere, Machtinger, Erika T., Li, Andrew Y., 2019
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
Journal of Medical Entomology, Skvarla, Michael J., Machtinger, Erika T., 2019
Bed Bugs in Poultry Facilities: Identification, Scouting, and Control Options, Machtinger, Erika, Martin, Gregory, 2019
Common Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases in Pennsylvania, Machtinger, Erika, 2019
Lesser Mealworm Beetles in Poultry and Game Bird Facilities, Machtinger, Erika, Lhamon, E, 2019
Development of nontarget wildlife exclusion devices for small mammal trap protection
Wildlife Society Bulletin, Roden-Reynolds, Patrick, Hummell, Grace, Machtinger, Erika T., Li, Andrew Y., 2018
Lyme Disease, Machtinger, Erika, 2018
Working with Nature to Control Nature, Stewart, Karla, Machtinger, Erika, 2018
Repellencies and toxicities of five ant-derived defensive compounds against the lone star tick, amblyomma americanum (Acari
Applied Entomology and Zoology, Machtinger, Erika T., Yang, Xiaolong, Chen, Jian, Li, Andrew Y., 2018
Filth Fly Control on Equine Farms, Machtinger, Erika, 2018
Ticks and Tick-Borne Disease, Machtinger, Erika, 2018
Deer Keds, Skvarla, Michale, Machtinger, Erika, 2018
Asian Longhorned Tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Machtinger, E, Skvarla, Michael, 2018
Biological control of livestock pests, Weeks, Emma N.I., Machtinger, Erika T., Leemon, Diana, Geden, Christopher J., 2018
Biological control with parasitoids, Machtinger, Erika T., Geden, Christopher J., 2018
Evaluation of four commercial natural products for repellency and toxicity against the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (Acari
Experimental and Applied Acarology, Machtinger, Erika T., Li, Andrew Y., 2017
Effects of four commercial fungal formulations on mortality and sporulation in house flies (Musca domestica) and stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans)
Medical and Veterinary Entomology, Weeks, E. N.I., Machtinger, E. T., Gezan, S. A., Kaufman, P. E., Geden, C. J., 2017
Manure preferences and postemergence learning of two filth fly parasitoids, spalangia cameroni and muscidifurax raptor (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)
PLoS One, Taylor, Caitlin E., Machtinger, Erika T., Geden, Christopher J., Kramer, Matthew, 2016
House fly (Musca domestica) (Diptera
Biocontrol Science and Technology, Machtinger, E. T., Weeks, E. N.I., Geden, C. J., Kaufman, P. E., 2016
House and Stable Fly Seasonal Abundance, Larval Development Substrates, and Natural Parasitism on Small Equine Farms in Florida
Neotropical Entomology, Machtinger, E. T., Leppla, N. C., Hogsette, J. A., 2016
Impacts of extended laboratory rearing on female fitness in Florida colonies of the parasitoid Spalangia cameroni (Hymenoptera
Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Machtinger, Erika, Geden, C. J., LoVullo, E. D., Shirk, P. D., 2016
Oviposition deterrence and immature survival of filth flies (Diptera
Journal of Insect Science, Machtinger, E. T., Weeks, E. N.I., Geden, C. J., 2016
Comparison of the Olfactory Preferences of Four of Filth Fly Pupal Parasitoid Species (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) for Hosts in Equine and Bovine Manure
Environmental Entomology, Machtinger, E. T., Geden, C. J., 2015
Linear dispersal of the filth fly parasitoid Spalangia cameroni (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and parasitism of hosts at increasing distances
PLoS One, Machtinger, Erika T., Geden, Christopher J., Leppla, Norman C., 2015
Use of pupal parasitoids as biological control agents of filth flies on equine facilities
Journal of Integrated Pest Management, Machtinger, Erika T., Geden, Christopher J., Kaufman, Phillip E., House, Amanda M., 2015
Comparison of Host-Seeking Behavior of the Filth Fly Pupal Parasitoids, Spalangia cameroni and Muscidifurax raptor (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)
Environmental Entomology, Machtinger, E. T., Geden, C. J., Teal, P. E., Leppla, N. C., 2015
Development and oviposition preference of house flies and stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae) in six substrates from Florida equine facilities
Journal of Medical Entomology, Machtinger, E. T., Geden, C. J., Hogsette, J. A., Leppla, N. C., 2014
Using a combined approach of guided inquiry & direct instruction to explore how physiology affects behavior
American Biology Teacher, Machtinger, Erika, 2014
Host location by Spalangia cameroni (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) in equine associated substrates
Biological Control, Machtinger, Erika T., Geden, Christopher J., 2013
Pest Management Perceptions and Practices for Equine Farms in North and Central Florida, Machtinger, Erika, Leppla, Norman, Sanders, Cindy, 2013