All About Ants: A Walk & Talk with Matt Bertone

Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are a hugely diverse group of eusocial insects that are common in just about all terrestrial habitats on Earth. Although they are often seen as a nuisance or pests, they are incredibly important to ecosystems!

In this walk and talk, we will hunt for local ants and learn about their identification and taxonomy, biology and behavior, importance to the environment, and pest status and management.

Meet Matt Bertone

As the diagnostic entomologist with the NC State University Plant Disease and Insect Clinic, my program focuses on tools and techniques for the identification of arthropods, especially insects. Identification services are vital for addressing client pest management issues, monitoring for invasive and emerging pest taxa, and providing accurate diagnoses and nomenclature for species involved in scientific research. In addition to these services, my program provides training for state extension personnel to recognize a wide variety of arthropods, publishes new records and biological information on local arthropods, and augments the NC State Insect Museum’s specimen holdings through the collection and curation of arthropods, among other activities.

Learn more: https://cals.ncsu.edu/entomology-and-plant-pathology/people/maberto2/

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, NC State University will honor requests for reasonable accommodations made by individuals with disabilities. Please direct accommodation requests to: Gabriella de Souza, [email protected]. Requests can be served more effectively if notice is provided at least 15 days before the event.

Host or Publisher N.C. Cooperative Extension, New Hanover County