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Gary Richard Mullen
Professor

366 Funchess Hall
(334) 844-2554


Areas of Interest:

Major areas of interest include medical-veterinary entomology and acarology, arachnology, and aquatic insects. Research interests have focused on: (1) biting flies of medical-veterinary importance, notably the biology of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and their role as vectors of bluetongue virus and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus of domestic and wild ruminants; (2) ticks and Lyme disease in Alabama; and (3) host-parasite associations between biting flies (mosquitoes, biting midges, horse flies and deer flies) and mites.

Appointment:

60% Teaching, 40% Research

Courses Currently Taught at Auburn University:

ENTM 0404 Insects Affecting Humans, Domestic Animals and Wildlife
ENTM 0514 Aquatic Insects
ENTM 0625 Medical-Veterinary Entomology
ENTM 0720 Arachnology

Courses Previously Taught:

ZY 306 Principles of Ecology (1975-87)
ZY 636 Population Ecology (1975-88)
U 270-272 Ascent of Man (Human Odyssey)

Education:

B.A. 1968 Northeastern University (Biological Science)
M.S. 1970 Cornell University (Entomology)
Ph.D. 1974 Cornell University (Entomology)

Professional Experience:

  • 1964-68, Surgical Assistant and Laboratory Technician, Boston University Surgical Research Laboratory, Boston City Hospital
  • 1974-75, Medical Entomologist, Allegheny County Health Department, Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Administrator, Pennsylvania State Vector Control Program
  • 1975-present, Auburn University and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station.

Professional Societies/Honor Societies:

  • Acarological Society of America
  • Alabama Vector Management Society
  • American Arachnological Society
  • American Mosquito Control Association
  • Entomological Society of America
  • Florida Association of Benthologists
  • Georgia Entomological Society
  • Society of Vector Ecologists
  • North American Benthological Society
  • Sigma Xi
  • Phi Sigma
  • Phi Kappa Phi
  • Gamma Sigma Delta

Professional Responsibilities:

  • Department of Entomology (Auburn University):
    • Library Representative
    • Graduate Admissions Committee
    • Curriculum and Academic Quality Committee
    • Undergraduate Internship Committee
    • Insect Museum Committee
    • Guyton Lecture Committee

  • College of Agriculture (Auburn University):
    • Library Committee
    • Curriculum Committee

  • Acarological Society of America:
    • President (1984)
    • Executive Committee (1996-99)

  • Entomological Society of America:
    • President, Teaching Subsection (1984)
    • Special Committee on Linnaean Games (1984-86)
    • Highlights of Medical-Veterinary Entomology (1985-86)
    • Chair, Section D (1990)
    • Chair, Section D Medical-Veterinary Textbook Steering Committee
    • Co-editor and contributor, Medical-Veterinary Entomology Textbook
    • ESA Governing Board (1998-2001)

  • Entomological Society of America/Southeastern Branch:
    • Chair, Student Awards Committee (1982-83)
  • Subject Editor, Journal of Entomological Science (1986-90)

  • Editorial Board, Bulletin of the Society of Vector Ecologists (1986-92)

  • Chair, Auburn University Senate and General Faculty (1990-91)

  • Alabama Archaeological Society
    • Board of Directors (1998-2001)
    • President, East Alabama Chapter (1989-present)
  • Alabama Poison Control Center:
    • Consultant, Medical Entomology

Honors and Awards:

  • Appreciation Award for Service, ESA/SEB (1985)
  • Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence, College of Agriculture, Auburn University (1988)
  • Teaching Award of Merit, National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (1988)
  • Distinguished Teaching Award, Entomological Society of America, SEB (1989)
  • Dedicated Service Award, Georgia Entomological Society (1991)
  • Auburn Alumni Association Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award (1996-97)

Current Graduate Students:

  • Renee R. Anderson (Ph.D. candidate)
  • Matthew D. Aubuchon (M.S. Student)

Select Publications:

  • Mullen, G.R. 1976. Water mites of the subgenus Truncaturus (Arrenuridae: Arrenurus) in North America. Search, Cornell University, Entomol. Ser. 17, 6(6):1-35.
  • Mullen, G.R., R.H. Jones, Y. Braverman, and K.E. Nusbaum. 1985. Laboratory infections of Culicoides debilipalpis and C. stellifer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) with bluetongue virus. In: Bluetongue and Related Orbiviruses (T.L. Barber and M.M. Jochim, eds.). Prog. Clin. Biol. Res. 178:239-242.
  • Mullen, G.R., D.J. Leprince, and B.M. OConnor. 1987. Acarine associates of horse flies and deer flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in North America. Progress in Acarology 2:291-296.
  • Mullen, G.R. and L.J. Hribar. 1988. Biology and feeding behavior of ceratopogonid larvae (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in North America. Bull. Soc. Vector Ecol. 13:60-81.
  • Luckhart, S., G.R. Mullen, and J.C. Wright. 1991. The etiologic agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, detected by fluorescent antibody in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) collected at a focus in Alabama. J. Med. Ent. 28:652-657.



For additional information gmullen@acesag.auburn.edu




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The Illustration of the freshly hatched subimago
of Stenonema vicarium, a large and
variable flatheaded mayfly that develops
in eastern and north-central streams (left)
copyright© 1981 Arwin V. Provonsha