Reception Recognizes Establishment of the Laurel Hansen Entomology Fund and First Scholarship Recipient

Dilday’s research focuses on the odorous house ant (OHA), a difficult-to-control ant that infests urban areas in the Pacific Northwest. “I’m just beginning my research season and I have many ideas,” Dilday said. “A few different aspects about OHA that I’d like to focus on include changes in their foraging behavior over the year, how weather and environmental factors affect OHA behavior and survival, better understand their starvation and pesticide resistance, and overall genetic and taxonomic differences between colony locations. It’s a lot but I’m excited to see where the research leads me.”

Dilday said she is honored to be the first recipient of a scholarship, which was created in tribute to Dr. Laurel Hansen, who has spent more than five decades teaching and working in entomology. Hansen taught biology for 51 years at Spokane Falls Community College before retiring in 2020. She was an adjunct entomology professor at WSU for most of that time. “I feel like I have big shoes to fill. I hope to continue research into Formicidae species and pass on the lessons I’ve learned from Dr. Hansen herself," Dilday said. "I swear I still learn something new from her every time we interact.” In addition to her accomplishments at WSU, Dilday is an accomplished young scientist who is an Advancing Science in America (ARCS) Scholar. 

Kurt Treftz, founder and owner of Cascade Pest Control, Snohomish, Wash., was the driving force behind the scholarship. In 2022, the WSU Foundation established “The Laurel Hansen Entomology Fund” after receiving a $5,000 gift from Treftz, who first became acquainted with Hansen more than 40 years ago. “Over the years, Dr. Hansen has just consistently helped the industry. In addition to putting on such informative seminars (e.g., WSPMA’s hands-on ant identification course), she has always been there to answer questions and has just been amazing," Treftz said.

The fund received a big boost thanks to generous donations from Faye and Terry Whitworth (retired owner of Whitworth Pest Solutions), who matched donations and led a charge that brought in large donations from Washington Pest Management Association members. Whitworth also was in attendance at the ceremony and commented, “I believe this is a great way for the PCO industry to connect with WSU entomologists and Puyallup Research and Extension. I was impressed with the next generation of PCOs who attended and joined in the conversation about the future.” 

Dr. Laura Lavine, professor and chair of Washington State University’s entomology department, praised the pest control industry for honoring Hansen by endowing a fund that will support research and education in this area for years to come. “The significance of this scholarship to our department is that we now have dedicated research funding to support graduate students and others, who are committed to partnering with our state’s pest management professionals to solve their most pressing and urgent research needs,” she said.

Lavine added that the Laurel Hansen Entomology Fund is the fourth endowment that the pest control industry has in the WSU Department of Entomology and at the WSU Puyullap Research and Extension Center focused on urban and structural pest management. These include the Norm Ehmann Endowed Chair in Urban Pest Management, currently held by Todd Murray, director of the Puyullap REC, the Art Antonelli Endowed Fund in Entomology, and the Terry and Faye Whitworth Urban Pest Management Fund.