MSU Bug Club Sees Record Attendance and Attends ESA Conference in Portland
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EmailBug club continues to grow as a welcoming community where students from any major can explore entomology, gain hands‑on experience and build professional connections.
In 2025, the MSU Bug Club experienced an especially successful year, marked by record attendance at meetings and the opportunity to host a table representing Michigan State University Entomology at the Entomological Society of America (ESA) annual conference in Portland, Oregon.
Bug Club is a student-run organization that aims to bring together students interested in insects and entomology. It provides opportunities for professional development, outreach and community building through its biweekly meetings with guest speakers and hands-on activities.
This academic year has seen a significant increase in attendance at Bug Club meetings, reflecting a growing interest in entomology among MSU students. Whether they are outside collecting insects, blacklighting or learning about a variety of topics like forensic entomology, the Bug Club offers unique opportunities for students to learn and get to know peers with similar interests.
One of the highlights of the year was Bug Club’s participation in the annual ESA conference, which is one of the largest professional gatherings for entomologists in the United States. Several members of the club’s executive board had the unique opportunity to travel to Portland and host a Bug Club table, networking with entomologists from all across the country.
“The overall trip and ESA were better than I expected,” said Dylan Minor, a member of Bug Club. “It allowed me to experience the many fields, works, places, and people of entomology that I would not have had at MSU.”
Minor also noted that interacting and networking with other entomologists helped him better understand the field and its diverse perspectives. “Socializing and building relationships with other entomologists can help me learn more about the field, along with different perspectives on what entomology and science means to people,” he said.
While hosting their table, these students presented information about the MSU Entomology Department, club activities, and Bug House outreach. “I spent a lot of time talking with students about the activities we put on as a bug club. I also got to meet alumni through tabling, and it was great to talk about their experiences since graduating from the department,” said Cooper Krueger, the Bug Club events coordinator.
With more students getting involved than ever, Bug Club is continuing to grow as a welcoming community for anyone to explore their interests and get involved with entomology at MSU.
