Entomologist Scotty Yang brings invasive insect expertise to Texas A&M
New researcher, educator advances science-based pest management in Texas
Chin-Cheng “Scotty” Yang, Ph.D., joined the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences as an associate professor and entomologist in the Department of Entomology, Bryan-College Station, in January.
Yang is an internationally recognized invasion biologist and urban entomologist whose research focuses on the ecology, evolution and management of invasive ants and other insect pests.
His work integrates behavioral ecology, population genomics, microbial and viral pathogen dynamics, and applied integrated pest management to understand why certain species become highly successful invaders and how that knowledge can be used to improve control.
Since his arrival, Yang has been engaging with industry to develop his research program focused on invasive and urban insect pests and teaching students urban pest management.
“On the research side, I want industry stakeholders to understand that I am here to engage and develop my program around the invasive pest challenges we face here in Texas,” he said. “For students, I want them to understand there are incredible career opportunities for entomologists in the urban pest management field, and I am excited to help them find success.”
Advancing science on invasive insects
Yang is a leading authority on invasive ants such as red imported fire ants, yellow crazy ants, big‑headed ants and Asian needle ants, with landmark contributions in Science, PNAS and Annual Review of Entomology journals. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in entomology from National Taiwan University.
He is focused on translating fundamental science into actionable pest management solutions. He has worked extensively with U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, international biosecurity agencies and the pest management industry. His research has directly informed regulatory policy, quarantine risk assessment and area‑wide control programs in the U.S., Asia and other regions facing invasive insect challenges.
Yang is a pioneer in showing how viral infections alter fire ant behavior and reduce baiting efficacy, leading to novel integrated control strategies. He has also developed innovative biosurveillance tools, including ant‑assisted environmental DNA methods now adopted by multiple U.S. states for invasive spotted lanternfly detection.
He plans to apply those tools to monitor for other invasive insect species in Texas, including cotton jassid, also known as the two-spot cotton leafhopper.
“When dealing with new invasive species, early detection is key to keeping their populations at bay,” he said. “With species like fire ants that are beyond eradication, our job is to help reduce their impact on Texans. I am excited about providing science-based solutions to the challenges these insects present.”
