Meet the Team

  • David H. Headrick, PhD

    Professor Emeritus, Plant Sciences, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

    David is a specialist in biological control, insect biology, and invasive insect species and their effects on the environment and agricultural production.  

    David earned his Ph.D. from UC Riverside, Department of Entomology, was a postdoctoral research fellow at UC Riverside, and served as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Entomology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.  He co-authored the award-winning reference work A Dictionary of Entomology.  

  • Maria Elena Murrietta, MS

    Maria lectured at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo for 14 years, leading hands-on entomology lab instruction focused on field and lab-based learning. Her current work with UC Cooperative Extension involves volunteer management, program development, and public outreach.

    Maria earned her masters degree in Plant Protection Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Her research involved a survey of Phytoseiid mites in 5 major crops throughout the tri-county region. 

Our Mission

We provide comprehensive insect and wildlife educational resources for youth, adults, and licensed pest management professionals in California.

We hope to inspire the next generation of entomologists and biologists with our K-12 instructional materials that align with California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS). 

We believe a deeper understanding of insect and wildlife behavior leads to better management decisions for home gardeners and pest management professionals alike. Our interactive, multimedia resources focus on essential knowledge to help resolve conflicts with these creatures and improve the balance within our shared environments.