Sonja Swiger

Areas of Expertise

• Livestock/veterinary entomology
• Vector control

Professional Summary

Sonja L. Swiger, Ph.D. is a professor in the Texas A&M University Department of Entomology and an Extension specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Her research and teaching interests lie in the field of managing nuisance biting flies and disease vectoring insects that impact the health of cattle and other livestock, wildlife, and humans. Swiger plans, conducts, and participates in educational programs for pest management of arthropods and diseases attacking livestock, companion animals, and public health. Swiger has developed several educational materials and programs to better educate and serve Texans in regard to mosquito borne diseases and was the lead PI for outreach education with the CDC funded Western Gulf Centers of Excellence in Vector Borne Diseases and is currently a collaborator with the CDC funded Gulf South V.E.C.T.O.R. Teaching Education Center. Over the past five years she has attracted over $1M dollars in support of her educational and research programs. She is currently serving as the President for the SWB-ESA, President for the Texas Mosquito Control Association, and chair of the SWB-ESA Awards committee, in addition to serving on many other committees.

Selected Publications

1. Swiger, S. L. and R. D. Payne. 2016. Selected Insecticide Delivery Devices for Management of horn flies (Haematobia irritans) (Diptera: Muscidae) on Beef Cattle. Journal of Medical Entomology. 54: 173-177. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjw144
2. Swiger, S. L., J. A. Hogsette and J. F. Butler. 2013. Larval Distribution and Behavior of Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Relative to other species on Florida Black Bear (Carnivora: Ursidae) Decomposing Carcasses. Neotropical Entomol. 43: 21-26.
3. Swiger, S. L., M. Merchant, G. Hamer, M. Keck, T. Sidwa, E. Brown, J. Fults, M. Hare, J. Hurley, M. Johnsen, S. Lockwood, R. M. Sanders, and S. Sawlis. 2017. Texas Mosquito Management manual. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Pub. NTO-036. 76 pp.; 29.
4. Swiger, S. L. 2012. Managing External Parasites of Texas Cattle. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Pub. E-570. 42 pp. ; Rochon, K., J. A. Hogsette, P. E. Kaufman, P. U. Olafson, S. L. Swiger, and D. B. Taylor. 2021. Stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans [Diptera: Muscidae]) – Biology, Management and Research Needs. Journal of Integrated Pest Management. Vol 12:38. https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmab029