Scott Bundy has been part of New Mexico State University since 2000, serving as a professor of entomology in the Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science within the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. He also leads the NMSU Arthropod Museum.
Bundy teaches “Human, Insects and the Environment,” a course that is open to all majors and regularly enrolls more than 600 students each semester. The class covers how insects influence various aspects of human life, including their biology and behavior, their role in the environment, their use in warfare, and their presence in movies, art, and culture.
In his research, Bundy focuses on arthropod pests and beneficial species that affect New Mexico’s field crops. His lab studies economic pests such as alfalfa weevil, blister beetles, flea beetles, and painted bug (Bagrada), along with their natural enemies. The aim is to assess their impact on agriculture in New Mexico and find effective management strategies.
Bundy also researches true bugs (Heteroptera), particularly those in the Pentatomoidea group like stink bugs. He notes that many Heteroptera species are not well studied in New Mexico but could be either pests or beneficial organisms.
Since 2011, Bundy has directed the NMSU Arthropod Museum located in Skeen Hall. The museum holds over 500,000 specimens—the largest arthropod collection in New Mexico—gathered over more than a century by experts from around the world. These specimens support research, teaching activities, and outreach programs. The museum’s outreach reaches thousands of local students annually and includes a Virtual Insect Collection Lab.
