Becky Trout Fryxell (@DrVectorBio) header
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Becky Trout Fryxell

@DrVectorBio

Vector Biologist, mosquitoes, ticks, & flies to improve human & animal health & welfare. Professor, Univ. of Tennessee she/her/hers my own opinions mom, wife

 Knoxville, TN
epp.tennessee.edu/people/directory/dr-rebecca-trout-fryxell/
Joined August 2016
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We are bound for LIWC 2025 in Cody, Wyoming! Katy (@@epp_tn), Jason (REEVES Scholar from NMSU) , and I are done w plane 1 of 3!
Image from Becky Trout Fryxell (@DrVectorBio)
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Eager minds want to know! Last year our @VectorEDNetwork interns collected ticks from Union county TN This MayTerm, the 2025 group & EPP531 students are screening the collected LoneStarTicks for Ehrlichia & BlackleggedTicks for Borrelia. @utepp @UT_Herbert Results tomorrow!
Students extracting DNA from ticks

ALT Students extracting DNA from ticks

Students extracting dna: moving from the isolation step to the wash step

ALT Students extracting dna: moving from the isolation step to the wash step

Students applying DNA and prepping their PCR reaction

ALT Students applying DNA and prepping their PCR reaction

Students in the lab getting ready to put their PCR reactions into the thermalcycler

ALT Students in the lab getting ready to put their PCR reactions into the thermalcycler

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Then through the Pavillion. A lot of the containers were covered (not entry point = no skeeters), but found some larvae in this artistic leaf sculpture s
Image from Becky Trout Fryxell (@DrVectorBio)
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Off to the pitcher plants! No skeeters today, but lots of food for these carnivorous plants. (IMO, these are very very cool)
Image from Becky Trout Fryxell (@DrVectorBio)
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Then we turned around and found these tire tracks, with water....and mosquitoes!
Image from Becky Trout Fryxell (@DrVectorBio)
Image from Becky Trout Fryxell (@DrVectorBio)
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First stop was at the wetlands No mosquito larvae, just cute little baby turtles (or burtles as we call them)!
Image from Becky Trout Fryxell (@DrVectorBio)
Image from Becky Trout Fryxell (@DrVectorBio)
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It's May term at UTK & I'm teaching Public Health Entomology We set out mosquito traps along the Greenway yesterday & picked them up today- yep those are skeeters. @UT_Herbert @epp_tn @utcvm @VectorEDNetwork #SunsOutVectorsOut
CVM Public Health MS student showing off mosquitoes collected with a light trap (we don't use the light- we use co2 or a stinky lure)

ALT CVM Public Health MS student showing off mosquitoes collected with a light trap (we don't use the light- we use co2 or a stinky lure)

Light trap without the light, but with a cooler holding dry ice. When the dry ice sublimates it emits CO2 and lures the lady mosquitoes. FACT only female mosquitoes bite.

ALT Light trap without the light, but with a cooler holding dry ice. When the dry ice sublimates it emits CO2 and lures the lady mosquitoes. FACT only female mosquitoes bite.

Gravid trap collected gravid ("pregnant") mosquitoes. The trap was baited with a liver powder infusion and WORKED!

ALT Gravid trap collected gravid ("pregnant") mosquitoes. The trap was baited with a liver powder infusion and WORKED!

Public health UG student successfully catches gravid mosquitoes along the 3rd creek Greenway.

ALT Public health UG student successfully catches gravid mosquitoes along the 3rd creek Greenway.

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Wait for it! Another #megabitess educator @MsSDReynolds was also teacher of the year at @SouthDoyle !? #megabitess Congrats! [I owe yall some data asap!!]
Image from Becky Trout Fryxell (@DrVectorBio)
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Look who is right there in the middle! #MEGABITESS educator & middle school educator of the year @mrsbutterfield6 Congrats!
Image from Becky Trout Fryxell (@DrVectorBio)
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@ TN Mosquito Vector Control Assoc to introduce the group to @VectorEDNetwork @VivaTickChick spoke about evaluating passive surveillance w animal shelters @ ATucker (not here) spoke asked participants about wanted future trainings
Viva getting ready to talk about ticks on animals at animal shelters

ALT Viva getting ready to talk about ticks on animals at animal shelters

Angela asking public health professionals what they want to learn more about

ALT Angela asking public health professionals what they want to learn more about

Angelas qr code for feedback!

ALT Angelas qr code for feedback!

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