Ask Dr. Cannon

Staff Entomologist Dr. Colleen Cannon hated bugs as a child. Her plan was to become a rich and famous artist. Fortunately for art lovers everywhere, a beautifully illustrated entomology book changed her mind. After making up all the science classes she dodged in high school, Colleen went on to earn her Ph.D. in Entomology from Virginia Tech. She is a former Assistant Professor of Entomology at the University of Minnesota, where she specialized in Structural and Stored Product Pest Management.

In 2004, she joined the Plunkett’s team. She shares her office with Fluffy the tarantula, Morticia the black widow, Smiley the giant cave cockroach, and a gang of Madagascar hissing cockroaches that seem to find each other irresistible. Her favorite insect is the carpenter ant because they are so much like humans – the females talk, fight, babysit, and clean house while the males sit around doing nothing until they’re old enough to marry.