Professor wins award for entomology book

Brust and two others won an educational project award from the North-Central Branch of the Entomological Society of America for a reference book about a prominent insect. Brust co-wrote "The Grasshoppers of Nebraska" with W. Wyatt Holback, University of Nebraska at Kearney professor of biology, and Robert J. Wright, University of Nebraska extension entomology specialist.

The projects were judged on originality, quality, accuracy of information and impact. The 135-page book includes descriptions, color photographs and distribution maps of 108 species of short-horned grasshoppers that are known to inhabit the state.

"The Grasshoppers of Nebraska" is one of two insect reference books co-authored by Brust that were published during the past year.

The other book is "Tiger Beetles of South Dakota & Nebraska." Sharing the credit on that piece are Stephen Spomer, Douglas Backlund and Scott Weins of the University of Nebraska Department of Entomology.

In addition to text, Brust provided much of the photography for the two publications.

Brust, 38, joined the CSC faculty in fall 2008. He earned a doctorate in entomology from UNL last year, and has bachelor's and master's degrees in biology from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point and UNK, respectively. He is a native of Menomonee Falls, Wis.