Jim Ottea is the insecticide toxicologist in the Department of Entomology at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. He received his B.S. in biology and his M.S. in entomology from Texas A&M University, and his Ph.D. in entomology from the University of California, Davis. His research characterizes mechanisms of insecticide resistance in insect pests. He resides in Louisiana with his three sons.