Media tip sheet: Have no fear, Halloween experts are here

Scared you won’t have a Halloween story? Not to worry. Experts from UW–Madison can speak on a variety of subjects related to Halloween.

PICKING PUMPKINS

It’s pumpkin season, but what makes for the perfect gourd? Irwin Goldman, a professor of horticulture and expert on plant breeding, can talk about this seasonal tradition. Contact: Irwin Goldman, ilgoldma@wisc.edu, 608-262-7781.

MORE FUN, LESS FEAR

Dr. Marcia Slattery, an expert in child psychiatry, can talk about how Halloween makes some children anxious and what parents can do help make Halloween a little less scary. Contact:  Susan Lampert Smith, ssmith5@uwhealth.org, or (608) 890-5643.

SOOOO MUCH CANDY

Cassie Vanderwall, a clinical nutritionist with UW Hospital and Clinics, can offer tips on how to make sure your little trick-or-treater doesn’t overdo it. Contact: Emily Kumlien at ekumlien@uwhealth.org

MUMMIES, ZOMBIES, VAMPIRES – AND THEY’RE ALL INSECTS

PJ Liesch, director of the UW–Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab (and also known as UW’s “bug guy”), can talk about spooky examples from the world of insects. This includes parasites that transform their living hosts into “mummies,” insects that become walking “zombies” before they die, and an array of blood-sucking arthropod “vampires.” “With over a million species of insects known on the planet, there’s an astonishing diversity of ‘spooky’ parasites and predators out there,” Liesch says. “It’s easy to see how some of these insects serve as the inspiration for the monsters in horror and science fiction films.” Contact: PJ Liesch, pliesch@wisc.edu, 608-262-6510.0

BATS ARE GOOD. REALLY.

You think bats are scary? Try living in a world without them. “Bats get an unfair reputation as being creepy or scary, especially around Halloween time, but they’re actually super interesting animals with an important role in the ecosystem,” says Amy Wray, a doctoral candidate in wildlife ecology. “Bats do important things for humans like eating pesky insects, pollinating plants, and dispersing seeds. Without bats, we wouldn’t have many of the food plants that we like to eat – so a world without bats would really be frightening.” She is all too happy to talk about bats and can be reached at awray2@wisc.edu or 760-917-0585. To learn five things Wray thinks everyone should know about vampire bats, visit https://grow.cals.wisc.edu/departments/five-things/five-things-everyone-should-know-about-vampire-bats.