Remember “Tiger King,” the docuseries that gripped the world during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Now, swap out the big cats for something less glamorous: maggots.
That’s the world Leonardo David Salgado lives in. As a PhD candidate in Entomology, Salgado spends his days researching tiny, wriggling larvae that most of us would rather not see, let alone study.
“There’s this one person who I work with who likes to call me ‘The Maggot King’,” Salgado laughs. “I work with all kinds of maggots — onion maggots, seed corn maggots, cabbage maggots — you name it.”
It may sound gross, but Salgado’s work is anything but trivial. These fly larvae, small as they are, can wreak destruction on vegetable crops by feeding on their roots, stems, and seeds.
They cause stunted growth, wilting, and in many cases, total crop failure — particularly in vulnerable seedlings.
This may set farmers back, causing them to lose thousands in income.
In a world that’s now struggling with food insecurity and climate change, understanding pests like these has never been more urgent.
For Salgado, getting up close and personal with maggots is part of the job.
Rice, sugarcane, and maggots: Solving the world’s problems with entomology
We all know eating our veggies is good for us, but have you ever stopped to wonder what’s actually on them?
That crisp apple or green, leafy lettuce might look fresh and healthy, but a fun fact is that over 75% of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables in the US come with a not-so-tasty bonus — pesticide residues — even after a good rinse.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that fresh produce sold in shops is safe for consumption. However, a 2024 study by the Guardian found that 16 out of the 25 fruits and 21 of the 34 vegetables had low levels of pesticide risk. The rest were in the moderate-risk category, with researchers cautioning that more than three servings a day could be pushing it.
Salgado knows these risks better than most.
“Maggots are problematic for vegetable crops — with heavy infestation, they can completely destroy them,” he says.
But Salgado’s also aware of the challenges that come with limiting pesticide use.
“With the growing global population, we need to become more efficient using less land, and that means maximising crop yield,” Salgado explains. “We also need to develop pesticides that can target pests without harming consumers or the environment. Pesticides are very well-known for harming beneficial insects such as pollinators.”
Salgado is working in a paddy field as a part of his Master’s degree. Source: Leonardo David Salgado
Insecticides were once the go-to solution, but with some now banned in the US, the search is on for safer alternatives.
At Cornell University, where Salgado is completing his final year as a PhD candidate in Entomology, his work focuses on applied insect ecology, insecticide resistance management, population genetics, and phylogenetic analysis of onion pests from various regions — through maggots.
“To eliminate these insect pests, we’re using fungi,” Salgado shares. “We’ve also tried nematodes, worm-like animals, to kill the insects.”
Since , Salgado has contributed to five peer-reviewed publications, three of which he’s a first author, and two as co-author; as well as eight editor-reviewed publications, six of which he’s a first author and two as co-author.
However, that’s not all; Salgado has been working hands-on with people in the fields, and even with those back home in Honduras.
Salgado and his peers out in a field as part of their PhD. Source: Leonardo David Salgado
From law in Honduras to entomology in the US
Born and raised in Honduras, agriculture was always a part of Salgado’s life. His country is known for its coffee, tropical fruits, and sugar cane. In fact, agriculture is one of the significant factors, accounting for 11.98% of the labour force, with 24.77% employed in the industry.
Still, Salgado’s first academic path took a different turn — to law school.
“I went to law school for a year because people told me I’d make a good lawyer,” he says. “So I gave it a shot, but eventually realised it just wasn’t for me.”
When he confided in friends about his uncertainty, he found a common thread: they were all involved in agriculture.
“Honduras’s GDP (gross domestic product) relies on agriculture, and I had a little insight into it through my friend, so I thought it could be something worth exploring,” he says.
So, he enrolled at Universidad Nacional de Agricultura (UNAG) to pursue a BS in Agricultural Sciences.
Salgado is a part of the UNAG Alumni Association and the Entomological Society of America. Source: Leonardo David Salgado
While at UNAG, Salgado landed a three-month internship at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he was first introduced to entomological research — and it was love at first bug.
After completing his undergraduate degree, Salgado returned to LSU to pursue a Master’s in Entomology, with a minor in Applied Statistics.
“I got to work with sugarcane and rice while at LSU,” he says. “I ate a lot of sugar cane growing up, so working with it was cool and an honour.”
Salgado enjoyed the work so much that he began reaching out to professors to explore PhD opportunities. That’s when he emailed Dr. Brian Nault at Cornell University.
“I sent the email at 6:00 a.m., and he replied just an hour later,” Salgado laughs. “I was shocked. I didn’t expect a reply at all. When I told my friends, they couldn’t believe it.”
Truth was, Salgado contacted Dr. Nault, he had no idea that Cornell was an Ivy League.
“Growing up in Honduras, I didn’t know what the Ivy League universities were,” he admits. “I just knew Dr. Nault was a respected name in entomology because of his applied insect ecology and vegetable entomology .”
Today, Dr. Nault is Salgado’s PhD supervisor.
Salgado received a total of $168,594 in fellowship support throughout his Master’s degree and PhD. Source: Leonardo David Salgado
Oh bugs! It’s a full circle moment
Working with maggots is fascinating, but for Salgado, his real passion lies in giving back, especially to the Spanish-speaking community in the US.
In 2022, the US had 112,379 producers who identified as Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin, accounting for 3% of the country’s 3.4 million producers, according to the USDA. Over 83,000 farms in the US are Hispanic-operated.
“There are many Hispanic and Latino workers in agriculture whose first language is Spanish,” says Salgado. “I’ve been able to work with them in pesticide safety, which is so important, given the risks of exposure to both pests and chemicals.”
He also teaches them about managing vegetable pests — another area where his expertise shines.
But Salgado’s impact doesn’t stop in the US. He’s also giving back to Honduras, participating in seminar series for students and researchers interested in agriculture and entomology.
“Thanks to technology, I’m able to contribute to the education system back home,” he says. “I also help review research protocols for entomology projects and conduct lectures for students in Honduras.”
Though his work already makes a difference, Salgado is thinking long-term and globally.
“I’m happy that what I’m doing is impactful,” he says. “But one day, I hope I can make an even bigger difference than I am right now.”
