BIOGRAPHY & BIBLIOGRAPHY
Please contact me for current updates.
And visit my “Bug Art” site to view and learn more about my art work with insects.
Steven R Kutcher had an early interest in insects and remembers collecting fireflies in New York at age four. He moved to California one year later and is currently a consulting entomologist living in the city of Arcadia. He is also a teacher, lecturer, artist, photographer, writer, radio personality, and environmentalist.
Around Homer, Alaska (2001)
Steven works as a consultant for private industry, government districts, the entertainment industry, and is currently a part-time biology instructor at West Los Angeles College. He is active in educational entomology and outdoor education.
Over 100 articles have been written about him including articles in the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Detroit News, and Science World. He has appeared on many TV and radio programs including The Tonight Show, Late Night With David Letterman, Sunday Today, NBC; The Garry Shandling Show (nominated for an Emmy), The Scoop GB (episode won BFTA) and many international interviews. In 1990 The National Geographic did a short documentary on his work in education and the film industry. Many interviews about him have been completed since that time.
Steven Kutcher received a BS in entomology at U.C. Davis and an MA in biology (specializing in entomology, insect behavior and ecology) at California State University in Long Beach. His Thesis work focused on factors influencing aggregation in insects.
In 1974 he taught entomology and insect ecology at Long Beach State. Since then he has taught biology for non-majors and other courses at five different community colleges. In 1978 he initiated and taught a class in cultural entomology. The relationship between insects and man is a continuing study.
His entomological work has included: summer work for two mosquito abatement districts, fly studies for the Los Angeles Co. Sanitation District, consultation on stored grain products for private industry, initiating a lecture series presenting entomology programs to many organizations, and starting the annual Insect Fair at the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum. In Los Angeles there are now three Insect Fairs a year and in the past fifteen years over 100,000 have attended them.
Since 1976 he has worked as an entomology consultant on many movies, over 100 feature films, and commercials. His knowledge of arachnids and their behavior led him to supervise the spider project for the movie “Arachnophobia.” He worked with mosquitoes and amber insects on the movie “Jurassic Park.” and painted spiders on “Spiderman” (see film credits).
Some of the most difficult challenges for the entertainment industry included developing techniques to make a cockroach run across the floor for a foot and flip over on its back, make a spider crawl over to and climb into a slipper from four feet away, have a butterfly fly free flight in front of a logo, to make bees swarm indoors; release 1000 butterflies at a wedding, and to make a live wasp fly into an actor’s mouth. In May 1995 he went to Australia and worked on a movie entitled “Race The Sun.” In that movie he had a cockroach come out of a shoe, on cue, and walk up a bag of Cheetos and then onto a surfing magazine with a picture of a surfboard and stop on the surfboard.
For two years he appeared on a comedy talk radio show on KUSC and has since appeared on television and radio doing comedy and being interviewed. One highlight was doing comedy with Gary Shandling and Carol Burnett on the Larry Sanders show (Episode 6) on HBO. The show was nominated for an Emmy. He has also been taught comedy by Bill Cosby and had Robin Williams as his audience.
His innovative involvement with insects has included entering a bathtub on TV and having it filled up with mealworms. He has also taken care of 3000 African grasshoppers for 6 months, kept 6000 large darkling beetles in his living room, and put bugs on naked women for movies. He has enjoyed working with insects and many famous people, as well as, working with very young children and enjoying the joy insects bring into their lives. He is currently presenting lectures on subjects related to entomology to the Pest Control industry, universities, and other groups.
Photo Courtesy Baxter Scruggs
Steven Kutcher has taught at five different community colleges. He teaches biology at West Los Angeles College, Culver City (current) for over 30 years. He is involved in outdoor education and environmental awareness and has taught at the Audubon Camp in Wyoming, Ecology Weekend workshops for the Sierra Club, and for many other group programs and docent training sessions.
Some of his main concerns revolve around, the loss of habitat, biodiversity, and the need for conservation. He feels that the lack of knowledge about our natural resources, poor planning and management, and well meaning, but misguided individuals are destroying the natural resources our country. He has written and spoken to governmental agencies to make them aware of the value of environmental and entomological knowledge.
Steven Kutcher initiated a traveling entomology program for primary and secondary school which has included presentations of over 500 programs on topics ranging from introductions to entomology to understanding insect habitat requirements. He discusses experimental entomology and shows his entomology inventions..
The message inherent in all his work is that insects and related creatures are fascinating, fun, and must be studied because they are essential to maintaining a healthy planet.
Books: Acknowledgements or Material Published
Articles In Print About Steven R Kutcher
Interviews & Articles On-Line About Steven R Kutcher
Books: Acknowledgements or Material Published |
Angela T. Baron SQUIRRELY OVER NUTS. (caterpillar footprints) 2010 |
Bhagwat, Abha Who We Are ‘Olkha Aamhi Kon?’ (Ant Footprints) 2012 |
Berenbaum, May. BUGS IN THE SYSTEM. 1995. |
Gerani, Garry/ Sayger. DEATH SHIP (The last voyage of the demeter) 2010 Cover. Cover by Cliff Nielsen |
Dale, N. FLOWERING PLANTS: THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS COASTAL AND CHAPARRAL REGIONS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. 1986. |
Gordon, D. THE COMPLETE COCKROACH. 1996. |
Gordon, D. THE EAT-A-BUG COOKBOOK. 1998. |
Hogue, Charles. CULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY in ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY. 1987. |
Hogue, Charles. INSECTS OF THE LOS ANGELES BASIN. 1993. |
Jackson, Donna M. THE BUG SCIENTISTS (pp. 32-33). Houghton Mifflin and Company. 2002. |
Kutcher, Steven R. TWO INCREDIBLE JOURNEYS in THE MONARCH QUARTERLY, VOL. XII, NO. 2 (p. 3). 2002. |
Kutcher, Steven R. TWO TYPES OF AGGREGATION GROUPING IN THE LARGE MILKWEED BUG, ONCOPELTUS FASCIATUS (HEMIPTERA: LYGAEIDAE) in BULLETIN SO. CALIF. ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 70 (2) (pp. 87-90). 1971. |
Mertins, James W. ARTHROPODS ON THE SCREEN in BULLETIN OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (pp. 85-90). Summer 1986. |
Pallenberg, Barbara. THE MAKING OF THE EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC (photo & text). 1977. |
Rothstein, Barry and Betsy Rothstein. EYE-POPPING 3-D BUGS. 2011 |
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. Prepared To Be Shocked! 2008 (p.21) |
Starcher, A. GOOD BUGS FOR YOUR GARDEN. 1995. |
Tekulsky, M. THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN. 1985. |
TIME FOR KIDS. BIG BOOK OF HOW. P.19 2011 |
Vaz, Mark Cotta. BEHIND THE MASK OF SPIDER-MAN (pp. 48-50). Del Rey, Ballantine Publishing Group. 2002. |
Articles In Print About Steven R Kutcher |
2017 Jan | Muse Magazine |
2013 Feb | American Way American Airlines Magazine (In print due Feb 15) |
2012 May | Wired Magazine p 113 |
2011 Nov | All Plus Interactive. (Unusual Mediums of Art pp33-34) |
2011 July/Aug | Pet Me Magazine. PP. 14-15 |
2009 | |
2008 Nov. | MUY INTERESANTE. PP. 112-115 |
2008 April 23 | OJAI VALLEY NEWS. A8 |
2008 April 22 | PASADENA STAR NEWS. Earth Day Supplement |
2007 Dec. 14 | ANTELOPE VALLEY PRESS (Valley Life, B-5) |
2007 August 19 | WASHINGTON POST, “HE LETS CREEPY-CRAWLIES GET THEIR FEET WET AS PAINTERS,” P. N01 |
2007 Nov. 5 | IN TOUCH WEEKLY P.70 |
2007 Nov.29 | NATUREP. 613 |
2007 Oct. | THE MAIL ON SUNDAY (LONDON ) |
2007 June | Ça m’interesse, P. 106 |
2004 August | K CLUB (IN GERMAN), P. 36 |
2004 | INFOMAGAZINE, “INFOQUEST SPOTLIGHT ON SPIDERS”, |
2003 May 19 | PRESS ENTERPRISE, REDLANDS |
2003 May 1 | THE ACORN, THOUSAND OAKS, PP. 9 & 14 |
2003 April 26 | DAILY NEWS, Front Page & P. 12 |
2003 April 25 | VENTURA COUNTY STAR |
2002 December 6 | THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN (“Steven Hutcher” [sic]), PP. B-1 & B-7 |
2002 Nov. 9 – Dec. 5 | PASATIEMPO, PP. 72 & 74 |
2002 October 25 | CURRENT SCIENCE, Front Page |
2002 Fall | THE BEACH REVIEW (CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY LONG BEACH), VOL. 2, P. 29 |
2002 Sept. 30 | LA BUSINESS JOURNAL, P. 23 |
2002 July | CINEFLEX, NO. 90, PP. 29-31 |
2002 June 11 | NATIONAL ENQUIRER, P. 39 |
2002 June 6 | WEST AUSTRALIAN |
2002 June | POPULAR SCIENCE, P. 76 |
2002 May | NEW YORK TIMES, SYDNEY HERALD, CHICAGO SUN TIMES, SUNDAY MIRROR, ETC. |
2002 May 11 | PRESS TELEGRAM, LONG BEACH, Front Page + P. A10 |
2002 May 9 – 15 | WEEKLY, SIERRA MADRE, ARCADIA, Front Page + P. 25 |
2002 May 8 | PASADENA STAR NEWS, Front Page + P. A3 |
2002 May 6 | TEEN NEWSWEEK, V3, NO. 25, PP. 5-6 |
2002 May | NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WORLD, PP. 26-27 |
2002 April 26 | TIME FOR KIDS, P. 7 |
2002 Winter | THE MONARCH QUARTERLY, “TWO INCREDIBLE JOURNEYS”, P.3 |
2001 July | NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG, NZZ FOLIO, PP. 50-53 |
2001 March 29 | WALL STREET JOURNAL, Front Page Article |
2001 January 8 | NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE, P.9 |
1999 | GUINESS BOOK OF RECORDS FOR 1999, PP.128 |
1998 October 12 | BOYS LIFE |
1998 October 11 | SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, SILICON VALLEY LIFE, P.1 |
1998 May 5 | SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE |
1998 April 4 | LOS ANGELES TIMES MAGAZINE? |
1998 April 4 | LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL |
1998 March | MONARCH NEWS (PICTURE) |
1998 January or 1997 December |
MONARCH NEWS |
1997 October | COPLEY PAPERS SANTA MONICA AND BAY PAPERS, Front Page |
1997 October 19 | DAILY BREEZE (A COPLEY PAPERS), Front Page |
1997 August 28 | LOS ANGELES TIMES (SAN FERNANDO VALLEY WEEKEND), P.7 |
1997 | OTHER LOCAL NEWS PAPERS IN BOSTON AREA |
1997 May 30 | BOSTON HERALD: LIFE STYLES |
1996 Dec. 31 | ENQUIRER, P.39 |
1996 Dec. 27 | PASADENA STAR NEWS, P.10 (Best Quote) |
1996 September | L.A. TIMES SAN GABRIEL WEEKLY |
1996 July | SAN BERNARDINO SUN |
1996 June | NEW SCIENTIST MAGAZINE |
1996 June – July | ASSOCIATED PRESS (MANY PAPERS) |
1996 Spring | U.C. DAVIS MAGAZINE, PP.24-25 |
1995 Nov. 22 | NORTH COUNTY READER (SAN DIEGO), PP.57-58 |
1995 May | SUPER SCIENCE BLUE, SCHOLASTIC |
1995 May 7 | TELEGRAPH, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, P.43 |
1995 August | LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE, PP.60-67 |
1993 April 8 | SIERRA MADRE NEWS, Front Page |
1993 February | SCHOLASTIC MATH POWER (VOL. 2 NO. 5), PP.8-9 |
1992 July | HOWEE MOUSE GAZETTE (PACIFIC PALISADES), P.11 |
1992 July + ? | DETROIT FREE PRESS |
1992 April? | BOYS LIFE |
1992 February | DISNEY ADVENTURES MAGAZINE, PP.40-43 |
1991 October 30 | STAR, CULVER CITY (WAVE NEWSPAPERS), PP.1,2 (Front Page) |
1991 October 23 | ANAHEIM BULLETIN, P.A-3 |
1991 October 23 | LONG BEACH PRESS TELEGRAM, PP.D1,D2 |
1991 Sept. 29 | LOS ANGELES TIMES (L.A. TIMES MAGAZINE), P.8 |
1991 April 24 | GLENDALE NEWS PRESS, P.A-2 |
1991 March 8 | SCIENCE WORLD (VOL 47, NO.12), Cover & PP.4-7 |
1991 March 30 | THE BURBANK LEADER, P.A-5O |
1991 March 23 | LOS ANGELES TIMES (INSECT FAIR), P.B-3 |
1991 January | PEST CONTROL TECHNOLOGY, Cover |
1990 October 30 | WOMAN’S DAY, P.152 |
1990 October 8 | VARIETY, P.N-1 |
1990 September | PEST CONTROL TECHNOLOGY, P.36-37 |
1990 Sept. 28 | EXPRESSEN FREDAG, P.6 |
1990 Sept. 14 | WEEKLY READER, P.7 |
1990 August 31 | L.A. WEEKLY, P. 41 |
1990 August 19 | GRIT, P.7 |
1990 August 8 | NEWHALL SIGNAL AND SAUGUS ENTERPRISE, P. 14 |
1990 August 7 | SUN-SENTINEL (FORT LAUDERDALE, FL), P.1E |
1990 August 5 | NEW HAMPSHIRE SUNDAY NEWS, P.5E |
1990 July 29 | THE YUMA DAILY SUN, P. 25 |
1990 July 27 | ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, P. 37 |
1990 July 22 | THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, P.H1 |
1990 July 18 | LOS ANGELES TIMES (CALENDAR), P. F6 |
1989 Dec. 12 | WALL STREET JOURNAL, Front Page |
1989 September | SKY (DELTA AIR LINES), P.20 |
1989 July | PHOTO/DESIGN, P.33 |
1989 July 22 | FOOTHILL LEADER, P.A4 |
1989 June 30 | T.V. TIME, P. 13 |
1989 June | PREMIERE, P. 46 |
1989 May? | KATSO (FINNISH ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE) |
1988 November 7 | LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL, P.19 |
1988 July 24 | DAILY NEWS |
1988 February 14 | LOS ANGELES TIMES |
1988 – 89 | PICCOLO (SWEDISH) |
1987 Dec. 12 – 14 | THE OILER (WEST L.A. COLLEGE), Cover + |
1986 November | 3-2-1 CONTACT, PP.10-13 |
1986 July 30 | ACORN (AGOURA) |
1986 May 8 | FULLERTON NEWS TRIBUNE, P.4A |
1986 May | LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE, P.21 |
1986 April 13 | HERALD EXAMINER/CALIFORNIA LIVING, P.15 |
1985 Dec. 23 | SEAL BEACH JOURNAL |
1985 Dec. 22 | LOS ANGELES TIMES, PT 4 P.27 |
1980 October 15 | DAILY FORTY-NINER (CSULB) (V33, NO 35), P.1 |
1979 February 22 | HUNTINGTON BEACH INDEPENDENT, ORANGE CO. NEWS, P.23 |
1979 January 29 | DAILY PILOT, P.C1 |
1978 April 9 | LOS ANGELES TIMES, P.7 |
1976 November 5 | El VAQUERO (GLENDALE COM COL), P.4 |
Interviews & Articles On-Line About Steven R Kutcher |
|
YOUTUBE SEE… STEVEN KUTCHER The Bug Man, Bug Art ( Movie excerpts), E-Zip Bug collector, plus others. | |
YAHOO ANIMAL NATION see “The Bug Wrangler” 2012 | |
TV appearances on WCIU, WGN on line in 2012 | |