Entomological Society of America (Pacific Branch) Plant-Ecosystems Award, 2012.Entomological Society of America (Pacific Branch) Award for Excellence in Extension, 2013.Oliver Atkins Award of Excellence and Service for Outstanding Support of the California Avocado Society, 2014.IOBC (International Organization of Biological Control) Distinguished Scientist of the Year, 2015.ANR STAR Team Performance Award for the Asian Citrus Psyllid Public Education Campaign, 2016.California Department of Pesticide Regulations IPM Achievement Award for Asian Citrus Psyllid Biocontrol, 2018.Fellow, Entomological Society of America, 2018.UC-ANR Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Research 2022. I am particularly interested in determining 1) the magnitude of reduction in pest population growth caused by natural enemies, 2) the mechanisms by which pests and natural enemies co-exist at low densities, 3) the number of natural enemy species that are needed to give control, 4) inter-specific competition between natural enemies which utilize the same host, and 5) the economics of biological control when compared to pesticides. Evaluations of biological control agents are conducted primarily in the field, and when necessary, aspects of both pest and natural enemy biology and behavior are studied in the laboratory. The emphasis of my work is to identify pest problems where biological control could be successful, locate and release natural enemies, and then evaluate natural enemy impact on pest population growth. Biological control is also being used in conservation efforts to restore natural areas invaded by exotic organisms, especially weeds. Many of our current agricultural pest problems are amenable to biological control, and when successful, natural enemies provide enduring, environmentally benign, pest control. More.īiological control is the intentional use of host specific natural enemies (predators, parasitoids, and pathogens) by humans to suppress population growth of noxious plants and animals to levels which are no longer damaging. Because New Zealand lacks a significant native terrestrial mammal fauna it subsequently lacks an essential co-evolved insect community associated with. New Zealand is an agriculturally intensive country that relies heavily on dairy cattle and sheep farming to generate income. is found from avocado seeds collected in Puerto Rico, Mexico and Guatemala. Icerya purchasi Maskell, or Cottony Cushion Scale is an exotic plant pest in the Galapagos Islands. More.īean thrips adults and larvae feed mainly on mature leaves and occasionally the skin of immature fruit. Trioza induce galls that develop on the upper or lower leaf surface or cause leaf margins to roll. The avocado fruit galling midge causes damage to pods by feeding in immature fruiting bodies. The avocado seed moth has caused major economic damage to the avocado industry in California. More.Īvocado lace bugs were first detected in California on backyard avocado trees in the Chula Vista More. More.Īvocado thrips belong to the insect order Thysanoptera which means "fringe wings". The economic impacts of _C_Las spread by D.
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