A5078582767- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Plant and animal studies
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Orthoptera Research and Taxonomy
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Hemiptera Insect Studies
- Entomological Studies and Ecology
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- History and Developments in Astronomy
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Magnetic and Electromagnetic Effects
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Plant and fungal interactions
Texas A&M University
2016-2025
Mitchell Institute
2011-2025
Agricultural Research Service
2004-2023
The University of Sydney
2006-2012
Google (United States)
2012
United States Department of Agriculture
2003-2010
Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory
2005-2010
Centre for Cancer Biology
2010
Centre National de Lutte Antiacridienne
2004
University Medical Center Brackenridge
1999-2002
The effects of two entomopathogenic fungal endophytes, Beauveria bassiana and Purpureocillium lilacinum (formerly Paecilomyces lilacinus), were assessed on the reproduction cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera:Aphididae), through in planta feeding trials. In replicate greenhouse field trials, plants (Gossypium hirsutum) inoculated as seed treatments with concentrations B. or P. conidia. Positive colonization by endophytes was confirmed potato dextrose agar (PDA) media plating PCR...
Collective motion, which is ubiquitous in nature, has traditionally been explained by “self-propelled particle” models from theoretical physics. Here we show, through field, lab, and virtual reality experimentation, that classical of collective behavior cannot account for how motion emerges marching desert locusts, whose swarms affect the livelihood millions. In contrast to assumptions made these models, locusts do not explicitly align with neighbors. While individuals respond moving-dot...
Swarming and mass migration are spectacular sometimes devastating features of the biology various animal species. These phenomena typically associated with actual or anticipated depletion food resources after an increase in population density, but mechanisms driving such collective movements poorly understood. Here we reveal that insects large, coordinated migratory bands consisting millions Mormon crickets western North America were deprived two essential nutritional resources: protein...
The migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, is the most widely distributed grasshopper species in world. However, its global genetic structure and phylogeographic relationships have not been investigated. In this study, we explored worldwide phylogeography of locust populations based on sequence information 65 complete mitochondrial genomes three genes 263 individuals from 53 sampling sites. Although can migrate over long distances, our results revealed high differentiation among geographic...
An understanding of the role factors intrinsic to a species' life history in structuring contemporary genetic variation is fundamental, but understudied, aspect evolutionary biology. Here, we assessed influence propensity outbreak shaping worldwide Locusta migratoria, cosmopolitan pest well known for its expression density-dependent phase polyphenism. We scored 14 microsatellites nine subspecies from 25 populations distributed over most range regions that vary historical frequency and extent...
Abstract Background The fall armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)) is a highly polyphagous agricultural pest with long-distance migratory behavior threatening food security worldwide. This has host range of > 80 plant species, but two strains are recognized based on their association corn (C-strain) or rice and smaller grasses (R-strain). population genomics the United States (USA) remains poorly characterized to date despite its threat. Results In this study, structure genetic...
Abstract Background Molecular genetic approaches have become vital to understanding the evolutionary processes that act on insect pest populations. From mapping development of resistance monitoring and predicting movement, genomic tools can inform enhance management programs. Here, we used whole genome sequencing population genomics unravel novel patterns structure, linkage, selection across a notorious agricultural pest, fall armyworm. Results Our data strongly support existence two...
The ecological processes underlying locust swarm formation are poorly understood. Locust species exhibit phenotypic plasticity in numerous morphological, physiological and behavioural traits as their population density increases. These density‐dependent changes commonly assumed to be adaptations for migration under heterogeneous environmental conditions. Here we demonstrate that nymphal colour change the desert Schistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera: Acrididae) results warning coloration...
Grasshoppers are insect herbivores common to grassland ecosystems worldwide. They comprise important components of biodiversity, contribute significantly function, and periodically exhibit both local large-scale outbreaks. Because grasshoppers' potential economic importance as competitors with ungulate grazers for rangeland forage, periodic grasshopper outbreaks in western US often elicit intervention over large areas the form chemical control. Available information combined alternative...
In order to move effectively in unpredictable or heterogeneous environments animals must make appropriate decisions response internal and external cues. Identifying the link between these components remains a challenge for movement ecology is important understanding mechanisms driving both individual collective motion. One accessible way of examining how state influences an individual's motion consider nutritional animal. Our experimental results reveal that exerts relatively minor influence...
Studies of fungi in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) cultivated the United States have largely focused on monitoring and controlling plant pathogens. Given increasing interest asymptomatic fungal endophytes as potential biological control agents, surveys are needed to better characterize their diversity, distribution patterns possible applications integrated pest management. We sampled multiple varieties Texas, USA tested for temporal spatial variation endophyte diversity community...
Abstract During outbreaks, locust swarms can contain millions of insects travelling thousands kilometers while devastating vegetation and crops. Such large‐scale spatial organization is preceded locally by a dramatic density‐dependent phenotypic transition in multiple traits. Behaviourally, low‐density ‘solitarious’ individuals avoid contact with one another; above critical local density, they undergo rapid behavioural to the ‘gregarious phase’ whereby exhibit mutual attraction. Although...
The evolution of warning coloration (aposematism) has been difficult to explain because rare conspicuous mutants should suffer a higher cost discovery by predators relative the cryptic majority, while at frequencies too low facilitate predator aversion learning. Traditional models for aposematism have assumed prey phenotypes be genetically determined and constitutive. By contrast, we recently come understand that can environmentally mediated local density, thereby reducing initial costs...