1. Wheat midge host plant resistance
The orange wheat blossom midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana (Gehin) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) is an important pest of wheat, Triticum aestivum L. (Poaceae), in the North America. Our lab works on several projects associated with understanding host plant resistance mechanisms in wheat midge.
2. Flea beetle ecology
Flea beetles are chronic pests on canola and result in yield losses estimated in CAN $300 million each year. Three species are responsible for most of the damage: the exotics Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) and P. striolata (Fab.), and the native Psylliodes punctulata Melsh. Our lab works on multiple projects that aim to improve our knowledge of flea beetle ecology, and the ecology of it's natural enemies
Soybean aphid and its natural enemies
The soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a major invasive species in North America that causes significant yield losses in soybean production. Our lab works on a number of projects associated with improving our understanding of soybean aphid ecology, and the ecology it's natural enemies.
Cereal leaf beetle
The cereal leaf beetle, Oulema melanopus, (L.) is a potential economic pest of cereal crops in the Canadian prairies that has recently been spreading Eastward into Manitoba. Our lab is currently examining how landscape structure influences biological control by the parsitoid Tetrastichus julisand by general predators.