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U.S. Arid-Land Agricultrual Research Center, USDA-ARS 21881 North Cardon Lane Maricopa, Arizona 85238, USA |
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Publications List
for many years included the chemical ecology and behavior of
bark beetles (order Coleoptera: family Scolytidae) in relation to host and non-host trees.
In Scandinavia the species most studied have been Ips typographus and
Pityogenes chalcographus attacking
Norway spruce, and Tomicus piniperda attacking Scots pine. In the United States, studies were primarily with
Ips paraconfusus and Dendroctonus brevicomis
attacking ponderosa pine in California or
Ips pini attacking pines in Colorado. The research involved
laboratory experiments of bark beetle orientation behavior toward
pheromones and semiochemicals, isolation and identification of such
chemicals, and general behavior concerning attack of the host tree and
interactions of individuals (e.g. susceptibility and suitability of host and non-host trees for bark beetles).
I conducted field experiments each spring-summer in Värmland, Sweden,
and sometimes in Colorado or California (USA). The responses of the bark beetles in
the field to attractive and repellent semiochemicals and host odors
were investigated as well as their general behavior regarding
emergence, flight dispersal, and colonization of host trees.
During cool rainy periods, when bark beetles were not flying,
I studied red wood ants (Formica aquilonia)
(Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in regard to their
foraging, trail-making, and nest temperatures. A predator of the above bark
beetles in Scandinavia,
Thanasimus formicarius (Coleoptera: Cleridae)
appears to mimic the behavior and appearance of red wood ants probably as a
means to avoid feeding birds which dislike ants that can spray them with
formic acid.
Other research interests involved insect sounds and swarming of midges
(Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). In many of the studies, I made
models to simulate
observed behavior of insect populations under various
ecological conditions.
in late 2001.
In the USA, I briefly studied fire ant pheromones at Texas A&M University in Brad Vinson's group
. In 2002, I began a permanent position working on insect chemical ecology at the Western Cotton Research Laboratory,
USDA-ARS, Phoenix, Arizona. The laboratory facilities were moved 25 miles south near Maricopa in March 2006. Our Western Cotton Research
Laboratory was joined at this time with the Water Conservation Laboratory to form the U.S. Arid-Land Agricultural
Research Center. Thus, this web site, mostly on bark beetles, was moved to a USDA server in 2002 and then in early 2006 to my own domain:
http://www.chemical-ecology.net
I plan to add to this site mainly in regard to Java programs and new research papers as well as the
main ARS web site dealing with laboratory work.
Currently my research interests are evolving due to my new position. I am becoming more interested in the chemical
ecology of aphids, plant bugs, ants, parasitoid wasps, whitefiles, and lacewings. I also am interested in plant volatiles of crops and desert plants as potential new crops.
Various methods in GC-MS and GC-EAD are on the agenda. Modelling and computer programming are also still of interest. And of course finishing manuscripts
on old studies of bark beetles (which may go by the wayside).
Personal interests: