{"id":51,"date":"2019-03-22T12:38:20","date_gmt":"2019-03-22T19:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tfrec.cahnrs.wsu.edu\/northfield\/?page_id=51"},"modified":"2025-09-18T14:52:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T21:52:10","slug":"people","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tfrec.cahnrs.wsu.edu\/northfield\/people\/","title":{"rendered":"People"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Group
Lab barbecue, October 2023. Photo: T. Northfield<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"People
Lab Holiday Party, December 2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n
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Team Leader<\/h2>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n
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Tobin Northfield<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Tobin<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tobin is an Associate Professor and Endowed Chair of Tree Fruit Entomology and Integrated Pest Management at the WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee Washington. He is also part of the WSU Entomology Department. He leads a taskforce on X-disease and Little cherry virus called the “Little Cherry Disease Taskforce<\/a> and the Codling Moth Taskforce (focused on codling moth<\/a>), that each comprise academics in research and Extension, government representatives, and stakeholders. Prior to joining WSU he was a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at James Cook University in Cairns Australia. His publications are available at his Google Scholar profile.<\/a> Tobin can be contacted at tnorthfield@wsu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Research Technicians and Project Managers<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Tawnee Melton<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Tawnee<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tawnee is a research technician in the laboratory working on a range of projects, such as improving management of little cherry disease, pear psylla, and codling moth. She has extensive experience researching entomology and tree fruit integrated pest management at the Wenatchee Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center. Tawnee can be contacted at: twilburn@wsu.edu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones, VP, DR Horton, NJ Mills, TR Unruh, CC Baker, TD Melton, E Milickzy, SA Steffan, PW Shearer, KG Amarasekare. 2016. Evaluating plant volatiles for monitoring natural enemies in apple, pear and walnut orchards. Biological Control, 102: 53-65.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NJ Mills, VP Jones, CC Baker, TD Melton, SA Steffan, TR Unruh, DR Horton, PW Shearer, KG Amarasekare, E Milickzy. 2016. Using plant volatile traps to estimate the diversity of natural enemy communities in orchard ecosystems. Biological Control, 102: 66-76.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones, VP, DR Horton, NJ Mills, TR Unruh, E Miliczky, PW Shearer, KG Amarasekare, CC Baker, TD Melton. 2016. Using plant volatile traps to develop phenology models for natural enemies: An example using Chrysopa nigricornis<\/em> (Burmeister) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Biological Control, 102: 77-84.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jones, VP, TD Melton, CC Baker. 2011. Optimizing immunomarking systems and development of a new marking system based on wheat. Journal of Insect Science, 11: 87.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Abby Clarke<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Abigail<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Abby is a research technician working on a range of projects, mostly focused on X-disease. She completed her MS degree in the department of Entomology at WSU. Her research focused on host use and life history by the leafhoppers that vector X-disease. Prior to starting at WSU she received her BS degree at University of Delaware. Abby can be contacted at abby.clarke@wsu.edu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clarke, AE, KA Catron, C Reyes Corral, AT Marshall, CG Adams, WR Cooper, SJ Harper, LB Nottingham, TD Northfield. 2024. Colladonus<\/em> spp. (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) vectors of X-disease: Biology and management in western United States. Journal of Integrated Pest Management<\/em>, 15:13.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Laine Hackenberg<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Woman<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While an official member of Scott Harper’s lab group, Laine is an unofficial member of the Northfield lab, and is a plant pathologist based in Wenatchee, where she conducts genetics research on X-disease phytoplasma and its hosts and vectors. She received her master’s degree at Colorado State University, where she worked on the genetics of viruses and viroids of hemp with Punya Nachappa. Laine can be contacted at laine.hackenberg@wsu.edu.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Welcome Sauer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Welcome<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Welcome has experience as as an executive in the tree fruit fruit industry and as CEO\/President of the Washington Apple Commission. He is using economic and epidemiological models to inform best X-disease management practices. He is also collaborating with Karina Gallardo <\/a>at WSU Economics. Welcome can be contacted at welcome.sauer@wsu.edu <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Cody Andr\u00e9<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Man<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cody is a project manager leading weekly collection of leafhoppers from orchards throughout Central Washington to feed into a predictive model describing population dynamics of X-disease vectors. Cody can be contacted at: cody.andre@wsu.edu.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Postdoctoral Researchers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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W. Jacob Pitt<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Jacob<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jacob conducted his PhD at Colorado State University with Punya Nachappa<\/a> on vectors of potato viruses, using geospatial analysis and electrical circuitry-based methods to quantify vector feeding behavior. He is working better understanding X-disease vector patterns of abundance and the types of feeding behavior that promotes pathogen transmission. Jacob can be contacted at william.pitt@wsu.edu <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publications (See Google Scholar profile <\/a>for full list):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pitt W. J., Kairy L., Mora V., Peirce E., Jensen A. S., Bradford B., Groves R., Christensen T., MacRae I. V., & Nachappa P. In Press. <\/em>Landscapes with higher crop diversity have lower aphid species richness but higher plant virus prevalence. Journal of Applied Ecology.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pitt, W. J., Cooper, W. R., Pouchnik, D., Headrick, H., & Nachappa, P. (2024). High\u2010throughput molecular gut content analysis of aphids identifies plants relevant for potato virus Y epidemiology. Insect Science<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MacWilliams, J., Peirce, E., Pitt, W. J., Schreiner, M., Broeckling, C., & Nachappa, P. (2023). Assessing the adaptive role of cannabidiol (CBD) in Cannabis sativa<\/em> defense against cannabis aphids. Frontiers in Plant Science<\/em>, 14<\/em>, 1223894.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pitt, W. J., Kairy, L., Villa, E., Nalam, V. J., & Nachappa, P. (2022). Virus Infection and Host Plant Suitability Affect Feeding Behaviors of Cannabis Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a Newly Described Vector of Potato Virus Y. Environmental Entomology<\/em>, 51<\/em>(2), 322-331.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nalam, V. J., Han, J., Pitt, W. J., Acharya, S. R., & Nachappa, P. (2021). Location, location, location: Feeding site affects aphid performance by altering access and quality of nutrients. Plos one<\/em>, 16<\/em>(2), e0245380<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Graduate Students<\/h2>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n
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Kristina Baker<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Woman<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kristina started her PhD at WSU in Fall 2025, and will be research codling moth behavior to develop novel management strategies in apple and pear. Prior to joining WSU, she received her bachelor’s degree in biology at University of California, Riverside, and worked in the labs of Chuck Burks and Houston Wilson on navel orange worm. She can be contacted at kristina.baker@wsu.edu.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Undergraduate Students<\/h2>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n
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Monica Oropeza<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Monica<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Monica Oropeza is an undergraduate student at Wenatchee Valley College that works in the lab over the summer. Amongst other projects, she is working with Jacob Pitt and Edith Chamberlain to better understand the distribution of X-disease within and between plants.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Valarie Manzaro<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Woman<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Valarie is an industrial engineering student at University of Washington that is working with Jacob Pitt on analyzing mating calls of X-disease vectors to better understand plant use and improve management.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Kelcie Coleman<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Kelcie has recently graduated high school and received an AA degree from Wenatchee Valley College in prior to starting her Bachelor’s program is working with Cody Andr\u00e9 to collect leafhoppers in preparation for a predictive model for X-disease vectors.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Under-undergraduate Students<\/h2>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n
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Micaiah Northfield<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Micaiah<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Micaiah is the youngest member of the lab group. He has pioneered an innovative approach of demonstrating how niche partitioning works in communities of biological control agents through an analogy of construction equipment. He is shown here writing R code for a simulation model evaluating how efficiency improves with increases in the diversity of construction equipment when a variety of tasks must be completed. His work currently focuses on a combination of simulation and physical models, but he hopes to move on to real systems in the future.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Collaborating Pome Fruit IPM Lab<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Six<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Pome Fruit Team, led by research assistant professor RT Curtiss with technician Toriani Kent, researches a range of issues impacting apple and pear production. In apple, Dr. Curtiss’ team is working to improve capture interpretation from lure-baited codling moth traps in pheromone mating disrupted orchards, test novel insecticide products, and monitor for insecticide resistance. In pear, the team is studying novel methods to reduce damage caused by pear psylla, conservation of natural enemies, and tactics to reduce insecticide applications. Dr. Curtiss can be contacted at rcurtiss@wsu.edu<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Hall of Fame (lab alumni)<\/h2>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n
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Dylan Beal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Dylan<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dylan Beal was a postdoctoral researcher working on novel, environmentally sustainable management of spotted wing drosophila in cherries and blueberries, and is co-advised by Betsy Beers and Tobin. He conducted his PhD at UC Berkeley on spittlebugs and Pierce\u2019s Disease, and a MS degree at Universita degli Studi di Torino on Flavescence Dor\u00e9e phytoplasma and its vector Scaphoideus titanus<\/em>. Dylan is now a IPM farm advisor <\/a>for University of California in Monterrey County and can be contacted at djbeal@ucanr.edu<\/a>. See his Google Scholar profile<\/a> for up to date list of publications.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Alex (Gangur) Blake<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Alex<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alex completed his Honours research at JCU in 2014. Through his experiments on scorpsion, he identified for the first time that predator exposure can induce changes in venom composition, and used theoretical models to describe the effects of top-down and bottom-up effects on venom evolution in venomous mesopredators. Alex’s research was discussed in a number of media outlets. He completed his PhD with Dustin Marshall<\/a> at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia and is now a biological data scientist at EcoData Technology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resulting publications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gangur, AN, JE Seymour, MJ Lidell, D Wilson, MJ Smout, TD Northfield. 2018. When is overkill optimal? Tritrophic interactions reveal new insights into venom evolution. Theoretical Ecology<\/em>, 11: 141-149<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gangur, AN, MJ Smout, MJ Lidell, JE Seymour, D Wilson, TD Northfield. 2017. Changes in predator exposure, but not diet induce phenotypic plasticity in scorpion venom. Proceedings of the Royal Society: B<\/em>, 284:  20171364.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Eli Bloom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Eli<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Eli completed his PhD at WSU in 2019, and was advised by Dave Crowder<\/a>. He came to JCU on an NSF fellowship to develop his theoretical skills and develop novel analyses of his pollinator data sets. His research focuses on the stability and diversity of pollinator communities in diversified farming systems. He is now a USDA postdoctoral fellow <\/a>with Claire Casteel at Cornell University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resulting publications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Milner, JRD, EH Bloom, DW Crowder, TD Northfield. 2020. Plant evolution can mediate negative effects from honey bees on wild pollinators. Ecology and Evolution,<\/em> 10: 4407-4418.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bloom, E, TD Northfield, DW Crowder. 2019. A novel application of the Price equation reveals that landscape diversity promotes the response of bees to regionally rare plant species. Ecology Letters<\/em>, 22: 2103-2110.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Edith Chamberlain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Edith<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Edith Chamberlain is an undergraduate student at Stanford University that worked in the lab over the summer of 2024. Amongst other projects, she worked with Jacob Pitt and Monica Oropeza to better understand the distribution of X-disease within and between plants.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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David Clarke<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"David<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

David completed his Honour’s research at JCU in 2016 focused on the factors driving invertebrate diversity in seagrass meadows, and was co-advised by Paul York and Michael Rasheed from TropWATER. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher <\/a>at Latrobe University in Melbourne, Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resulting publications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carke, DA, PH York, MA Rasheed, TD Northfield. 2017. Identifying areas in need of tropical research. Trends in Ecology and Evolution<\/em>. 32: 628.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clarke, DA, PH York, MA Rasheed, TD Northfield. 2017. Does biodiversity-ecosystem function literature neglect tropical ecosystems? Trends in Ecology and Evolution<\/em>, 32: 320-323.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Ed Evans<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Ed<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ed is conducting his PhD at JCU in 2022 and his primary adviser is Dave Wilson. He is working to identify the factors driving venom traits in scorpions. Ed can be contacted at at edwardrobertjonathan.evans@my.jcu.edu.au<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resulting publications (see Google Scholar<\/a> profile for up to date list):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giribaldi, J., Y Haufe, ERJ Evans, DT Wilson, NL Daly, C Enjalbal, A Nicke, S Dutertre. 2021. Synthesis, structural and pharmacological characterizations of CIC, a novel alpha-conotoxin with an extended N-terminal tail. Marine Drugs<\/em>, 19:141.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evans, ERJ, L McIntyre, TD Northfield, NL Daly, DT Wilson. 2020. Small molecules in the venom of the scorpion Hormurus waigiensis<\/em>. Biomedicines<\/em>, 8: 259.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giribaldi, J., Y Haufe, ERJ Evans, M Amar, A Durner, C Schmidt, A Faucherre, HMO Maati, C Enjalbal, J Molgo, D Servent, DT Wilson, NL Daly, A Nicke, S Dutertre. 2020. J Medicinal Chemistry<\/em>, 63: 12686-12692.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evans, ERJ, TD Northfield, NL Daly, DT Wilson. 2019.<\/em> Venom costs and optimisation in scorpions. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 7: 196<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Jade Ferguson<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Jade<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jade conducted her Honours research at JCU in 2015, and was primarily advised by Lori Lach. Through experiments and observational studies she documented the effects of a honey bee parasite, Nosema ceranae<\/em>, on honey bee foraging preferences and the effects of pollen quality on the likelihood that honey bees can survive the parasite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resulting publication:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ferguson, JA, TD Northfield, L Lach. 2018. Honey bee (Apis Mellifera<\/em>) pollen foraging reflects benefits dependent on individual infection status. Microbial Ecology<\/em>, 76: 482-491.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Laura Flandermeyer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Laura<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Laura completed her MS degree in the Department of Entomology at WSU in 2024. She combined theoretical models and fieldwork to inform management of X-disease vectors. Prior to starting at WSU, she received her BS degree in Biological Engineering at Purdue University, where she also did soil science research at USDA ARS, and was a Mid America CropLife Young Leader Scholar, working with Corteva and BASF. She is currently a Pest Management Outreach Specialist at University of Wisconsin. Laura can be contacted at laura.flandermeyer@wisc.edu.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Samantha Forbes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Samantha<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Samantha completed her PhD student at James Cook University in 2025. Her work focuses on pollinator and plant biology in an effort to improve food production in the tropics. She is also advised by Lucas Cernusak<\/a> at JCU, and her research is funded by Mars Inc. Prior to starting her PhD she conducted her MSc research at JCU, and identified methods of simultaneously improving pollination and predator abundance in cacao farms through better habitat management. Samantha has conducted many media interviews about her research, including on Science Friday<\/a>, and her work was featured in the textbook Ecology: Economy of Nature. Samantha can be contacted at samantha.forbes@my.jcu.edu.au.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forbes, SJ, L Cernusak, TD Northfield, RM Gleadow, A Cheesman. 2020. Elevated temperature and carbon dioxide alter resource allocation to growth, storage and defence in cassava (Manihot esculenta). Environmental and Experimental Botany<\/em>. 173: 103997.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forbes, SJ, G Mustiga, A Romero, TD Northfield, S Lambert, JC Motamayor. 2019. Supplemental and synchronized pollination may increase yield in cacao. HortScience<\/em>, 54: 1718-1727.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forbes, SJ, TD Northfield 2017. Increased pollinator habitat enhances cacao fruit set and predator conservation. Ecological Applications<\/em>, 27: 887-899<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forbes, SJ, TD Northfield. 2017. Oecophylla smaragdina <\/em>ants provide pest control in Australian cocoa. Biotropica<\/em>, 49: 328-336.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Desiree Gowell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Desiree<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Desiree completed her MSc special project at JCU in 2016 on the spatio-temporal distributions of pests and their natural enemies in cacao farms. She is now a data analyst at the GP One Consulting.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Aldo Hanel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Aldo<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Aldo completed his PhD at WSU in 2024, co-advised by Tobin Northfield with Rebecca Schmidt-Jeffris at USDA in Wapato, and Louis Nottingham at WSU, finishing in Spring 2024. Aldo conducted his MS research at Federal University of Vicosa in Brazil on mite ecology and biological control. For his PhD he worked on the role of earwigs in tree fruit systems. Aldo is now a postdoctoral researcher working with Houston Wilson<\/a> at UC Riverside. Aldo can be contacted at: aldo.hanel@wsu.edu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resulting Publications (See Google Scholar profile<\/a> for complete, most up-to-date publications):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hanel, A, RJ Orpet, R Hilton, L Nottingham, TD Northfield, R Schmidt-Jeffris. 2023. Turning a pest into a natural enemy: Removing earwigs from stone fruit and releasing them in pome fruit enhances pest control. Insects<\/em>, 14: 906.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zilnik, G, PE Bergeron, A Chuang, L Diepenbrock, A Hanel, E Middleton, E Moretti, RA Schmidt-Jeffris. 2023. Meta-analysis of herbicide non-target effects on pest natural enemies. Insects, 14: 787.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moretti, E, A Hanel, RA Schidt-Jeffris. Control of Brown mites in apple with miticides, 2020. 2023. Arthropod Management Tests, 48: tsad 109.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hanel, A, E Moretti, RA Schidt-Jeffris. Control of Brown mites in apple with miticides, 2021. 2023. Arthropod Management Tests, 48: tsad 110.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Adrian Marshall<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Adrian<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Adrian was a USDA postdoctoral research fellow evaluating environmental friendly controls (kaolin clay and reflective ground cover) on little cherry disease and the leafhoppers that vector the X disease phytoplasma, as well as tracking phytoplasma movement within X-disease vectors, and evaluating X-disease phytoplasma prevalence within field-collected vectors. He conducted his PhD at WSU with Betsy Beers<\/a> on cultural control of apple pests. Adrian is now a postdoctoral researcher<\/a> at USDA ARS working with Rodney Cooper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resulting Publications (See Google Scholar profile<\/a> for most up-to-date list):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cooper, WR, Marshall, AT, TM Lewis, R Cook, DR Horton, WJ Pitt, C Reyes Corral, DMI Jocson, JD Gardner, RS Zack, S Acheampong, TD Northfield. In press<\/em>. Biosystematic classification of Colladonus<\/em> Ball vectors of Candidatus<\/em> Phytoplasma pruni in the Pacific Northwest (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephlalinae. Proceedings of the Washington Entomological Society.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marshall, AT, KA Catron, RJ Orpet, RT Curtiss, TD Northfield<\/strong>, LB Nottingham. In press<\/em>. Insecticide and repellent tests on Washington leafhopper vectors of cherry X-disease. Journal Economic Entomology.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marshall, AT, TD Melton, G Bishop, AE Clarke, CA Reyes-Corral, KA Catron, LB Nottingham, TD Northfield. 2024. Cultural control methods improve management of leafhopper vectors of X-disease. Crop Protection, 175: 106445.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shires, MK, C Molnar, SJ Cowell, G Bishop, J Voelker, AA Thompson, E. Nikolaeva, C Copp, L Flandermeyer<\/em>, T Melton, TD Northfield, AT Marshall, WR Cooper, SJ Harper. 2025. Alternative hosts of \u2018Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni\u2019 identified through surveys and vector gut content analysis. Plant Health Progress<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clarke, AE<\/em>, KA Catron, C Reyes Corral, <\/em>AT Marshall<\/em>, CG Adams, WR Cooper, SJ Harper, LB Nottingham, TD Northfield. 2024. Colladonus<\/em> spp. (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) vectors of X-disease: Biology and management in western United States. Journal of Integrated Pest Management<\/em>, 15:13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harper, S, TD Northfield, LR Nottingham, T DuPont, AA Thompson, BV Sallato, MK Shires, AA Wright, KA Catron, AT Marshall, C Molnar, WR Cooper. 2023. Recovery plan for X-disease in stonefruit caused by Candidatus phytoplasma pruni. Plant Health Progress. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1094\/PHP-02-23-0016-RP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cooper, WR, AT Marshall, J Foutz, MR Wildung, TD Northfield, DW Crowder, H Leach, TC Leskey, SE Halbert, JB Snyder. 2022. Directed sequencing of plant specific DNA identifies the dietary history of four species of Auchenorrhyncha (Hemiptera). Annals of the Entomological Society of America<\/em>, 115: 275-284.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cooper, WR, AT Marshall, J Foutz, MR Wildung, TD Northfield, DW Crowder, H Leach, TC Leskey, SE Halbert, JB Snyder. 2021. Directed sequencing of plant specific DNA identifies the dietary history of four sepcies of Auchenorrhyncha (Hemiptera). Annals of the Entomological Society of America<\/em>, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/aesa\/saab053.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Amy McGuire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Amy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Amy completed her PhD at JCU in 2025 on the use of entomopathogenic fungi to control fruit flies. She previously conducted her Honours research at JCU on evaluating soil characteristics that promote entomopathogenic fungi in banana farms as part of her efforts to identify a fungal pathogen to control thrips. She also uses theoretical models to evaluate the effects of environmental conditions on diversification of host-parasite communities. Her Honours research was in collaboration with Pacific Eco Bananas<\/a>, and has been covered in several media outlets, including ABC Australia\u2019s Landline<\/a>. Amy can be contacted at: amy.mcguire@my.jcu.edu.au. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McGuire, AV, W Edwards, TD Northfield. 2023. The infection efficacy of Metarhizium<\/em> strains (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) against the Queensland fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni<\/em> (Diptera: Tephritidae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 116: 627-631.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McGuire, AV, TD Northfield. 2021. Identification and evaluation of endemic Metarhizium<\/em> strains for biological control of banana rust thrips. Biological Control<\/em>, 162: 104712.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McGuire, AV, TD Northfield. 2020. Tropical occurrence and agricultural importance of Beauveria bassiana<\/em> and Metarhizium anisopliae<\/em>. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems<\/em>, 4:6.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Alfonso Moreno<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Alfonso<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alfonso conducted his Honours research at JCU in 2018 and was primarily advised by Sean Connolly<\/a>. His research focused on community dynamics models to evaluate the processes driving patterns of species abundance generally found in ecological communities. Alfonso is now a PhD student <\/a>with Sean Connolly at JCU.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Ryan Orr<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Ryan<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ryan completed his PhD research at JCU in 2022, primarily advised by Paul Nelson<\/a>. He identified the soil characteristics and management strategies that alter prevalence of Panama Disease, a fungal pathogen that damages bananas worldwide. Ryan is now a Senior Horticulturalist<\/a> at the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publications (See Google Scholar profile<\/a> for most up-to-date list):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Orr, R, TD Northfield, A Pattison, PN Nelson. 2023. Soil physiochemical characteristics and leaf nutrient contents on banana farms of North Queensland, Australia. Crop and Pasture Science, 74: 483-493.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Orr, R, PN Nelson. 2021. Eucalyptus cloeziana<\/em> mulch suppresses Fusarium wilt of banana. Crop Protection<\/em>, 105694.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Orr, R., A Pattison, T Northfield, PN Nelson. 2021. Iron chelates have little to no effect on the severity of Fusarium wilt of bananas in soils of the wet tropics. J Plant Pathology<\/em>, 103: 595-604.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Orr, R., RK Hocking, A Pattison, PN Nelson. 2020. Extraction metals from mildly acidic tropical soils: Interactions between chelating ligand, pH and soil type. Chemosphere<\/em>, 248: 126060.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oliver, DP, Y Li, R Orr, P Nelson, M Barnes, MJ McLaughlin, RS Kookana. 2019. The role of surface charge and pH changes in tropical soils on sorption behaviour of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Science of the Total Environment<\/em>, 673: 197-206.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Orr, R. A Pattison, D East, N Warman, W O’Neill, E Czislowski, PN Nelson. 2019. Image-based quantification of Fusarium wilt severity in banana. Australasian Plant Disease Notes<\/em>, 14: 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Bowen, R Orr, AV McBeath, A Pattison, PN Nelson. 2019. Suppresiveness or conduciveness to Fusarium wilt of bananas differs between key Australian soils. Soil Research<\/em>, 57: 158-165.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Orr, R, and PN Nelson. 2018. Impacts of soil abiotic attributes of Fusarium wilt, focusing on bananas. Applied Soil Ecology<\/em>, 262: 1-10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Orr, R, A McBeath, AV Dieleman, MI Bird, PN Nelson. 2017. Estimating organic carbon content of soil in Papua New Guinea using infrared spectroscopy. Soil Research<\/em>, 55: 735-742.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Cesar Reyes Corral<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Cesar<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For Cesar’s PhD he applied a combination of molecular and ecological techniques to better understand the little cherry disease (X-disease phytoplasma and leafhopper vectors) system to improve management. Prior to that, he earned an MS degree from University of Idaho where he combined molecular techniques and field research to describe the role of non-host plants as reservoirs for zebra chip disease in potatoes. Cesar is now a postdoctoral researcher at WSU, working with R.T. Curtiss on entomopathogens for codling moth control. Cesar can be contacted at cesar.reyescorral@wsu.edu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publications (See Google Scholar profile<\/a> for up to date list):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cooper, WR, Marshall, AT, TM Lewis, R Cook, DR Horton, WJ Pitt, C Reyes Corral, DMI Jocson, JD Gardner, RS Zack, S Acheampong, TD Northfield. In press<\/em>. Biosystematic classification of Colladonus<\/em> Ball vectors of Candidatus<\/em> Phytoplasma pruni in the Pacific Northwest (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephlalinae. Proceedings of the Washington Entomological Society.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clarke, AE, KA Catron, C Reyes Corral, AT Marshall, CG Adams, WR Cooper, SJ Harper, LB Nottingham, TD Northfield. 2024. Colladonus<\/em> spp. (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) vectors of X-disease: Biology and management in western United States. Journal of Integrated Pest Management<\/em>, 15:13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serrano, JM, PJ Landolt, CA Reyes Corral, JG Milar. 2022. Sex pheromones and sex attractants of species within the genera Idolus<\/em> Desbrochers des Loges and Dalopius<\/em> Eschscholtz (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in the western United States. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/afe.12494.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reyes-Corral, CA, WR Cooper, D Horton, E Miliczky, J Riebe, T Waters, M Wildung, AK Karasev. 2021. Association of Bactericera cockerelli<\/em> (Hemiptera: Triozidae) with perennial weed Physalis longifolia<\/em> (Solanales: Solanaceae) in the potato growing regions of western Idaho. Environmental Entomology<\/em>, 50: 1416-1424.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reyes Corral CA, WR Cooper, AV Karasev, C Delgado-Luna, SR Sanchez-Pena. 2021. \u201cCandidatus<\/em> Liberibacter solanacearum\u201d infection of commercial tomatillo, Physalis ixocarpa<\/em> Brot. (Solanales: Solanaceae) in Saltillo, Mexico. Plant Disease<\/em>, 105: 2560-2566.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dahan, J, EJ Wenninger, M Thornton, CA Reyes Corral, N Olsen, AV Karasev. 2021. Haplotyping the Potato Psyllid (Hemiptera: Triozidae) and the Associated Pathogenic Bacterium \u2018Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum\u2019 in Non-crop Alternative Hosts in Southern Idaho. Environmental Entomology<\/em>, 50: 382-389.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beck, K, CA Reyes Corral, M Rodriguez-Rodriguez, C May, R Barnett, M Thornton, AA Bates, J W Woodhall, BK Schroeder. 2021. First report of Fusarium proliferatum<\/em> causing necrotic leaf lesions and bulb rot on storage onion (Allium cepa<\/em>) in southwestern Idaho. Plant Disease<\/em>, 105: 494-494.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reyes Corral, CA, WR Cooper, DR Horton, AV Karasev. 2020. Susceptibility of Physalis longifolia<\/em> (Solanales: Solanaceae) to Bactericera cockerelli<\/em> (Hemiptera Triozidae) and ‘Candidatus<\/em> Liberibacter solanacearum.’ Journal of Economic Entomology<\/em>. 113: 2595-2603.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Jeremy Roberts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Jeremy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jeremy completed his MS degree at WSU in 2022 combining theoretical and empirical approaches to better understand codling moth ecology and management. He conducted his bachelor’s degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in computer science. Jeremy is now conducting a PhD in New Zealand in Daniel Stouffer’s lab<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Olivia Rowley<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Olivia<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Olivia Rowley is conducting her PhD at JCU in 2022, and is primarily advised by Jamie Seymour<\/a>. She used a combination of experiments and modeling approaches to describe the environmental drivers of deadly jellyfish in Australia. Olivia is now a biologist at the New Zealand Department of Conservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rowley, OC, RL Courtney, TD Northfield, J Seymour. 2023. Physiological and morphological responses of \u2018Irukandji\u2019 polyps to thermal and osmotic conditions: Consequences for niche profiling. Hydrobiologia, 850: 1207-1216.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rowley, OC, R Courtney, TD Northfield, J Seymour. 2022. Environmental drivers of the occurrence and abundance of Irukandji jellyfish (Carukia barnesi<\/em>). PLoS One 17: e0272359.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rowley, OC, RL Courtney, SA Browning, JE Seymour. 2020. Bay watch: Using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV’s) to survey the box jellyfish Chironex fleckeri<\/em>. PLoS One, 15: e0241410.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deppe, L, O Rowley, LK Rowe, N Shi, N McArthur, O Gooday, SJ Goldstein. 2017. Investigation of fallout events in Hutton’s shearwaters (Puffinis huttoni<\/em>) associated -with artificial lighting. Notoris<\/em>, 64: 181-191.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Hemchandranauth Sambhu<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Hemchandranauth<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hemchandranauth completed his PhD research at JCU in 2018, which focused on a combination on ecological and sociological research in Guyana and Australia. He compared patterns of butterfly abundance and community composition across different landscapes, wrote a checklist for butterflies of Australia, and participated or led a number of outreach events for the general public and schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resulting publications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sambhu, H, A Nankishore, S Turton, TD Northfield. 2018. Trade-offs for butterfly alpha and beta diversity in human-modified landscapes and tropical rainforests. Ecology and Evolution<\/em>. 8: 12918-12928.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sambhu, H, A Nankishore. 2018. Butterflies (Lepidoptera) of Guyana: A compilation of records. Zootaxa<\/em>, 4371: 1-187.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sambhu, H, TD Northfield, A Nankishore, A Ansari, S Turton. 2017. Tropical rainforest and human-modified landscapes support unique butterfly communities that differ in abundance and diversity. Environmental Entomology<\/em>, 46: 1225-1234.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Peter Smytheman<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Peter<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Peter Smytheman completed his MS in 2024 on the natural enemies of leafhoppers that vector X-disease in cherry orchards. He is also working in Betsy Beers\u2019 lab on spotted wing drosophila and brown marmorated stink bug. He has a background in commercial production of biological control agents and is an avid insect collector. Peter can be contacted at peter_smytheman@wsu.edu.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Jessa Thurman<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Jessa<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jessa joined the lab in JCU first on an international Watson Fellowship, and then as a Fulbright Fellow. She worked on biological control of pests in cacao by green weaver ants and Anastatus<\/em> sp. wasps. She conducted her PhD with Michael Furlong at University of Queensland, and is now a CERC postdoctoral fellow <\/a>at CSIRO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resulting publications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thurman, JH, TD Northfield, WE Snyder. 2019. Weaver ants provide ecosystem services to tropical tree crops. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution<\/em>, 7:21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thurman, JH, DW Crowder, TD Northfield. 2017. Biological control agents in the Anthropocene: Current risks and future options. Current Opinion in Insect Science<\/em>, 23: 59-64.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Nicol\u00e1s Younes C\u00e1rdenas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Nicolas<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nicol\u00e1s is completed his PhD at JCU in 2020 and was primarily advised by Karen Joyce<\/a>. He combined novel statistical approaches and Landsat data to describe changes in mangrove phenology over the last 30 years. He is now a research fellow at Australian National University<\/a>. A more up to date publication list is available at his Google Scholar profile<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resulting publications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Younes, N, TD Northfield, KE Joyce, S Maier, NC Duke, L Lymburner. 2020. A novel approach to modelling mangrove phenology from satellite images: A case study from Northern Australia. Remote Sensing, <\/em>12: 4008.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Younes, N, KE Joyce, TD Northfield, SW Maier. 2019. The effects of water depth on estimating fractional vegetation cover in mangrove forests. International Journal of Applied Earth Observations and Geoinformation<\/em>. 83: 101924.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Younes C\u00e1rdenas, N, KE Joyce, SW Maier. 2017. Monitoring mangrove forests: Are we taking full advantage of technology? International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation<\/em>, 63. pp. 1-14<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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