New Publication

IPM for Psylla Using Kaolin and Reflective Mulch

Integrated Pest Management Programs for Pear Psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola (Förster) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), Using Kaolin Clay and Reflective Plastic Mulch September 1, 2022 Pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola (Förster) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is the most economically important pest of pears grown in Washington State. Standard conventional management programs involve season-long broad-spectrum insecticide sprays. Although the industry uses some […]

Early-Career Parenting: Surviving, If Not Thriving

June 10, 2022 Early-Career Parenting: Surviving, If Not Thriving by Katlyn A Catron, PhD This article was originally published in the Summer 2022 edition of “American Entomologist” https://doi.org/10.1093/ae/tmac040 The early stage of an entomologist’s career is filled with difficult decisions: do I take a postdoc, an industry job, or just light my degrees on fire […]

Plant Defense Elicitors

November 18, 2021 Test of plant defense elicitors for arthropod pest suppression and PR-1 gene induction in pear orchards Plant defense elicitors (PDEs) are chemicals that stimulate plant defenses against pathogens and herbivores. Previous work shows that PDEs acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) and harpinab protein (harpin) can induce the pathogenesis-related gene PR-1 in plants and suppress herbivorous […]

Principal Investigator or CFO?

June 22, 2021 Principal Investigator or CFO? Unpacking the PI Conundrum with Basic Economic Theory by Louis Nottingham This article was originally published in the Summer 2021 edition of “American Entomologist” https://doi.org/10.1093/ae/tmab028 As a relatively new research faculty member, coming to grips with the true nature of running a lab has been something of an […]

Dusky Slug in Field Corn and Soybean

June 2, 2021 Ambient moisture causes methomyl residues on corn plants to rapidly lose toxicity to the pest slug, Arion subfuscus, Müller (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora) The carbamate insecticide methomyl is sometimes used to control slugs in field corn and soybean by foliar applications, but control outcomes in research trials and commercial operations have been mixed. In […]

dark brown slug on a green leaf

Leafhopper Deterrence Linked to X Disease Management

March 10, 2021 Leafhopper Deterrence Linked to X Disease Management WSU entomologists and industry partners learn about X disease vectors to help the cherry industry optimize management. Work by the Nottingham lab on insecticide efficacy (“catching lots of wild leafhoppers and trying to keep them alive long enough to kill them”) and systemic insecticides applied […]

two people walk between rows of cherry trees on white reflective fabric covering the orchard floor

Codling Moth Task Force

Mach 9, 2021 Codling Moth Task Force Codling moth has been the key pest of pome fruits across the growing regions of Washington and Oregon for over 100 years. During that time, pest management programs regularly evolved as key pesticides were phased out and new technology was incorporated. As we continue to adapt new tools […]

close up of a red apple with multiple black ringed holes indicative of codling moth damage

Prebloom Management of Pear Psylla with Particle Film

February 8, 2021 Psylla will soon be on the move! Louis Nottingham and Robert Orpet wrote an article in the February 2021 edition of ‘Tree Fruit News’ reminding growers to start preparing dormant sprays of kaolin clay (Surround) to deter pear psylla colonization in the orchard. A dormant Surround spray will provide the first line […]

Dr. Angelita (Angel) Acebes-Doria interview

November 19, 2020 Nottingham Interviews Dr. Angelita (Angel) Acebes-Doria in Entomology Today. Read my interview with an incredibly inspirational entomologist, Dr. Angel Acebes-Doria; someone I’m proud to call a colleague and friend. Angel discussed topics that many early career scientists face, such impostor syndrome and running a research lab during COVID, but also some that […]