Hoffmann, Michael Peter
Professor
As a professor of entomology my goal is to advance the integrated pest management (IPM) strategy through mission-oriented research and extension. My research program is directed at improving our understanding of pest biology and ecology in vegetable crop systems and applying that information to develop practical, cost-effective, and environmentally sensitive pest management tactics. The goal of my extension program is to ensure that new knowledge is delivered to the end-user and adapted to their needs. As Director of the CUAES, I oversee the allocation of Federal Formula Fund funding, respond to the needs of applied research and extension, and act as liaison to several agencies and the colleges of Human Ecology and Veterinary Medicine. As Associate Dean, serve as a member of the leadership team of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, contribute to strategic planning; help to determine the allocation of resources for college programs; provide advice on diverse college initiatives including invasive species, renewable energy, climate change; facilitate leadership development, and oversee coordination of farm and greenhouse/growth chamber facilities and personnel.
research
research and scholarship focus
Responsible for the development of IPM strategies for vegetable crops. Program emphasis is on insect population dynamics, biological control, development and application of insect behavior modifying chemicals, and alternative pest management tactics.
primary investigator of
- ACQUISITION OF GOODS & SERVICES | Research Grant
- INTEGRATING CONVENTIONAL AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF EUROPEAN CORN BORER IN SWEET CORN: EFFICACY AND ECONOMICS | Research Grant
co investigator of
- DEVELOPING FARMERS' SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE IN THE USE OF TRICHOGRAMMA OSTRINIAE FOR EUROPEAN CORN BORER CONTROL IN SWEET CORN, PEPPERS, AND POTATOES | Research Grant
- NEW YORK STATE INVASIVE SPECIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE | Research Grant
- NORTHEASTERN INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT CENTER | Research Grant
- NORTHEASTERN INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT CENTER | Research Grant
research areas
- biological control | collaborative research area (CALS)
- ecology | collaborative research area (CALS)
- entomology | collaborative research area (CALS)
- fruit and vegetable production | collaborative research area (CALS)
- insects | collaborative research area (CALS)
- integrated pest management | collaborative research area (CALS)
- organic agriculture | collaborative research area (CALS)
- pest management | collaborative research area (CALS)
- value-added agriculture | collaborative research area (CALS)
- vegetables | collaborative research area (CALS)
submitted impact statement
- Release of tiny wasp suppresses major insect pest of sweet corn | 2007 Impact statement
- Release of tiny wasp suppresses major insect pest of sweet corn | 2006 Impact statement
- The Agricultural Innovation Center: adding value to New York agricultural products | 2005 Impact statement
- The Agricultural Innovation Center: adding value to New York agricultural products | 2004 Impact statement
affiliations
head of
- Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station (CUAES) | research and extension institute
- New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (NYS IPM) | research and extension institute
faculty appointment in
- Entomology (ENTOM) | Cornell department
administrative appointment
- Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station (CUAES) | research and extension institute
member of graduate field
- Entomology | graduate field
- Plant Protection | graduate field
other Cornell affiliations
- Cornell Organic Working Group | working group
- Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station (CUAES) | research and extension institute
- New York Agricultural Innovation Center | research and extension institute
administrative responsibilities
Associate Dean, CALS
member of advisory group
- Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future (CCSF) | research and educational resource center
teaching
teaches
- ENTOM 4970 - Individual Study in Entomology (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- ENTOM 4980 - Undergraduate Teaching (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- ENTOM 4990 - Undergraduate Research in Entomology (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- ENTOM 7070 - Individual Study for Graduate Students (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- ENTOM 7090 - Teaching Entomology (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- ENTOM 8900 - Master's-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- ENTOM 9900 - Doctoral-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- ENTOM 4970 - Individual Study in Entomology (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- ENTOM 4980 - Undergraduate Teaching (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- ENTOM 7070 - Individual Study for Graduate Students (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- ENTOM 7090 - Teaching Entomology (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- ENTOM 8900 - Master's-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- ENTOM 9900 - Doctoral-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
service
outreach focus
As an entomologist I occasionally speak to stakeholder or extension educator audiences, updating them on recent developments related to IPM in vegetables with an emphasis on biological control. I also occasionally respond to stakeholder inquiries regarding pests of vegetable crops.
current professional activities
background
educational background
- Ph.D., University of California, Davis, Entomology, 1990
- M.S., University of Arizona, Entomology, 1978
- B.S., University of Wisconson at Green Bay, Ecosystems, 1975
featured in
- 'Farm kid from Wisconsin' fights bugs with bugs and oversees $5 million for research | Cornell Chronicle feature
- Apple, biofuel and invasive species programs are some newly funded research and extension projects | Cornell Chronicle feature
- As the Big Red goes green, climate conference builds bridges across campus | Cornell Chronicle feature
- CALS receives national award for its bioenergy initiatives | Cornell Chronicle feature
- Hoffmann named director of the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station | Cornell Chronicle feature
- Local foods: Good for your health and the economy, stresses state commissioner | Cornell Chronicle feature
- New Cornell initiative transforms 'biotrash' into bioenergy to help fuel the university | Cornell Chronicle feature
- New Cornell institute focuses on invasive species | Cornell Chronicle feature
- New method applies pesticides in nanofibers to keep chemicals on target | Cornell Chronicle feature
- On issues of energy, environment and climate, Cornell experts say they have a leading role to play | Cornell Chronicle feature
- Sustainable Tompkins honors three Cornell projects | Cornell Chronicle feature
- Tiny wasps help keep sweet corn worm-free and customers more satisfied | Cornell Chronicle feature
- Washington alumni hear about Cornell's 'culture of sustainability' | Cornell Chronicle feature
- Weeklong training helps CALS professors cope with others' tears and fears | Cornell Chronicle feature
publications
selected publications (listing in progress)
Refereed
- Hoffmann. 2007. Evaluation of corn leaf aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis; Homoptera: Aphididae) honeydew as a food source for the egg parasitoid Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Biological Control 40: 230-236.
- Yong, T.-H., S. Pitcher, J. Gardner, and M.P. Hoffmann. 2007. Odor specificity testing in the assessment of efficacy and non-target risk for Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Biocontrol Science and Technology 17: 135-153.
- Fuchsberg, J. R., T.-H. Yong, J. E. Losey, M. E. Carter, and M. P. Hoffmann. Evaluation of corn leaf aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis; Homoptera: Aphididae) honeydew as a food source for the egg parasitoid Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Biological control. (accepted)
- Yong, T.-H., S. Pitcher, J. Gardner, and M.P. Hoffmann. Odor specificity testing in the assessment of efficacy and non-target risk for Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Biocontrol Science and Technology (in press)
- Yong, T.-H. and M. P. Hoffmann. 2006. Habitat selection by the introduced biological control agent Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) and implications for non-target effects. Environmental Entomology 35: 725-732.
- Hoffmann, M. P., S. A. Pitcher, S. A. Cheever, J. E. Losey, T. P. Kuhar; C. A. Laub, and R. R. Youngman. 2006. Efficacy of inoculative releases of Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) against European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in field corn. Biological control 36: 345-349.
- Lobdell, C.E., T.-H. Yong, & M.P. Hoffmann. 2005. Host color preferences and short-range searching behavior of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma ostriniae. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 116:127-134.
- Wright, M. G., M. P. Hoffmann, T. P. Kuhar, J. Gardner and S. A. Pitcher. 2005. Evaluating risks of biological control introductions: a probabilistic risk-assessment approach. Biological control. 35: 338-347.
- Morris, B. D., Foster, S. P., Smyth, R. R., Hoffmann, M. P., Roelofs, W. L., Franke, S., and Francke, W. 2005. Vittatalactone, alpha, beta-lactone from the striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum. J. Nat. Prod. 68:26-30.
linked articles
Keywords: biological control, insect ecology, integrated pest management, invasive species, pheromones, vegetable IPM