I have worked extensively with a fungal pathogen first seen in North America that has been providing natural control of gypsy moth, a major pest of northeastern forests, for over 100 years. While this Japanese pathogen is not always providing complete control everywhere, it has been maintaining gypsy moth populations in central New York at low densities since it was first reported in North America. In other areas, infrequent outbreaks for shorter periods have occurred. At present, our studies are focusing on spatial and temporal variability in activity of E. maimaiga and the reasons behind low levels of activity in localized areas. Among our other studies on this system, host specificity studies in the laboratory and field have shown that this pathogen provides an excellent example of successful biological control without non-target effects. We have also studied the population genetics of this fungus as well as spore dormancy, the latter toward potential development of this fungus as a biological control product. Our studies with Asian longhorned beetle have been directed toward use of an entomopathogenic fungus for control of this invasive from China. We have been developing a novel application method that provides a means for applying insect pathogenic fungi that remain viable for several months, something previously unheard of. Recent studies have demonstrated decreased fecundity in females before death and the fact that placing fungal bands around trees leads to low levels of environmental contamination both from beetles walking across them and from abiotic conditions. A newer project in the laboratory involves studies of fungal pathogens of the new invasive soybean aphid and the potential for aphid control by fungi. Additional studies in the lab include: the changes in behavior of fungal-infected insects, the effect of density on susceptibility of caterpillars to virus, and dispersal . Throughout all of these projects, we strive to learn new information about insect pathogens and their relations to hosts that also answer basic and conceptual questions in invertebrate pathology.

I teach an interactive graduate course in invertebrate pathology, including laboratories in which we use a diversity of techniques, conduct experiments and look at invertebrates infected with a diversity of pathogens and nematodes.|I also co-teach a course on biological control and invasives species directed toward non-majors. In this interactive course we address basic principles as well as issues of popular interest.