Diane Ullman

  • Distinguished Professor Emerita of Entomology
As a faculty member in the Department of Entomology and Nematology, my area of research responsibility encompasses insect/virus/plant interactions and development of management strategies for insect-transmitted plant pathogens. I have worked with many insect vector species (thrips, aphids, whiteflies, leafhoppers, mealybugs) and the plant pathogens they transmit, including viruses, phytoplasma and bacteria. During the past 30 years I have delved deeply into world of thrips and the orthotospoviruses they transmit. My work ranged from the organismal to the molecular and I have had the opportunity to move across disciplinary borders, working with entomologists, virologists, plant physiologists and plant breeders. Currently, I am exploring the interaction between the western flower thrips and the plant virus, Tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus (TSWV), including characterizing and pursuing functional analysis of their salivary gland proteins. In the past decade, I led an AFRI NIFA Coordinated Agricultural Project addressing development of innovative strategies for management of thrips vectors and orthotospoviruses, served as a co-PI on an NSF grant aimed at revealing the early events in Sw-5 mediated resistance to TSWV in tomato, and led a NIFA grant exploring the transcriptome and proteome of the western flower thrips salivary gland.
172 Hutchison Hall

Howard Ferris

  • Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Dr. Ferris' research interests include: Soil ecology; decomposition and nutrient cycling; contribution of nematodes to the structure and function of the soil food web. Population biology and population assessment of soil nematodes; integrated pest management.

Mary Louise Flint

  • Professor of Cooperative Extension Emeritus
Dr. Flint's research interests include: Integrated pest management of landscape, agricultural and garden pests; biological control of arthropod pests; alternatives to pesticides; adoption of alternative practices by practitioners; innovative delivery of pest management information.

Charles G. Summers

Dr. Summers' research interests include: Economic entomology and pest management: biology and ecology of insects attacking field and vegetable crops; pest management of field and vegetable crop insects and the interaction of multiple pest complexes; development of economic injury levels and economic thresholds; insect/plant-virus relationships with emphasis on aphid-bourne viruses.

Christine Y. S. Peng

  • Professor Emerita
Dr. Peng's research interests include: Honey bee nutrition, digestion, reproductive physiology with emphasis on gamete biology, and honey bee parasites and diseases.

Harry K. Kaya

  • Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Dr. Kaya's research interests include: Utilization of nematodes for biological control of insect pests; interaction between nematodes and other biological control agents; general insect pathology (protozoan, viral and fungal diseases of insects).