Current Students

Anupama Cauveri Udayakumar

  • MS student
  • audaya2@illinois.edu

Rachel Rusen

  • MS student
  • rrusen2@illinois.edu

Lab Alumni

Anna Grommes

  • MS 2022: Fielding a strong defense: optimizing the effectiveness of pheromone-based lures for detection of cerambycid beetles
  • Research Associate 2
  • Corteva Agriscience, Johnston, IA
  • grommesanna@gmail.com

Todd Johnson

  • PhD 2019: The use of sensory information by cerambycids and their natural enemies to locate resources and mates
  • Assistant Professor of Forest Entomoloy
  • Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
  • ToddJohnson@agcenter.lsu.edu

Linnea Meier

  • PhD 2018: Pheromone chemistry and reproductive isolation in the subfamily Lamiinae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)
  • linrmeier@gmail.com

Natalie Diesel

  • MS 2017: 1-(1H-Pyrrol-2-yl)-1,2-propanedione is a crucial pheromone component of the rare North American cerambycid beetle Dryobius sexnotatus

Alexander Hazel

  • MS 2017: Identifying hosts of cerambycid beetles using palynology

Joe Wong

  • PhD 2016: Host plant associations and chemical ecology of the Cerambycidae
  • Entomologist
  • USDA-APHIS, Los Angeles, CA
  • joseph.c.wong@usda.gov

Tom Schmeelk

  • MS 2015: Effect of trap height on abundance and species diversity of cerambycid beetles captured in forests of east-central Illinois
  • Entomologist 2
  • Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry, Maine Forest Service, Augusta, ME
  • Thomas.Schmeelk@maine.gov

Christina Silliman

  • MS 2014: Factors contributing to variation in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of two species of longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)
  • Coordinator for the Alumni Mentoring Program
  • School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • sillima2@illinois.edu

Rob Mitchell

  • MS, PhD 2012: Chemical communication in cerambycid beetles and the molecular basis of olfaction
  • Associate Professor
  • Department of Entomology, Penn State
  • rfmitchell@psu.edu
  • website

Ken Robinson

  • MS 2011 (Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology): Avoidance of cross-attraction among sympatric and synchronic species of cerambycid beetles that share pheromone components
  • Associate Scientist
  • AbbVie Pharmaceuticals, Abbott Park, IL

Becca Striman

  • MS 2010: Seasonal and diel periodicity of Cerambycid beetles in east-central Illinois: the potential for cross attraction

Liz Graham

  • PhD 2010: Host plant relationships and chemical communication in the Cerambycidae
  • Entomologist
  • USDA Forest Service, Anchorage, AK
  • eegraham@fs.fed.us

Matthew Richardson

  • PhD 2009: Species composition and genetic structure of grassland plant communities and their influence on spiders and herbivorous insects
  • Acting director, Centor for Urban Research, Engagement, & Scholarship
  • University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC
  • matthew.richardson@udc.edu

Annie Ray

  • MS, PhD 2009: Evolution and taxonomic distribution of volatile pheromones in cerambycine longhorned beetles
  • Professor
  • Biology Department, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH
  • raya6@xavier.edu
  • website

Pete Reagel

  • MS, PhD 2009: Effects of natural enemies and host condition on populations of insect pests of trees
  • Entomologist
  • USDA-APHIS-PPQ, San Diego, CA
  • Peter.F.Reagel@aphis.usda.gov

Dominic Philpott

  • MS 2007: Molecular validation of a morphological character for distinguishing between the armored scale insects Chionaspis pinifoliae and C. heterophyllae (Hemiptera: Diaspididae)
  • Dentist
  • Comfort Dental, Northglenn, CO
  • northglenn@comfortdental.biz

Emerson Lacey

  • MS, PhD 2007: Chemical ecology of the Clytini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)
  • Staff Research Associate
  • Dept. of Entomology, University of California, Riverside
  • emerson.lacey@ucr.edu

Emily Kluger Glasberg

  • MS 2007: Effects of habitat fragmentation and host plant community composition on genetic structure and population dynamics of the prairie-endemic weevil Haplorhynchites aeneus (Boehman)
  • Key Account Manager/Entomologist
  • Clarke, Chicago, IL
  • eglasberg@clarke.com

Ashley Bennett

  • MS 2003: Conservation biological control of pine needle scale (Homoptera: Diaspididae) in ornamental landscapes
  • Technical Lead in Land Mangagement
  • EPRI, Knoxville, TN
  • abennett@epri.edu

Erin Grossman

  • MS 2003: Impact of tree water stress on herbivorous insects in urban ecosystems
  • National Policy Leader for Spotted Lanternfly
  • USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Riverdale, MD
  • Erin.M.Otto@aphis.usda.gov

John Tooker

  • MS, PhD 2003: Multitrophic interactions in a prairie insect community: Ecology, behavior, and conservation
  • Professor of Entomology
  • Dept. of Entomology, Penn State University, State College, PA
  • tooker@psu.edu
  • website

Matt Ginzel

  • MS, PhD 2003: Chemically-mediated mate location and recognition in longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)
  • Professor of Entomology, Forestry, and Natural Resources
  • Dept. of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
  • mginzel@purdue.edu
  • website

Jodie A. Ellis

  • MS 2001: An evaluation of conservation biological control of evergreen bagworm (Lepidoptera: Psychidae)
  • JHethEllis@mail.com

Rob Moore

  • MS 2001: Dispersal and population regulation of the evergreen bagworm, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis (Haworth) (Lepidoptera: Psychidae)
  • Medical Entomologist
  • US Army (retired)
 
Alexander Hazel
Xander Hazel