2025 projects

1. Making mites “less mighty” – exploring biopesticides in the hive environment

Apple production is an important part of upstate New York’s economy and relies heavily on pollinators, particularly honeybees. Unfortunately, Varroa mites pose a major threat to bee populations and are now resistant to many commonly used pesticides. Integrated Pest Management practices aim to replace or reduce chemical usage through incorporating biopesticides and biological control into agricultural settings. With a summer researcher, we will explore eco-friendly solutions, specifically a peptide-based biopesticide, to control Varroa mites. We plan to track how long this treatment remains in hives to guide how often it should be applied.

Lab: 50%, Field: 50%

Mentors: Petra Hafker, Christophe Duplais

2. Insect behavior 

Understanding insect behavior can be foundational for the development of sustainable pest control techniques. If we understand more about how insects choose between scents or plants, what motivates insects to initiate flight or how their feeding behavior changes with the presence of a predator, it can provide insight to potential new techniques or approaches to limiting the negative effects of pests on target agricultural crops. In this project, the summer scholar will work alongside Rivera lab members to explore different techniques of measuring and assessing insect behavior.

Lab: 80%, Field: 20% 

Mentors: Monique Rivera, Mason Patrick Chandler, Sandra Lizarraga, Kelsey Nicole Tobin

3. On the move: Examining the dispersal of onion thrips through agricultural landscapes

Generalist insect pests disperse between crops throughout agroecosystems in response to factors like plant availability and quality. Determining the source of insect pest populations can improve pest management by allowing growers to predict the timing and location of outbreaks in commercial farms. In this project, we will collect onion thrips, a significant pest of onion in New York, from farms involving field work 2-3 days/week. One project aim is to identify thrips species that land on sticky cards from the field using a microscope in the lab. The second aim is to use molecular gut content analysis to identify plant DNA in the insects to pinpoint their source. We hope to understand if onion thrips have moved into onion fields early in the season from nearby crops such as alfalfa, wheat, and oat after senescence or mowing.

Lab: 55%, Field: 45%

Mentors: Sara Emery, Brian Nault, Katherine Poulos

4. Impact of insect resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins in transgenic crops on insecticidal efficacy of Bt formulations

The soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is the most widely used environment-friendly microbial insecticide as sprayable formulations in agriculture and public health. Current genetically modified insect-resistant crops are engineered to express insecticidal Bt proteins to confer insect-resistance. Bt contains multiple insecticidal proteins and spores, and Bt crops express selected Bt proteins. In this project, we will analyze the impacts of insect resistance to the major Bt toxins used in Bt-crops, individually and in combinations, on the insecticidal efficacy of conventional Bt formulations. The scholar will participate in our research project to conduct an independent study to analyze insect strains with various Bt resistance traits for their response to Bt formulations and work in collaboration with lab members. 

Lab: 100%; Field: 0%

Mentor: Ping Wang

5. Ecology and Management of Vegetable Insect Pests

A primary goal of my research and extension program is to develop management strategies for vegetable insect pests that are practical, economical and environmentally responsible. Another important goal is to work with growers to implement these pest management strategies on their farms. Students in my program will learn about insect biology, ecology and management of many insect pests that attack New York’s most important vegetable crops. Students also will interact with vegetable growers, extension educators, and other crop protection professionals while conducting research on vegetable farms. Skills acquired during this internship include design of field experiments and laboratory bioassays, data collection and statistical analyses, illustration and interpretation of results, communication with stakeholders and the scientific community. 

Lab: 25%, Field: 75%

Mentor: Brian Nault