Jan Nyrop

The goal of my research is to develop the tools required for biologically-based management of arthropods in horticultural crops. I work towards this goal along three programmatic thrusts; biological control, pest control decision making, and quantitative population ecology. My biological control research focuses on improving the effectiveness of natural enemies in selected cropping systems. Pest control decision making is one of the foundations of pest management and this research addresses tools for measuring pest abundance, understanding pest impact on crops, and risk assessment for non-indigenous species.

Outreach and Extension Focus

I assist the producers and users of mass-produced biological control agents in understanding the issues surrounding quality control and in developing methods for assessing the quality of products. This is a world-wide group of constituents.
I make presentations on and help to develop recommendations based on my research in various horticultural cropping systems. Constituents are primarily in New York and the northeast.
I help to coordinate and staff entomological displays that strive to convey the importance and excitement of entomology to a wide constituency. Examples include Empire Farm Days, Fun on the Farm, and Insectapalooza, the annual entomology open house.

Selected Publications

Journal Publications

• Hussein, M., Pillai, V., Joshua, G., Park, H., Kothapalli, K., Ross, D., Ketterings, Q. M., Brenna, . T., Milstein, M. B., Marquis, H., Johnson, P. A., Nyrop, J. P., & Selvaraj, V. (2017). Sustainable production of housefly (Musca domestica) larvae as a protein-rich feed ingredient by utilizing cattle manure. PLOS One. 12:e0171708.
• Atallah, S., Gomez, M., Conrad, J. M., & Nyrop, J. P. (2015). A Plant-Level, Spatial, Bioeconomic Model of Plant Disease, Diffusion, and Control: Grapevine Leafroll Disease. American Journal of Agricultural Economics. 97:199-218.

Book Chapters

• Nyrop, J. P., Loeb, G. M., & Roda, A. (1998). Conservation biological control of spider mites in perennial cropping systems. p. 307-333 Perspectives on the Conservation of Natural Enemies of Pest Species P. Barbosa (ed.), Academic Press.

Presentations and Activities

• Influence of predator-avoidance behavior on the movement patterns of whiteflies in greenhouse. 24th International Congress of Entomology. August 2012. International Congress of Entomology. Daegu, South Korea.

I currently teach a course on invasions with Dr. Ann Hajek. The purpose of this course is for students to learn about the biology and ecology of invasions, the expanding problems caused by invasive species and how invasions are mitigated and managed. These topics are grounded in biology; however, they have social, economic and philosophical implications. I enjoy teaching the course because it integrates fundamental biology, applications of biological understanding, and social and economic issues. This breadth lends itself to a variety of teaching styles and active, participatory learning.