Heather J. McAuslane

hjmca@ufl.edu

(80% research, 20% teaching)

Education

Ph.D., 1990, Texas A&M University, TX (Entomology)
M.Sc., 1986, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario (Entomology)
B.Sc., 1983, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario (Biology)

Employment History

Associate Professor, University of Florida (1997 to present)
Assistant Professor, University of Florida (1993 to 1997)
Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Florida (1990 to 1993)
Graduate Research Assistant, Texas A&M University (1986 to 1990)
Graduate Research Assistant, University of Guelph (1984 to 1986)

Teaching Activities

I teach two graduate­level courses:

ENY 6209, Chemical Ecology of Insects (3 credits, Spring semester of even years)

ENY 6261, Insect Resistance in Crop Plants (3 credits, Fall semester of odd years).

I coach the University of Florida Linnaean Games team (1996 Champions of the Southeastern branch of the Entomological Society of America).

Research Activities

Research in my laboratory focuses on the combination of host plant resistance and biological control for sustainable management of insect pests. Host plant resistance and biological control are nontoxic, sustainable and environmentally sound strategies that can be used to manage the many insect pests that attack vegetable, agronomic and horticultural crops in Florida. Certain physical and chemical plant characteristics are well known to have negative impacts on herbivorous pest insects and are capitalized upon in the practice of host plant resistance. Less recognized, but equally important, are the effects of plant characteristics on the biology and behavior of insects belonging to the third trophic level, the predators and parasitoids of herbivorous insects.

The overall goal of my research is to obtain the information necessary for us to design effective and efficient combinations of host plant resistance and biological control for sustainable management of serious pest insects in Florida. To meet this objective I have research projects focusing on plant resistance to herbivorous insects, others on biological control using parasitoids, and still others on the interaction of the two.

Current Research Projects

• Resistance in Cucurbita species to silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii, and to squash silverleaf disorder.
  Feeding by silverleaf whitefly induces a severe physiological disorder in summer squash. In collaboration with Susan Webb and Bruce Carle we are investigating the mechanism of resistance to silverleaf disorder expressed in squash breeding lines.
• Biological control of silverleaf whitefly
  Silverleaf whitefly in Florida is parasitized by many species of native aphelinid parasitoids. We have elucidated the species composition and distribution of native parasitoids attacking silverleaf whitefly in Florida, and are studying the behavior and biocontrol potential of selected native and exotic species.
• Tritrophic interactions involving silverleaf whitefly
  We are studying the effects of plant characteristics, such as leaf hairiness and epidermal wax, on the behavior and biology of predators and parasitoids of the silverleaf whitefly.
• Induction of feeding deterrents in cotton
  Feeding injury by lepidopterous larvae induces systemic production of allelochemicals in cotton which reduce feeding and survival of subsequently infesting larvae. In collaboration with Hans Alborn, we are investigating the dynamics and biochemistry of herbivore-induced resistance in cotton.
• Host plant relationships of the oleander caterpillar
  Oleander caterpillar, Syntomeida epilais (Arctiidae: Ctenuchinae), is a specialized feeder on oleander and a few other chemically-related plants. This herbivore has switched within recent history to oleander from its native host plant. We are investigating the chemical ecology of the relationship between oleander caterpillar and its host plants.

Selected Publications

McAuslane, H.J., H.T. Alborn, and J. Toth. Systemic induction of terpenoid aldehydes in cotton pigment glands by feeding of larval Spodoptera exigua. J. Chem. Ecol. (accepted)

McAuslane, H.J., and R. Nguyen. 1996. Reproductive behavior and biology of a thelytokous species of Eretmocerus (Hymenoptera: Aleyrodidae) parasitizing Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 89: 686­693.

McAuslane, H.J., S.E. Webb, and G.W. Elmstrom. 1996. Resistance in breeding lines of Cucurbita pepo to squash silverleaf, a disorder associated with feeding by Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Fla. Entomol. 79: 206­221.

McAuslane, H.J. 1996. Influence of leaf pubescence on ovipositional preference of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on soybean. Environ. Entomol. 25: 834­841.

Alborn, H.T., U.S.R. Röse, and H.J. McAuslane. 1996. Systemic induction of feeding deterrents in cotton plants by feeding of Spodoptera spp. larvae. J. Chem. Ecol. 22: 919­932.

McAuslane, H.J., D.A. Knauft, and F.A. Johnson. 1995. Evaluation of peanut breeding lines for resistance to silverleaf whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Fla. Entomol. 78: 75­81.

McAuslane, H.J., F.A. Johnson, D.L. Colvin, and B. Sojack. 1995. Influence of foliar pubescence on incidence and parasitism of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on soybean and peanut. Environ. Entomol. 24: 1135­1143.

McAuslane, H.J., and F.D. Bennett. 1995. Parasitoids and predators associated with Syntomeida epilais (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) on oleander. Fla. Entomol. 78: 543­546.

McAuslane, H.J. 1994. Interactions between host­plant resistance and biological control agents, pp. 681­708. In Rosen, D., F.D. Bennett & J.L.Capinera [eds.], Pest management in the subtropics: Biological control ­ a Florida perspective. Intercept Ltd., Andover, United Kingdom.

McAuslane, H.J., F.A. Johnson and D.A. Knauft. 1994. Population levels and parasitism of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on peanut cultivars. Environ. Entomol. 23: 1203­1210.

McAuslane, H.J., F.A. Johnson, D.A. Knauft and D.L. Colvin. 1993. Seasonal abundance and within­plant distribution of parasitoids of sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in peanuts. Environ. Entomol. 22: 1043­1050.

McAuslane, H.J., S.B. Vinson and H.J. Williams. 1991. Stimuli influencing host microhabitat location by Campoletis sonorensis (Cameron). Entomol. Exp. Appl. 58: 267­277.

McAuslane, H.J., S.B. Vinson and H.J. Williams. 1991. Influence of adult experience on microhabitat location by the generalist parasitoid, Campoletis sonorensis. J. Insect Behav. 4: 101­113.

McAuslane, H.J., S.B. Vinson and H.J. Williams. 1990. Influence of host plant on mate location by the parasitoid, Campoletis sonorensis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Environ. Entomol. 19:26­31.

McAuslane, H.J., S.B. Vinson and H.J. Williams. 1990. Change in mandibular and mesosomal gland contents of male Xylocopa micans (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae) associated with mating strategy. J. Chem. Ecol. 16: 1877­1885.

Revised February 1997