Current Research Interest:
Forest insects use chemical cues and signals to evaluate their environment, detect host plants, prey items, natural enemies, and to evaluate and locate potential mates. As a consequence, the discipline of chemical ecology has immense potential to provide novel insights into the ecology and behavior of forest insects as well as biologically rational pest management tactics. Our research aims to develop a better understanding of the biology and ecology of forest insects through studies of their interactions with their host plants, competitors, natural enemies and environment. Specifically we have two mission oriented objectives: 1) In the short term we want to use this understanding to improve integrated pest management of insects affecting southern forests; and 2) In the long term we seek a more complete understanding of the role of chemical signals and cues in natural forest systems and the evolutionary forces shaping the chemical ecology of forest insects. Some current projects include: 1) Investigation of chemically-mediated interspecific sub-cortical interactions among larval bark and cerambycid beetles; 2) Examination of the pheromone biology of the baldcypress leafroller, Archips goyerana; and 3) The evolutionary-ecology of pheromone communication in the buck moth, Hemileuca maia. Our research group is always interested in considering enthusiastic students and researchers interested in working on the chemical ecology of forest insects. In addition individuals with their own ideas for projects in the disciplines of ecology, behavior and evolution using forest insects as model systems are encouraged to inquire about opportunities that may exist.
Back to Top
Courses Taught:
Forest Insects and Diseases (ENTM 4018) (co-taught)
Recent Publications:
Hemmann, D. J., Allison, J. D., and Haynes, K. F. 2008. Trade-off between sensitivity and specificity in the cabbage looper moth response to sex pheromone. Journal of Chemical Ecology (in press)
Allison, J. D., Roff, D. A., and Cardé,
R. T. 2008. Genetic independence of female signal form and male receiver design in the almond moth, Cadra cautella. Journal of Evolutionary Biology (in press)
Allison, J. D. and Cardé, R. T. 2008. Male pheromone blend preference function measured in choice and no-choice wind-tunnel trials with Cadra cautella. Animal Behavior 75:259-266.
Allison, J. D. and Cardé,
R. T. 2007. Bidirectional selection for novel pheromone blend ratios in the almond moth, Cadra cautella. Journal of Chemical Ecology 33:2293-2307.
Allison, J.D. and Cardé, R.T.
2006. Heritable variation in the sex pheromone of the almond moth, Cadra cautella. Journal of Chemical Ecology 32:621-641.
Allison, J.D., Borden, J.H., and Seybold, S.J. 2004. A review of the chemical ecology of the Cerambycidae (Coleoptera). Chemoecology 14:123-150.
Morewood, W.D., Simmonds, K.E., Gries, R., Allison, J.D., and Borden, J.H.
2003. Disruption by conophthorin of the kairomonal response of sawyer beetles to bark beetle pheromones. Journal of Chemical Ecology 29:2115-2129.
Allison, J.D., Morewood, W.D., Borden, J.H., Hein, K.E., and Wilson, I.M.
2002.Differential bio-activity of Ips and Dendroctonus pheromone components for Monochamus clamator and M. scutellatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae).Environmental Entomology 32:23-30.
Allison, J.D., and Borden, J.H. 2001.Observations on the behavior of Monochamus scutellatus (Say) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Northern British Columbia. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia 98:195-200.
Allison, J.D., Borden, J.H., McIntosh, R.L., de Groot, P., and Gries,
R. 2001.Kairomonal responses by four Monochamus species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) to bark beetle pheromones. Journal of Chemical Ecology 27:633-646.
Allison, J.D., McIntosh, R.L., Borden, J.H., and Humble, L.M.
2000. A new parasitoid (Diptera: Tachinidae) of cerambycid beetles in North America. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia97:3-5.
McIntosh, R.L., Katinic, P.J., Allison, J.D., Borden, J.H., and Downey, D.L.
2000. Comparative efficacy of five types of traps for trapping large woodborers in the Cerambycidae, Buprestidae and Siricidae. Agricultural and Forest Entomology3:113-120.
People:
Students:
Erich Schoeller:
His research interests are primarily focused on plant-insect interactions and insect chemical ecology. My thesis work will involve studying the dynamics of the possible facultative predator Monochamus titillator (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and the bark beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) guild consisting of the Southern Pine Beetle Dendroctonus frontalis, and the three associated pine engraver species Ips avulus, Ips grandicollis, and Ips calligraphus. Rearing studies with woodborer and bark beetle larvae have observed reduced bark beetle brood production in the presence of larval woodborers and behavioral studies have observed facultative intraguild predation in phloem disks. The goals of my research are to examine larval woodborer-bark beetle interactions among these species in detail, to quantify predatory behaviors in the subcortical environment and to examine the effect of predation on woodborer fitness if predation is found to occur.
Back to Top |
