Current Research Interests

The focus of my research is directed toward maintaining economical and environmentally acceptable insect pest management systems for field corn, cotton, grain sorghum and soybean. These commodities are among the most important agricultural crops produced in Louisiana and effective IPM strategies are essential for efficient and profitable production.

Current projects involve
(1) insect pest surveys and management strategies in conservation tillage production systems
(2) evaluation of natural and genetically engineered host plant resistance traits
(3) cultural methods of insect management, (4) chemical and microbial insecticide screening studies
(4) development of insecticide resistance management plans.
The information generated in these studies is used to refine IPM recommendations and is directly transferred to agricultural consultants and producers.

Being located at the Macon Ridge Research Station in Northeast Louisiana rather than at the main campus in Baton Rouge has prompted cooperative research opportunities with selected faculty members in the Department of Entomology, as well as, with scientists from other disciplines in the LSU Ag Center. In addition, collaborative research projects are frequently sponsored by members of the agrichemical industries and crop commodity organizations.

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People:

PhD Students:
Jarrod Hardke (PhD, Current)
PadmaBommireddy(PhD, Current)
Melissa Willrich (PhD, Graduated 2004)
Donald Cook (PhD, Graduated 2003)
Jeff Gore (PhD, Graduated 2001)
John Adamczyk, Jr. (PhD Graduated 1998)
Victor Mascarenhas (PhD, Graduated 1997)
Andy White (PhD, Graduated 1995)
Scott Martin (PhD, Graduated 1994)
P. O'Brien (PhD, Graduated 1992)

Graduate Students:
Kyle Fontenot (MS, Current)
Joshua Temple (MS, Current)
Rhett Gable (MS, Graduated 2005)
Ashley Peters (MS, Graduated 2004)
Hank Jones(Graduated 2004)
Hunter Fife (MS, Graduated 2000)
Stacy Hall (MS, Graduated 2000)
Jeff Gore (MS, Graduated 1999)
Stacy Russell (MS, Graduated 1999)
Joseph Pankey (MS, Graduated 1996)
Karla Torrey (MS, Graduated 1995)
Dennis Long (MS, Graduated 1992)

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Selected Publications:

Ottea, J. A. and B. R. Leonard. 2006. Insecticide/Acaricide resistance management, pp. 76-86. In Treacy & All (eds.) Utilization and Management of Insecticides, Acaricides, and Transgenic Crops. Entomological Society of America, Lanham, MD.

Siebert, J. D., B. R Leonard, and A. M. Stewart. 2006. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Yield and quality response to premature defoliation insect-simulated and harvest-aid defoliation. J. Cotton Sci. 10:9-16.

Costello, R. W., J. L. Griffin. B. R. Leonard, D. K. Miller and G. E. Church. 2005. Pyrithiobac and insecticide co-application effects on cotton tolerance and broadleaf and thrips (Frankliniella spp.) control. Weed Tech. 19: 430-436.

Willrich, M. M., B.R. Leonard, R. H. Gable, and L. R. LaMotte. 2005. Cotton boll age influences feeding preference by brown stinkbug (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 98: 82-87.

Willrich, M. M., B.R. Leonard, R. H. Gable, and L. LaMotte. 2004. Boll Injury and yield losses in cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., associated with brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say), during flowering. J. Econ. Entomol. 97: 1928-1934.

Willrich, M. M., B.R. Leonard, and G.B. Padgett. 2004. Influence of southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.), on late-season yield losses in cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. Environ. Entomol. 33: 1095-1101.

Gore, J., B. R. Leonard, and G. Church. 2003. Influence of cultivated host plants on the susceptibility of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Bollgard and non-Bollgard cotton. Environ. Entomol. 32: 103-110.

Gore, J. B. R. Leonard, and R. Gable. 2003. Distribution of bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) injured reproductive structures on genetically engineered Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki Berliner cotton. J. Econ. Entomol. 96:699-705.

Willrich, M. M., B. R. Leonard and D. R. Cook. 2003. Laboratory and field evaluations of insecticide toxicity against stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). J. Cotton Sci. 7:86-94. http:/www.jcotsci.org/ 2003/issue07/html/.

Gore, J., B. R. Leonard, and G. Church. 2002. Behavior of Bollworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on genetically engineered cotton. J. Econ. Entomol. 95:763-769.

Gore, J., B. R. Leonard, and J. J. Adamczyk. 2001. Bollworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) survival on Bollgard and Bollgard II cotton flower buds (squares) and flowers. J. Econ. Entomol. 94: 1445-1451.

Gore, J., B. R. Leonard, G. E. Church, J. S. Russell, and T. S. Hall. 2000. Cotton boll abscission and yield losses associated with first instar bollworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) injury on non-transgenic (cv. Deltapine 54315) and transgenic Bt (cv. NuCOTN 33B) cotton. J. Econ. Entomol. 93:690-696.

Royer, T., B. R. Leonard, R, Bagwell, J. Leser, K. Steffey, M. Grey and R. Weinzier. 1999. Insect Management, pp. 114-129. In Midwest Plan Service Conservation Tillage Handbook MWPS-45. Oklahoma. State Univ. Press, Stillwater, OK.

Leonard, B. R., J. B. Graves and P. Ellsworth. 1999. Insect and mite pests of cotton, pp. 489-551. IN W. Smith (ed.) Cotton Production. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY.

Graves, J. B., B. R. Leonard and J. A. Ottea. 1999. Chemical approaches to managing arthropod pests, pp. 449-486. IN J. Ruberson (ed.) Handbook of Pest Management. M. Dekker, Inc. New York, NY.

Grymes, C. F., J. L. Griffin, B. R. Leonard, D. L. Jordan and D. J. Boethel. 1999. Influence of weeds on insecticide deposition and soybean looper (Pseudoplusia includens) management. Weed Science 47 :321-326.

Adamczyk, J. J., J. Holloway, J. B. Graves and B. R. Leonard. 1998. Larval survival and development of the fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on normal and transgenic Bacillusthuringiensis (Bt) cotton. J. Econ. Entomol. 91:539-545.

Mascarenhas, V. J., J. B. Graves, B. R. Leonard and E. Burris. 1998. Susceptibility of field populations of beet armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to commercial and experimental insecticides. J. Econ. Entomol. 91:827-833.

Martin, S. H., J. A. Ottea, B. R. Leonard, J. B. Graves, E. Burris, S. Micinski and G. E. Church. 1997. Effects of selected synergists on insecticide toxicity in tobacco budworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in laboratory and field studies. J. Econ. Entomol. 90:723-731.

Martin, S. H., J. B. Graves, B. R. Leonard, E. Burris and S. Micinski. 1996. Susceptibility status of boll weevils from Louisiana to eleven insecticides. Southwestern Entomol. 21:59-74.

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