DAVIS--Professor Timothy Paine of UC Riverside will present the Thomas and Nina Leigh Distinguished Alumni Seminar on Wednesday, Dec. 2 from 6 to 7 p.m.  in the Memorial Union II.  His topic:  "Insect Invasion Biology and California Landscapes." A reception will precede the seminar from 5 to 6 p.m.

Paine is widely recognized for his work in landscape and forest entomology, and the integrated pest management of woody ornamentals.  His research has developed successful biological control projects and explored the biology and ecology of invasive pests and their interactions with other species.

His primary research focus is "to develop a better understanding of the biology and ecology of the herbivorous insects through studies of their interactions with host plants, competitors, and natural enemies, and determine the influence of environmental stress on those interactions."

Born in Delano, Calif.,  Paine is a 1973 graduate of UC Davis, with bachelor degrees in history and entomology. He received his doctorate in entomology in 1981 from UC Davis under tutelage of Martin Birch.  Paine then completed his postdoctoral research at the University of Arkansas in  Fred Stephens'  lab.  In 1986, he returned to California and became an assistant professor at UC Riverside, and advanced to associate professor in 1992, and full professor in 1995.  

Paine has written more than 200 refereed journal publications, book chapters, proceedings, technical papers, and edited two books.  Since becoming a member of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) in 1975, he has received many honors  including the Recognition Award in Urban Entomology (1999), the Distinguished Achievement Award in Horticultural Entomology (2009), and fellow (2006). He served as president of the Pacific Branch of ESA in 1999-2000. Paine was selected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2005. He is the recipient of numerous teaching awards, both from the ESA and UC Riverside.

The seminar memorializes prominent cotton entomologist Thomas Frances Leigh (1923-1993) and his wife, Nina Eremin Leigh (1929-2002). Tom Leigh was an international authority on the biology, ecology and management of arthropod pests affecting cotton production. During his 37-year UC Davis career, he was based at the Kern County Shafter Research and Extension Center, also known as the U.S. Cotton Research Station. He researched pest and beneficial arthropod management in cotton fields, and host plant resistance in cotton to insects, mites, nematodes and diseases.

Leigh joined the UC Davis Department of Entomology in 1958, retiring in 1991 as an emeritus professor, but he continued to remain active in his research and collaboration until his death on Oct. 26, 1993.  The Pacific Branch of the Entomological Society of America awarded him the C. F. Woodworth Award for outstanding service to entomology in 1991.