- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Internationally recognized entomologist and well-known philanthropist Evert Irving Schlinger of Concord, professor emeritus, UC Berkeley Department of Entomological Sciences, passed Wednesday, Oct. 8 in Lafayette, Calif. He was 86.
Dr. Schlinger, who received his undergraduate degree from UC Davis and then his doctorate in entomology in 1957 from the University of California, Berkeley, was a world authority on a very rare, world-distributed group of spider-parasitoid flies of the family Acroceridae. His dissertation, available in the UC Davis Shields Library, was on "A Generic Revision and Catalogue of the Acroceridae (Diptera)."
He collected specimens on 37 insect-spider expeditions in 40 countries. His World Spider-Endoparasitoid Lab, located in Santa Ynez, Calif., was most recently associated with the UC Santa Barbara Department of Biology.
Dr. Schlinger chaired the departments of entomology at UC Riverside and UC Berkeley and initiated a new department at Berkeley called Conservation and Resources Studies."
The philanthropist funded professorships at universities across the U.S. with millions of dollars from his family foundation.
At UC Davis, he and his wife, Marion (now former wife), established the Evert and Marion Schlinger Endowed Chair in Insect Systematics in 1996 through gifts from the Schlinger Foundation. It was their aim that the endowed chair would attract and sustain scholars and scientists working in the area of the systematics of insects, as well as arachnids.
Born April 17, 1928 in Los Angeles, Evert or "Ev" as he was known, chose UC Davis as his undergraduate school, where he quarterbacked the football team and ran track. He was a life and charter member of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association.
Dr. Schlinger received a UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences' Award of Distinction in 1999. A nominee wrote: "He has been an inspiring teacher, mentor and leader in entomology. Through his research foundation, he provides resources to enliven and enrich the prospects of systematics and biodiversity well into the future."
Michael E. Irwin, professional scientist emeritus from at the Illinois Natural History Survey. emailed members of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology:
"Evert I. Schlinger passed away during the lunar eclipse in the early morning of Wednesday, October 8, 2014. He was a giant of a man in both stature and accomplishment. He fought for advancing science and improving the environment all of his life. He had a laser-like ability to dissect problems and find solutions. He was gentle, caring, yet held strong convictions. His work in the systematics of the small-headed fly family Acroceridae was deep and provided the foundation for future workers; his work in biological control was less known but profoundly influenced the course and development of integrated pest management. Perhaps his greatest gift to science was a cadre of students that have made impacts in many areas of entomology and education. For me, he will always be remembered as my best friend and a great mentor."
Dr. Schlinger is survived by his four children, Pete Schlinger; Mathew (Joanne) Schlinger of Redding; Jane (Brad) Omick of Lafayette, Calif.; Brian (Danelle) Schlinger of Palo Cedro, Caiif; 11 grandchildren; and brother Warren (Katie) of Pasadena, Calif.
His daughter, Jane, said her father "started his career collecting black widows at schools at the age of 9." She recalled that in addition to his love of family and science, he "loved to sing and had a love for opera--he attended the San Francisco Opera performances a lot."
Related Links:
Flipagram, online memory album created by daughter, Jane Omick of Layfayette
Schlinger Aphid Collection at Essig Museum of Entomology, UC Berkeley
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Helene Dillard, dean of CA&ES, announced the appointments today (Oct. 9).
Lewis, representing the agricultural programs, joins Professor Ron Tjeerdema, Department of Environmental Toxicology, representing the environmental programs; and Cooperative Extension Specialist Dave Campbell, Department of Human Ecology, representing the human/social sciences programs.
The new leadership team will further develop our inter- and cross-disciplinary engagement among college and campus programs to enhance the mission of the college, Dillard said.
The new associate deans will serve five-year, 80 percent appointments that became effective Oct. 1, 2014.
They will report to and work collaboratively with CA&ES Executive Associate Dean Mary Delany on the planning and administrative coordination of departments and programs in the college.
In addition to working with department chairs on research and outreach, the associate deans also will work with Dean Helene Dillard to represent CA&ES to other colleges, schools, stakeholders, and visitors, and work with development staff to advance college fundraising objectives.
Current Associate Dean Jan Hopmans has agreed to stay on for the 2014 fall quarter transition.
Lewis joined the UC Davis faculty as an associate professor of nematology and entomology in 2004. He was promoted to professor in 2008.
Lewis is editor-in-chief of the prestigious Biological Control journal (as of July 1). He is a member of the Entomological Society of America, Society of Invertebrate Pathology, and the Society of Nematologists. His professional service includes subject editor of the Journal of Nematology and North American editor of Biopesticides International. He is a former chair of USDA Regional Project 1024.
Lewis received his bachelor of science degree in natural resources from Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.; his master's degree in entomology from the University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.; and his doctorate in entomology from Auburn (Ala.) University.
After receiving his doctorate, Lewis served as a post-doctoral research associate and then assistant research professor at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J. He worked as a research associate in the Department of Entomology at the University of Maryland, College Park, and as an assistant professor, Department of Entomology at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, before joining the UC Davis faculty.
(CA&ES contributed to this report)
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Dr. Maurice J. Tauber, a visiting professor/scientist and associate with the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, died Oct. 6 at the age of 82. Dr. Tauber was also an emeritus professor, and Graduate School professor, in the Department of Entomology at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
Dr. Tauber earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Manitoba, Canada. In 1966 he received his doctorate in entomology from the University of California, Berkeley. He was on the faculty of the Cornell University Department of Entomology, from 1966 to 2000, and chaired the department from 1981 to 1986. At Cornell, his research and teaching focused on biological control of insects and insect behavior, with emphasis on experimental studies of insect seasonal cycles. In 2000, he retired from Cornell and became associated with UC Davis, where his research emphasis shifted to the comparative biology of New World green lacewings.
For nearly 50 years, Dr. Tauber shared a prolific scientific career with his wife, Dr. Catherine (Kady) Tauber, whom he met at UC Berkeley. The scope of his research embraced ecological, evolutionary, and behavioral questions, and involved both beneficial and pest species from eight insect orders. The research yielded fundamental insights into insect photoperiodism, dormancy, development, and speciation. The findings have a broad impact on applied problems, for example in the management of diverse crop production systems and natural ecosystems. He published approximately 200 papers, many with Kady, in entomological journals, as well as in Nature, Science, and Annual Reviews. He had two paper in press, and was working on several manuscripts in the weeks before his passing.
He also wrote numerous book chapters, and a textbook Seasonal Adaptations of Insects (1986, co-authored with Kady and Dr. Sinzo Masaki of Japan). The book continues to serve as a stimulus and resource for research on insect seasonality: the underlying ecophysiological and genetic mechanisms; its role in the evolution of insect life histories and speciation; and its importance to insect pest management.
Dr. Tauber was major professor for a number of graduate students who have continued their careers in entomology, including Drs. Jim Nechols, John Obrycki, John Ruberson, Gilberto Albuquerque, Lindsey Milbrath, Yin-Fu Chang, and José I. Lopez-Arroyo. He was a dedicated mentor and enthusiastic supporter of his graduate students, as well as undergraduates who worked in the Blauvelt Lab at Cornell University. At UC Davis, he advised numerous graduate and undergraduate students in an informal capacity.
Dr. Tauber was a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Entomological Society of Canada, and the California Academy of Sciences. He served on the Governing Board and several editorial boards of the Entomological Society of America. For more than 20 years he was active on the editorial board of the European Journal of Entomology. He was also a research associate of the B.P. Bishop Museum in Honolulu, and a member of numerous scientific societies.
The International Organization of Biological Control (IOBC) recognized his work with two awards that he shared with his wife: the IOBC/Nearctic Regional Section Distinguished Scientist Award (2002) and Honorary Membership – Global IOBC (2012).
Dr. Maurice Tauber is survived by his wife, and their sons and daughter (Paul, Michael, and Agatha).
No immediate services are planned, but a memorial may take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to a University of California library, or the Cornell University Library.
Tributes:
"When I joined the faculty at Davis in 1973, Maurice was the first to welcome me to the biological-control community and he served as my mentor for several years while I developed my research program. Following his retirement from Cornell, I was absolutely delighted to host both Maurice and Kady in my laboratory at Davis. It's been a wonderful collaboration. Maurice was a outstanding scientist, colleague, and friend. His passing is a great loss for our profession."--Les Ehler, emeritus professor, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.
Related Links:
Noted Scientists Maurice and Catherine Tauber Honored by California Academy of Sciences
Nov. 13, 2009
Taubers Receive International Honor
Dec. 31, 2012
The Fascinating Behavior of Debris-Carrying by Green Lacewing Larvae
March 26, 2014
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Host is Michael Parrella, professor and chair of the Department of Entomology and Nematology.
Dara, an Extension entomologist since January 2009, serves San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and is an affiliated UC IPM advisor, part of the UC Statewide IPM Program.
In his role as the strawberry and vegetable crops advisor, Dara primarily looks after pest management, but also works on disease, irrigation, weed, and nutrition management issues. As an IPM advisor, he contributes to the IPM solutions of various crops grown in California. "My research focuses on developing IPM solutions with the goal to balance the use of chemical and non-chemical alternatives for pest management," he said. He serves as a resource person for microbial control of various pests.
Dara is a member-at-large of the Pacific Branch of the Entomological Society of America; a trustee of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology, and the vice chair for S1052, the national working group on improving microbial control of arthropod pests. He also chairs the UC Cooperative Extension Strawberry Working Group. In addition, Dara has served on the faculty of the University of Phoenix, California, since 2008.
The Extension advisor has written 19 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, one book chapter, 34 articles in other journals, and 117 extension articles. He has delivered several presentations worldwide. He has trained strawberry growers in India, Kosovo, Moldova, and Transnistria, and also lends his expertise to strawberry industries in a number of countries.
As a principal investigator, co-principal investigator and a collaborator of various projects, Dara has received more than $2 million in grant funding.
Dara earned both his bachelor's degree and master's degree at the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, India, obtaining his bachelor's degree in agricultural sciences, and his master's degree in entomology. He went on to receive his doctorate in entomology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va. in 1995.
After receiving his doctorate, Dara served as an entomopathologist from 1996-1999 for the Plant Health Management Division, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture under the United Nations Development Program, Cotonou, Republic of Benin in West Africa. He was a post-doctoral research associate from 2003-2004 with the Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, and an independent software consultant, 2001-2003.
His other work experience includes assistant project scientist, 2005-2006, with the UC Davis Department of Nematology (now the Department of Entomology and Nematology), and quality control manager-ISO (International Organization for Standardization) from 2006 to 2009 for Certis, USA, Wasco.
Dara's seminar will be recorded for later viewing on UCTV.
Upcoming seminars are listed here.
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
His talk is from 12:10 to 1 p.m. Hosts are assistant professor Joanna Chiu and distinguished professor Frank Zalom, Department of Entomology and Nematology.
Walton is the lead investigator for the Spotted Wing Drosophila Project. He will cover the spotted wing drosophila and the brown marmorated stink bug.
"My work at OSU work focuses on resolving key entomological industry needs in the Pacific Northwest with current focus on spotted wing drosophila, brown mamorated stink bug, mealybugs and sustainable pest managment in hazelnut orchards," he said. "Previously I studied mites in Oregon vineyards."
"The aim of my work is to provide environmentally sustainable and minimal impact pest management strategies for agriculturalists in Oregon and further afield. This is done with knowledge obtained from detailed insect physiological, biological, behavioral, ecological and environmental studies. I have a strong focus to develop monitoring tools and determine economic and action thresholds. This knowledge is then used to apply treatments timed to occur during periods when pests are at their most vulnerable. I have knowledge and experience using alternative pest control methods including various modes of biological control, mating disruption and conventional synthetic pesticides. It is believed that use of a combination of these pest management strategies will minimize environmental impact and optimize sustainable agriculture."
Walton received his degrees from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. He obtained his bachelor's degree in botany and zoology in 1992; his master's degree in integrated pest management in 1998; and his doctorate in 2003.
He has served as an associate professor in the Department of Horticulture at OSU since 2012. He joined the OSU faculty in 2006, having earlier served as a postdoctoral researcher with the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, UC Berkeley.
He has written extensively about the brown marmorated stink bug, spotted wing drosophila and other pests. His list of refereed publications include:
Wiman, N.G., V.M. Walton, P.W. Shearer, S.I. Rondon, and J.C. Lee. 2014. Factors affecting flight capacity of brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). J. Pest Sci. DOI:10.1007/s10340-014-0582-6.
Tochen, S., D. T. Dalton, N. G. Wiman, C. Hamm, P. W. Shearer, and V. M. Walton. 2014. Temperature-related development and population parameters for Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) on cherry and blueberry. Environ. Entomol. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/EN13200.
Walton, V. M., 2014. CABI, Invasive Species Compendium, Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Impacts: Original text by V. M., Walton. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/isc.
Chiu J.C., Jiang X., Zhao L., Hamm C.A., Cridland J.M., Saelao P., Hamby K.A., Lee E.K., Kwok R.S., Zhang G., Zalom F.G., Walton V.M., Begun D.J. 2013. Genome of Drosophila suzukii, the Spotted Wing Drosophila. G3 (Bethesda). 9;3(12):2257-71. doi: 10.1534/g3.113.008185.
Lee, J. C., Shearer, P. W., Barrantes, L., Beers, E., Burrack, H., Dalton D. T., Dreves, A. J., Gut L. J., Hamby, K A., Havilland D R., Isaacs, R., Nielsen A. L., Richardson, T, Rodriguez-Saona C., Stanley, C. A., Walsh, D. B., Walton V. M., Yee, W. L., Zalom, F. G., and D J. Bruck, 2013. Trap Designs for Monitoring Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Environ. Entomol. 42(6): DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/EN13148
Rossi Stacconi M.V., Grassi A., Dalton D., Miller B., Ouantar M., Ioriatti C., Walton V., Anfora G. 2013. First field records of Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Rondani) (Hymenoptera Pteromalidae) as a parasitoid of Drosophila suzukii in European and Oregon Small fruit production areas. Entomologia 2013 1; 11-16
Walton V.M., Dalton D.T., Daane K. M., Kaiser C. and Hilton R. J. 2013. Seasonal Phenology of Pseudococcus maritimus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and Pheromone-Baited Trap Survey of Four Important Mealybug Species in Three Wine Grape Growing Regions of Oregon. Ann Entomol Soc Amer 106(4): 471-478.
Gadino A. N., Walton V. M. and J. C. Lee, 2012. Evaluation of methyl salicylate lures on populations of Typhlodromus pyri (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and other natural enemies in western Oregon vineyards. Biological Control, 2012, 63, 1, pp 48-55.
Lee J. C., Burrack H. J., Barrantes L. D., Beers E. H., Dreves A. J., Hamby K., Haviland D. R., Isaacs R., Richardson T., Shearer P., Stanley C.A., Walsh D. B, Walton V. M. and F. G. Zalom 2012. Evaluation of monitoring traps for Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in North America. J. Econ Entomol. 2012, 105, 4, pp 1350-1357.
Miller B., Bruck D. J., Walton, V. M., 2012. Relationship of Black Vine Weevil Egg Density and Damage to Two Cranberry Cultivars. HortSci 47(5): 1–7.
Gadino A. N, Walton V. M., 2012. Temperature-related development and population parameters for Typhlodromus pyri (Acari: Phytoseiidae) found in Oregon vineyards. Exp Appl Acarol 2012, 58, 1, pp 1-10.
Chambers U., Walton V.M. and S. A. Mehlenbacher 2011. Susceptibility of Hazelnut Cultivars to Filbertworm, Cydia latiferreana. HortSci 46: 1377-1380.
Gadino A. N., Walton V. M. and J. Lee. 2011. Olfactory response of the predatory mite Typhlodromus pyri (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to methyl salicylate in laboratory bioassays. J Appl Entomol DOI 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2011.01670.x
Daane K. M., Middleton, M. C., Sforza, R., Cooper, M. L., Walton, V. M., Walsh, D. B., Zaveio, T., and R.P.P. Almeida. 2011. Development of a multiplex to distinguish mealybug species found in North American vineyards. Environ Entomol. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/EN11075.
Dalton D.T., Walton V.M., Shearer, P.W., Walsh, D.B., Caprile J. and R. Isaacs. 2011. Laboratory survival of Drosophila suzukii under simulated winter conditions of the Pacific Northwest and seasonal field trapping in five primary regions of small and stone fruit production in the United States. Pest Manag Sci 67(11): 1368-1374.
Gadino A. N., Walton V. M. and A.J. Dreves. 2011. Laboratory bioassays to determine impact of six pesticides on the beneficial arthropod, Typhlodromus pyri (Scheuten) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Econom Entomol 104(3): 970-977.
Walsh D.B., M.P. Bolda, R. E. Goodhue, A. J. Dreves, J. Lee, D. J. Bruck, V. M. Walton, S. D. O'Neal and F. G. Zalom. 2011. Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae): Invasive Pest of Ripening Soft Fruit Expanding Its Geographic Range and Damage Potential. J Integ Pest Mngmt 2(1): 1-7.
Walton's seminar is the first in the fall seminar series. The complete schedule is on the website.
