- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Entomologists Catherine and Maurice Tauber, visiting scientists with the UC Davis Department of Entomology, are newly selected honorary members of the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) for their outstanding contributions to biological control.
The IOBC coordinates biological control activities worldwide through its six regional sections (Africa, Asia, East Europe, North America, South America, and West Europe) and many working groups. IOBC is affiliated with the International Council of Scientific Union as the section of Biological Control of the International Union of Biological Sciences. A recent edition of IOBC newsletter welcomed them as honorary members.
Both earned their doctorate degrees in entomology at UC Berkeley; Catherine in 1968 and Maurice in 1966. From the newsletter: “Since then, they have represented one of the most successful collaborative teams in entomology, if not all of biological science. The impact of their research goes well beyond their collective expertise in insect seasonality, behavior, evolutionary biology, systematics, and biological control. For the Taubers have demonstrated the rare ability to blend what they have learned in multiple areas of insect biology to reveal complex life histories and biological relationships involving beneficial and pest insects, and to apply that knowledge to improve biological control programs.
“Maurice Tauber served for many years as a professor in the Department of Entomology at Cornell University where he was also department chair for two terms. Catherine served as senior research associate.”
“…Their contributions to entomology and science are recognized internationally, and individually and together they have received numerous awards and distinctions, including American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow (Maurice Tauber), honorary fellows of the California Academy of Science, and the IOBC/Neartic Regional Section Distinguished Achievement Award, which they received in 2002. Prolific researchers, Maurice and Catherine have published more than 200 papers in the major journals in entomology, zoology, and biological science, including nine in Science and Nature as well as two annual review articles and more than twenty book chapters. Owing to their strong commitment to biological control, which they have instilled in all of their graduate students, Maurice and Catherine Tauber have devoted a significant part of their careers to applying fundamental knowledge to enhance biological control and pest management in general.
“For example, their landmark book, Seasonal Adaptations of Insects, published in 1986, contains chapters that illustrate the importance and practical use of information about seasonal adaptations for biological control and integrated pest management. Most of the Taubers' work has focused on the Neuroptera, specifically the families Chrysopidae and Hemerobiidae, which represent important predators of several groups of arthropod pests. However, the breadth of their research encompasses eight insect orders representing both pest and beneficial species in diverse cropping systems.
“The Taubers have significantly advanced our knowledge of enemy-pest synchrony, host/prey selection, tri-trophic interactions, mass-rearing of predators, biological control of weeds, and the taxonomy and systematics of lacewings. In so doing, their work has strengthened classical, conservation and augmentative biological control programs worldwide. In addition to their research, the Taubers have provided exemplary service serving on numerous university and professional society committees, boards, and task forces.”