Forest Entomology Program

left to right;: front row: Navdip Kaur, Robert Jetton, Kate Whitley, Kenneth Dobyns;
back row: Fred Hain, Leslie Newton, Logan Williams (not present: Adrian Duehl, David Titus, Britt Hart)

Program Overview

Fred Hain’s forest entomology program began on the ides of March 1974. Since then 25 students completed graduate degree requirements (14 with an M.S., 2 with an M.A. and 9 with a Ph.D.) in entomology (23) or forestry (2). Currently there are 4 Ph.D. students and 2 M.S. student in the lab. The major areas of research have been host tree resistance, biological control, and Christmas tree integrated pest management. Insects that have been studied include the southern pine beetle, the balsam woolly adelgid, the hemlock woolly adelgid and various insects and mites infesting Fraser fir Christmas trees.
Current research projects:
1. Genetic and phenotypic variability for oleoresin flow in loblolly pine families and clones. This is a cooperative project with Brian Strom (Southern Pine Beetle) and Jim Roberds of the US Forest Service.
2. Landscape evaluation of establishment probability and outbreak potential for southern pine beetle in non-traditional host forest. This is a cooperative project with Jesse Logan of the U.S. Forest Service. We are currently looking for a Ph.D. graduate student to participate in this project (see "positions available").
3. Biological control of the hemlock woolly adelgid with an introduced predator, and preliminary investigations into host tree resistance to the adelgid.
4. Development of an "early warning system" for hemlock woolly adelgid in the southern Appalachians using remote sensing and GIS technology. This is a cooperative project with the NCSU Center for Earth Observations.
5. Genetic conservation of eastern hemlock species. This is a cooperative project with CAMCORE (Central America and Mexico Coniferous Resource) project.
6. Development of diets for the hemlock woolly adelgid. This is a cooperative project with the Insect Diet and Rearing Institute.
7. Host and site factors associated with old growth Fraser firs that have survived the balsam woolly adelgid; developing bioassay techniques for host resistance screening.
8. Juvabione concentrations in Fraser fir: a potential resistance mechanism to balsam woolly adelgid. This is a cooperative project with the NCSU Christmas Tree Genetics Program.
9. Biologically based integrated pest management in Christmas tree production in the southern Appalachians. This is a cooperative project with Jill Sidebottom of NC Cooperative Extension.
10. A risk management perspective on the importation of forest products using landscape ecology principals to predict new exotic insect introductions. This is another cooperative project with the NCSU Center for Earth Observations and the U.S. Forest Service.
The forest entomology lab is truly an upstairs downstairs arrangement. Our upstairs lab is the analytical lab with a GC, an HPLC and other analytical instruments. The lab is also equipped with a fume hood. The downstairs lab is a general lab where most other laboratory activities take place, including microscopic work. The downstairs lab also contains office space for graduate students and faculty. The forest entomology labs are housed within Grinnells Laboratories. In addition to some half dozen computers in the forest entomology program, there are 18 computers available in a computer lab also housed in Grinnells. The departmental Media Center is in the building as well. The Media Center has 3 more computers, slide and flatbed scanners, and a poster printer. Grinnells Laboratories is about a 10-minute walk from the D.H. Hill Library and from Gardner Hall, the main building for the Department of Entomology.

Who’s Who in the NCSU Forest Entomology Lab

	Fred Hain, Professor. Click HERE for more information about Fred Hain.
	John Strider, Agricultural Research Technician I. John received a B.S. degree in Biological Science from NC State in 1975. He has worked for the department for 7 years. John is a jack-of-all-trades who provides support for all aspects of the Forest Entomology program.
	Robert Jetton, Graduate Research Assistant. Robert has a B.S. in Biology with an Ecology concentration from Furman University, an M.S. in Forestry from NC State. His Masters thesis was on host plant resistance screening for intensive culture of sweetgum tree crops. His advisor was Dan Robison. He is working on a Ph.D. in Entomology while co-majoring in Forestry. His project is #3 on the list of current research projects.
	Logan Williams, Graduate Student. Logan has a B.A. in Philosophy, an A.A. in Agricultural Pest Control and an M.S. in Entomology, all from NC State. He is working on a Ph.D. in forestry while holding down a full time job with the NC Department of Transportation. His project is #9 on the list of current research projects.
	Leslie Newton, Graduate Research Assistant. Leslie has a B.S. and M.S. in Forestry, both from NC State. She is working on a Ph.D. in Entomology. Her project is #7 on the list of current research projects.
	Adrian Duehl, Graduate Research Assistant. Adrian has a B.S. in Biology from William and Mary University, and a M.F. in Forestry from Duke University. His project is #10 on the list of current research projects.
	Kate Whitley, Graduate Research Assistant. Kate has a B.S. in Biology from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Her project is #1 on the list of current research projects.
	Navdip Kaur, Graduate Research Assistant. Navdip has a B.S. in Agricultural Cciences from Punjab Agriculture University, India. Her project is #6 on the list of current research projects
	Kenneth Dobyns, Part-Time Research Technician. Kenneth is a full-time high school teacher who graduated from NC State University with a minor in entomology.
	David Titus, Part-Time Research Technician. David is a full-time Forestry student at NC State University who is currently minoring in Entomology.
	Britt Hart, Administrative Assistant and Part-Time Research Technician. Britt is the administrative assistant for the Entomology department in Grinnells Laboratories and a part-time research technician in the forestry Entomology program.

Forest Entomology at Bugfest 2005: Invasive Forest Pests

Where are they now? The following is a sample of the careers of some of the former forest entomology students.

Frank Arthur, Ph.D., graduated in 1985 and is currently a Research Entomologist with USDA-ARS at the Grain Marketing and Production Research Center, Manhattan, Kansas.
Steve Cook, Ph.D., graduated in 1985 and is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Forest Resources, University of Idaho.
Glenn Fowler, Ph.D., graduated in 1999 and is currently an Entomologist with USDA-APHIS-PPQ on the NCSU Centennial campus.
Robert Hollingsworth, Ph.D., graduated in 1988 and is currently a Research Biologist with the Tropical Plant Pests Research Unit, Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, USDA-ARS, Hilo, Hawaii.
Brad Kard, Ph.D., graduated in 1987 and is currently an Associate Professor (Endowed) in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University (http://www.ento.okstate.edu/profiles/kard.htm).
David Kramer, M.S., Ph.D., graduated in 1988 with a dual major in entomology and biomathematics. He is currently Director of Biostatistical Services with PRA International, in Lenexa, Kansas.
Alex Mangini, Ph.D., graduated in 1988 and is currently an Entomologist with the USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Protection, Pineville, Louisiana.
Brian Strom, M.S., graduated in 1994 with a co-major in forestry and went to work for the USDA Forest Service in Pineville, Louisiana. While with the Forest Service he began work on a Ph.D. at LSU, which he completed in 2000. He is currently a Research Entomologist in Pineville.
Matt Wallace, M.S., graduated in 1998 and immediately began work on a Ph.D. with Lew Deitz in insect systematics. He completed the Ph.D. requirements in 2003 and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, East Stroudsburg University, Pennsylvania.

Positions Available.

Currently, there are no positions or specific assistantships available. However, please check back with us from time to time. If you are interested in graduate studies in Forest Entomology, please contact Fred Hain.