Blanton J. Whitmire Distinguished Professor
Program area:
Urban Entomology, Insect Behavior, Chemical Ecology, Insect Physiology
Office:
3107 Gardner Hall
Department of Entomology
Campus Box 7613, 100 Derieux Place
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7613 Visit the Schal Lab
Phone:
919.515.1821
Fax:
919.515.7746 Education:
- B.S. State University of New York at Albany, Biology (1976)
- Ph.D. University of Kansas, Lawrence, Entomology, with W.J. Bell (1983)
- Post-doc University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Entomology, with R.T. Carde (1982-1984)
Research:
- Biology and integrated management of urban pests, with emphasis on cockroaches.
- Chemical ecology, especially pheromone-medicated communication in cockroaches and developing tools for monitoring pest populations.
- Biology of cockroach allergens and mitigation strategies to reduce environmental allergen concentrations.
- Cuticular hydrocarbons: Biosynthesis, hemolymph transport, role in behavioral interactions.
- Behavioral endocrinology and regulation of the cockroach corpora allata and juvenile hormone production.
- Monitoring insecticide resistance in field-collected cockroaches.
- Sexual selection and mate-finding tactics in pest and tropical cockroaches.
- Our lab also collaborates with others on:
- Evolution of pheromone communication in moths (Gould, Groot)
- Oviposition attractants in mosquitoes (Apperson)
- Population genetics of cockroaches and bed bugs (Vargo, Mukha)
- Nestmate recognition in ants (Silverman)
Teaching:
- Insect Behavior (ENT 591V, 791V), 3 credits
- Seminar in Urban Entomology (ENT 690Y), 1 credit
- Seminar in Chemical Ecology (ENT 690X), 1 credit