Mark S. Hoddle Urban Biological Control Specialist Ph.D. 1997, University of Massachusetts, Amherst email: mark.hoddle@ucr.edu Office: 254 Entomology, (909)787-4714 Lab: 253 Entomology, (909)787-4360

Biological control is the intentional use of host specific natural enemies (predators, parasitoids, and pathogens) by humans to suppress population growth of noxious plants and animals to levels which are no longer damaging. Many of our current agricultural pest problems are amenable to biological control, and when successful, natural enemies provide enduring, environmentally benign, pest control. Biological control is also being used in conservation efforts to restore natural areas invaded by exotic organisms, especially weeds.

The emphasis of my work is to identify pest problems where biological control could be successful, locate and release natural enemies, and then evaluate natural enemy impact on pest population growth. Evaluations of biological control agents are conducted primarily in the field, and when necessary, aspects of both pest and natural enemy biology and behavior are studied in the laboratory.

I am particularly interested in determining; 1) the magnitude of reduction in pest population growth caused by natural enemies, 2) the mechanisms by which pests and natural enemies co-exist at low densities, 3) the number of natural enemy species that are needed to give control, 4) inter-specific competition between natural enemies which utilize the same host, and 5) the economics of biological control when compared to pesticides.

Selected Publications:

• Kerguelen, V. & M.S. Hoddle. Comparison of the susceptibility of several cultivars of avocado to Oligonychus persea (Acari: Tetranychidae). Scientia Horticulturae. (In Press).
• Kerguelen, V. & M.S. Hoddle. Measuring mite feeding damage on avocado with automated image analysis software. Fla Entomol. 82: 119-122.
• Hoddle , M.S., J.P. Sanderson, & R.G. Van Driesche. Evaluation of inundative releases of Eretmocerus eremicus and Encarsia formosa Beltsville strain in commercial greenhouses for control of Bemisia argentifolii on poinsettia stock plants. Journal of Economic Entomology (In Press).
• Hoddle , M.S., & R.G. Van Driesche. Biological control of Bemisia argentifolii (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on poinsettia with inundative releases of Eretmocerus eremicus (Hymenoptera: Aphedinidae): does varying the weekly release rate affect control? Bull. Entomol. Res. 89: 41-51.
• Hoddle , M.S., R.G. Van Driesche & J.P. Sanderson. 1998. Biology and utilization of Encarsia formosa. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 43:645-669.
• Van Driesche R.G. & M.S. Hoddle. 1997. Changing social views of the desired degree of host range specificity of natural enemies of arthropods. Agriculture and Human Values. 14:211-226.
• Hoddle, M.S., R.G. Van Driesche, J. Elkinton & J.P. Sanderson. 1998. Discovery and utilization of Bemisia argentifolii patches (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) by Eretmocerus eremicus and Encarsia formosa Beltsville Strain (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) in greenhouses. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 87:15-28.
• Hoddle, M.S., R.G. Van Driesche & J. P. Sanderson. 1998. Biological control of Bemisia argentifolii (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on poinsettia with inundative releases of Eretmocerus eremicus(Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae): do release rates and plant growth affect parasitism? Bull. Entomol. Res. 88:47-58.
• Hoddle, M.S., R.G. Van Driesche & J.P. Sanderson. 1998. Biological control of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on poinsettia with inundative releases of Encarsia formosa (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae): are higher release rates necessarily better? Biol. Control. 10:166-179.
• Hoddle, M.S., R.G. Van Driesche, & J.P. Sanderson. 1997. Biological control of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on poinsettia with inundative releases of Encarsia formosa "Beltsville Strain" (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae): can parasitoid reproduction augment inundative releases? J. Econ. Entomol. 90:910-924.
• Hoddle, M.S., R.G. Van Driesche J.P. Sanderson & M. Rose. 1996. A photographic technique for constructing lifetables for Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on poinsettia. Fla. Entomol. 79:464-468.
• Hoddle, M.S., R.G. Van Driesche & J.P. Sanderson. 1996. Greenhouse trials of Eretmocerus californicus Howard (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) for control of Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on poinsettia in Northeastern USA. IOBC/WPRS Bulletin 19:55-58.
• Hoddle, M.S. & R.G. Van Driesche. 1996. Evaluation of Encarsia formosa (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) to control Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima): A lifetable analysis. Fla. Entomol. 79:1-12.
• Hoddle, M.S. 1991. Lifetable construction for the gorse seed weevil, Apion ulicis (Forster) (Coleoptera: Apionidae) before gorse pod dehiscence, and life history strategies of the weevil. N. Z. J. Zool. 18:399-404.
• Hoddle, M.S. 1991. Gorse pod susceptibility and oviposition preference to the gorse seed weevil, Apion ulicis (Forster) (Coleoptera: Apionidae). N. Z. J. Zool. 18:31-35.