Dr Hoddle has headed the research in this laboratory since 1997 and is primarily involved in the identification of pest problems where biological control could be a successful approach.  The location, release and evaluation of natural enemy impacts on population growth features strongly in his research.  The evaluation 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.

Dr Hoddle's current projects include:
Avocado Pest Research
    Avocado thrips (Scirtothrips perseae)
    Persea mite (Oligonychus perseae)
    Avocado lace bug (Pseudacysta perseae)
    Red banded whitefly (Tetraleurodes perseae)
    Avocado seed moth (Stenoma catenifer)
    Cryptaspasma sp. (Cryptaspasma sp. nr lugubris)
    Asphondylia websteri (an avocado fruit galling midge)

Western Flower Thrips Research

Whitefly Research
    Silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia argentifolii)

                                                                              Red banded whitefly (Tetraleurodes perseae)
                                                                        
                                                                            Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Research

                                                                              Biological Control of Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter
                                                                        

                                                                            Other Projects
                                                                              Exploration for Levunana iridescens in Fiji

                                                                              Bean Thrips Survey Results in Australia (2004-2005)

The Harry Scott Smith Scholarship for Graduate Biological Control Students.

For some time Dr Hoddle has been facilitating the Harry Scott Smith Scholarship Fund to support graduate students in biological control in Riverside, CA.  If biological control is to continue to prosper in southern California, the continuing recruitment and training of high quality students is paramount.  If you would like to find out more about this scholarship fund or how you can support the Harry Scott Smith Scholarship Fund, please click here or download the brochure.

Degrees

BSc Zoology 1988

University of Auckland, New Zealand

MSc Zoology 1991

University of Auckland, New Zealand

PhD Entomology 1996

University of Massachusetts

Awards
University of Massachusetts Graduate Fellowship, 1993
Entomological Society of America President's Prize for Biological Control, 1994
Entomological Society of America President's Prize for Biological Control, 1995
Rosenfeld Award for Applied Pest Management, 1996
California Junior Chamber of Commerce Young Farmer of the Year, 2000
Entomological Society of America (Pacific Branch) Recognition Award in Entomology, 2007
Entomological Society of America (National) Recognition Award in Entomology, 2007

Research Areas
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.