Ashley Leach, PhD

Dr. Ashley Leach earned her Ph.D. in entomology at Cornell University in 2019, where she studied the multifaceted impacts of IPM programming in vegetable cropping systems. She was awarded an AFRI postdoctoral fellowship to examine the impacts of pesticide programming on pollination services in watermelon production. Dr. Leach began her position at Ohio State as an assistant professor in January 2022. Her research program incorporates pest biology and ecology to design evidence-based pest management approaches for Ohio’s diverse specialty crop industries. Her research aims to support arthropod-mediated ecosystem services to improve agricultural vitality. Her Extension program creates resources for Ohio specialty crop growers to improve current pest management practices. She regularly collaborates across the college with the goal of creating robust tools for stakeholders. Learn more about our research on our lab website- www.ashleybleach.com. 

Dr. Leach joined the OSU Entomology Department on January 3, 2022 after completing a postdoctoral research associateship at Purdue University.

REFEREED PUBLICATIONS

1. Leach, A. and Kaplan, I. 2022. Prioritizing pollinators over pests: wild bees are more important than beetle damage for watermelon yield. Proc. R. Soc. B.2892022127920221279. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2022.1279

2. Leach, A., Pecenka, J., and Kaplan, I. 2022. Does IPPM bear fruit? Evaluating reduced‐risk insecticide programmes on pests, pollinators and marketable yield. J. App. Eco., 1365-2664.14294. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14294

3. Leach, H. and A. Leach. 2020. Seasonal phenology and activity of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) in eastern U.S. vineyards. J. Pest Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-020-01233-7

4. Leach, A., S. Reiners, and B. A. Nault. 2020. Challenges in integrated pest management: A case study of onion thrips and bacterial bulb rot in onion. Crop. Protect. 133: 105123 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2020.105123

5. Leach, A., F. Hay, R. Harding, K. Damann, and B. A. Nault. 2020. Relationship between Stemphylium vesicarium and onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) in the development of Stemphylium leaf blight disease. Ann. App. Bio. 176(1): 55-64. https://doi.org/10.1111/aab.12558

6. Leach, A., M. Fuchs, R. Harding, and B. A. Nault. 2019. Iris yellow spot virus prolongs the adult lifespan of its primary vector, onion thrips (Thrips tabaci). J. Insect Sci. 19(3): 8; 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iez041

7. Leach, A., C. A. Hoepting, and B. A. Nault. 2019. Grower adoption of insecticide resistance management practices increase with extension‐based program. Pest. Mgmt. Sci. 75: 515-526. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.5150

8. Leach, A., M. Fuchs, R. Harding, R. Schmidt-Jeffris, and B. A. Nault. 2018. Importance of transplanted onions contributing to late-season iris yellow spot virus epidemics in New York. Plant Dis. 102(7): 1264-1272. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-06-17-0793-RE

9. Leach, A., S. Reiners, M. Fuchs, and B. A. Nault. 2017. Evaluating integrated pest management tactics for onion thrips and pathogens they transmit to onion. Agric., Ecosyst. & Environ. 250: 89–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2017.08.031

NON-REFEREED PUBLICATIONS

1. Leach, A., E. Long, and L. Ingwell. 2020. Seedling Damage by Maggot Pests. Purdue University. Vegetable Crops Hotline. Issue 673.

2. Ingwell, L., A. Leach, and D. Egel. 2019. Whitefly Identification and Control. Purdue University. Vegetable Crops Hotline. Issue 664.

3. Hayden, Z., A. Leach, and B. Nault. 2019. Nitrogen: Is less more? Studies in MI and NY highlight potential for reducing nitrogen rates on muck soils. Onion World 35(5):14-16.

4. Leach, A., B.A. Nault, and C. Hoepting. 2018. Insecticide Sequences to Manage Onion Thrips in Onion in 2018. Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell Vegetable Program. VegEdge 14 (10) 8-9.

5. Leach, A., S. Reiners, M. Fuchs, and B. A. Nault. 2018. Unravelling the interactions among variety, fertility, yield, onion thrips and diseases, and implications for improved management practices. Empire State Producers Expo proceedings.

6. Leach, A., B.A. Nault, and C. Hoepting. 2017. 2017 Insecticide treatment options for onion thrips management in onion. Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell Vegetable Program. VegEdge 13 (12) 8-9.

7. Leach, A. 2017. Optimizing thrips control. Onion World 33(3) 17-19.

8. Leach, A., B. A. Nault and S. Reiners. 2016. Evaluating a three-component IPM program for onion thrips. Empire State Producers EXPO proceedings.