Research area:
The long term goals of my lab are to understand the ecology of major insect pest groups of ornamentals and vegetables produced in controlled environments and to develop ecologically based management practices that will reduce our dependence on pesticides and have less adverse effects on the environment. With this in mind, the core objectives of my research program will be (1) to advance our understanding of ecological principles and how they are driving the population trends observed for major insect pest groups of ornamentals and vegetables produced in controlled environments and their natural enemies, (2) apply these ecological principles to develop management practices for insect pests, and (3) develop IPM solutions for ornamental and vegetables that can be applied not only in controlled environments but elsewhere. Current projects examine the effects of physical and cultural controls on life history traits of selected pests of plants grown in controlled environments. In addition, I am exploring the effect of the level of initial insect infestation on overall distribution as well as the relationship between soil health, plant defenses and insect biodemography.
Research (45% appointment):
Recent papers:
Ranger, C. M., M. E. Reding, K. J. K. Gandhi, J. B. Oliver, P. B. Schultz, L. Canas, and D. A. Herms. 2011. Species Dependent Influence of (-)-alpha-Pinene on Attraction of Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) to Ethanol-Baited Traps in Nursery Agroecosystems. Journal of Economic Entomology 104: 574-579.
Medina-Ortega, K., and Cañas, L. A. 2011. Screening for whitefly resistance in poinsettias, Summer 2007 (M2). Arthropod Management Tests. No 36.
Medina-Ortega, K., Cañas, L. A. 2011. Screening for whitefly resistance in poinsettias, Summer 2006 (M3). Arthropod Management Tests. No 36.
Deol, Y. S., G. B. Jagdale, L. Canas, and P. S. Grewal. 2011. Delivery of entomopathogenic nematodes directly through commercial growing media via the inclusion of infected host cadavers: A novel approach. Biological Control 58: 60-67.
England, K. M., C. S. Sadof, L. A. Canas, C. H. Kuniyoshi, and R. G. Lopez. 2011. Effects of Selected Fertilizers on the Life History of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Biotype B. Journal of Economic Entomology 104: 548-554.
Derksen, R. C., C. M. Ranger, L. A. Canas, J. C. Locke, H. Zhu, and C. R. Krause. 2010. Evaluation of handgun and broadcast systems for spray deposition in greenhouse poinsettia canopies. Transactions of the Asabe 53: 5-12.
Derksen, R. C., C. M. Ranger, L. A. Canas, H. Zhu, and C. R. Krause. 2010. Greenhouse evaluation of air-assist delivery parameters for mature poinsettias. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 26: 947-953.
Michel, A. P., M. A. R. Mian, N. H. Davila-Olivas, and L. A. Canas. 2010. Detached Leaf and Whole Plant Assays for Soybean Aphid Resistance: Differential Responses Among Resistance Sources and Biotypes. Journal of Economic Entomology 103: 949-957.
Ranger, C. M., A. P. Singh, J. M. Frantz, L. Cañas, J. C. Locke, M. E. Reding, and N. Vorsa. 2009. Influence of silicon on resistance of Zinnia elegans to the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Environmental Entomology 38: 129-136.
Cañas, L. A., and N. M. Acosta. 2009. Poinsettias: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch 'Freedom Red.' Efficacy of Selected Insecticides for Control of Whiteflies on Greenhouse Poinsettias, 2007. Arthropod Management Tests 34: G37.
Cañas, L. A., and N. M. Acosta. 2009. Poinsettia: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch. 'Freedom Red.' Evaluation of Gnatrol Efficacy for Control of Fungus Gnats, 2007. Arthropod Management Tests 34: G38.
Shenge, K. C., P. M. Diedhiou, M. J. Boehm, S. D. Ellis, A. Stone, S. A. Miller, and L. A. Cañas. 2009. Sanitation and Phytosanitation (SPS): The Importance of SPS in Global Movement of Plant Materials, Ohioline. The Ohio State University Extension, Columbus, OH.
Extension (40% appointment):
My long term extension goal is to establish a well known program that provides insect management options for growers of ornamentals and vegetables and promotes the development of IPM programs in controlled environments. In addition, it is critical for my program to integrate both my Extension and Research efforts in order to promote long term solutions for pest management in controlled environments. Currently my program intends to deliver programming information in the following core areas: (1) plant health management for growers of plants in controlled environments, (2) developing of IPM programs for commercial greenhouses, (3) biological control and other alternatives to insecticides for management of major insect pests of ornamental and vegetables grown in controlled environments, and (4) ecologically-based options for insect management on plants grown in controlled environments.
Teaching (15% appointment):
Fall 2012.
ENTMLGY 4601: General Pest Management.
ENTMLGY 8800: Research Training Seminar.
Spring 2013.
ENTMLGY 6702: Entomological Techniques.
Fall 2013.
ENTMLGY 5500: Biological Control.
ENTMLGY 8800: Research Training Seminar.
Advisees:
Claudia Kuniyoshi (Peru), PhD candidate.
Diego Rincon (Colombia), PhD student
Alfredo Rios (Peru), Post Doctoral Associate.
Graduated:
Karla Medina-Ortega (Honduras), PhD, 2011.
Claudia Kuniyoshi (Peru), MS, 2007.
