Dr. Luis Canas is Director of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) International Programs, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in Entomology at Ohio State University. Dr. Canas is nationally and internationally recognized as an expert in the management of insect pests that attack plants in controlled environments, with more than 25 years of experience. His research provides applied solutions to problems caused by thrips, whiteflies and mites among others. His areas of expertise include insect management using insecticides and biological control agents, biodemography, insect‐plant interactions.
Research:
- Detection and identification of exotic insects in greenhouses and urban landscapes using environmental DNA.
- An overview of management tactics for fungus gnat (Lycoriella spp.) control on oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) farms.
- Establishing host attraction for fungus gnats infesting oyster mushrooms and characterizing repellency induced by insecticides.
- Evaluation of hemp extracts for management of greenhouse insect pests.
Recent papers:
Geedi, R., L. Canas, M. E. Reding and C. M. Ranger. 2023. "Attraction of Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to Volatiles Emitted from the Entomopathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana." Environmental Entomology 52(1): 31-38.
Naranjo, S. E., L. Cañas, and P. C. Ellsworth. 2022. Mortality dynamics of a polyphagous invasive herbivore reveal clues in its agroecosystem success. Pest Management Science 78: 3988-4005.
Anderson, V. M., G. F. H. Sward, C. M. Ranger, M. E. Reding, and L. Canas. 2021. Microbial Control Agents for Fungus Gnats (Diptera: Sciaridae: Lycoriella) Affecting the Production of Oyster Mushrooms, Pleurotus spp. Insects 12: 786.
Esquivel, C. J., L. A. Canas, K. Tilmon, and A. P. Michel. 2021. Evaluating the role of insecticidal seed treatment and refuge for managing soybean aphid virulence. Pest Management Science 77: 2924-2932.
Esquivel, C. J., E. J. Martinez, R. Baxter, R. Trabanino, C. Ranger, M, A. P. Michel, and L. A. Canas. 2020. Thiamethoxam differentially impacts the survival of the generalist predators, Orius insidiosus and Hippodamia convergens, when exposed via the food chain. Journal of Insect Science 20(4): 1-10.
Esquivel, C. J., C. M. Ranger, P. L. Phelan, E. J. Martinez, W. H. Hendrix, L. A. Canas, and A. P. Michel. 2019. Weekly Survivorship Curves of Soybean Aphid Biotypes 1 and 4 on Insecticidal Seed-Treated Soybean. Journal of Economic Entomology 112: 712-719.
Rincon, D. F., L. A. Cañas, and C. W. Hoy. 2017. Modeling changes in predator functional response to prey across spatial scales. Theoretical Ecology 10: 403-415.
Teaching:
ENTMLGY 5610 - Greenhouse Pests (autumn) and
ENTMLGY 5500 - Biological Control (spring)
Extension:
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.
Advisees:
Grace Sward (PhD Candidate)
Jonathan Lee (PhD Candidate)
Valerie Anderson (Master's)
Graduated:
Claudia Kuniyoshi (Peru), PhD
Diego Rincon (Colombia), PhD
Alfredo Rios (Peru), Post Doctoral Associate.
Karla Medina-Ortega (Honduras), PhD, 2011.
Claudia Kuniyoshi (Peru), MS, 2007.
