Area of expertise:

Biological Control, Insect Identification, Insect colony maintenance, soil survey research and analysis.

Other information:

· M.S. 1998 Purdue University: Entomology, Biological Control

· B.S. 1992 Panamerican College of Agriculture: Plant Protection

Research

I translated and trascribed taped interviews recorded in Ecuador, from Spanish to English. These tapes were part of a project between OSU and several institution in Ecuador. The main goal of this project is to develop control techniques for management of a major pest of corn (Macrodactylus). I also assist with the preparation and submission of reseach papers. PI: Roger Williams.I am currently working on the "Habitat Characteristics and Entomopathogenic Nematode Persistence in Agroecosystems" project where I have assisted with soil surveys. The goal of the project is to look for habitat characteristics that can be related to pressence of entomophatogenic nematodes. This project involved the extraction of nematodes and various soil analyses, as well as the identification of insects found in different habitats. PI: Casey Hoy and Parwinder Grewal.

Translation

Volunteering

I currently do volunteering work at the control environments laboratory. I help maintain the insect colonies that are used for research and teaching projects. In addition I help identify pests samples in support of the greenhouse industry and home owners. This information is also added to a pest database maintained at the controlled environments laboratory. PI: Luis Cañas.

Publications

Acosta N. M. and Robert J. O'Neil. 1999. Life history characteristics of three populations of Edovum puttleri Grissell (Hymenoptera : Eulophidae) at three temperatures. Biological Control 16: 81-87.

Ronald D. Cave y Nuris M. Acosta. 1999. Telenomus remus Nixon: un parasitoide en el control biológico del gusano cogollero, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith). Ceiba 40: 215-227.

Acosta, N. M. 1998. Life history characteristics of three populations of Edovum puttleri Grissell (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) at three temperatures. Thesis M.S., Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, U.S.A. 50p.

Acosta, N. M, P. 1995. Castillo and A. Ciliézar. Control Biológico de fitopatógenos, pp 127-132. In R, D. Cave, [ed.], Manual para la enseñanza del control biológico en América Latina. 2do Taller sobre la enseñanza del control biológico en América Latina, El Zamorano, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Acosta N. M. and Cave R. D. 1994. Survey of parasitoids attacking Liriomyza Spp (Diptera, Agromyzidae) in southern Honduras. Revista de Biologa Tropical 42 (1-2): 203-218.

Acosta, N. M. 1992. Inventario y evaluación de los parasitoides de Liriomyza spp. (Diptera: Agromyzidae) en la región Sur de Honduras. Tesis Ing. Agr., Esc. Agric. Panamericana, El Zamorano, Honduras, 67p.