Shaohui Wu (starts June 2023)

Research areas (30%)
My research interest is focused on integrated management of arthropod pests and diseases in turfgrass. Research areas in my lab include but are not limited to chemical control, biological control, microbial control (with entomopathogenic nematodes, fungi, bacteria, or viruses), and pesticide resistance diagnosis and management.  Also, I am interested in exploring for novel and eco-friendly tactics for managing turf pests and diseases. The goal of research is to reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides and side effects from chemical applications (e.g. pesticide resistance, non-target effects, water / soil pollution), thus promoting biodiversity and environmental sustainability.

Extension (60%)
My program provides extension service for diagnosing and managing turfgrass pest and disease problems.

Teaching (10%)
ENTMLGY 5608: Turfgrass Insect and Mite Pests - Identification, Biology, and Management
PLNTPTH 5130: Turf Diseases and Integrated Turf Health Management

Patents

Shapiro-Ilan, D., Behle, R., Wu, S., Toews, M., Castrillo, L. 2023. Compositions and Methods to Reduce Insect Pests: A new strain of Isaria javanica isolated from a natural epizootic in the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (biotype B). US Patent No. 11576384. Filed on April 16, 2020, Issued on February 14, 2023.

Ment, D., Mechrez, G., Karasik, L., Ramakrishnan, J., Shapiro-Ilan, D., Wu, S. 2022. Pickering emulsion for coating entomopathogenic nematodes. US Provisional Patent Application No. 63/358,387, filed on July 5, 2022. (Pending)

Publications‪

Shaohui Wu - ‪Google Scholar

Book chapters
Koppenhöfer, A.M. and Wu, S. 2017. Microbial control of insect pests of turfgrass. In L. Lacey (ed), Microbial Agents for Control of Insect Pests: from theory to practice. Academic Press, pp. 331-341.

Youngman, R., Kuhar, T., Gyawaly, S., Laub, C. and Wu, S.  2015.  Turfgrass insect management, In "Turfgrass Certification Training Manual", Virginia Turfgrass Council (http://www.turfprofessional.org/manual.html), Chapter 9, p. 1-21.

Wu, S., Reddy, G.V.P. and Jaronski, S.T. 2014. Advances in microbial insect control in horticultural ecosystem, In D. Nandawani (ed), Sustainable Horticultural Systems, Sustainable Development and Biodiversity 2, Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, pp. 223-252.

Selected peer-reviewed journal articles (last 5 years)

1. Gulzar, S., Wakil, W., Usman, M., Wu, S., Rasool, K.G., Husain, M., Aldawood, A.S., Toews, M. 2023. Development of insecticide resistance in field populations of onion thrips, Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Insects. (In review)

2. Wu, S., Mechrez, G., Ment, D., Toews, M.D., Mani, K.A., Feldbaum, R.A. & Shapiro-Ilan, D.I. 2023. Tolerance of Steinernema carpocapsae infective juveniles in novel nanoparticle formulations to ultraviolet radiation. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 196, 107851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2022.107851.

3. Fu, S., Huang, L., He, H., Tang, J., Wu, S., Xue, F. 2022. Differentiation of developmental pathways results in different life-history patterns between the high and low latitudinal populations in the Asian corn borer. Insects. 13(11), 1026. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13111026

4. McGraw, B.A., Koppenhöfer, A.M., Kostromytska, O., Wu, S., Alm, S. 2022. Insecticidal activity of a petroleum-derived spray oil and an organosilicone surfactant on Listronotus maculicollis (Kirby) adults in laboratory and greenhouse bioassays. Insects. 13(11), 1032. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13111032

5. Liliya Kotliarevski, L., Cohen, R., Ramakrishnan, J., Wu, S., Mani, K.A., Feldbaum, R.A., Yaakov, N., Zelinger, E., Belausov, E., Shapiro-Ilan, D., Glazer, I., Ment, D. and Mechrez, G. 2022. Individual coating of entomopathogenic nematodes with titania (TiO2) nanoparticles based on oil-in-water Pickering emulsion: A new formulation for biopesticides. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 70, 42, 13518–13527. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.2c04424

6. Wu, S., Toews, M.D., Cottrell, T.E., Schmidt, J., Shapiro-Ilan, D.I. 2022. Toxicity of Photorhabdus luminescens and Xenorhabdus bovienii bacterial metabolites to pecan aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and the lady beetle Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 194:107806. doi: 10.1016/j.jip.2022.107806.

7. Wakil, W., Usman, M., Gulzar, S., Piñero, J.C., Wu, S., Toews, M.D., Shapiro-Ilan, D.I. 2022. Combined application of entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi against fruit flies, Bactrocera zonata and B. dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae). Pest Management Science. 78(7): 2779-2791. doi: 10.1002/ps.6899.

8. Behle, R.W., Wu, S., Toews, M.D., Duffield, K.R., Shapiro-Ilan, D.I. 2022. Comparing production and efficacy of Cordyceps javanica with Cordyceps fumosorosea. Journal of Economic Entomology. 115(2): 455-461. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toac002

9. Tang, J.-J., Liu, X.-P., He, H.-M., Huang, L.-L., Wu, S.-H., Xue, F.-S. 2022. A multi-year dormancy strategy in a cabbage beetle population in southeastern China. Ecology and Evolution. 12(5): e8900. doi: 10.1002/ece3.8900.

10. Usman, M., Wakil, W., Gulzar, S., Piñero, J.C., Wu, S., Toews, M.D., Shapiro-Ilan, D.I. 2021. Evaluation of locally isolated entomopathogenic fungi against multiple life stages of Bactrocera zonata and Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae): laboratory and field study. Microorganisms. 9, 1791. https://doi.org/10.3390/

11. Wu, S., Blackburn, M.B., Mizell III, R.F., Duncan, L.W., Toews, M.D., Sparks, M.E., El-Borai, F., Bock, C., Shapiro-Ilan, D. 2021. Pupal cell antibiosis suppresses plant and insect pathogenic fungi and is associated with a bacterium related to Serratia nematodiphila. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 184: 107655. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2021.107655

12. Wu, S., Toews, M.D., Castrillo, L.A., Barman, A.K., Cottrell, T.E., Shapiro-Ilan, D.I. 2021. Identification and virulence of Cordyceps javanica strain Wf GA17 isolated from a natural fungal population in sweetpotato whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Environmental Entomology. 50(5): 1127–1136. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvab061

13. Gulzar, S., Usman, M., Wakil, W., Wu, S., Oliveira-Hofman, C., Srinivasan, R., Toews, M., Shapiro-Ilan, D. 2021. Virulence of entomopathogenic nematodes to pupae of Frankliniella fusca (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 114(5): 2018–2023. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toab132

14. He, H., Tang, J., Huang, L., Wu, S., Peng, Y., Xue, F. 2021. Inheritance of key life-history traits in crosses between northern and southern populations of the cabbage beetle Colaphellus bowringi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research. 111 (4): 420–428. DOI: 10.1017/s000748532100002x

15. Usman, M., Gulzar, S., Wakil, W., Wu, S., Piñero, J.C., Leskey, T.C., Nixon, L.J., Oliveira-Hofman, C., Toews, M.D., Shapiro-Ilan, D. 2020. Virulence of entomopathogenic fungi to Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) and interactions with entomopathogenic nematodes. Journal of Economic Entomology. 113(6): 2627–2633. doi: 10.1093/jee/toaa209

16. Wu, S., Toews, M.D., Hofman, C.O., Behle, R.W., Simmons, A.M., Shapiro-Ilan, D.I. 2020. Environmental tolerance of entomopathogenic fungi: a new strain of Cordyceps javanica isolated from a whitefly epizootic versus commercial fungal strains. Insects. 11, 711. doi:10.3390/insects11100711

17. Usman, M., Gulzar, S., Wakil, W., Piñero, J.C., Leskey, T.C., Nixon, L.J., Oliveira-Hofman, C., Wu, S., Shapiro-Ilan, D. 2020. Potential of entomopathogenic nematodes against soil dwelling stage of the apple maggot Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Journal of Nematology. 52: 1-9 https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2020-079

18. Koppenhӧfer, A.M., Kostromytska, O.S., Wu, S. 2020. Optimizing the use of entomopathogenic nematodes for the management of Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Split applications and combinations with imidacloprid. Crop Protection. 137: 105229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2020.105229

19. Koppenhӧfer, A.M., Wu, S., Kostromytska, O.S. 2020. Microsclerotial granular formulation of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum and its combinations with hydrogel and imidacloprid against the annual bluegrass weevil, Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 113(3):1118-1128. doi: 10.1093/jee/toaa052.

20. Wu, S., Kostromytska, O.S., Goble, T., Hajek, A.E., Koppenhӧfer, A.M. 2020. Compatibility of a microsclerotia-based formulation of Metarhizium brunneum with fungicides. BioControl. 65: 113–123. doi:10.1007/s10526-019-09983-9

21. Tang, J., He, H., Wu, S., Zou, C., Xue, F., Xiao, L. 2019. Expression of alternative developmental pathways in the cabbage butterfly, Pieris melete and their differences in life history traits. Ecology and Evolution. 9: 12311–12321.

22. Wu, S., Kostromytska, O.S., Koppenhӧfer, A.M. 2019. Effect of temperature on post-diapause reproductive diapause in Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research. 109: 669–677. doi:10.1017/S0007485318001025

23. Koppenhӧfer, A.M., McGraw, B.A., Kostromytska, O.S., Wu, S. 2019. Variable effect of larval stage on the efficacy of insecticides against Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) populations with different levels of pyrethroid resistance. Crop Protection. 125: 104888.

24. Hofman, C.O., Kaplan, F., Stevens, G., Lewis, E., Wu, S., Alborn, H.T., Shapiro-Ilan, D.I. 2019. Pheromones act as boosters for entomopathogenic nematodes efficacy. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 164: 38–42. (Selected as a research highlight in 2019 Society of Invertebrate Pathology annual meeting)

25. Wu, S., Kaplan, F., Lewis, E., Alborn, H. T., Shapiro-Ilan, D.I. 2018. Infected host macerate enhances entomopathogenic nematode dispersal and infectivity in a soil profile. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 159: 141–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2018.10.007

26. Kostromytska, O.S., Wu, S., Koppenhӧfer, A.M. 2018. Diagnostic dose assays for the detection and monitoring of resistance in adults from Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) populations. Journal of Economic Entomology. 111: 2329-2339. doi: 10.1093/jee/toy167

27. Koppenhӧfer, A.M., Kostromytska, O.S., Wu, S. 2018. Pyrethroid-resistance level affects performance of larvicides and adulticides from different insecticide classes in populations of Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 111: 1851-1859. doi: 10.1093/jee/toy142

28. Kostromytska, O.S., Wu, S., Koppenhӧfer, A.M. 2018. Cross-resistance patterns to insecticides of several chemical classes among Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) populations with different levels of resistance to pyrethroids. Journal of Economic Entomology. 111: 391-398. doi: 10.1093/jee/tox345

29. Wu, S., Kostromytska, O.S., Xue, F., Koppenhӧfer, A.M. 2018. Chilling effect on termination of reproductive diapause in Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Insect Physiology. 104: 25-32. DOI: 10.1016/ j.jinsphys.2017.11.005

30. Wu, S., Kostromytska, O.S., Koppenhӧfer, A.M. 2017. Synergistic combinations of a pyrethroid insecticide and an emulsifiable oil formulation of Beauveria bassiana to overcome insecticide resistance in Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 110(4): 1794-1802. DOI: 10.1093/jee/tox176