DEPARTMENT OF
ENTOMOLOGY
Jeffrey A. Davis
Associate Professor
Soybean IPM
EMAIL: jeffdavis@agcenter.lsu.edu
DEGREES: B.S. Agronomy, 1996, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
M.S. Entomology, 2004, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
Ph.D. Entomology, 2006, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
Current Research Interests
Stink bugs, threecornered alfalfa hopper, and a complex of Lepidopteran defoliators (soybean looper, velvet bean caterpillar, corn earworm, and green cloverworm) continue to be the main pests currently impacting soybean production in Louisiana. My research focuses on establishing and maintaining a sustainable soybean IPM program to reduce soybean grower costs and improve quality and yields by utilizing biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools to regulate pest populations while minimizing environmental risks. My research generates data on pest density, impact, biology, and control tactics that are critical to improve the overall soybean IPM program. My research provides the necessary information to predict and manipulate pest population dynamics in soybean fields.
Specifically, my current research focuses on:
1) Determining diversity, density and abundance of key soybean pests in surrounding vegetation and field crops
2) Investigating the effects of global climate change on population dynamics of key soybean pests
3) Screening soybean germplasm and current soybean varieties for host plant resistance (HPR) to soybean pests
4) Determining HPR mechanisms via EPG technique
5) Determining alternative host and elicitor impacts on soybean pest biology, population ecology, and insecticide resistance
6) Developing variety specific economic thresholds using HPR, biological control and insecticides
In addition, I will investigate insect vector-plant pathogen associations that threaten soybean, sweetpotato, potato and wheat by:
1) Determining virus vector distribution and densities in fields and surrounding landscapes
2) Determining vector efficiencies
3) Evaluating the impacts viruses have on host suitability, population dynamics, and feeding behavior of aphids
4) Evaluating the impacts host plant resistance (constitutive and induced), insecticides, and cultural control tactics have on virus transmission and host suitability, population dynamics, and feeding behavior of aphids.
Current Graduate Students
Miyanda Moonga, Ph.D. Fulbright Scholar, 2010 – present
Kukuh Hernowo, Ph.D. Fulbright Scholar, 2011 – present
Anup Bastola, Ph.D., 2012 – present
Sunil Paudel, Ph.D., 2013 – present
Abby Cox, M.S., 2014 – present
Monique de Souza, Ph.D., 2014 – present
Jie Chen (co-advised w/ Dr. J. Beuzelin), Ph.D., 2014 – present
John Dryburgh, Ph.D., 2015 – present
Current Research Associates
M. Jeff Murray
Xuan Chen
Publications:
Refereed Journals:
Temple, J. H., J. A. Davis, J. Hardke, J. Moore, and B. R. Leonard. 2013. Susceptibility of southern green stink bug and redbanded stink bug to insecticides in soybean field experiments and laboratory bioassays. Southwestern Entomol. 38:393-406.
Wosula, E. N., J. A. Davis, and C. A. Clark. 2013. Population dynamics of three aphid species (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on four Ipomoea spp. infected or non-infected with sweetpotato potyviruses. J. Econ. Entomol. 106:1566-1573.
Temple, J. H., J. A. Davis, S. Micinski, J. T. Hardke, P. Price, and B. R. Leonard. 2013. Species composition and seasonal abundance of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Louisiana soybean. Environ. Entomol. 42:648-657.
Musser, F. R., A. L. Catchot, Jr., J. A. Davis, D. A. Herbert, Jr., G. M. Lorenz, T. Reed, D. D. Reisig, and S. D. Stewart. 2013. 2012 Soybean Insect Losses in the Southern US. MidSouth Entomol. 6:12-24.
Lanka, S. K., J. A. Ottea, J. A. Davis, A. B. Hernandez, and M. J. Stout. 2013. Systemic effects of thiamethoxam and chlorantraniliprole as seed treatments on adult Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in rice. Pest Manag. Sci. 69:250–256.
Wosula, E. N., J. A. Davis, C. A. Clark, T. P. Smith, R. A. Arancibia, F. R. Musser, and J. T. Reed. 2013. The role of aphid abundance, species diversity and virus titer in the spread of sweetpotato potyviruses in Louisiana and Mississippi. Plant Dis. 97:53-61.
Brown, S. A., J. A. Davis, and A. R. Richter. 2012. Efficacy of foliar insecticides on eggs of Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Florida Entomol. 95:1182-1186.
Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe, C. A. Thill, and D. W. Ragsdale. 2012. Resistance to aphids, late blight and viruses in somatic fusions and crosses of Solanum tuberosum L. and Solanum bulbocastanum Dun. Am. J. Pot. Res. 89:489–500.
Wosula, E. N., C. A. Clark, and J. A. Davis. 2012. Effect of host plant, aphid species, and virus infection status on transmission of Sweetpotato feathery mottle virus. Plant Dis. 96:1331-1336.
Musser, F. R. , A. L. Catchot, Jr., J. A. Davis, D. A. Herbert, Jr., B. R. Leonard, G. M. Lorenz, T. Reed, D. D. Reisig, and S. D. Stewart. 2012. 2011 Soybean insect losses in the southern US. Midsouth Entomol. 5:11-17.
Kamminga, K. L., J. A. Davis, S. P. Stock, and A. R. Richter. 2012. First report of a Mermithid nematode infecting Piezodorus guildinni and Acrosternum hilare (Hemiptera:Pentatomidae) in the United States. Florida Entomol. 95:214-217.
Clark, C., J. A. Davis, J. A. Abad, W. Cuellar, S. Fuentes, J. Kreuze, R. W. Gibson, S. Mukasa, A. K. Tugume, F. Tairo, and J. Valkonen. 2012. Sweetpotato viruses: 15 years of progress on understanding and managing complex diseases. Plant Dis. 96:168-185.
Temple, J., B. R. Leonard, J. A. Davis, K. Fontenot. 2009. Insecticide efficacy against redbanded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood), a new stink bug pest of Louisiana soybean. Mid-South Entomologist 2:68-69.
Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe and D. W. Ragsdale. 2009. Planter skips and impaired stand favors PVY spread in potato. Amer. J. Pot. Res. 86:203–208.
Davis, J. A., and E. B. Radcliffe. 2008. The importance of an invasive aphid species in vectoring a persistently transmitted potato virus: Aphis glycines Matsumura is a vector of PLRV. Plant Dis.92:1515-1523.
Davis, J. A. and E. B. Radcliffe. 2008. Reproduction and feeding behavior of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) on four cereals. J. Econ. Entomol. Accepted (in press).
Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe and D. W. Ragsdale. 2008. Planter skips and impaired stand favors PVY spread in potato. Pot. Res. Submitted (in review).
Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe, C. A. Thill, and D. W. Ragsdale. 2008. Resistance to aphids, late blight and viruses in somatic fusions and crosses of Solanum tuberosum L. and Solanum bulbocastanum Dun. TAG. Submitted (in review).
Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe and D. W. Ragsdale. 2007. Resistance to green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), and potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), in potato cultivars. Amer. J. Pot. Res. 84:259-269.
Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe and D. W. Ragsdale. 2006. Effects of high and fluctuating temperatures on green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Environ. Entomol. 35(6):1461-1468.
Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe and D. W. Ragsdale. 2005. Soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura, a new vector of Potato virus Y in potato. Am. J. Potato Res. 82:197-201.
Book Chapters:
Davis, J. A. 2013. Insect vectors: aphids, whiteflies and thrips. In: C. A. Clark, D. M. Ferrin, T. P. Smith, and G. J. Holmes (eds.), Compendium of Sweetpotato Diseases, Pests, and Disorders, pp. 106-109. APS Press, St. Paul, MN.
Stout, M, and Davis, J. 2009. Keys to the Increased Use of Host-Plant Resistance in Integrated Pest Management. In: R. Peshin and K. Ashok (eds.), Integrated Pest Management: Innovation-Development Process, pp. 163-181. Springer, NY, NY.
Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe, W. Schrage and D. W. Ragsdale. 2008. Vector and virus IPM for seed potato production. In: E. B. Radcliffe, W. D. Hutchison and R. E. Cancelado (eds.), Insect Pest Management: Concepts, Tactics, Strategies and Case Studies, pp. 366-377. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
Davis, J. A., E. B. Radcliffe and D. W. Ragsdale. 2008. IPM of seed potato production. In: E. B. Radcliffe and W. D. Hutchison(eds.), IPM textbook. Cambridge University Press. In press.
