New Program Members

Dave Combs

Dave Combs has officially transferred into our group from Harvey Reissig’s program, following Harvey’s retirement in 2014.  Dave is continuing with his ongoing responsibilities in overseeing our product efficacy testing program and in assisting with other research topics related to tree fruit pest management.  He is additionally working in this same capacity with Wayne Wilcox in his grape fungicide efficacy testing program, besides covering the spray trial responsibilities in the Station’s hops bineyard.

Carrie Preston

Carrie Preston is a new graduate student who is working on her Masters degree with Ann Hajek and myself.  Her fields of interest include invasive species, biocontrol, pest management, ecology, and outreach. Invasive species have always caught her interest due to their ability to survive and thrive beyond their home range. The forest is a place she calls home, so she wants to protect forest ecosystems that are being affected by these successful intruders. She also  wants to spread the word about these pests and educate people about how to help prevent further spread and future invasions.  Carrie’s research focuses on the impact of the microsporidian, Nosema maddoxi, on Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, and its distribution and abundance of infections in the US.

Mikhail Fischer and Amy Sparer (2017 Summer Scholar)

We are pleased to welcome these new additions to the tree fruit entomology program here in Geneva!