Allison Bistline-East
Graduate Student Researcher
(951) 827-4360
allison.bistline@ucr.edu
Allison entered the Master of Science program in Entomology in 2013, but her ties to the Hoddle lab stretch back much farther. While an undergraduate, she worked in Dr. Paul de Ley's lab researching marine and freshwater nematode ecology. After receiving her bachelor's degree in 2008, she was hired by the Hoddle lab and has worked on various projects, including glassy-winged sharpshooter, gold spotted oak borer, and Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) research. Her graduate research focuses on the biology of parasitoids targeting ACP for use in biological control.
Education
M.S. Entomology (2015) University of California, Riverside
B.S. Biology (2008) University of California, Riverside
Awards
- Pacific Branch Entomological Society of America Student Paper Competition, First Place, 2015
- Entomological Society of America Student Travel Award, 2015
- Dean's Distinguished Fellowship, 2013
- Chancellor's Scholarship, 2004
- UCR Alumni Association Scholarship, 2004
Current Projects
Asian Citrus Psyllid
Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is an efficient vector of the citrus disease huanglongbing (HLB)... More...
Tamarixia radiata
An Eulophid wasp and primary parasitoid of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) from Punjab, Pakistan.
Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis
An Encyrtid wasp and primary parasitoid of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) from Punjab, Pakistan.
Research Interests
For the past year, I have been working primarily on identifying various parasitoids and hyperparasitoids within the ACP ecological complex in Pakistan. In December 2013, I completed host specificity testing on the primary parasitoid Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis, which we are intending to use as a second option for biological control of ACP in California. Additionally, I have confirmed the roles of several hyperparasitoids associated with ACP, which could have potential ramifications to current and ongoing biological control efforts. My current and future research will focus on describing the various reproductive and life history traits of the parasitoid Psyllaphycus diaphorinae, which no one (to date) has ever worked with before.
Professional Presentations
- Bistline-East, Allison and M.S. Hoddle. Host range evaluation of Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) for biological control of Asian citrus psyllid in California. 99th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Branch of the Entomological Society of America. Couer d'Alene, ID. 12 April 2015.
- Bistline-East, Allison and M.S. Hoddle. Is Psyllaphycus diaphorinae a primary parasitoid of Asian citrus psyllid? Citrus Research Board Biocontrol Task Force Meeting. Riverside, CA. 4 December 2014.
- Bistline-East, Allison and M.S. Hoddle. Assassins Unmasked: Revealing the biology of the hyperparasitoid Psyllaphycus diaphorinae. 62nd Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Portland, OR. 12 November 2014.
- Bistline-East, Allison and M.S. Hoddle. Hyper Alert: Confirming two Pakistani wasps are hyperparasitoids of valuable ACP biological control agents. 98th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Branch of the Entomological Society of America. Tucson, AZ. 7 April 2014.
Publications
2. Bistline-East, Allison, R. Pandey, M. Kececi, and M.S. Hoddle. 2015. Host range testing of Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) for use in classical biological control of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) in California. Journal of Economic Entomology. doi: 10.1093/jee/tov020.
1. Bistline-East, Allison and M.S. Hoddle. 2014. Chartocerus sp. (Hymenoptera: Signiphoridae) and Pachyneuron crassiculme (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) are obligate hyperparasitoids of Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and possibly Tamarixia radiata (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Florida Entomologist 97 (2): 562-566.