Raju Pandey, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Phone: (951) 827-4360
pandeyr@ucr.edu
Dr. Pandey joined the Hoddle laboratory as a Postdoctoral Scholar in February 2010. He is currently working on a biological control project concerning the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). ACP is one of the most destructive invasive pests currently in California, primarily because of its ability to efficiently vector a lethal citrus disease known as Huanlongbing (HLB), previously known as citrus greening.
In 2012, he completed evaluating potential non-target impacts from the introduction of one of ACP's natural enemies from its home range in the Punjab region of Pakistan, Tamarixia radiata (Waterston) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), and USDA-APHIS granted permission for its release in California. Since the first release in December 2012, T. radiata has established and spread in the urban environment around Los Angeles.
Dr. Pandey is currently working on evaluating potential non-target impacts which may occur with the introduction of another parasitoid of ACP, Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis (Shafee, Alam and Argarwal 1975) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), on California’s native psyllid fauna.
Degrees
PhD Entomology (2002), University of Hawaii at Manoa
M.S. Technology of Crop Protection (1994), Reading University
B.S. Agriculture (1985), Panjabrao Agricultural University, Akola, India
Awards
- UMN Scholarship: Certificate level in science, Amrit Campus, Kathmandu, Nepal.
- Government of India Scholarship under Colombo plan: B.Sc. (Ag) in Panjabrao Agricultural University, Akola, India.
- Technical cooperation training programme (TCTP) scholarship:MSc. in Technology of Crop Protection, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
- East West Center Graduate scholarship: PhD in Entomology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, USA.
- Gamma Sigma Delta Honour Society award: Best oral presentation in the annual CTAHR student research symposium, 2000 by a PhD student.
- Best oral presentation travel award in the 2001 CTAHR student research symposium by a PhD student.
- Ka Hana Po-Okela Award 2002 for outstanding contributions to the community through the CTAHR’s Graduate Student Organizations.
- Outstanding Service Award for contributions to Hawaiian Fruit fly suppression program. Awarded during the Fourth Annual meeting and review of the Hawaii fruit fly area wide pest management program. Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, Kohala, Hawaii, April 25 - 28, 2005.
Professional Affiliations
- Entomological Society of America
- Plant Protection Society Nepal
- Nepal Agricultural Association
- Horticulture Society of Nepal
- Society of Agricultural Scientists (SAS), Nepal
- Indian Potato Association
Research Interests
Dr. Pandey is a graduate of Panjabrao Agricultural University, India. He worked as an instructor of plant pathology at the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Tribhuwan University Nepal from 1985 to 1990. He joined Lumle Agricultural Research Center (LARC) as an entomologist in 1990. He initiated the work on biological control of tomato fruit worm, Helicoverpa armigera, and Citrus green stink bug, Rhynchocoris humeralis focusing on the indigenous egg parasitoids.
He got his Master of Science from Reading University, England (1994) and PhD from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (2002). His dissertation research title was "Mass production of Anagyrus ananatis Gahan (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) for the augmentative biological control of pink pineapple mealybug Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae)".
Dr. Pandey worked as Junior/Assistant Specialist for the field implementation of ‘Hawaii Area-Wide Fruit Fly Management Project’, one the most successful Area Wide Pest Management Projects in the USA. He also worked for ECOCERT SA, an Organic Certification Company as an Organic Agriculture Inspector for two years (2008-2009).
Current Projects
Asian Citrus Psyllid
Classical Biological Control of Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP)
Publications
12. Pandey, R.R. and Rana, R.B. 1990. Green stink bug (Rhynchororis humeralis) damage of mandarin fruits and its natural parasitisation by Trissolcus sp. J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sci. 13:127-128.
11. Pandey, R. R. 1992. Reaction of maize genotypes to shootfly. J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sc. 13:115-116.
10. Pandey, R.R., and Gurung T.B. 1997. Incidence of Hymenoptaran Parasitoids in Citrus Green Stink Bug (Rhynchocoris humeralis) eggs. Nepalese Horticulture 1: 28-30.
9. Pandey, R.R. and Subedi, P.P. (1997). Semilooper Plusia orechalcea Fab.: A Threat to Carrot Seed production Programme in the Western Hills of Nepal. Nepalese Horticulture 1: 65.
8. Pandey, R.R. and Johnson, M.W., 2005. Effect of Pink Pineapple Mealybug Hosts on Anagyrus ananatis Gahan Size and Progeny Production. Biological Control 35: 1-8.
7. Pandey, R.R. and Johnson, M.W., 2005. Effects of cool storage of Anagyrus ananatis Gahan (Hymenoprtera: Encyrtidae). Biological Control 35: 9-16.
6. Pandey, R.R. and Johnson, M.W. 2006. Enhanced production of pink pineapple mealybug, Dysmicossus brevipes (Cockerell) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Biocontrol Science and Technology 16: 389 – 401.
5. Pandey, R.R. and Johnson, M.W. 2006. Weeds Adjacent to Hawaiian Pineapple Plantings Harboring Pink Pineapple Mealybugs. Environmental Entomology 35: 68-74.
4. Pandey, R. R. and Johnson, M. W. 2006 Physiological and morphological development of Anagyrus ananatis at constant temperatures. BioControl. 51: 585-601.
3. González-Hernández, H., Pandey, R. R., and Johnson, M. W.. 2005. Biological characterisitcs of adult Anagyrus ananatis Gahan (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), a parasitoid of Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Biological Control 35: 93-103.
2. Hooks, C.R.R, Pandey, R.R. and Johnson, M.W. 2003. Impact of avian and arthropod predation on lepidopteran caterpillar densities and plant productivity in an ephemeral agroecosystem. Ecological Entomology 28: 522-532.
1. Hooks, C. R. R., Pandey, R. R., Johnson, M. W. 2006. Effects of spider presence on Artogeia rapae and host plant biomass. Submitted to Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 112: 73-77.