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Applied Biological Control Research

Department of Entomology

Vanessa Lopez

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Vanessa Lopez, Ph.D.

Research Assistant 
Xavier University
3800 Victory Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45207
vlope006@ucr.edu
760-963-1198

Vanessa Lopez was a Ph.D. candidate in the Entomology Department who joined the Hoddle lab in September 2009. She worked on developing a classical biological control program for the invasive goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus auroguttatus, (GSOB) which included identifying the native range of GSOB and surveying for co-evolved natural enemies of this pest. Vanessa also conducted research on the biology and life history of GSOB to understand important traits such as fecundity, longevity, and dispersal potential.

While an undergraduate at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), Vanessa studied overseas via the University of California’s Education Abroad Program. Through this program, she had the opportunity to study tropical conservation and biology in Monteverde, Costa Rica. The Tropical Conservation and Biology program focused strongly on research, and throughout the quarter she participated in several group and individual research projects. These projects encompassed many facets of biology such as behavior, diversity, and ecology. Examples of these research projects include examining species composition at different levels within an intertidal zone, and studying insect diversity in pasture, primary, and secondary forests.

Vanessa's individual study project in Costa Rica examined hitchhiking behavior and load selection in the leaf-cutter ant, Atta cephalotes. In leaf-cutter ants, small workers often ride or “hitchhike” on leaf fragments carried back to the nest by larger foragers. This study focused primarily on the behavior of the small workers, or minima, in Atta cephalotes to determine if there is a correlation between minima activity and the presence of parasitoids (Phoridae).

 

Education

  • Ph.D. Entomology, Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside (2013)
  • B.S. Biological Sciences: Conservation Biology, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of California, Riverside (2008)
  • A.S. Business Administration, Victor Valley Community College, Victorville, CA (2002)
  • A.S. Child Development, Victor Valley Community College, Victorville, CA (2001)

 

Professional Appointments/Employment

  • Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside (2013)

 

Awards

  • Allen-Abrahamson Student Poster Competition, 2011: Ph.D. first place winner
  • Van den Bosch Memorial Travel Award, 2011
  • Van den Bosch Memorial Travel Award, 2010
  • Don Dahlsten Memorial Scholarship, 2010
  • Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship, 2009

 

Projects at University California, Riverside

 

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Goldspotted Oak Borer

GSOB is responsible for major oak mortality on federal, state, and Native American lands. More...

 

Publications

Lopez, V.M., P.F. Rugman-Jones, T.W. Coleman, M.S. Hoddle, and R. Stouthamer (2014). Population Genetics of Goldspotted Oak Borer, Agrilus auroguttatus Schaeffer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae): Investigating the Origin of an Invasive Pest of Native Oaks in California. Biological Invasions (in press).

Lopez, V.M, M.N. McClanahan, L. Graham, and M.S. Hoddle (2014). Assessing the flight capabilities of the goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus auroguttatus (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), with computerized flight mills. Journal of Economic Entomology (in press).

Lopez, V.M., T.W. Coleman, M.S. Hoddle, R. Reardon, and S.J. Seybold. (2014). Goldspotted Oak Borer (Agrilus auroguttatus Schaeffer) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). In: R.G. Van Driesche (ed.), Saving Trees, Saving Forests: Use of classical biological control to preserve native US and Canadian forests. FHTET publication (in press).

Lopez, V.M., and M.S. Hoddle (2014). Effects of Body Size, Diet, and Mating on the Fecundity and Longevity of the Goldspotted Oak Borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/AN13158.

Lopez, V.M., and M.S. Hoddle (2013). Mortality factors affecting Agrilus auroguttatus Schaeffer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) eggs in the native and invaded ranges. Biological Control 67: 143-148.

Coleman, T.W., V. Lopez, M. Hoddle, R. Stouthamer, P. Rugman-Jones, R. Reardon, and S.J. Seybold. (2011). Can the destruction of California’s oak savannahs be prevented? Potential for biological control of the goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus auroguttatus Schaeffer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). Biocontrol 1386-6141: 1-15.

 

Honors/Awards

  • Earle C. Anthony Graduate Travel Award, University of California, Riverside (2012)
  • Allen-Abrahamson Student Poster Competition, North American Forest Insect Work Conference, Ph.D. first place winner (2011)
  • Van den Bosch Memorial Travel Award, University of California, Riverside (2011)
  • Van den Bosch Memorial Travel Award, University of California, Riverside (2010)
  • Don Dahlsten Memorial Scholarship, California Forest Pest Council (2010)

 

Grants and Fellowships

  • Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship, University of California, Riverside (2009) 

 

Professional Presentations

  • Lopez, V.M. and M.S. Hoddle. Identifying and managing the invasive goldspotted oak borer in southern CA. San Bernardino PAPA Seminar. County Agricultural Department General Session Building, San Bernardino, CA. October 1, 2013.
  • Lopez, V.M. and M.S. Hoddle. Identification and control of the gold Spotted oak borer. San Diego PAPA Seminar. Marina Village Conference Center, San Diego, CA. July 17, 2013.
  • Lopez, V.M. and M.S. Hoddle. Life history traits and dispersal characteristics of goldspotted oak borer: implications for biological control. 97th Annual Meeting Pacific Branch Entomological Society of America. Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, Nevada. April 7 - 10, 2013.
  • Lopez, V.M. and M.S Hoddle. Biology and management of the goldspotted oak borer: A new pest killing oaks in southern California. Target Specialty Products Seminar. Cerritos, CA. February 28, 2013.
  • Lopez, V.M., T.W. Coleman, and M.S. Hoddle. Using molecular techniques to guide the management of the invasive goldspotted oak borer Agrilus auroguttatus Schaeffer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in California. Entomological Society of America 60th Annual Meeting. Knoxville, Tennessee. November 11-14 2012.
  • Lopez, V.M., T.W. Coleman, and M.S. Hoddle. Goldspotted oak borer biological control: Progress and future directions. W-3185 Meeting. Asilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove, CA, Oct. 3-5, 2012.
  • Lopez, V.M., T.W. Coleman, and M.S. Hoddle. Goldspotted oak borer biological control research. Spring 2012 GSOB Workshop. Charles S. Farnsworth Park, Altadena, CA. May 2 2012.
  • Lopez, V.M., T.W. Coleman, and M.S. Hoddle. Goldspotted oak borer biological control research. Spring 2012 GSOB Workshop. Pechanga Government Center, Temecula, CA. May 1 2012.
  • Lopez, V.M., T.W. Coleman, and M.S. Hoddle. Progress on goldspotted oak borer biological control. Spring 2012 Southern California Forest Pest Council Meeting. Riverside, CA. April 24 2012.
  • Lopez, V.M., T.W. Coleman, and M.S. Hoddle. Utilizing molecular techniques in the development of a biological control program for the invasive goldspotted oak borer (Agrilus auroguttatus). 2012 Western Forest Insect Work Conference. Penticton Lakeside Resort, Penticton British Columbia, March 27 2012.
  • Lopez, V.M., and M.S Hoddle. Goldspotted Oak Borer: A woodborer killing native oaks in southern California. Target Specialty Products Seminar. Long Beach, CA. March 8 2012.
  • Lopez, V.M., T.W. Coleman, and M.S. Hoddle. Feasibility and potential for biological control of goldspotted oak borer Agrilus auroguttatus Schaeffer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). Invited oral presentation in the P-IE Section Symposium: Biological Control of Invasive Wood Borers: Feasibility, Potential, Progress, and Challenges. Entomological Society of America 59th Annual Meeting. Reno Nevada, November 2011.
  • Lopez, V.M. and M.S. Hoddle. Determining fecundity and longevity for the invasive goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus auroguttatus Schaeffer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). North American Forest Insect Work Conference. Portland, OR. May 2011.
  • Lopez, V.M. et.al. Identifying the area of origin of the California population of the invasive goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus auroguttatus Schaeffer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). Entomological Society of America 58th Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA, December 2010.
  • Lopez, V.M. et.al. Identifying the area of origin of the California population of the invasive goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus coxalis Waterhouse (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). California Forest Pest Council 59th Annual Meeting. McClellan, CA. November 2010.
  • Lopez, V.M., and M.S Hoddle. Goldspotted oak borer: A serious new invader killing native oaks in wilderness and urban Areas. California Association of Pest Control Advisors Meeting. Santa Paula, CA. November 2010.
  • Lopez, V.M., et.al. Identifying the area of origin of the invasive goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus coxalis Waterhouse (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) using molecular techniques. Biological Control for Nature Conference. Northampton, MA. October 2010.

 

GSOB Research Links

 

 

 

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