John Losey Associate Professor 4126 Comstock Hall Phone: (607) 255-7376 Fax: (607) 255-0939 Email: jel27@cornell.edu

Education

Ph.D. Entomology. The University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 1996. Dissertation Title: Synergism between Ground and Foliar-foraging Predators of Aphids in Alfalfa. (Advisor - Robert Denno)

M.S. Entomology. The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 1992. Thesis Title: Development and Evaluation of a Prototype Biological Control Program for European Corn Borer in Sweet Corn. (Advisor - Dennis Calvin)

B.A. Biology. Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH. May, 1986.

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Research Program

The main thrust of my research involves corn that has been genetically-modified to contain genetic material from the soil-dwelling bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). This transgenic "Bt corn" produces a toxin which protects it from pest attack. My research focuses on the potential impact of Bt-corn on both the target pest and on non-target organisms.

Resisting resistance: The utilization of Bt-corn for management of the European corn borer (ECB) is one major focus of my research program. Specifically, my research has been directed towards the management of resistance in ECB populations and the potential for negative impacts on non-target lepidopteran populations. In two years of field experiments my collaborators and I each measured oviposition of ECB egg masses on corn and non-corn plants, and the ability of ECB larvae to complete development on corn and non-corn plants. In both years we found very few oviposited egg masses on any plant but corn and recovered very few ECB larvae from "infested" plots of anything but corn. In additional studies I found that only fairly large-stemmed plants (like corn) could support the full development of ECB larvae. Thus, weed species are only suitable as early instar "nursery" hosts. Further studies have revealed that ECB larvae can survive for over 3 weeks without food which suggests that they may be able to survive long enough to disperse to corn plants after they leave their nursery plant. Based on these two years of results, I find very little evidence to recommend that the proportion of refuge be reduced because of the potential influx of susceptibles from non-corn refuges. In fact, since late instar larvae are more tolerant of the Bt toxin, individuals may survive if they colonize Bt-corn after they leave their original host, and thus these nursery plants could actually speed the onset of resistance.

For more information on transgenic corn, visit http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/cropsystems/DC7055.html

Protecting butterflies: My related research on the non-target effects of Bt-corn focuses on the impact of pollen from Bt-corn plants on non-target lepidoptera and other organisms. In collaboration with Linda Rayor, and Maureen Carter (Entomology) I found that larvae of the monarch butterfly on milkweed leaves dusted with transgenic Bt-corn pollen ate less, grew more slowly, and suffered higher mortality than those fed leaves dusted with untransformed corn pollen or leaves without pollen (Nature 399:214). We have expanded on these initial results by examining the effects of corn plants and corn pollen on the behavior of adult and larval monarchs and by quantifying mortality rates in the field. Future research will include other non-target organisms. This research has received considerable attention in the press and tactics designed to protect non-target lepidoptera from Bt-corn pollen have been incorporated into the new EPA regulations for this crop. We intend to extend this research by examining the potential risks that new Bt-corn hybrids targeted against rootworm (beetle) larvae may pose to non-target coleoptera and other organisms.

For Bt-corn's effect on Monarch butterflies in the news, check out http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/May99/Butterflies.bpf.html

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Teaching Program

ENTOM 344(3440) Insect Conservation Biology

Spring. 3 credits. Prerequisite: entomology or conservation biology course or permission of instructor. S-U grades optional. Lec, T R 10:10-11:25. Offered alternate years; not offered 2006-2007. J. E. Losey.

In-depth look at the concepts and issues surrounding the conservation of insects and other invertebrates. Topics include sampling rare populations; insect conservation genetics; the role of phylogeny in determining conservation priorities; refuge design; saving individual species; plus the unique political, social, and ethical aspects of insect conservation and preservation of their ecological services (i.e., pollination, decomposition, pest suppression, and insectivore food sources).

ENTOM 444 Integrated Pest Management (also Pl Pa 444)

Fall. 4 credits. Prerequisites: BIOES 261, ENTOM 212 or 241, and PL PA 241 or their equivalents or permission of instructor. Lecs M W F 9:05; labs, M 1:25-4:25. J. Losey and P. Arneson.

Lectures integrate the principles of pest control, ecology, and economics in the management of pests across multiple systems. Laboratories consist of exercises to reinforce concepts presented in lecture and demonstrate pest monitoring techniques and the application of computer technology to management problems.

http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/ipm444/index.html

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Publications

Losey, J.E., D.D. Calvin, M.E. Carter, C.E. Mason. Evaluation of non-corn host plants as a refuge in a resistance management program for European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on Bt-corn. (Environmental Entomology - in press)

Obrycki, J.J., J.E. Losey, O. Taylor, & L.C. Hansen. Transgenic insecticidal corn: Beyond insecticidal toxicity to ecological complexity. (BioScience - in press)

Jensen, M.A., J.E. Losey and A.E. Hajek. Altered behavior and distribution of pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Homoptera: Aphididae), infected with Pandora neoaphidus (Zugomycetes: Entomophthorales). (BioControl - in press)

Tschenn, J., J.E. Losey, L. Hansen Jesse, J.J. Obrycki, and R. Hufbauer. Effects of corn plants and corn pollen on monarch butterfly oviposition behavior. (Environmental Entomology - in press).

Losey, J.E., and M.D. Eubanks. 2000. Implications of host-plant specialization for the potential colonization of vegetables following post-harvest emigration from forage crops. Environmental Entomology 29:1283-1288.

J.P. Harmon, A.R. Ives, J.E. Losey, A.C. Olson, K.S. Rauwald. 2000. Coleomegilla maculata DeGeer (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predation on pea aphids promoted by proximity to dandelions. Oecologia 125:543-548.

Losey, J.E., L.S. Rayor, and M.E. Carter. 1999. Transgenic pollen harms monarch larvae. Nature 399:214.

Losey, J.E., and R.F. Denno. 1999. Factors facilitating synergistic predation: The central role of synchrony. Ecological Applications 9:378-386.

Losey, J.E., and R.F. Denno. 1998. Interspecific variation in the escape response of aphids: Effect on risk of predation from foliar-foraging and ground foraging predators. Oecologia. 115:245-252.

Harmon, J., J.E. Losey, and A.R. Ives. 1998. The role of vision and color in the close proximity foraging behavior of four coccinellid species. Oecologia. 115:287-292.

Losey, J.E., and R.F. Denno. 1998. The escape response of pea aphids to foliar-foraging predators: Factors affecting dropping behavior. Ecological Entomology 23:53-61.

Losey, J.E., and R.F. Denno. 1998. Positive predator-predator interactions: Enhanced predation rates and synergistic suppression of aphid populations. Ecology 79:2143-2152.

Losey, J.E., A.R. Ives, J. Harmon, F. Ballantyne, and C. Brown. 1997. Maintenance of an aphid color polymorphism through a balance of parasitism and predation. Nature 388: 269-272.

Calvin, D.D., J.E. Losey, M.C. Knapp, F.L. Poston. 1997. Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) oviposition and development in three age classes of southwestern corn borer eggs. Environ. Entomol. 26:385-390.

Denno, R.F., G.K. Roderick, M.A. Peterson, A.F. Huberty, H.G. Doebel, M.D. Eubanks, J.E. Losey, G.A. Langellotto. 1996. Habitat persistence underlies intraspecific variation in the dispersal strategies of planthoppers. Ecological Monographs 66:389-408.

Losey, J.E., and D.D. Calvin. 1995. Quality assessment of four commercially-available species of Trichogramma. J. Econ. Entomol. 88:1243-1250.

Losey, J.E., S.J. Fleischer, D.D. Calvin, W.L. Harkness, and T. Leahy. 1995. Evaluation of Trichogramma nubilale and Bacillus thuringiensis in management of Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in sweet corn. Environ. Entomol. 24:436-445.

Losey, J.E., P.Z. Song, D.M. Schmidt, and D.D. Calvin. 1992. Larval parasitoids collected from overwintering European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Pennsylvania. J. Kans. Ent. Soc. 65(1):87-91.

Calvin, D.D., J.E. Losey. 1991. Preference of Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) for three age classes of southwestern corn borer eggs. Les Colloques de INRA 56: 59-62.

Losey, J.E., and D.D. Calvin. 1991. Evaluation of the parasitization efficiency of four species of Trichogramma on European corn borer eggs. Les Colloques de INRA 56:209-212.

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