John Losey

Table of Contents

• Professional Overview and Objectives
• Education
• Academic Ranks
• Areas of Expertise
• Courses Taught
• Publications

Professional Overview and Objectives

My program has two complementary foci the management of pest insect populations and the management of endangered or declining insect populations. My program in pest management focuses on the ecological impacts of transgenic crops for insect control. Since I specialize in field crops, I have narrowed that focus further to Bt-corn including both Btk (for lepidopteran pests) and Btt (for coleopteran pests). Ecological impacts can include both impacts on the target pest population (eg resistance) and impacts on nontarget organisms (eg monarchs and beneficial beetles). My research with Bt-corn focuses on evaluating these problems and identifying potential solutions. One group of beneficial beetles that may be impacted by Btt corn is the coccinellidae or lady beetles. This group includes many predators that are vital for the suppression of pest populations. Unfortunately, many of the most common lady beetles native to the United States are in precipitous decline. My research in insect conservation biology focuses on the assessment of the current status of both native and exotic lady beetles and the determination of the impact of recent trends in the composition of lady beetle species (e.g. a higher proportion of exotic species and individuals) on the ability of this group to suppress pest populations.

Education

Academic Ranks

Areas of Expertise

Courses Taught

Publications

Losey, J. and M. Vaughan. 2008. Conserving the ecological services provided by insects. American Entomologist 54: 113-115.

Vaughan, M., F. Kuehn, J. Losey, and S. Black. 2008. Conservation of insects. 54: 96-97.

Shuler, R.E., A. DiTommaso, J.E. Losey, and C.L. Mohler. 2008. Postdispersal weed seed predation is affected by experimental substrate. Weed Science 56: 889-895.

Losey, J.E., J.E. Perlman, and R. Hoebeke. 2007. Citizen scientist rediscovers rare nine-spotted lady beetle, Coccinella novemnotata, in eastern North America. Journal of Insect Conservation. 04 March 2007 (10.1007/s10841-007-9077-6).

Fuchsberg, J.R., T.-H. Yong, J.E. Losey, M.E. Carter, and M.P. Hoffmann. 2007. Evaluation of corn leaf aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis; Homoptera: Aphididae) honeydew as a food source for the egg parasitoid Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Biological Control 40(2): 230-236.

Hayden, V.R., J.M. Duxbury, A. DiTommaso, and J.E. Losey. 2007. Weed Community Dynamics in the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and the Efficacy of Mechanical Cultivation and Competitive Rice Cultivars for Weed Controlin Indonesia. J. Sustainable Ag. 30:5-26.

Losey, J.E. and M.Vaughn. 2006. The economic value of ecological services provided by insects. (accepted in BioScience – scheduled for publication in 4/06)

E.J. Stephens, and Losey, J.E. 2004. Comparison of sticky cards, visual and sweep sampling for assessment of coccinellid populations in alfalfa. Environmental Entomology 33:535-539.

Losey, J.E., J.J. Obrycki, and R.A. Hufbauer. 2004. Biosafety Considerations for Transgenic Insecticidal Plants: Non-Target Herbivores, Detritivores, and Pollinators. Encyclopedia of Plant and Crop Science. Pp. 153-155.

Losey, J.E., J.J. Obrycki, and R.A. Hufbauer. 2004. Biosafety Considerations for Transgenic Insecticidal Plants: Non-Target Predators and Parasitoids. Encyclopedia of Plant and Crop Science. Pp. 156-159.

Losey, J.E., R.A. Hufbauer, R.G. Hartzler.  2003.  Enumerating lepidopteran species associated with maize as a first step in risk assessment.  Environmental Biosafety Research  2:247-261.

E.J. Stephens, and Losey, J.E.  2003.  The decline of C-9 – New York’s state insect.  Wings 26:8-12.

DiTommaso, A. and J.E. Losey.  2003.  Potential impact of two invasive swallow-worts, Vincetoxicum rossicum and Vincetoxicum nigrum on monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) populations.  Entomologia Experimentalis et applicata  108:205-209.

Losey, J.E., L.L. Allee, V. Zbarsky, J.K. Waldron, and E.J. Shields.  2003.  Transect sampling to enhance efficiency of corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) monitoring.  Journal of Economic Entomology.  96:1420-1425

Carter, M.E., Villani, M.G., L.L. Allee, and J.E. Losey.  2003.  Absence of non-target effects of Bacillus  thuringiensis coleopteran active endotoxins to the bulb mite, Rhizoglypus robini (Claperede) (Acari, Acaridae) (accepted in Zeitscrift fur angewandte Entomologie)

Losey, J.E, J. K. Waldron, E. R. Hoebeke, L. E. Macomber, B. N. Scott.  2002.  First record of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae), in New York.  The Great Lakes Entomologist  35:101-105.

Losey, J.E., M.E. Carter, and S.A. Silverman.  2002.  The affect of stem diameter on European corn borer behavior and survival:  Consequences for IRM in Bt-corn.  Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata  105:89-96

Teulon, D.A.J., Losey, J.E.  2002.  Issues relating to the practical use of transgenic crops for insect pest management.  New Zealand Plant Protection 55:396-404.

Losey, J.E., J.J. Obrycki, and R.A. Hufbauer.  2001.  Impacts of genetically engineered crops on non-target herbivores:  Bt-corn and monarch butterflies as a case study., in Genetically Engineered Organisms:  Assessing Environmental and Human Health Effects, D.K. Letourneau and B.E. Burrows (eds.)  CRC Press.

Jensen, M.A., J.E. Losey and A.E. Hajek.  2001.  Altered behavior and distribution of pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Homoptera: Aphididae), infected with Pandora neoaphidus (Zugomycetes: Entomophthorales).  BioControl  46:337-343.

Tschenn, J., J.E. Losey, L. Hansen Jesse, J.J. Obrycki, and R. Hufbauer.  2001.  Effects of corn plants and corn pollen on monarch butterfly oviposition behavior.  Environmental Entomology  30:495-500.

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.

Harmon J.P. , 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.