Maurice Tauber

Professional Overview

Comparative biology provides crucial underpinnings for evolutionary biology and systematics. Also, it is a vital element in the biological control of agriculturally important insect pests and in the sustainable management and conservation of ever-diminishing natural areas. Within this broad context, the goal of my current research is explore the developmental, phenological, and behavioral variation in one of the most widespread and diverse groups of insect predators, the green lacewings (Chrysopidae).

Emphasis is on taxa in the continental USA and Hawaii, as well as those in the very poorly studied neotropical fauna. This research is done in collaboration with Catherine Tauber’s systematics studies; thus it both contributes to, and benefits from, an evolutionary (phylogenetic) framework. Much of the neotropical work is conducted with Latin American colleagues and students (in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia); there are very active components of student training and field research.

Areas of Expertise

Comparative Biology & Behavior of Predators & Parasitoids; Insect Seasonality; Biological Control

Publications (last 10 years)

Research Papers (Refereed Scientific Publications)
Tauber, C. A., Albuquerque, G. S. and Tauber, M. J. 2008. Gonzaga nigriceps (McLachlan) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): descriptions of larvae and adults, biological notes, and generic affiliation. J. Entomol. Soc Wash. (in press).

Tauber, C. A., Tauber, M. J., and Albuquerque, G. S. 2008. A new genus and species of green lacewings from Brazil (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae: Leucochrysini). Annals Entomol. Soc. Am. (in press).

Silva, P. S., Albuquerque, G. S., Tauber, C. A. and Tauber, M. J. 2007. Life history of a widespread Neotropical predator, Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) lineafrons (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Biological Control 41: 33-41.

Tauber, C. A., Tauber, M. J. and Giffin, J. G. 2007. Flightless Hawaiian Hemerobiidae: comparative morphology and biology of a brachypterous species, its macropterous relative and intermediate forms. European J. Entomol. 104: 787-800.

Mantoanelli, E., G. A. Albuquerque, C. A. Tauber, & M. J. Tauber. 2006. Leucochrysa (Leucochrysa) varia (Schneider) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): larval descriptions, developmental rates, and adult color variation. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 98: 7-18.

Tauber, C. A., M. J. Tauber, & G. A. Albuquerque. 2006. Berchmansus elegans (Guérin Méneville) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): larval and adult characteristics and new tribal affiliation. European J. Entomol. 103: 221-231.

Tauber, M. J., Tauber, C. A. and Hilton, T. W. 2006. Life history and reproductive behavior of the endemic Hawaiian Anomalochrysa hepatica (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): A comparative approach. Eur. J. Entomol. 103: 327-336.

Tauber, C. A., M. J. Tauber, & G. A. Albuquerque. 2005. Characteristics of the Loyola Navás male (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae: Apochrysinae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 107: 543-547.

Tauber, M. J. & C. A. Tauber. 2002. Prolonged dormancy in Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): a ten-year field study with implications for crop rotation. Environ. Entomol. 31: 499-504.

Tauber, C. A., M. J. Tauber and G. S. Albuquerque. 2001. Plesiochrysa brasiliensis (Schneider) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): larval stages, biology, and taxonomic relationships. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 94: 858-865.

López-Arroyo, J. I., C. A. Tauber & M. J. Tauber. 2000. Survival of stored lacewings eggs and quality of subsequent stages (Neuroptera: Ceraeochrysa). Biological Control 18: 165-171

Tauber, C. A., T. De Leon, N. D. Penny & M. J. Tauber. 2000. Ceraeochrysa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) of America north of Mexico: larvae, adults, & comparative biology. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 93: 1195-1221.

Chang, Y. F., M. J. Tauber, C. A. Tauber & J. P. Nyrop. 2000. Interpopulation variation in Chrysoperla carnea reproduction: implications for mass-rearing and storage. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 95: 293-302.

Tauber, M. J., C. A. Tauber, K. M. Daane & K. S. Hagen. 2000. Commercialization of predators: recent lessons from green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae: Chrysoperla). American Entomol. 46: 26-37.

Pires, C. S. S., E. R. Sujii, E. M. G. Fontes, C. A. Tauber & M. J. Tauber. 2000. Dry-season dormancy in eggs of Deois flavopicta (Homoptera: Cercopidae): roles of temperature and moisture in nature. Environ. Entomol. 29: 714-720.

López-Arroyo, J. I., C. A. Tauber & M. J. Tauber. 1999. Comparative life-histories of the predators Ceraeochrysa cincta, C. cubana, and C. smithi (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. 92: 208-217.

López-Arroyo, J. I., C. A. Tauber & M. J. Tauber. 1999. Intermittent oviposition and re-mating in Ceraeochrysa smithi (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. 92: 587-593.

Ruberson, J. R., Nechols, J. R. & M. J. Tauber. 1999. Biological control of arthropod pests, pp. 417-448. In J. R. Ruberson (ed.), Handbook of Pest Management, Marcel Dekker, Inc.

López-Arroyo, J. I., C. A. Tauber & M. J. Tauber. 1999. Intermittent oviposition and re-mating in Ceraeochrysa smithi (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. 92: 587-593.

López-Arroyo, J. I., C. A. Tauber & M. J. Tauber. 1999. Effects of prey on survival, development, and reproduction of trash-carrying chrysopids (Neuroptera: Ceraeochrysa). Environ. Entomol. 26: 1183-1188.

Portillo-Aguilar, C., M. G. Villani, M. J. Tauber, C. A. Tauber & J. P. Nyrop. 1999. Entomopathogenic nematode (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae) response to texture and bulk density of soil. Environ. Entomol. 28: 1021-1035.

Tauber, C. A., T. de Leon, J. I. López-Arroyo & M. J. Tauber. 1998. Ceraeochrysa placita (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): Generic characteristics of larvae, larval descriptions, and life cycle. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. 91: 608-618.

Tauber, M. J., C. A. Tauber, J. P. Nyrop & M. G. Villani. 1998. (Forum Article). Moisture, a vital but neglected factor in the seasonal ecology of insects: hypotheses & tests of mechanisms. Environ. Entomol. 27: 523-530.

Invited Chapters in Books/Websites
2003 Neuroptera. In Encyclopedia of Insects, V. H. Resh and R. Cardé (eds), Academic Press, San Diego. (with C. A. Tauber and G. A. Albuquerque).

2001 Chrysoperla externa and Ceraeochrysa spp.: potential for biological control in the New World tropics and subtropics. In Lacewings in the Crop Environment, P. McEwen, T. R. New & A. E. Whittington (eds.), Cambridge University Press. (with G. S. Albuquerque & C. A. Tauber).

2001 Inundative controls. In Encyclopedia of Pest Management, D. Pimentel (ed.) , CRC Press. (with K. M. Daane & N. J. Mills).

1999 Biological control of arthropod pests. In Handbook of Pest Management, J. R. Rubersono (ed.), Marcel Dekker, Inc. (with J. R. Ruberson & J. R. Nechols).

1999 Adaptations to hazardous seasonal conditions: quiescence, dormancy, migration and polyphenism. In Ecological Entomology (Second Edition), C. B. Huffaker, R. L. Rabb, & A. Guiterrez (eds.), Wiley-Interscience, N.Y. (with J. R. Nechols, C. A. Tauber & S. Masaki).

Prey specialization in insect predators. In Radcliffe’s IPM World Textbook, E. B. Radcliffe & W. D. Hutchison (eds.). (with J. J. Obrycki, C.A. Tauber & J. R. Ruberson. (http://ipmworld.umn.edu/ipmchap.htm)

Book
Re-issued in 2002 & available from publisher (http://www.oup.co.uk/academic/science/biology/)
Seasonal Adaptations of Insects (with C. A. Tauber & S. Masaki; foreword by A. D. Lees). Oxford University Press, N.Y. (411 pp.)