DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORY

Advisor:

George Heimpel

Mailing address:

University of Minnesota
Department of Entomology
219 Hodson Hall, 1980 Folwell Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108

Fax:

612-625-5299

E-mail:

hsux0049@umn.edu

Education:

Ph.D. Student 2001 – present

M.S. Cornell University Entomology

B.S. University of California, Davis, Soil and Water Science

Degree sought:

PhD Entomology

Research projects:

My research is focused on understanding the dispersal behavior of a parasitoid, Macrocentus grandii, in relation to the spatial patterns of its host, the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis.  Current work includes a spatial pattern analysis of the distribution of corn borers and occurrence of parasitism by M. grandii.  Results from these experiments will be used to determine whether identifying density dependent parasitism for this parasitoid depends on the spatial scale of analysis, and whether the ability to identify density dependent parasitism improves using a spatially explicit analysis compared with a spatially implicit analysis. The second project focuses on measuring the short-range dispersal of M. grandii within a corn field that has two host densities.  In this experiment, 40-acre fields are split in half with one half of the field containing a low density of hosts while the other half has a high density of hosts.  A strip of corn between the two halves is labeled using rubidium chloride (RbCl).  Parasitoids emerging from this strip are labeled with RbCl and adult parasitoids are recaptured at different distances into the two halves.  Results from this experiment will be used to determine whether the dispersal behavior of the parasitoid depends on host density, and to estimate the dispersal-distance relationship for M. grandii over short distances (i.e. within 50 meters) for each of the two halves.  My final project makes use of the empirical data on parasitism and parasitoid dispersal to estimate the potential impact of M. grandii on the evolution of resistance in European corn borers to Bt corn.

Research interests

• spatial distributions of insects
• spatialpopulation dynamics
• insect dispersal
• biological control
• habitat and landscape manipulations to improve biological control
• landscape ecology

Publications:

Refereed Publications

Rosenheim, J.A., D.D. Limburg, R.G. Colfer, V.F. Fournier, C.L. Hsu, T.E. Leonardo, E.H. Nelson.  2004.  Herbivore population suppression by an intermediate predator, Phytoseiulus macropilis, is insensitive to the presence of an intraguild predator: an advantage of small body size? Oecologia  140:577-585.

Colfer, R.G., J.A. Rosenheim, L.D. Godrey and C.L. Hsu.  2004.  Evaluation of large-scale releases of western predatory mite for spider mite control in cotton.  Bio. Control  30:1-10.

Colfer, R.G., J.A. Rosenheim, L.D. Godfrey and C.L. Hsu.  2003. Interactions between the augmentatively released predaceous mite Galendromous occidentalis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and naturally occurring generalist predators.  Env. Ent.  32(4):  840-852.

Lundquist, E.J., L.E. Jackson, K.M. Scow and C. Hsu.  1999.  Changes in microbial biomass and community composition, and soil carbon and nitrogen pools after incorporation of rye into three California agricultural soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 31(2):  221-236.

Nonrefereed Publications

Hsu, C.L.  2002.  Gender and Mating Status Differences in the Flight Behavior and Dispersal of Obliquebanded Leafrollers, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris).  M.S. Thesis.  Cornell University.  Ithaca, NY.  164pp.

Colfer, R.G., J.A. Rosenheim, L.D. Godfrey and C.L. Hsu.  1998.  Ecological factors influencing biological control of spider mites in cotton.  Proc. California Conference on Biological Control, pp. 122-26.

Colfer, R.G., J.A. Rosenheim, L.D. Godfrey and C.L. Hsu.  1998.  Evaluation of predaceous mite releases for spider mite management.  Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. 2:976-81.

Hsu, C., and W. Quarles.  1995.  Greenhouse IPM for western flower thrips. The IPM Practitioner 18(4): 1-11.

Invited Presentations

Hsu, C.L., G. Heimpel, D.A. Andow and R. Venette.  August 2004.  Influence of Host Density on the Dispersal of a Specialist Parasitoid.  Paper in Session: “Movement of Natural Enemies of Agricultural Pests:  Increasing Abundance and Effectiveness”, XXII International Congress of Entomology 2004, Brisbane, Australia.

Conference Presentations

Hsu, C.L., G. Heimpel, D.A.Andow and R. Venette.  May 2005.  Does host density affect parasitoid dispersal?  Paper:  IOBC-NRS/Biocontrol Network, Magog-Orford, Québec, Canada.

Hsu, C.L., G. Heimpel, D.A. Andow and R. Venette,  November 2004.  Gender differences in the dispersal of a specialist parasitoid.  Paper, Honorable Mention, Session Ca2:  2004 Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT.

Hsu, C.L., R. Venette, G. Heimpel and D.A. Andow.  November 2003. Evaluating a parasitoid’s potential to influence the evolution of insecticide resistance in its host.  Paper:  2003 Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH.

Hsu, C.L., and G. Heimpel.  August 2003.  Evaluating a parasitoid’s potential to influence the evolution of insecticide resistance in its host. Paper:  2003 Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Savannah, GA.

Hsu, C.L., A.M. Agnello, J.E. Losey and S.D. DeGloria.  December 2001.  A spatial analysis of obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana, damage in fresh market apples.  Paper:  2001 Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.

Hsu, C.L., A.M. Agnello, J.E. Losey and S.D. DeGloria.  December  2000. Within orchard movement of adult obliquebanded leafrollers, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris):  implications for the spread of insecticide resistance. Paper, Honorable Mention, Session F1:  2000 Joint Annual Meeting, Societe d’entomologie du Quebec, Entomological Society of Canada, and Entomological Society of America, Montreal Canada.

Hsu, C.L., A.M. Agnello, J.E. Losey and S.D. DeGloria.  November 2000. Gender differences in the trivial movement of oblique banded leafrollers, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris).  Paper:  Great Lakes Fruit Workers Conference, Ithaca, NY.

Hsu, C.L., A.M. Agnello, J.E. Losey and S.D. DeGloria.  October 2000. Within orchard movement of the obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris).  Paper:  62nd Annual New England, New York, Canadian Fruit Pest Management Workshop, Burlington, VT.

Hsu, C.L., A.M. Agnello, J.E. Losey and S.D. DeGloria.  July 2000. Improving pest management by understanding movement behavior.  Poster: Fifth Annual STAR Graduate Fellowship Conference, National Center for Environmental Research, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.

Seminar Presentations

Hsu, C.L.  April 2005.  Why should applied entomologists care about genetics?  Departmental Seminar, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota.

Hsu, C.L.  May 2003.  Effects of the spatial distribution of European corn borer on dispersal of and parasitism by Macrocentrus grandii.  Departmental Seminar, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota.

Hsu, C.L.  May 2002.  Gender and mating status differences in the flight behavior of obliquebanded leafrollers, Choristoneura rosaceana, in the field.  Departmental Seminar, Department of Entomology, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University.