Judith Myers

Emerita

My research interests include the theory and practice of biological control of insects and plants, population ecology of insects, ecology of invasive plants and the ecological and evolutionary factors influencing Bt resistance and NPV dynamics

 

Research interests

  1. Populations of western tent caterpillars in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia fluctuate with peaks occurring every 6 to 11 years. We have been studying the characteristics associated with these fluctuations and in particular the role of infection by nucleopolyhedrovirus in the host population dynamics. We are embarking on a genetic study of populations to determine the role of gene flow in maintaining synchrony among populations.
  2. Recent success in the biological control of diffuse knapweed has stimulated interest in how the various biological control agents interact and if the last insect to be widely established, a weevil, would have been sufficient on its own. We have established experimental cages in areas near Okanagan Falls in which diffuse knapweed has reinvaded following fire. Our goal is to be able to better predict what makes successful biological control agents.
  3. Populations of cabbage loopers in vegetable green houses sometimes become resistant to a commonly used microbial control, Dipel or Bacillus thuringiensis. We have been studying the cost of resistance, the genetic control of resistance, and the mechanisms that influence resistance to understand coevolutionary interactions between the disease and the host and to make recommendations to growers for resistance management.
Insect population ecology in B
C. Journal British Columbia. Entomological Society 98 :107-112
Myers, J.H. and D. A. Raworth
2001
Spatial and temporal patterns of dispersal of western flower thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) J
Econonomic Entomology 94 :831–843
Pearsall, I.A. and J.H. Myers
2001
The development of larval resistance to a nucleopolyhedrovirus is not accompanied by an increased virulence in the virus
Evolutionary Ecology 14: 645-664
Milks, M. and J.H.Myers
2001
Eradication Revisited - Dealing with exotics
Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 15: 316-321
Myers, J.H., D. Simberloff, A.M. Kuris, J.R. Carey
2000
Evaluation of sampling methodology for determining the phenology, relative density and dispersion of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thusanoptera:Thripidae)
J. Econ. Entomol. 3: 494-502
Pearsall, I.A. and J.H. Myers
2000
Population density and transmission of virus in experimental populations of the western tent caterpillar
Environmental Entomology 28: 1107 - 1113
Beisner, B.E. and J.H. Myers
2000
Population dynamics of western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in nectarine orchards in the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys, British Columbia, Canada
J. Econ. Entomol. 93:264-275
Pearsall, I.A. and J.H. Myers
2000
Population fluctuations of the western tent caterpillar in southwestern British Columbia
Population Ecology 42:231-241
Myers, J.H
2000
Sublethal nucleopolyhedrovirus infection effects on female pupal weight, egg mass size and vertical transmission in gypsy moth (Lepidoptera, Lymantriidae)
Environmental Entomology 29:1268-1972
Myers, J.H., R. Malakar and J.S. Cory
2000
Why reduced seed production is not necessarily translated into successful biological weed control. Proc. X Intern. Symp. Biological Control of Weeds. Bozeman, Montana, Spencer, N. (ed.). Montana State University, Bozeman.
Myers, J.H. and C. Risley
2000