Pest Management & Biological Control Research Unit

John A. Byers Research Entomologist Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center 21881 North Cardon Lane Maricopa, Arizona, USA 85239 520-316-6339 520-316-6330 (FAX)   john.byers@ars.usda.gov

Education:

B.S. Entomology, Colorado State University, 1971

M.S. Entomology, Colorado State University, 1973

Ph.D. Entomology, University of California at Berkeley, 1978

Research Interests:
Models of insect mate finding, host plant finding and host selection, dispersal, predator-prey encounter rates, mass trapping, and behavioral interactions.
Chemical ecology of plant-insect interactions and plant resistance
Isolation and identification of pheromones, host plant attractants, non-host deterrents and repellents, and other natural semiochemicals
Electronic sensors and data loggers for continuous measurements of environmental parameters.
Chemical ecology of bark beetles and conifers, semiochemicals of fire ants, and evolution and structures of moth pheromone components. (earlier work)
New interests include whiteflies, plant bugs (Lygus), parasitoids, pink bollworm, aphids, lacewings, plant volatiles, and ant predators of cotton insect pests. I am also involved in GC-MS and GC-EAD methods. (present studies)