Rick Foster

Professor, Extension Coordinator, Pest Management
6555 W. State Road 26
Rossville , IN
46065
 
Office Phone: 494-9572
Office Number: SMTH B1B
Lab Number: SMTH B79
Office Phone: 494-4575
Fax: 494-2152
Email Address: rfoster@purdue.edu


Education

BABiology
MSEntomology
PhDEntomology


Research Interests

Pest ManagementThe primary objective of my research is to develop IPM methods, strategies, and programs for use on Indiana fruit and vegetable crops. Studies have focused on developing sampling strategies and economic thresholds and evaluating cultural, biological, and chemical control methods. Two main areas of interest have been striped cucumber beetles and other pests or cucurbit crops and European red mites on apples. Economic thresholds were developed for striped cucumber beetles on watermelons and cantaloupes. Several studies showed the importance of conserving natural enemies of European red mites. Current studies are involved in developing economic thresholds for striped cucumber beetles on cucumbers, developing alternative control methods for seedcorn maggot on cantaloupes, developing alternative control strategies to replace organophosphate insecticides on apples, and organic apple production.


Courses Taught

ENTM 510Insect Pest Management


Available Positions

Research AssistantshipA graduate research assistantship is available for an MS student to investigate organic methods of controlling arthropod pests of apples. The assistantship covers tuition and provides a stipend of $15,000 per year.


Selected Publications

Foster, R. and B. Flood. 1995. Vegetable insect management. Meister Publishing Company, Willoughby, OH. 206 pp.
Hill, T. A. and R. E. Foster. 2000. Effect of insecticides on diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and its parasitoid, Diadegma insulare (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 93: 763-768
Yatsukh, K. I., N. I. Svereda, R. Edwards, and R. Foster. 1999. Resistance of potato varieties to late blight. Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences, Scientific – Technical Bulletin, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Biology, Issue 1(1), 22-27
Brust, G.E. and R.E. Foster. 1999. New economic threshold for striped cucumber beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae in cantaloupe in the Midwest. J. Econ. Entomol. 92: 936-940
Stanyard, M. J., R. E. Foster, and T. J. Gibb. 1998. Population dynamics of Amblyseius fallacies (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and European red mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) in apple trees treated with selected acaricides. J. Econ. Entomol. 91: 217-225
Hill, T. A. and R. E. Foster. 1998. Influence of selective insecticides on population dynamics of European red mite (Acari: Tetranychidae), apple rust mite (Acari: Eriophyidae), and their predator, Amblyseius fallacis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in apple. J. Econ. Entomol. 91: 191- 199
Brust, G. E., R. E. Foster and W. Buhler. 1997. Effect of rye incorporation, planting date, and soil temperature on seedcorn maggot (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) damage to muskmelon transplants. Environ. Entomol. 26: 1323-1326
Stanyard, M. J., R. E. Foster, and T. J. Gibb. 1997. Effects of orchard ground cover and mite management options on the population dynamics of the European red mite and Amblyseius fallacis (Garman) in apple. J. Econ. Entomol. 90: 595-603.
Foster, R. E. and G. E. Brust. 1997. New approaches to cucumber beetle and bacterial wilt management in cucurbits in the midwestern United States. Recent Res. Devel. in Entomol. 1: 59 - 71
Brust, G. E., R. E. Foster, and W. Buhler. 1996. Comparison of insecticide use programs for managing the striped cucumber beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in muskmelon. J. Econ. Entomol. 89: 981-986
McHugh, J. J. and R. E. Foster. 1995. The influence of supplemental macronutrient fertilization on diamondback moth infestation on head cabbage in Indiana. J. Vegetable Crop Prod. 1 (2): 81-95
Foster, R. E., and G. E. Brust. 1995. Yield and harvest date effects of insecticides for control of cucumber beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in watermelons. Crop Protection 14 (8): 619-624.
McHugh, J. J. and R. E. Foster. 1995. Reduction of diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) infestation in head cabbage by overhead irrigation. J. Econ. Entomol. 88: 162-168
Brust, G. E. and R. E. Foster. 1995. Semiochemical-based toxic baits for control of striped cucumber beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in cantaloupe. J. Econ Entomol. 88: 112-116