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Northern Research Station
11 Campus Blvd., Suite 200
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(610) 557-4017
(610) 557-4132 TTY/TDD

You are here: NRS Home / Scientists & Staff / Therese M. Poland
Scientists & Staff

[image:] Therese M. Poland Therese M. Poland

Title: Research Entomologist
Unit: Ecology and Management of Invasive Species and Forest Ecosystems
Previous Unit: Providing New Information on the Biology, Ecology, and Management of Exotic Invasive Forest Insects
Address: Northern Research Station
Stephen S. Nisbet Bldg., 1407 S. Harrison Road, Room 220
East Lansing, MI 48823
Phone: 517-355-7740; ext. 114
E-mail: Contact Therese M. Poland

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Education

  • Simon Fraser University, Ph.D. 1997
  • Simon Fraser University, M.P.M. 1993
  • Simon Fraser University, B.Sc. 1988

Civic & Professional Affiliations

  • Entomological Society of America
  • Entomological Society of Canada
  • Michigan Entomological Society
  • Entomological Society of British Columbia

Current Research

My current research is focused on detection and control of invasive forest insect pests, particularly the emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). EAB is a phloem-feeding beetle native to Asia that was discovered in Detroit, MI, and Windsor, Ontario in July 2002. It has caused widespread decline and mortality of ash (Fraxinus sp.).

Initially, very little was known about EAB, and the only means to detect and control infestations was to locate infested trees based on visual symptoms and then destroy the trees by cutting them down, chipping them, and burning the chips.

My research objectives are to investigate several aspects of EAB biology, including its seasonal development, semiochemical ecology, dispersal capabilities, within-tree distribution, and host finding and mating behavior. I am also investigating control methods, such as the use of systemic and topical insecticides.

Why is This Important

Exotic forest insects such as EAB threaten North American forests and natural resources. Native trees lack co-evolved defense mechanisms and exotic pests often invade without their associated natural enemies. Interactions of invasive pests with native ecosystems are unknown. Information on the biology, detection and management of invasive species is critical for protecting native forests and natural resources

Future Research

I plan to continue conducting research that addresses four strategies for managing invasive species:

  1. predicting and preventing establishment of invasive pests,
  2. detecting and eradicating invasive pests,
  3. managing and controlling invasives, and
  4. restoring landscapes affected by invasives.

Preventing establishment offers the most promise for protecting forested landscapes from environmental and economic losses due to invasive species. I plan to evaluate species traits that increase chances for successful invasion and to participate in research to develop risk assessments and predictive models that will allow natural resource managers to identify high-risk areas for pest surveys and detect newly invading species with a high degree of confidence. I plan to develop new methods and technologies to quickly detect and delimit the extent of new infestations and enable eradication. Eradication of newly invading species has proven most effective when new populations are at low densities and still spatially confined. I also plan to continue evaluating strategies for controlling invasive pests.

Featured Publications

  • Poland, Therese; Crook, Damon; Francese, Joseph; Oliver, Jason; Otis, Gard; De Groot, Peter; Grant, Gary; MacDonald, Linda; McCullough, Deborah; Fraser, Ivich; Lance, David; Mastro, Victor; Youssef, Nadeer; Turk, Tanya; Youngs, Melodie. 2007. Toward the development of survey trapping technology for the emerald ash borer. In: Gottschalk, Kurt W., ed. Proceedings, 17th U.S. Department of Agriculture interagency research forum on gypsy moth and other invasive species 2006; Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-10. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 4-5.
  • Anulewicz, Andrea C.; McCullough, Deborah G.; Cappaert, David A.; Poland, Therese M.; Miller, Derborah L. 2007. Host range of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) (Coleoptera: Burprestidae): choice and no-choice tests. In: Gottschalk, Kurt W., ed. Proceedings, 17th U.S. Department of Agriculture interagency research forum on gypsy moth and other invasive species 2006; Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-10. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 16.
  • Rodriguez-Saona, Cesar; Poland, Therese M.; Miller, James; Stelinski, Lukasz; Buchan, Linda; Grant, Gary; de Groot, Peter; MacDonald, Linda. 2007. Emerald ash borer responses to induced plant volatiles. In: Gottschalk, Kurt W., ed. Proceedings, 17th U.S. Department of Agriculture interagency research forum on gypsy moth and other invasive species 2006; Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-10. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 83.

Additional Online Publications

Last Modified: 11/19/2008