Paul Heller, Ph.D.

Department Focus Area:

Ecological Applications

Research Interests :

IPM programs for Christmas trees and Turfgrass; efficacy studies conducted to evaluate conventional, biorational, and experimental formulations to suppress turfgrass insects; and studies with annual bluegrass to develop best management techniques for the golf industry.

Teaching:

Arthropod Pests of Cool/Warm Season Turfgrass
Turfgrass Pest Management (team-taught)

Extension:

Field developments, management strategies, and integrated pest management programs for Christmas trees, turfgrass, and greenhouse commodities; cooperative license certification programs; integrated pest management slide/tape training programs.

Research Activities & Interests:

My greenhouse program is evaluating the success of introducing Encarsia to manage the whitefly in sweet potato. The turfgrass program is developing a growing degree day model for the bluegrass billbug, examining maintenance practices influencing black cutworm infestations, and evaluating the potential use of entomogenous nematodes to control turfgrass pests. The Christmas tree integrated pest management program is developing a growing degree day model for pine needle midge and examining the effect of horticultural soaps and oils to manage phytophagous pests.

Extension Activities & Interests:

I conduct meetings in cooperation with county extension staff, grower and commodity organizations, and the state Department of Agriculture. I produce a newsletter for county extension staff on Christmas tree and landscape pest management. Commodity groups are encouraged to use integrated pest management scouting practices and to consider applying biorational strategies. We also conduct applied efficacy tests to help determine product performance recommendations for commodity groups.

Relevant Publications:

Heller, P. R. 1995. Asiatic garden beetle. In Handbook of Turfgrass Insects. R. Brandenburg and M. Villani (eds.). Ent. Soc. Amer. (in press)

Heller, P. R. and R. Walker. 1995. Spring management of Cooley spruce gall adelgid with highly refined horticultural spray oil, insecticidal soap, Tempo, Sevin on Douglas-fir in Lehighton, PA, 1994. Arthropod Management Tests, Vol. 20, 9H.

Heller, P. R. and R. Walker. 1995. Spring management of bluegrass billbug with Merit 75WSP and Vector TL at the Valentine turfgrass research center, University Park, PA, 1994. Arthropod Management Tests, Vol. 20, 37G.