Kelli Hoover, Ph.D.

Current Graduate Students:

• Rachel McLaughlin
• Asher Jones
• Jon Elmquist
• Anne Johnson

Postdoctoral Scholars

• Charlie Mason
• Joe Keller
• Osariyekemwen Uyi

Technicians:

• David Long
• Lizz Wagner

Department Focus Area:

Chemical ecology, symbioses, tritrophic interactions, biology and ecology of invasive species in forest systems, pollinators of forest trees

Research Interests :

Chemical ecology: Plant-insect-symbiont/pathogen interactions

Invasive species: Biology, ecology, and population dynamics of spotted lanternfly in forest systems

Pollination ecology: Pollination deficiency of black cherry in Pennsylvania forests

Teaching:

The Insect Connection (classroom and online through World Campus)

Management of Insect Pests of Ornamentals

Research Activities & Interests:

1) Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is a recently introduced pest from Asia with a very broad host range, is rapidly spreading, and is a serious pest of grape, hops, and numerous hardwood tree species in 20 families. We are investigating: Host preferences and performance of different life stages of SLF among common hardwood trees in the landscape and forests; dispersal distances in contiguous forest; methods to sample SLF populations to determine abundance and distribution in different habitats; and impacts of SLF feeding on host tree physiology.

2) Black cherry is a highly valuable forest tree in PA, but regeneration is in decline, especially in the Allegheny National Forest. We are characterizing the pollinator communities for black cherry and evaluating how habitat (biotic and abiotic factors) influence pollination and production of viable seed for regeneration.

4) To prevent invasive, exotic pests (insects, nematodes, and fungi) from moving around the world in wood packing materials and wood products, international regulations require these materials to be properly treated before they can be shipped out of the country of origin. As a member of the International Forestry Quarantine Research Group, an advisory body to the technical panels of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) of the United Nations, I collaborate on research with industrial engineers and wood products scientists to drive adoption of dielectric heating technology as an alternative phytosanitary treatment to methyl bromide fumigation. This method was recently approved as a new treatment under ISPM-15. A patent for a major innovation in RF technology was recently issued and we continue to work on refinements to the technology as it becomes more economically competitive.

Selected Publications (out of 104):

Pan, Q., I. Shikano, K. Hoover, T-X Liu, G.W. Felton. 2019. Pathogen-mediated tritrophic interactions: Baculovirus-challenged caterpillars induce higher plant defenses than healthy caterpillars. J. Chem. Ecol., in press.

Mason, C.J., S. Ray, I. Shikano, M. Peiffer, A.G. Jones, D.S. Luthe, K. Hoover and G.W. Felton. 2019. Plant defenses interact with insect enteric bacteria by initiating a leaky gut syndrome. PNAS, in press.

Hall, L., A.J. Myrick, F. Graves, K. Hoover and T. Baker. 2019. Labial and maxillary palp recordings of the Asian longhorned beetles, Anoplophora glabripennis, reveal olfactory and hygroreceptive capabilities. J. Insect Physiol., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2019.103905.

Jones, A., C.J. Mason, G.W. Felton and K. Hoover. 2019. Host plant and population source drive diversity of microbial gut communities in two polyphagous insects. Sci. Reports DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39163-9.

Mason, C.J., D. Long, R. Lindroth and K. Hoover. 2019. Asymmetric utilization of host plants by adult and juvenile conspecific cerambycids is related to intra-plant variation in chemical defenses and resource partitioning. J Animal Ecology, in press.

Wei, J., Q. Zhou, L. Hall, A. Myrick, K. Hoover, K. Shields and T. C. Baker. 2018. Olfactory sensory neurons of the Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, specifically responsive to its two aggregation-sex pheromone components. J Chem. Ecol. 44(7), 637-649.

Mason, C.J., A.M. Campbell, E.D. Scully and K. Hoover. 2018. Bacterial and fungal midgut community dynamics and transfer between mother and brood in the Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), an invasive xylophage. Microbial Ecology 77: 230-242.

Pan, Q., I. Shikano, K. Hoover, T.-X. Liu, and G.W. Felton. 2018. Enterobacter ludwigii, isolated from the gut microbiota of Helicoverpa zea, promotes tomato plant growth and yield without compromising anti-herbivore defenses. Arthropod-Plant Interactions https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-018-9634-9.

Shikano, I., Q. Pan, K. Hoover, and G.W. Felton. 2018. Herbivore-induced defenses in tomato plants enhance the lethality of the entomopathogenic bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki. J. Chem Ecol. 44: 946-956.

Shikano, I., E.M. McCarthy, J.M. Slavicek and K. Hoover. 2018. Jasmonic acid-induced plant defenses delay caterpillar developmental resistance to a baculovirus: Slow-growth, high-mortality hypothesis in plant–insect–pathogen interactions, J. Invertebr. Pathol. 158: 16-23.

Scully, E.D., Mason, C., J. Carlson, M. Tien, and K. Hoover. 2018. Host-plant induced changes in microbial community structure and midgut gene expression in an invasive polyphage (Anoplophora glabripennis). Scientific Reports, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27476-0.

Wang, J., M. Yang; Y. Song; F.E. Acevedo; K. Hoover; R. Zeng; G.W. Felton. 2018. Gut-associated bacteria of Helicoverpa zea indirectly trigger plant defenses in maize. J Chem Ecol 44: 690-699.

Tan, C.-W., M. Peiffer, K. Hoover, C. Rosa, F. E. Acevedo, G. W. Felton. 2018. Symbiotic polydnavirus of a parasite manipulates caterpillar and plant immunity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 201717934; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1717934115.

Wang, J., M. Peiffer, K. Hoover, C. Rosa, R. Zeng, G. W. Felton. 2017. Helicoverpa zea gut-associated bacteria indirectly induce defenses in tomato through mediating salivary elicitor(s). New Phytologist doi: 10.1111/nph.14429.

Mason, C.J., D. Long, E.M. McCarthy, C. Rosa, E.D. Scully and K. Hoover. 2017. Influence of population source and gut physiological conditions on fungal and bacterial communities in a tree-killing, xylophagous insect. J Insect Physiol. 102: 27-35.

Shikano, I., E. McCarthy, B. D. Elderd and K. Hoover. 2017. Plant genotype and induced defenses affect the productivity of an insect-killing obligate viral pathogen. J Invertebr. Pathol. 148:34-42.

Shikano, I., K.L. Shumaker, M. Peiffer, G.W. Felton and K. Hoover. 2017. Compatibility of baculoviruses with plant defence against insect pests depends on intraspecific genetic variation in plant defence traits. Oecologia 183:1121–11

Chung, S.H., E.D. Scully, M. Peiffer, S.M. Geib, C. Rosa, K. Hoover and G.W. Felton. 2017. Host plant species determines symbiotic bacterial community mediating suppression of plant defenses. Scientific Reports 7:39690 DOI: 10.1038/srep39690. (pdf)

Acevedo, F.E., M. Peiffer, C.W. Tan, B.A. Stanley, A. Stanley, K. Hoover, C. Rosa, D. Luthe, A. Jones and G.W. Felton. 2017. Fall armyworm-associated gut bacteria modulate plant defense responses. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interactions DOI: 10.1094/MPMI-11-16-0240-R.

McKenna, D., E.D. Scully, Y. Pauchet, K. Hoover et al. (74 authors). 2016. Genome of the Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), a globally significant invasive species, reveals key functional and evolutionary innovations at the beetle–plant interface. Genome Biology 17(1):227. (pdf)

Mason, C., Scully, E., Rosa, C.R., Long, D., McCarthy, E. and K. Hoover. 2016. Contrasting diets reveal metabolic plasticity in the tree-killing beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae). Scientific Reports 6:33813 DOI: 10.1038/srep33813. (pdf)

Acevedo, F.E., M. Peiffer, C.W. Tan, B.A. Stanley, A. Stanley, K. Hoover, C. Rosa, D. Luthe, A. Jones and G.W. Felton. 2016. Fall armyworm-associated gut bacteria modulate plant defense responses. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interactions DOI: 10.1094/MPMI-11-16-0240-R. (pdf)

Graves, F., T. Baker, A. Zhang, M.A. Keena, and K. Hoover. 2016. Sensory aspects of trail-following behaviors in the Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis. J Insect Behavior, 29(6), 615-628. (pdf)

Mason, C., Scully, E., Rosa, C.R., Long, D., McCarthy, E. and K. Hoover. 2016. Contrasting diets reveal metabolic plasticity in the tree-killing beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae). Scientific Reports 6:33813 | DOI: 10.1038/srep33813. (pdf)

Wang, J., et al. 2016. Herbivore oral secreted bacteria trigger distinct defense responses in preferred and non-preferred host plants. Journal of Chemical Ecology 42(6): 463-474. (pdf)

Dubey, M.K., J. Janowiak, R. Mack, P. Alder, and K. Hoover. 2016. Comparative study of radiofrequency and microwave heating for phytosanitary treatment of wood. European J Wood Sci. 74: 491–500. (pdf)

Ayayee, P., T. Larsen, C. Rosa, G.W. Felton, J.G. Ferry and K. Hoover. 2016. Essential amino acid supplementation by gut microbes of a wood-feeding cerambycid. Environ Entomol 45: 66-73. (pdf)

Graves, F., T. Baker, A. Zhang, M.A. Keena, and K. Hoover. 2016. Sensory aspects of trail-following behaviors in the Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis. J Insect Behavior, 29(6), 615-628.

Meng, P., K. Hoover and M.A. Keena. 2015. Asian longhorned beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an introduced pest of maple and other hardwood trees in North America and Europe. J Integrated Pest Management 6(1): 4; DOI: 10.1093/jipm/pmv003. (pdf)

Meng, P., R.T. Trotter, M.A. Keena, T. Baker, S. Yan, E. Schwartzberg, and K. Hoover. 2014.  Effects of pheromone and plant volatile release rates and ratios on trapping Anoplophora glabripennis in China. Environ. Entomol., 43(5): 1379-1388. (pdf)

Ayayee, P., C. Rosa, J.G. Ferry, G.W. Felton, M. Saunders and K. Hoover. 2014. Gut microbes contribute to nitrogen provisioning in a wood-feeding cerambycid. Environ. Entomol. 43(4): 903-912. (pdf)

Limbu, S., M.A. Keena, D. Long, N. Ostiguy and K. Hoover. 2014. Scymnus camptodromus larval development and predation of hemlock woolly adelgid (Hemiptera: Adelgidae). Environ. Entomol.  doi: 10.1093/ee/nvu006. (pdf)

Nehme, M.A., R.T. Trotter, M.A. Keena, C. McFarland, J. Coop., H.M. Hull-Sanders, P. Meng, C.M. DeMoraes, M. Mescher, and K. Hoover. 2014. Development and evaluation of a trapping system for Anoplophora glabripennis in the United States. Environ. Entomol., 43(3): 1034-1044. (pdf)

Scully, ED, Geib, SM, Carlson, JE, Tien, M, and Hoover, K. 2014. Functional genomics and microbiome profiling of the Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) reveal new insights into the digestive physiology and nutritional ecology of wood feeding beetles.  BMC Genomics, 15:1096, DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-1096.

Hoover, K., A. Zhang, S. Wang, M. Nehme, P. Meng, and M. Keena. 2014. Sex-specific trail pheromone of Anoplophora glabripennis mediates complex-mate-finding behavior. Journal of Chemical Ecology DOI 10.1007/s10886-014-0385-5. (pdf)

Chung, S.H., Rosa, C., Scully, E.D., Peiffer, M., Tooker, J.F., Hoover, K., Luthe, D.S., Felton, G.W., 2013. Herbivore exploits orally secreted bacteria to suppress plant defenses. PNAS 110, 15728-15733 (reviewed by Faculty of 1000). (PDF)

Chung SH, Rosa C, Hoover K, Luthe D & Felton G. 2013. Colorado potato beetle manipulates plant defenses in local and systemic leaves. Plant Signal Behav. 8: 10.4161/psb.27592. (pdf)

Scully, E.D., S.M. Geib, K. Hoover, M. Tien, S.G. Tringe, K.W. Berry, T.G. del Rio, M. Chovitia, J.R. Herr, J.E. Carlson. 2013. Metagenomic profiling reveals lignocellulose degrading system in a microbial community associated with a wood-feeding beetle. PLoS ONE 8(9): e73827. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0073827. (PDF)

Scully, E.D., K. Hoover, J.E. Carlson, M. Tien, and S.M. Geib. 2013. Midgut transcriptome profiling of Anoplophora glabripennis, a lignocellulose degrading cerambycid beetle. BMC Genomics. (Link)

von Dohlen,  C., U. Spaulding, K. Shields, N. P. Havill, C. Rosa, K. Hoover.  2013. Diversity of proteobacterial endosymbionts in hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) from its native and introduced range. 2012. Environmental Microbiology Reports 15(7), 2043–2062. (PDF)

Scully ED, Hoover K, Carlson J, Tien M, Geib SM. 2012. Proteomic Analysis of Fusarium solani Isolated from the Asian Longhorned Beetle, Anoplophora
glabripennis.  PLoS ONE 7(4): e32990. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0032990 (PDF)

Hoover, K., M. Grove, M. Gardner, D.P. Hughes, J. McNeil and J. Slavicek. 2011. A gene for an extended phenotype. Science 333: 1401. This paper has been designated a Faculty of 1000 Must Read Factor 8. (PDF)

Geib, S.M, M. Jimenez-Gasco, J.E. Carlson, M. Tien, and K. Hoover. 2009. Microbial community profiling to investigate transmission of bacteria between life stages of the wood-boring beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis. Microbial Ecology 58: 199-211. (SpringerLink to publication)

Geib, S. M., T. R. Filley, P. G. Hatcher, K. Hoover, J. E. Carlson, M. d. M. Jimenez-Gasco, A. Nakagawa-Izumi, R. L. Sleighter, and M. Tien. 2008. Lignin degradation in wood-feeding insects. PNAS USA 105: 12932-12937. (PDF)