SRIDHAR POLAVARAPU

1961-2004

Abstract: Overall focus of my research program is to develop environmentally friendly management strategies that minimize the use of broad-spectrum insecticides and reduce insect damage to blueberry and cranberry crops. This objective is achieved through research on biology and seasonal life histories of major blueberry and cranberry pests, development of pest monitoring techniques, effective timing of insecticide applications, and development of cultural and biological control strategies. Target-specific insecticides such as Bts, growth regulators, egg parasitoids (Trichogramma spp.), and entomopathogenic nematodes are being evaluated for the control of major blueberry and cranberry pests.

• Mating disruption in oriental beetle (Exomala orientalis) in blueberries.
• Development of biodegradable insecticide-treated sphere traps against blueberry maggot.
• Evaluation of attractant traps and fruit volatile lures for monitoring the blueberry maggot fly.
• Development of novel reduced-risk insecticides against major lepidopteran pests of blueberries and cranberries.
• Augmentative biological control with Trichogramma minutum in cranberries.
• Disruption of mating in Sparganothis fruitworm with micro-encapsulated E11-tetradecenyl acetate

• Teixeira, L. A. F., and S. Polavarapu  2002  Phenological differences between populations of Rhagoletis mendax (Diptera: Tephritidae). Environmental Entomology 31(6): 1103-1109.
• Polavarapu, S., Wicki, M., Vogel, K., Lonergan, G., and K. Nielsen 2002 Disruption of sexual communication of oriental beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) with a microencapsulated formulation of sex pheromone components in blueberries and ornamental nurseies.  Environmental Entomology, 31(6): 1268-1275.
• Stuart, R. J. and S. Polavarapu.  2002  On the relationship between the ant, Acanthomyops claviger and the blueberry mealybug, Dysmicoccus vaccinii.  Journal of Insect Behavior.  15: 299-304.
• Teixeira, L. A. F. and S. Polavarapu.  2001 Postdiapause development and prediction of emergence of female blueberry maggot (Diptera: Tephritidae). Environmental Entomology. 30: 925-931.
• Teixeira, L. A. F. and S. Polavarapu. 2001. Effect of sex, reproductive maturity stage, and trap placement, on attraction of the blueberry maggot fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) to sphere and Pherocon AM traps.  Florida Entomologist. 84:363-369.
• Polavarapu, S., G. C. Lonergan, H. Peng. and K. Neilsen. 2001. Potential for mating disruption of Sparganothis sulfureana Clemens (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in cranberries. Journal of Economic Entomology. 94:658-665.
• Teixeira, L. A. F. and S. Polavarapu. 2001. Occurrence of late emerging populations of the blueberry maggot fly (Diptera:Tephritidae). The Canadian Entomologist. 133: 239-250.
• Polavarapu, S., Davidson, J.A., and D. R. Miller. 2000.  Life history of the Putnam scale,  Diaspidiotus ancylus (Putnam) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Diaspididae) on blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum, Ericaceae) in New Jersey, with a world list of scale insects on blueberries.  Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 102: 549-560.
• Polavarapu, S. 2000.  Evaluation of phytotoxicity of diazinon and captan formulations on highbush blueberries. HortTechnology. 10: 308-314.
• Oscar E. Liburd, Sridhar Polavarapu, Steven R. Alm, and Richard A. Casagrande .  2000  Effect of Trap Size, Placement, and Age on Captures of Blueberry Maggot Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). Journal of Economic Entomology  93(5):1452 - 1458.
• Ayyappath, R. and S. Polavarapu. 2000.  Effectiveness of thiamethoxam-coated spheres against  blueberry maggot flies (Diptera: Tephritidae).  Journal of Economic Entomology. 93(5): 1473 - 1479.
• Stuart, R. J.and S. Polavarapu. 2000.  Egg-mass variability and differential parasitism of Choristoneura parallela (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) by endemic Trichogramma minutum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae).  Annals of the Entomological Society of America 93: 1076-1084.
• Polavarapu, S. 1999. Optimal use of insecticidal nematodes in pest management.    Proceedings of workshop, August 28-30, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 102 p. (5.6 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF file)
• Polavarapu. S. 1999. Insecticidal nematodes for cranberry pest management. In:  Optimal use of  insecticidal nematodes in pest management. pp. 79-90. S. Polavarapu (ed.),  New Brunswick, Rutgers University, NJ, 102 p.
• Sharp, J. L. and S. Polavarapu. 1999. Gamma radiation doses for preventing pupariation and  adult emergence of Rhagoletis mendax (Diptera: Tephritidae). The Canadian   Entomologist. 131: 549-555.
• Polavarapu, S. and G. Lonergan. 1998 Sex pheromone of Choristoneura parallela (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae): Components and development of a pheromone lure for population monitoring. Environmental Entomology, 27(5): 1242-1249.
• Liburd, O. E., S. R. Alm, R.A. Casagrande, and S. Polavarapu. 1998 Effect of trap color, bait, shape, and orientation in attraction of blueberry maggor (Diptera: Tephritidae) flies. Journal of Economic Entomology, 91(1): 243-249.
• Stuart, R. J. and S. Polavarapu. 1998. Oviposition preferences of the polyphagous moth Choristoneura parallela (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae): effects of plant species, leaf size, and experimental design. Environmental Entomology. 27(1): 102-109.

Key Words: Pheromone traps in population monitoring; insect phenology models; insect diapause; biology and seasonal life histories of blueberry and cranberry pests; Integrated Pest Management in blueberries and cranberries; biological control.

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