Entomology: Personnel

Entomology Faculty

Dan L. Horton Professor of Entomology, Extension Coordinator Athens Campus Ph.D., University of Arkansas, 1982 Contact Information Address: Department of Entomology University of Georgia 413 Biological Sciences Building Athens, GA 30602-2603 Phone: (706) 542-9030 Email: dlhorton@uga.edu Fruit Insect IPM page: http://www.ent.uga.edu/fruit.htm

I provide extension entomology programming for fruits and ornamentals (north GA). University fruit research and extension programs across the Southeast are heavily regionalized. I am active in this scientist- and grower-led initiative, having provided leadership in our multi-state effort since its inception. I am also active nationally in pesticide policy.

Fruits ($113 million, 2007) and nurseries ($175, north GA) are significant industries in our state. Georgia is third nationally in blueberries, while Georgia and South Carolina are third and second in peach production. Uncompromising market demand for almost blemish-free fruit is confounded by our inadequate understanding of pest biology. These conflicting realities mandate conservative, pesticide-intensive IPM programs. That said, growers want dependable, cost-effective IPM programs that help them meet escalating societal standards for food safety, worker safety and environmental stewardship.

Peaches are my main focus. In addition to my extension responsibilities, I supervise a modest peach research effort. I also serve as South Carolina's peach entomologist and as an adjunct professor at Clemson University. Current research focuses on the peachtree/lesser peachtree borer complex, leafhopper vectors of Xylella fastidiosa, and incorporation of reduced-risk insecticides into commercial practice.

Fruit Insect IPM Personnel

Name	Position
Michelle Thomas	Technician, USDA's Southeastern Fruit & Tree Nut Research Laboratory, Byron, GA
Chuck Rawls	Technician, USDA's Southeastern Fruit & Tree Nut Research Laboratory, Byron, GA
Jaime Fuest	Ph.D. Student, Athens

Current Funding
USDA, RAMP
USDA, IR-4
Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Peaches
South Carolina Peach Council
Pesticide Industry grants

Selected Publications

Extension:

Horton, D. and D. Johnson, eds. 2005. Southeastern Peach Grower's Handbook. Georgia Extension Handbook No. 1. 312 pp. http://www.ent.uga.edu/Peach/peach_handbook/hbk.htm

Horton, D., P. Brannen, B. Bellinger, and D. Ritchie, eds. 2008. 2008 Southeastern Peach, Nectarine and Plum IPM and Culture Guide. UGA Extension Bulletin 1171, 58 pp. http://www.ent.uga.edu/peach/PeachGuide.pdf

UGA, Extension Entomology, Fruit Pest Management http://www.ent.uga.edu/fruit.htm

Horton, D., B. Bellinger, G. Pettis, P. Brannen and W. Mitchem, eds. 2001. USDA Pest Pest Management Strategic Plan (PMSP) for Eastern Peaches, 75 pp. http://www.ipmcenters.org/pmsp/pdf/EastPeach.pdf

Horton, D. and B. Bellinger, eds. 2004. Georgia-South Carolina Peach Pesticide Profile. http://pestdata.ncsu.edu/cropprofiles/docs/GASCpeaches.html

Horton, D., F. Hendrix, and D. Lockwood. 1993. Southeastern home fruit pest management and culture. UGA Cooperative Extension Service Bulletin 1091, 47 pp.

Horton, D., P. Bertrand, and G. Krewer, eds. 1989. Small fruit pest management and production. UGA Extension Bulletin 1022, 116 p.

Research (last 5 years):

Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., R. F. Mizell III, T. E. Cottrell, and D. L. Horton. 2008. Control of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar, with entomopathogenic nematodes: Effects of application timing, alternate host plant, and nematode strain. Biol. Cont. 44: 207-215. Online at www.sciencedirect.com

Horton, D. and J. Fuest. 2007. Insects and mites, In: D. R. Layne and D. Bassi (eds.), The Peach: Botany, Production and Uses. CABI, Oxfordshire, UK. 560 pp.

Jenkins, D., T. Cottrell, D. Horton, A. Hodges, and G. Hodges. 2006. Hosts of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar, in central Georgia. J. Econ. Entomol. 35(1): 48-55.

Lennon, S. F., G. L. Reighard, P. Schermerhorn, L. Podhorniak, and D. Horton. 2006. Profiling presence and concentration of eighteen pesticide residues through a commercial peach canning process. Acta Hort. 713: 409-416.

Foshee, W., D. Horton, R. Boozer, E. Blythe, and J. Staples. 2005. Dermal efficacy evaluation of new insecticides for control of plum curculio in peaches. Intl. J. Fruit Sc. 5(3): 19-27.

Lan, Z., H. Scherm, and D. Horton. 2004. Temperature-dependent development and prediction of emergence of the summer generation of plum curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the southeastern United States. Environ. Entomol. 33(2): 174-181.

Shapiro-Ilan, D., R. Mizell, T. Cottrell, and D. Horton. 2004. Measuring field efficacy of Steinernema feltiae and S. riobrave for suppression of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar, larvae. Biol. Cont. 30: 496-503. Online at www.sciencedirect.com

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