Entomology: Personnel
Entomology Students
Cheri M. AbrahamGraduate Research Assistant Contact InformationAddress: Department of Entomology Email: abrahamc@uga.edu |
 |
Academic History
2009-Present: Pursuing Ph.D. in Entomology.
Dept. of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens
2008: M.S. Entomology, Dept. of Entomology
and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Starkville,
MS
2004: B.Sc. Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural
University, Kerala, India
My Research
My research interest broadly is in turf and ornamental entomology. Currently under the tutelage of Dr. S. Kristine Braman and Dr. Ronald D. Oetting, my focus is on developing an IPM strategy for Greenhouse Gerbera management.Leafminers are the major pest group that drives this protected culture, and is what determines the success of any commercial grower. Excessive insecticidal sprays fuelled by low tolerance for floral damage resulted in resistance to majority of the chemicals thrown at them, if not all. Effective biological control agents against Liriomyza leafminers are present and have been implemented successfully. However, influx of secondary pests like mites, thrips, whiteflies and aphids warrant pesticide application and thereby disrupt biocontrol. I am trying to find a combination of pesticides and biocontrol agents that can keep the primary and secondary pests of this system at bay.
My M.S. work with Dr. David W. Held (currently at Auburn University) focused on bicontrol of Scapteriscus mole crickets using a wasp Larra bicolor. I also had the opportunity to work a little on Polistes wasps on turf.
I am also interested in teaching and extension, hence continually strive to involve and evolve into a better educator.
Peer Reviewed Publications
Abraham, C. M. et al. Effect of biocontrol on Human survival (in review- American Entomologist)
Abraham, C.M 2010. Current evaluation procedures of GMOs are adequate to determine their long-term impacts on the environment and human health- Introduction. American Entomologist 56 (2):110-111.
Abraham, C. M. and D. W. Held. D. W. 2010. Biology of Larra bicolor, a parasitoid of mole crickets, and potential ornamental plants as nectar sources. Turf and Environmental Research Online 9(4):1-12.
Abraham, C.M., D. W. Held., C. Wheeler. 2010. Seasonal and Diurnal Activity of Larra bicolor (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) and Potential Ornamental Plants as Nectar Sources. Applied Turfgrass Science: http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/sub/ats/research/2010/nectar/
Held, D. W., C. Wheeler, and C. M. Abraham, K. M. Pickett. 2008. Paper wasps (Polistes sp.) attacking fall armyworm larvae (Spodoptera frugiperda) in Turfgrass. Applied Turfgrass Science: 5. http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/pub/ats/research/2008/wasps/
Abraham, C. M., and D. W. Held. 2008. First
report of Larra bicolor (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) in Alabama.
Mid South Entomologist 1: 81-84.
Extension Publications:
Abraham, C. M. Biography for ESA fellow
Joe W. Lewis. For Entomological Society of America (submitted).
Abraham,
C. M. Larra bicolor- The mole cricket
killer wasp. FACES- a University of Georgia Extension publication
(submitted).
Abraham, C. M. and D. W. Held. 2010. Exploring
nectar sources for wasps that kill mole crickets. Record (USGA
Green section- publication on turfgrass management) 48(2):
12-14.
Abraham, C.M. Story of Larra bicolor and
mole crickets. Glowworm, a 4 H publication. Fall 2008.
Abraham, C. M. and D. W. Held. Research Update
on the mole cricket hunting wasps. Tee to Green Lousiana-Mississippi
Golf Course Superintendent Association of America Newsletter,
Fall 2007.
Abraham, C. M. and D. W. Held. Cicada Killer
Wasps – the latest emergence…… Mississippi
Turf Association Newsletter, Aug. 2007.
Presentations
Paper Presentations:
Invited Presentations:
Abraham C. M. Beneficial and non-beneficial
insects in our gardens. McIntosh trail Master Gardeners meeting.
Griffin, GA Oct 2010.
Abraham C. M. Larra bicolor (Hymenoptera:
Crabronidae) for biocontrol of Scapteriscus mole
crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae). Dow AgroSciences, Indianapolis,
IN. May 2010.
Abraham C.M et al. Biological
control of insects has deleterious impacts on human health and
agricultural food crops, while providing only temporary solutions
to insect pest problems, and should be discontinued. Con Position-
Entomological Society of America, Indianapolis, December 2009.
Abraham C.M. Higher studies- Why United States
is an option. Meet with Alumni College of Horticulture, Kerala
Agricultural University, Trichur, Kerala, India, June 2009.
Abraham C.M. The story of Larra bicolor and Scapteriscus mole
crickets. College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University,
Trichur, Kerala, India, June 2009.
Abraham C.M. Current evaluation procedures
of GMOs are adequate to determine their long-term impacts on
the environment and human health- An Introduction. National meeting
ESA, Reno, NV November 2008.
Abraham C. M. and Held D.W. Update on bio controls
(Larra bicolor) for mole cricket at Mississippi State
University. Turf Field Day, MSU. September 2008.
Abraham C. M. and Held D.W. Larra bicolor – mole
cricket killing wasps. Mississippi Turf Association, Philadelphia,
MS. October 2007.
Abraham C. M. and Held D.W. Larra bicolor – The
Mole Cricket Killers. Turf Field Day, MSU. September 2007.
Student Presentations:
Abraham C. M., S. K. Braman,
and R. D. Oetting. Integrating Miticides in management of Greenhouse
Gerberas. GES/SCES Joint meeting, Hickory Knob National Park
Resort, SC. October 2010.
Abraham C. M. Turf Pests- Chemical or
natural control- Department of Entomology, University of GA,
Athens, GA. February 2010.
Abraham C. M. Wasps and Bees in Turf-
Department of Entomology, University of GA, Athens, GA. February
2010.
Abraham C. M. Color Vision in Insects- Investigating
the red light visibility. Department of Entomology, University
of Georgia, Athens, GA. April 2009.
Abraham C. M. and D. W. Held. Pentas as
nectar source for Larra bicolor an ectoparasitoid of Scapteriscus Mole
crickets, Georgia Entomological Society, Hiawassee, GA. April
2009.
Abraham C. M. and D.W. Held. Larra bicolor an
ectoparasitoid of Scapteriscus Mole crickets, H.O. Lund
Week Celebrations, Athens, GA. March 2009.
Abraham C. M. and D.W. Held. Pentas
lanceolatus a landscape plant as nectar source for Larra
bicolor an ectoparasitoid of Scapteriscus Mole
crickets, Entomological Society of America, Reno, NV. November
2008.
Abraham C. M. and D.W. Held. Ecology of Larra
bicolor (Hymenoptera:Sphecidae) in the Northern Gulf, Thesis
Defense, Starkville, MS. October 2008.
Abraham C. M. and D.W. Held. Ornamental plants
as a nectar source for Larra bicolor an ectoparasitoid
on Scapteriscus mole crickets, and their effect on parasitism,
Research update, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology,
Mississippi State University, MS. April 2008.
Abraham C. M. and D.W. Held. Nectar sources
for Larra bicolor an ectoparasitoid on Scapteriscus mole
crickets, Graduate Student Association Symposium, Mississippi
State University, MS. April 2008.
Abraham C. M. and D.W. Held. Pentas lanceolatus as
a nectar source for Larra bicolor an ectoparasitoid
on Scapteriscus mole crickets, South Eastern Branch,
Entomological Society of America, Jacksonville, FL. March 2008.
Abraham C. M. and D. W. Held. Ornamental plants
as nectar sources for Larra bicolor. Mississippi Entomological
Society annual meeting Starkville, MS. October 25 2007.
Abraham C. M. and D.W. Held. Seasonal life history
and suitability of horticultural plants as nectar sources for Larra
bicolor, A Parasitoid of Mole Crickets, In The Northern
Gulf Coast. USGA Grant Review Committee, Biloxi, MS., July 2007.
Abraham C. M. Ornamental Plants as Nectar source
for Larra bicolor and ectoparasitoid on Scapteriscus Mole
crickets. MS thesis proposal Presentation Mississippi State University,
MS. November 2006.
Abraham C. M. and D. W. Held. Ornamental plants
as potential nectar sources for Larra bicolor. Mississippi
Entomological Society annual meeting Starkville, MS. October
2006.
Poster Presentations:
Abraham C. M. and D.W. Held. Pentas lanceolatus as
a nectar source for Larra bicolor (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)
an ectoparasitoid of Scapteriscus Mole Crickets. Turf
Meeting, Gainesville, FL October 15 2008.
Abraham C. M. and D.W. Held. Ornamental plants
as nectar source for Larra bicolor (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)
an ectoparasitoid of Scapteriscus Mole Crickets. Entomological
Society of America, San Diego, CA. December 11 2007.
Held D.W., C. Wheeler and C.M. Abraham. Paper
wasps (Polistes spp.) as predators in Turfgrass. Entomological Society of America,
San Diego, CA. December 12 2007.
Abraham C. M. and D.W. Held. Larra bicolor – The
Mole Cricket Hunters. Mississippi Turf Association, Philadelphia, MS. October
29 2007.
Abraham C. M. and D.W. Held. Larra bicolor – The
Mole Cricket Killers. Turf Field Day, MSU. September 2007.
Wheeler, C., D.W. Held and C.M. Abraham. Polistes wasps
as indicators for Army worm population in turf. Turf Field Day, MSU. September
2007.