Professional Interests

Broadly speaking, I am interested in the systematics, biology and biogeography of parasitic Hymenoptera, with an emphasis on the chalcidoid wasps in the family Aphelinidae. These are minute (mostly less than 1-mm body length) parasitoids of other insects. They primarily attack immature stages of sternorrhynchous Hemiptera, including scales, whiteflies and mealybugs. Because their hosts are often important economic pests, aphelinids are frequently used for biological control programs.

There are currently 1191 described species of aphelinids. Various biodiversity estimates all agree that many species remain to be discovered, particularly in tropical areas of the world. Molecular data have repeatedly demonstrated that this family is composed of a polyphyletic assemblage of 5 monophyletic subfamilies. One exception is the genus Coccobius, which is currently placed within the subfamily Coccophaginae, but never groups with any aphelinid subfamily in our analyses. Consequently, the Aphelinidae are in need of both higher-level systematic studies as well as species-level taxonomic revisions. For my dissertation research, I will be examining the phylogenetic relationships among genera in the subfamily Coccophaginae. In addition, I will perform a monographic revision of the new-world species of Coccobius.

Education
University of California, Riverside                 Entomology        Ph.D    in progress
Texas A&M University, College Station        Entomology        M.S.    2002
University of California, Riverside                 Entomology        B.S.    1999

Publications
Mottern, J.L., K.M. Heinz, and P.J. Ode. 2004. Evaluating biological control of fire ants using phorid flies: effects
on competitive interactions. Biological Control 30: 566-583.

Wang, Q., J.G. Millar, D.A. Reed, J.L. Mottern, J.M. Heraty, S.V. Triapitsyn, T.D. Paine, and X.Z. He. 2008.                 Development of a strategy for selective collection of a parasitoid attacking one member of a large herbivore         guild. Journal of Economic Entomology 101: 1771-1778.

Presentations

• “Systematic studies and biogeography of the woolly whitefly parasitoid Cales noacki Howard (Hymenoptera: Calesinae): A probable cryptic species complex.” Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, 12/11/06

• “Integrated Pest Management.” Invited talk for The California Environmental Health Association Southern Update, San Diego, CA, 11/13/03

• “Evaluating Biological Control of Fire Ants Using Phorid Flies: Effects on Competitive Interactions” Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, 12/9/01

Contact
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