UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY ENTOMOLOGY
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John ObryckiJohn J. Obrycki

Professor and Chair (2003 - present)

Ph.D. Cornell University (1982)

 

Department of Entomology
S-225 Agricultural Science Center N
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40546-0091
Ph: 859.257.7450
Fax: 859.323.1120
Email: john.obrycki@uky.edu

 

Research Interests

My specific research interests include the biology, predatory behavior, and population ecology of insect predators, focusing on the Coccinellidae and the role of natural enemies in sustainable alfalfa production systems. A weakness of many pest management models is a trivial representation of predation. Fundamental knowledge is required to understand how insect predators subsist in crops, how they influence prey dynamics, and how changes in cropping practices influence predator populations. The goal of my investigations is to provide the basis for the development of sustainable pest management systems.

 

The asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridislady beetle larva
The asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis, adults (left)
and pink lady beetle, Coleomegilla maculata, larva (right)

 

Current Post-Doc

 

Former Graduate Students

 

Curriculum vitae (PDF)

 

Selected Recent Publications

 

Ecological Assessment of Transgenic Organisms

  • Peterson, J.A., J.J. Obrycki, & J.D. Harwood. 2009. Quantification of Bt-endotoxin exposure pathways in carabid food webs across multiple transgenic events. Biocontrol Science & Tech. 19: 613-625.
  • Moser, S., J. D. Harwood, & J.J. Obrycki 2008. Larval feeding on Bt hybrid and non-Bt corn seedlings by Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae) and Coleomegilla maculata (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae). Environmental Entomology 37:525-533.
  • Harwood, J.D. & J.J. Obrycki. 2007. Temporal detection of Cry1Ab-endotoxins in coccinellid predators from fields of Bacillus thuringiensis corn. Bull. Entomol.Research 97: 643-648.
  • Harwood, J.D. & J.J. Obrycki. 2006. The detection and decay of Cry1Ab Bt- endotoxins within non-target slugs, Deroceras reticulatum (Muller) (Mollusca: Pulmonata), following consumption of transgenic corn. Biocontrol Sci. & Tech. 16:77-88
  • Nusawardani, T., J.R. Ruberson, J.J. Obrycki, & B.C. Bonning. 2005. Effects of a protease-expressing recombinant baculovirus insecticide on the parasitoid Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson). Biological Control 35:46-54.
  • Pilcher, C.D., M.E. Rice, & J.J. Obrycki. 2005. Impact of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis corn and crop phenology on five nontarget arthropods. Environ. Entomol. 34: 1302-1316.
  • Harwood, J.D. , W. Wallin, & J.J. Obrycki. 2005. Uptake of Bt-endotoxins by non-target herbivores and higher order arthropod predators: molecular evidence from a transgenic corn agroecosystem. Molec. Ecology 14: 2815-2823.
  • Jesse, L.C.H. & J.J. Obrycki.  2004.  Survival of experimental cohorts of monarch larvae following exposure to transgenic Bt corn pollen and anthers pp. 69-75 In, The Monarch Butterfly: Biology and conservation. K.S. Oberhauser & M.J. Solensky (eds) Cornell Univ. Press. 336 pp.

 

Predatory Insects /  Coccinellidae / Biological Control

  • Moser, S.E., & J.J. Obrycki. 2009. Non-target effects of neonicotinoid seed treatments: mortality of coccinellid larvae related to zoophytophagy. Biological Control. on-line: doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2009.09.001
  • Sloggett, J.J., K. F. Haynes, & J.J. Obrycki. 2009. Hidden costs to an invasive intraguild predator from chemically defended native prey. Oikos 118:1396-1404.
  • Obrycki, J.J., T.J. Kring, J.D. Harwood, R.J. O’Neil. 2009. Aphidophagy by Coccinellidae: Application of biological control in agroecosystems. Biological Control. on-line doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2009-05.009
  • Moser, S. J. & J.J. Obrycki. 2009. Competition and intraguild predation among larvae of three coccinellid species at different prey levels. Annals of Entomol. Soc. Am. 102: 419-425.
  • Sloggett, J.J., J.J. Obrycki, & K. Haynes. 2009. Identification and quantification of predation: novel use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis of prey alkaloid markers. Functional Ecology 23: 416-426.
  • O'Neil, R.J. & J.J. Obrycki. 2009. Introduction and Augmentation of Biological Control Agents. pp 107-115. In: Integrated Pest Management: Concepts, tactics, strategies and case studies. (E.B. Radcliffe, W.D. Hutchison, & R.E. Cancelado eds), Cambridge University Press, New York.
  • Sloggett, J.J., I. Zeilstra, & J.J. Obrycki. 2008. Patch residence by aphidophagous ladybird beetles: do specialists stay longer? Biological Control 47: 199-206.
  • Harwood, J.D., N. Desneux, H.J.S. Yoo, D.L. Rowley, M.H. Greenstone, J.J. Obrycki, & R.J. O'Neil. 2007. Tracking the role of alternative prey in soybean aphid predation by Orius insidiosus: a molecular approach. Molecular Ecology 16:4390-4400.
  • Matos, B., & J.J. Obrycki. 2007. Trophic interactions between two herbivorous insects, Galerucella calmariensis and Myzus lythri, feeding on purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria, and two insect predators, Harmonia axyridis and Chrysoperla carnea. 8 pp. Journal of Insect Science 7:27, available online: insectscience.org/ 7.27
  • Matos, B. & J.J. Obrycki. 2007. Evaluation of mortality of Galerucella calmariensis L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) preimaginal life stages and pupal survival at two wetlands in Iowa. J. Kansas Entomol. Soc. 80: 16-26.
  • Harwood, J.D., C. Ricci, R. Romani, K.M. Pitz, A. Weir & J.J. Obrycki. 2006. Prevalence and association of the laboulbenialean fungus Hesperomyces virescens (Laboulbeniales: Laboulbeniaceae) on coccinellid hosts (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Kentucky, USA. European Journal of Entomology 103: 799-804.
  • Jesse, L.A., J.J. Obrycki, & K. Moloney. 2006. Insect pollinators of the invasive plant, Rosa multiflora (Rosaceae), in Iowa, USA. Weed Biology and Management 6:235-241.
  • Harwood, J.D., C. Ricci, R. Romani & J. J. Obrycki. 2006. Historic prevalence of a laboulbenialean fungus infecting introduced coccinellids in the United States. Antenna, Bulletin of the Royal Entomological Society 30: 74-79.

 

John Obrycki

 

Revised: Sept 21, 2009
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