Dini M Miller, PhD
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Dr. Miller is the Urban Pest Management specialist for the state of Virginia. The urban pest management postion is predominantly extension with additional research and teaching responsibilities. The urban pest management extension program focuses on promoting the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) techniques to control arthropod pests in structures. The ultimate goal of an IPM program is to control pests, while reducing the need for repeated pesticide applications in human living and work space. Dr. Miller is currently implementing a statewide School IPM training program. The purpose of the program is to teach IPM methods to school facilities personnel and contract pest control operators in order to reduce pesticide use in schools. Dr. Miller also is a co-instructor for the Urban and Public Health Entomology (UPHE) course. The course provides an introduction to pests in the urban environment, and explains how pest biology and behavior contribute to their ability to infest human structures. The UPHE course offers students hands-on experience in applying integrated pest management techniques within sensive environments such as schools, zoos, and health care facilities. Dr. Miller's current research projects focus on bed bug biology and control, IPM techniques for control of cockroaches, ants and subterranean termites, and the cost/benefit analysis of IPM in Virginia public housing.
Professional Memberships
- Entomological Society of America
- Gamma Sigma Delta
- Sigma Xi
Personnel
- Staff
- Student
- Wage or Other Employees
Former Students and Faculty Associates
- David Moore II (2006) - Branch Entomologist covering the Washington D.C. area for Steri-Tech Inc.
- Marc L Fisher (2006) - Product Technology Specialist and Principal Bed Bug Biologist for Dow AgroSciences.
- Charles D Hannum (2006) - Laboratory Specialist II working with Dr. Brent Opell in the Virginia Tech Department of Biology.
- L. E. Swoboda (2004) - Aloha Bugs Termite and Pest Management Company. Owner and Operator
- R. C. Perrott (2003) - Regional Investigator, Department of Public Health, Fairfax Co. Virginia.
Projects
- Assessing the Value of IPM in Virginia Public Housing
The goal of this project is to change pest management practices in Virginia public housing from monthly pesticide applications to IPM. In 2002, I conducted a research project designed to answer the question, "What is the cost of IPM?" Many researchers had speculated that IPM would be initially more expensive than monthly pesticide treatments but that the cost would decline as pest populations decreased. However, no dollar figure was ever put on these costs. A year-long study comparing the costs (and efficacy) of IPM to monthly spray applications was conducted in Portsmouth public housing. We concluded that IPM was far more effective at killing cockroaches, but the cost was significantly higher ($4.06/ per unit per month) than that of spray applications ($1.50 per unit per month). In 2005, we conducted a face-to-face survey of public housing residents to introduce them to the IPM concept and benefits. We then asked how much they would value an IPM program. Of 816 respondents, 462 indicated that they would pay an additional $11.32 (average) per month for IPM. These responses indicated that public housing residents did value a superior, reduced toxicity method of pest control. In fact, most placed more value on IPM than the actual cost of the program ($4.06). In 2006, a cost/benefit analysis will be conducted, which will weigh the IPM cost data, and the resident response data, against a risk assessment. A policy brief will be presented to the Virginia division of Housing and Urban Development and other interested parties, in an attempt to interest those individuals in adopting an IPM policy in place of the standard practice of accepting low-bidder pest control.
- Fructans: inclusive of inulins, levans, and related fructofuranosides as subterranean termite feeding attractants in termite baiting systems.
Currently, there are no attractants or consumption enhancement compounds available for use in subterranean termite baiting systems. Therefore, it takes weeks and often months for termites to begin feeding at the bait stations in significant numbers. The addition of these fructofuranoside polymers to the termites bait matrix would be a significant enhancement to these termite bait systems. The addition of compounds like inulin would cause termites to feed preferentially on the bait matrix rather than other local food resources, and influence those termite workers to recruit additional termites to the bait stations.
- IPM in Virginia Public Schools → website
IPM for Virginia Public Schools: In 1999, all Virginia schools were treated monthly with insecticides regardless of whether they had a pest problem or not and schools kept no records of these applications. IPM is not mandated in Virginia, but is a critical need to improve pest management practices. To meet this need, I have developed the School IPM program. The purpose of the IPM program is to teach Extension agents and school personnel how to help their local schools convert from their current pest control practices to an IPM program.
- Identification and succession of pest ant species in Puerto Rican housing developments
The invasive ant species complex was determined within three Puerto Rican housing developments of different ages (one, four, and eight years old). Frequency and relative abundance data were collected and spatiotemporal analysis mapped the location of each species within the sites.
- Improvements in Baiting Technology for Household Pest Management
Over the last decade gel bait bait formulations have become the preferred method of German cockroach control. The single greatest advantage of using gel baits is that they have been highly attractive to German cockroaches so that bait consumption and subsequent mortality result in superior control. However, within the last decade there have been documented cases of "bait aversion" among field populations of German cockroaches. Bait aversion is manifested by cockroaches avoiding a bait formulation that they would previously consume. This avoidance develops as the result of selection for aversion to the food ingredients within the bait matrix rather than to the active ingredients. Most of these populations were from locations where poor sanitation was a problem and baits had been used for extended periods to keep chronic cockroach infestations to a minimum. As the bait aversion behavior becomes more widespread there is an urgent need for new baits to be formulated that provide all of the advantages of the older formulations, but do not elicit aversion response. Bait manufacturers have been re-formulating their bait matrices to replace ingredients that cause the averse behavior. Our laboratory has been evaluating these new formulations and their sugar attractants to determine how "bait averse cockroaches" respond to them.
- Managing Red Imported Fire ants in Virginia
The first report of red imported fire ants (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta Buren, in Virginia was recorded in 1989. Since that time, several thousand mounds have been identified in the southeastern, coastal regions of the state. The Virginia Department of Agriculture is currently responsible for all RIFA control in Virginia. However, limited resources and the possibility that the RIFA has become established within the coastal regions of the VA has led the Virginia Department of Agriculture (VDACS) to consider placing certain Virginia counties under the Federal RIFA quarantine. One consequence of the quarantine implementation is that FIRA control being transferred to homeowners and pest management professionals within the quarantine areas. Because these individuals have no experience in FIFA control, the Virginia Cooperative Extension services has undertaken a study to evaluate RIFA control products for efficacy.
- The Cost of IPM for German Cockroach Control in Public Housing
The long-term costs and efficacy of two treatment methods (traditional pesticide spray applications and IPM) for German cockroach control were compared in a Virginia Public Housing facility. The results idicated that the cost of IPM was significantly greater than that of the spray applications with the majority of the cost being attributed to technician time. However, the efficacy of IPM was als signficantly greater. Cockroach trap catch in the IPM treatment was signficantly reduced by month 4 and the populations remained supressed for thrououth the year. Trap catch in the apartments that received monthly spray applications tripled during the sumer months and were not reduced at any time during the study.
- The Efficacy of Bed Bug Management Products and Strategies
Virginia Tech is currently one of two universities in the nation that is rearing bed bugs for research. Bed bugs promise to be a very important area of research because they are blood feeders, prolific, and difficult to control. The liability issues associated with bed bug presence have already resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars being awarded to people who have been bitten by bed bugs. My research has focused on evaluating the efficacy products labeled for bed bug control and those that have potential as a bed bug management tools.
- Virginia Termite Task Force
The members of the Virginia State Termite Task Force were appointed by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), Pesticide Control Board to address the issues associated with misapplications of preconstruction liquid termiticide treatment.
Courses
- ENT 6004 Urban and Public Health Entomology
The Urban and Public Health Entomology course (2 units) was developed and presented in the Spring of 2005. This course was pilot-tested as a graduate course with the intention of making it a combined graduate/undergraduate course after incorportating student feedback. The overall goal of the course was to familiarize students with the major urban and public health pests and the issues that contribute to their pest status. I was responsible for the urban entomology portion of the course. My specific goal was to introduce students to the issues associated with insect pests invading human living space, and the feelings/perceptions that people have about pesticide applications in their environment. My laboratory portion of the course was intended to give students hands-on experience in dealing with pest management issues. Listed here are the highlights. I led the class on a field trip to the National Zoo to meet with the person responsible for pest management. We toured the zoo and discussed the consequences of pest infestation at a national landmark. These issues included reduced aesthetics, limited methods of pest control, danger to valuable display animals, and the potential for very bad press. As a follow-up to this visit, the class was required to develop an IPM program for the Mill Mountain Zoo in Roanoke VA. The class also interviewed individuals suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). During the interview students had the opportunity to learn first-hand what it was like to live with MCS every day. They were also able to draw their own conclusions about whether MCS is a medical or phychological condition.
Resources
- Dodson Urban Pest Management Laboratory → website
The Dodson Urban Pest Management Laboratory (DUPML) is an educational center that facilitates urban pest extension, research, and teaching. Currently, the DUPML is home to thousands of cockroaches, termites, ants, and bed bugs. These insects are the focus of a number of applied research projects that are intended to improve our ability to manage pests using the most effective, yet least toxic, methods available.
- Subterranean Termites: Biology and Management → website
Subterranean termite treatment has changed dramatically over the last decade. The number of systems, application techniques and products available for termite control has tripled in just the last few years. Today, if a homeowner experiences a subterranean termite swarm, he or she may call four different pest control companies and receive four completely different treatment recommendations that range in price from $500-$2,500. The homeowner is in no position to compare the different treatments and in most cases the pest managment professional is only familiar with the treatment used by his or her company. So how can we help the homeowner make an informed decision? This webpage is intended to provide current termite treatment information about subterranean termite control. The two most widely used techniques of subterranean termite control (liquid termiticide application and baiting) are discussed, including application methods, mode of action and control attributes.
Publications
- Fisher, M. L., Miller, D. M., Brewster, C. C., Dickerman, A. W. 2007. A study of the gut bacterial diversity in Reticulitermes flavipes using Amplified rDNA Restriction Analysis (ARDRA). Sociobiology. In press.
- Fisher, M. L., Miller, D. M., Brewster, C. C., Husseneder, C., Dickerman, A. W. 2007. Diversity of gut bacteria of Reticulitermes flavipes as examined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and amplified rDNA restriction analysis (ARDRA).. Current Microbiology. In press.
- Moore, II, D., Miller, D. M. 2006. Laboratory evaluations of insecticide product efficacy for control of Cimex lectularius (Common bed bug). J. Econ. Entomol. 99: 2080-2086
- Miller, D. M., McCoy, T. C. 2005. Comparison of commercial bait formulations for efficacy against bait averse German cockroaches (Blattella germanica) (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae). Proceeding of the 5th International Conference on Urban Pests. 5:115-121
- Swoboda, L. E., Miller, D. M. 2005. A device to simplify harvesting subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) from laboratory cultures. . J. Agric. Urban Entomol. 21: 113-115.
- Swoboda, L. E., Miller, D. M. 2005. Laboratory evaluation of subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) response to "thermal shadows" in an environment of homogenous temperature.. Sociobiology. 45: 811-828
- Miller, D. M., Meek, F. 2004. Cost and efficacy comparison of IPM strategies with monthly spray insecticide applications for German cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) control in public housing.. J. Econ. Entomol. 97: 559-569.
- Miller, D. M. 2004. A training program for cooperative extension agents: implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) in Virginia public schools. . J. of Extension. 42: 5
- Perrott, R. C., Miller, D. M., Mullins, D. E. 2004. Effects of competing food sources on subterranean termite, Reticulitermes spp., (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), consumption of hexaflumuron treated baits in laboratory assays.. Sociobiology. 44: 69-88.
- Swoboda, L. E., Miller, D. M. 2004. Influence of physical guidelines in subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) tunneling behavior, bait discovery and consumption. . J. Econ. Entomol. 97: 1404-1412.
- Swoboda, L. E., Miller, D. M., Fell, R. D., Mullins, D. E. 2004. The effect of nutrient compounds (sugars and amino acids) on bait consumption by Reticulitermes spp. (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Sociobiology. 44: 547-563
- Miller, D. M., Koehler, P. G. 2000. Novel extraction of German cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) fecal pellets enhances efficacy of spray formulation insecticides. J. Econ. Entomol. 93: 107-111
- Miller, D. M., Koehler, P. G. 2000. Trail following in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Dictyoptera: Blatellidae).. J. Econ. Entomol. 93:1241-1246
- Miller, D. M., Koehler, P. G., Nation, J. L. 2000. Fecal extract trails enhance trap catch in German cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) monitoring stations. J. Econ. Entomol. 93: 865-870.
- Gahlhoff, J. E., Miller, D. M., Koehler, P. G. 1999. Secondary kill of adult German cockroaches (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) via cannibalism of nymphs fed toxic baits. J. Econ. Entomol. 92: 1133-1137
- Miller, D. M., Koehler, P. G., Patterson, R. S. 1997. Use of German cockroach (Blattella germanica) fecal extract to enhance toxic bait performance in the presence of alternative food sources. J. Econ. Entomol. 90: 483-487.
- Miller, D. M., Koehler, P. G., Patterson, R. S. 1996. The influence of aggregation pheromone on consumption in German cockroaches (Blattella germanica). . J. Econ. Entomol. 89: 668-672.
