Douglas G Pfeiffer, PhD
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Dr. Pfeiffer's position (40% teaching, 35% research, 25% extension) deals primarily with fruit IPM and ecological interactions in orchards and vineyards. In recent years, research has centered in three areas of activity, mating disruption for lepidopteran pests, biogeography of plum curculio, and insect/plant interactions. Current Research focus has centered strongly in vineyard pest management, especially grape root borer, Japanese beetle and sharpshooters that transmit Pierce's disease. Another new research focus deals with insects feeding in primocane-bearing caneberries, especially Japanese beetle, green June beetle and stink bugs. Extension activities include electronic dissemination of fruit IPM information through a web site and e-mail lists, in addition to conventional extension publications and grower meetings. Courses taught are Insect Structure and Function (graduate), Insect Pest Management (undergraduate) and Arthropod Pest Management (graduate). A new course on Managing Arthropod Pests will be offered in the new on-line Masters of Agriculture and Life Sciences, for which Dr. Pfeiffer is the Director and Graduate Program Coordinator. Dr. Pfeiffer has developed an international component to his program, and is the Site Chair for the Eastern European regional project within the IPM CRSP (Integrated Pest Management Collaborative Research Support Program). This project deals with high value horticultural crops in Albania, Ukraine and Moldova, and is supported by USAID.
Blurb last modified at 2007-07-30 18:19:59.0.
Professional Memberships
- Entomological Society of America
- Gamma Sigma Delta - Honor Society of Agriculture
- Georgia Entomological Society
- International Association for the Plant Protection Sciences
- North American Bramble Growers Association
- Phi Beta Delta -- International Scholars' Society
- Phi Kappa Phi
- Sigma Xi - The Scientific Research Society
- South Carolina Entomological Society
- Virginia Extension Service Association
- Virginia State Horticultural Society
- Virginia Vineyards Association
Personnel
- Faculty
- Staff
- Student
Projects
- Antifeedants, Repellants, and Organic Controls for Tarnished Plant Bug and Japanese Beetle on Caneberries → website
This project deals with efficacy of pesticides that are appropriate given the restrictions imposed by preharvest intervals for pests that attack ripening berries. A related resources is a web page (linked below) that was supported by the North American Bramble Growers Association.
- Antifeedants, repellants, and organic controls for plant-feeding bug, Japanese beetle and green June beetle on caneberries
This project examines several synthetic and organic insecticides for control of pests attacking primocane-bearing caneberries, notably Japanese beetle and stink bugs.
- Beneficial insectary plants to enhance arthropod natural enemies in vineyards
In spring 2007, we will establish plantings (~0.1 acre) of each of three commercial insectary plant mixes in randomized complete blocks with 4 replications in vineyards in Virginia (The Vineyard at Point Breeze, Belle Haven, VA) tfoster populations of natural enemies.
- Determining the Impact of northern and southern strains of plum curculio on Interstate Shipment of Virginia Apples → website
This project attempts to differentiate univoltine and bivoltine southern strains of plum curculio based on biochemical methods, and determination of the within-state distrbution of the two strains. The presence of second-brood larvae in the fruit at harvest will complicate shipment of fruit to certain states and countries.
- Evaluation of organic or environmentally selective methods to control Japanese beetle on fruit crops
The objective is to determine insecticides that will control Japanese beetles on several fruit crops grown in Virginia. Materials will be determined that control Japanese beetles either by killing adult beetles or by preventing their feeding, that meet current days-to-harvest restrictions on commodities where the beetles commonly feed on fruit just before harvest.
- Integrated Pest Management of Specialty Crops in Eastern Europe → website
- Long term effects of vineyard surroundings of three vineyard pests, and short term control → website
This proposed project addresses management of grape berry moth (GBM), a key pest of grape throughout Virginia, grape root borer (GRB), a pest that has been sporadic in occurrence but locally severe, and Pierce?s disease (PD), a sharpshooter-borne disease that is of critical concern in the southeastern part of the state. The objectives attempt to deal both with short-term control options, as well as ecological factors that can be used to manage these pests more effectively in the long term. 1. Evaluate role of vineyard surroundings and management approach on incidence of GBM, parasitism of GBM, climbing cutworm pest pressure, diversity of arthropod predators, and abundance of sharpshooter vectors of Pierce?s disease, 2. Compare efficacy of low-risk insecticides for grape berry moth, 3. Evaluate mating disruption technologies, as well as three non-organophosphate pesticides: azadirachtin (botanical), methoxyfenozide (insect growth regulator) and paraquat (herbicide) for control of GRB, 4. Evaluate three trap designs leading towards a GRB monitoring program, 5. Evaluate efficacy of two neonicotinoids for prevention of PD infection.
- The development of novel detection and management tactics for grape root borer
The grape root borer (GRB), Vitacea polistiformis, is a potential threat to wine grape production in the southeastern United States. The long-term availability of the most effective pesticide for managing it and other clearwing borers, chlorpyrifos, remains uncertain due to the review of pesticide tolerances under the Food Quality Protection Act. GRB larvae are subterranean pests, feeding on the roots of vines, making their detection difficult. There are no unequivocal horticultural symptoms that can be used to diagnose GRB infestation of vines. Sex pheromones traps are effective at capturing male GRB, but since the insect also infests native vines that are often in close proximity to commercial plantings, the relationship between trap catch and infestation levels remains unknown. We are currently exploring the potential for using acoustic emissions detection technology to monitor the vibrational signals generated by the feeding activity of larval grape root borer on vine roots. This novel approach may enable more precise estimates of vineyard infestation levels and aid in developing the relationship between pheromone trap captures and larval density.
- Tree Fruit Pest Management Updates → website
This extension project uses the Tree Fruit Pest Management website and e-mail updates to growers, consultants, reseachers and extension agents to disseminate timely data on pest phenology and degree-day accumulations. This information is intended to assist growers in making optimal management decisions for direct and indirect pests of apple and peach.
Courses
- ENT 4254 Insect Pest Management
Principles of insect pest management with primary application to the major arthropod pests found in Virginia. Pest management involves the use of ecologically and economically efficient methods to prevent or reduce pest injury to acceptable levels. Prerequisite: 1 year biology
- ENT 5114 Insect Structure and Function → website
A comparative study of the major structures and organ systems emphasizing modifications important in the success of insects. Designed for graduate and upper level undergraduate students in entomology and zoological biology.
- ENT 5214 Arthropod Pest Management
Principles of techniques for reducing pest levels below those causing injury of economic importance to agriculture and forestry. Course objectives are to present concepts of pest management to enable students to formulate comprehensive approaches to solving pest problems. Emphasis will be on integrated management of crop pests. Appropriate for graduate students in biology, entomology, forestry, horticulture, plant protection and related curricula.
Resources
- Arthropod Pest Management ENT 5214 → website
- Eastern Europe IPM CRSP → website
The IPM CRSP is an international IPM effort supported by USAID, including several regional projects around the world. The Eastern European regional project deals with several high-value horticultural crops in Albania, Moldova and Ukraine. Doug Pfeiffer is the site chair. Site coordinators are Josef Tedeschini (Albania), Vladimir Todirash (Moldova), Olena Cholovska (Lviv Ukraine), Sasha Pleshko (Odesa Ukraine) and Kateryna Maslikova (Dnipropetrovsk Ukraine).
- Insect Pest Management ENT4254 → website
- Insect Structure & Function Class Web Site → website
Insect Structure and Function is a course in functional morphology taken by most graduate students in the Department of Entomology.
- Master's of Agriculture and Life Sciences (on-line) → website
This curriculum offers a master's degree to place-bound learners. This is a multidisciplinary effort with courses in five areas of concentration. Several Entomology Department faculty teach courses here.
- NABGA/VT Bramble IPM → website
- Virginia Fruit Web Site → website
The Virginia Fruit Web Site contains timely information supporting the fruit industries in the mid-Atlantic area, emphasizing Virginia.
Publications
- Hitchner, E., Kuhar, T. P., Dickens, J. C., Youngman, R. R., Schultz, P. B., Pfeiffer, D. G. 2008. Host plant choice experiments of Colorado potato beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Virginia. J. Econ. Entomol. 101: 859-865
- Lim, G. T., Kirton, L. G., Salom, S. M., Kok, L. T., Fell, R. D., Pfeiffer, D. G. 2008. Host plants and associated trophobionts of the weaver ants Oecophylla spp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources, 2008, 3, No. 035, 19 pp.
- Lim, G. T., Kirton, L. G., Salom, S. M., Kok, L. T., Fell, R. D., Pfeiffer, D. G. 2008. Mahogany shoot borer control in Malaysia and prospects for biocontrol using weaver ants. Journal of Tropical Forest Science. 20(3): 147-155.
- Shestopal, G. C., Pfeiffer, D. G. 2008. Яблуня – Комерцiйна Культура в Україна. [Apple - A Commercial Crop for Ukraine.]. Book. Kyiv Horticultural Institute. L'viv, Ukraine. 256 p. 20 pls.
- Zhang, X., Pfeiffer, D. G. 2008. Evaluation of reproductive incompatibility of interstrain mating among plum curculio populations in the eastern United States. . Environ. Entomol. 37: 1208-1213
- Zhang, X., Tu, J., Luckhart, S., Pfeiffer, D. G. 2008. Genetic diversity of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) among geographical populations in the eastern United States.. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 101: 824-832.
- Gronning, E. K., Pfeiffer, D. G. 2007. Ground beetle assemblages in Virginia apple orchards receiving pheromone-based or conventional tortricid management programs . J. Entomol. Sci. 42: 501-516
- Pfeiffer, D. G., Love, . 2007. Handheld applications in fruit extension delivery.. J. Extension 45 (5): Article Number 5TOT6
- Wallingford, A., Tolin, S. A., Myers, A. L., Wolf, T. K., Pfeiffer, D. G. 2007. Expansion of the range of Pierce's disease in Virginia. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2007-1004-01-BR.
- Demchak, K., Brittingham-Brant, M., Frazier, M., Guiser, S., Halbrendt, J., Harper, J., Krawczyk, G., Richards, K., Travis, J., Nitzsche, P., Oudemans, P., Pavlis, G., Polavorapu, S., Polk, D., Probasco, P., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Sciarappa, W., Shearer, P., Stanghellini, M., Caron, D., Kee, W., Johnson, G., Butler, B., Fiola, J., Swartz, H., Bratsch, A. D., Derr, J., Pattison, J., Pfeiffer, D. G., Yoder, K., Baniecki, J., Biggs, A., Hogmire, H., Zimmerman, R. 2006. The Mid-Atlantic Berry Guide for Commercial Growers. Pa. State Univ., Agric. Res. Coop. Ext. 205 p. (authors listed alphabetically within state)
- Pfeiffer, D. G., Baniecki, J., Bergh, J. C., Biggs, A., Chandran, R. S., Demarsay, A., Dively, G., Derr, J., Fell, R. D., Hogmire, H., Kotcon, J. B., Parkhurst, J., Walsh, C. S., Weaver, M. J., Yoder, K., Yuan, R. 2006. 2007 Spray Bulletin for Commercial Tree Fruit Growers. VA. Coop. Extension (Pub. 456-419), Blacksburg (156pp.) [revised annually – 21st revision].
- Tedeschini, J., Stamo, B., Pfeiffer, D. G. 2006. Menaxhimi i paraziteve ne ullishtet organike. [Biological management in organic olive production.]. Plant Protection Institute. Durres, Albania. [in Albanian]
- Bergh, J. C., Pfeiffer, D. G., Love, . 2005. Survey of grape root borer, Vitacea polistiformis (Harris), using pheromone traps in Virginia vineyards. J. Entomol. Sci. 40: 337-342
- Hagood, E., Baudoin, A., Day, E. R., Derr, J., Eisenback, J. D., Faircloth, J., Grisso, R., Herbert, Jr, D. A., Hipkins, P. L., Johnson, C. S., Kuhar, T. P., Pfeiffer, D. G., Phipps, P., Semtner, P. J., Speese, III, J., Stromberg, E., Waldenmaier, C., Wilson, H., Yoder, K., Youngman, R. R. 2005. Agricultural Plant Pest Control: A Guide for Agricultural Plant Pest Managers in Virginia (270 pp). Va. Coop. Ext. pub. 456-214
- Pfeiffer, D. G., Tedeschini, J., Daku, L., Hasani, M., Uka, R., Stamo, B., Ferraj, B. 2005. Developing IPM packages in eastern Europe: Participatory IPM research in Albanian olives. p. 121-139. In G. W. Norton, E.A. Heinrichs, G. C. Luther, M. E. Irwin. (eds.) Globalizing Integrated Pest Management: A Participatory Research Process. Blackwell, Oxford UK. 338 p. (Book Chapter)
- Tedeschini, J., Stamo, B., Pfeiffer, D. G. 2005. Menaxhimi i integruar i paraziteve te ullirit. [Integrated and biological management in olive.]. Plant Protection Institute. Durres, Albania. [in Albanian]
- Shestopal, Z. A., Pfeiffer, D. G., Shestopal, G. C. 1999. Integrated pest management for orchards and small fruit crops.. Kyiv Horticultural Institute. L'viv, Ukraine [in Ukrainian]
- Zhang, X., Luckhart, S., Pfeiffer, D. G. 0. Genetic diversity of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) among geographical populations in the eastern United States. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am.
- Zhang, X., Pfeiffer, D. G. 0. Evaluation of the success of inter-strain mating among plum curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) populations in the eastern United States. Environ. Entomol.
