Department of Entomology Faculty

Roger Williams

• e-mail: Williams.14@osu.edu
• Department of Entomology/OARDC, Ohio State University
  1680 Madison Ave.
  Wooster OH 44691
• phone: (330) 263-3731
• fax: (330) 263-3686

• Professor
• Research Leader, Small Fruit Entomology
• Ph.D. 1966 Louisiana State University

Research Interests:

The focus of my research is to develop better insect manage practices for Small Fruit growers of Ohio. In short, we are developing IPM techniques through the employment of biorationals, attractants, and biocontrol measures. We are presently studying the efficacy of various nematodes to control grape root borer in Ohio and Georgia vineyards. Chemical attractants are another area of great interest. Mating disruption studies are being conducted for the grape root borer and the grape berry moth. Also, attractants are being tested in population reduction of the rose chafer (feeding/ pheromone attractant) in Ohio vineyards and in horticultural and agronomic crops in Latin America. In addition, my lab is cooperating with other national and international institutions in developing strategies for the management various pest species. The Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle has evolved from its beneficial status to a nuisance pest to a full-fledged pest of grapes in Ohio and neighboring states. We are searching for sustainable practices that will eliminate this threat to our juice and wine industry.

We continue to evaluate the use of biorational pesticides for control of major small fruit pests. This is concentrated on the vine pest of importance to grape growers. We are presently conducting studies to learn more about the distribution and biology of wild bees that are doing the majority of the pollination in strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.

As a member of the International IPM CRSP consortium I work with government scientists in Ecuador to set up and evaluate entomological studies on major pests of four Andean fruits, potatoes and cooking bananas (plantain) better known in Latin America as platanos. A new project will compare insect and disease pressures on monoculture versus interplantings of three tropical crops; papaya, cacao and plantain.

Visiting Scholar:

• Patricio Gallegos – INIAP- Ecuador Ministry of Agriculture Entomologist – IPM CRSP

• Sandra Garces- (Ecuador) – Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle
• Technical Assistants: Dan S. Fickle, Diane Hartzler.

• Dan S. Fickle
• Diane Hartzler

Williams, R.N., D.S. Fickle, P. Grewal and J.R. Meyer. 2002. Assessing the potential of entomopathogenic nematodes to control the grape root borer Vitacea polistiformis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) through laboratory and greenhouse bioassays. Biocontrol Science and Technology 12: 35-24.

Brambles – Production Management and Marketing , OSU Bulletin 782 has received the American Society for Horticultural Sciences 2001 Award as the best Extension Publication in the U.S. Roger Williams wrote the Chapter entitled, "Insects and Mites".

Van Dam, W. Alaric, R.N. Williams and R.A. Taylor. 2001. Flight performance of some nitidulid beetles (Coleoptera) using a computer-monitored flight mill. J. Agric. Urban Entomol. 17(3): 143-151.

Heath, J.J., R.N. Williams, P.L. Phelan. 2001. High light intensity: a critical factor in the wind-tunnel flight of two scarabs, the rose chafer and Japanese beetle. J. Chem. Ecology 27(3): 419-429.

Williams, R.N., D. S. Fickle, T.P. McGovern, and M.G. Klein. 2000. Development of an attractant for a scarab pest, Macrodactylus subspinosus (F.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 93: 1480-1484