Current Research Assignment: (50% Administration, 30% Research, 20% Extension)

Integrated pest management research in vegetables emphasizes replacing chemical insecticides with biological or other non-chemical controls. Assessment of the impact of biological control agents on major vegetable pests is emphasized as well as determining insect spatial distributions, field sampling techniques and quantifying crop losses to major insect pests. Dr. Shepard is currently serving as Interim Director of the Archbold Tropical Research and Education Consortium located in the Commonwealth of Dominica.
 

Objectives of the research are to:
1) develop and evaluate biological control agents for insect pests of vegetables and medicinal plants
2) determine the efficacy of innovative cultural practices for vegetables and medicinal plants in South Carolina that reduce reliance on chemical pesticides
3) develop field sampling plans that consider the presence of natural enemies, as well as pests, in management decisions
4) develop IPM programs for developing countries.
 

Several new natural enemies of vegetable pests have been discovered through routine surveys in Indonesia through the USAID-funded Palawija IPM project. Several of the insect pathogens are being introduced through the USDA quarantine. A Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus of loopers from Indonesia already has been introduced and infect cabbage loopers in SC. New, improved strains of Bacillus thuringiensis were effective against the diamondback moth in field tests.

Predation and parasitism of sucking bugs that attack cowpea was carried out in field plots in Charleston. Two species of egg parasites of Leptoglossus in the genus Gryon parasitized 36% of the eggs. The two most important predators of Nezara viridula eggs were Solenopsis invicta and the snowy tree cricket, Oecanthus fultoni. Trissolcus basalis was the most important egg parasite of N. viridula and dispersal of this parasite in tomato was demonstrated.

IPM programs for cowpea in Ghana and for vegetables in Indonesia have been developed.
 

• Developing alternatives to Chemical Pesticides for use on Vegetable Crops
• Pest Management for Medicinal Plants
• Insect Microbial/Botantical Materials to Conserve Natural Enemies in Vegetables and Edible Soybean
• Integrated Pest Management in Vegetable Crops in Indonesia and the Philippines

• Abudulai, M. and B. Merle Shepard. 2003. Effects of Neem (Azadirachta indica a. Juss) on Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), a parasitoid of Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) J. Entomol. Science 38: 386-397.
• Abudulai, M., B. M. Shepard and P. L. Mitchell. 2003. Antifeedant and Toxic Effects of Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss)-Based Formulation Neemix against Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). J. Entomol. Science. 38: 398-408.
• Luck, R. F., B. Merle Shepard and P. E. Kenmore. 1999. Evaluation of Biological Control with Experimental Methods. (In): Handbook of Biological Control. T.S. Bellows and T. W. Fisher (Editors). Pages: 225 -242.
• Shepard, B. M., G. R.Carner, A. T. Barrion, P. A. C. Ooi and H. van den Berg. 1999. Insects and their Natural Enemies Associated with Vegetables and Soybean in Southeast Asia. Orangeburg Press. 108 pp.
• Shepard, B. M., E. F. Shepard, G. R. Carner, M. D. Hammig, A. Rauf, and S. G. Turnipseed. 2001. Integrated Pest Management Reduces Pesticides and Production Costs of Vegetables and Soybean in Indonesia: Field Studies with Local Farmers. Journal of Agromedicine 7: 31- 66.

• Luck, R. F., B. M. Shepard and P. E. Kenmore.  1999.  Evaluation of biological control with Experimental methods.  pp. 225 – 242. (In) Handbook of Biological Control.  Academic Press. N.Y. 

• Shepard, B. M., A. T. Barrion  and J. A. Litsinger.  1995.  Rice Feeding Insects of Tropical Asia.
•  International Rice Research Institute.  Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines.  228 pp.
• Shepard, B. M. , G. R. Carner, A. T. Barrion, P.A.C.Ooi and H. van den Berg.  1999.  Insects and their natural enemies associated with vegetables and soybean in Southeast Asia. Quality Printing, 108 pp. 

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Page updated 11-Jan-2008