Entomology Group
Entomology Group
Department of Crop Protection
The Entomology
Group studies harmful and beneficial insects, mites, and to a small extend nematodes
in agricultural and horticultural crops. The research focuses on sustainable agriculture,
horticulture, and glasshouse crops. Special emphasis is placed on biological control,
management strategies, monitoring, and dynamic pest damage thresholds. Extension and
education in honey bee diseases as well as administration of the national control of honey
bee diseases also belongs to the group’s responsibilities.
The research program for agricultural and horticultural entomology aims to contribute to the knowledge base necessary for developing growing procedures and control methods that will reduce the damaging effect of economically important pests and at the same time reduce the use of pesticides. The research includes studies on basic biological parameters of pests and beneficials, on host plant resistance as a means to manipulate pest populations, and on the biochemical mechanisms that cause insecticide resistance. The basic research is utilised to develop models that describe the dynamics of pest populations and define dynamic action thresholds for economically important pests. That information will constitute elements in cropping guidelines developed in co-operation with other research groups.
For a number
of years, research on the use of beneficial organisms for biological control of
pests has been a focus area. The research is aimed primarily at glasshouse pests but
recently research on the use of biological aphid control in cereal crops has been
initiated. This research aims at both conserving of polyphagous natural enemies and the
augmentation of specific aphidophages. The research on biological control in glasshouse
crops current focuses on possible positive and negative interactions among the range of
beneficial organisms that are currently applied against pests of ornamental
crops.
A resent focus area is environmental risk assessment of genetically modified crop plants. Here we are developing test protocols that will enable decision makers in the approval procedure of GM-plants. The test protocols focus on effects on the third trophic level (parasitoids and predators of herbivore) and on pollinators.
The research program on bees
aims a maintaining healthy honey bee populations in Denmark to ensure optimal pollination
of flowering crops. Honey bees are by far the most important pollinators of both
cultivated and wild flora. In addition, research on the effect of bumble bee
pollination and possible utilisation of bumble bees for pollination of special crops is
conducted. Research on honey bees is focused on diagnosis, effects, prevention, and
control of diseases. Research and extension regarding control of honey bee diseases are
based on pesticide free strategies. Visit our Danish honey bee disease site Bi@vls-Info. Beside research,
administration of the national statutory control of honey bee diseases is handled in
co-operation with the Plant Protection Service and administration of registration of
pesticides with regard to toxicity to bees is handled in co-operation with National
Environmental Board.
The present staff of the Entomology group include
8 scientists, 6 technicians, 2 M.Sc. students, and 50 bee disease inspectors
paid by the hour.
The Entomology Group offers facilities for Master Students. Students interested
in making an experimental study within the research profile of Entomology Group are encouraged to visit our project database.
The Entomology Group is located at Research Centre Flakkebjerg on the island
Zealand in Denmark. Visit our facilities on this virtual tour.
Publications from 1997 to 2001. Search among
the publications from 1994 to date from the Entomology group (incomplete!).
The research group has produced a video on biological control of pests in glasshouses. The target audiences are growers and students in agricultural schools and entomology classes in universities and high schools. The video is available with a Danish or Swedish sound track and can be purchased at a prize of DKK 280.00 at Research Centre Flakkebjerg.
Project Group Apiculture (Danish)
06.02.03 by HFB
