Dodson Urban Pest Management Laboratory

The Dodson Urban Pest Management Laboratory (DUPML) as part of the Virginia Tech Department of Entomology in Blacksburg, Virginia, is a facility dedicated to the research of urban arthropod pests in structures and the landscape. The mission of the laboratory is to conduct research and provide the most innovative pest management information to the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, Pest Management Professionals and the public. 

At this time, there are four entomologists conducting urban pest research at the UPCRL. The following is a summary of their research projects:

Dr. Dini Miller: Subterranean termite foraging behavior and the use of structural and chemical guide lines to enhance entry into bait and monitoring stations. Also, the use of German cockroach aggregation pheromone to enhance integrated pest management strategies. 

Staff

Tim McCoy, M.S.: Research technician- Responsible for conducting laboratory and field evaluations of baits for German cockroaches.  Duties also include insect colony maintenance and general upkeep of laboratory.

Tamara Sutphin: Program support technician- Facilitates School IPM and NPMA Master Technician trainings .  Maintains IPM database and school IPM website. 

Students

Marc Fisher: Ph.D. candidate- Research focuses on the biology, ecology, and evolution of subterranean termites with a focus on Rhinotermitidae.  Marc is particularily interested in their symbiotic gut flora and any role that flora may have had in the evolution of eusociality in termites.  Marc is using molecular methods such as 16S rRNA sequencing and microsatellite analysis to aid in this goal.

Charles Hannum: Masters student- Variation in Carpenter ant colony response to fipronil.

David Moore:  Masters student- Laboratory and field evaluation of bed bug control products.

Preston Brown:  Masters student- Determining seasonal fluctuations in the pest ant species complex in Puerto Rican housing developments.