Plant Pest Diagnostics Center - Entomology Laboratory Staff
Scientific Staff
Dr. Charles L. "Chuck" Bellamy, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Chuck's webpage)
Education: B.S., 1979, M.A., 1983, California State University, Long Beach; D.Sc., 1987, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Experience: Assistant Vector Ecologist, Orange County Vector Control District, 1980-1981; Museum Technician, U.S. National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 1989-1991; Associate Curator, Coleoptera Department, Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, South Africa, 1994-1998; Senior Curator, Coleoptera Department, Transvaal Museum, 1998-2000; Collection Manager, Entomology, Natural History Museum, Los Angeles, 2000-2001; Associate Insect Biosystematist California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2001-2004; Senior Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004-2006, 2007-present; Senior Insect Biosystematist (Supervisor), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2006-2007.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Coleoptera (Buprestoidea).
Dr. Andy Cline, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Supervisor) (Andy's webpage)
Education: B.S., 1996, University of Alabama, Huntsville; M.S., 2000, University of Missouri, Columbia; Ph.D., 2005, Lousiana State University, Baton Rouge.
Experience: Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2005-2007; Senior Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2007; Senior Insect Biosystematist (Supervisor), California Department of Food and Agriculture (2007-present).
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Coleoptera (Cucujoidea).
Dr. Marc E. Epstein, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Marc's webpage)
Education: B.S., 1977, Colorado State University, Fort Collins; M.S., 1982, University of Minnesota, St. Paul; Ph.D., 1988, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
Experience: Museum Specialist, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 1992-2003; Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2003-2006; Senior Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2006-present.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Lepidoptera.
Dr. Stephen D. Gaimari, Program Supervisor (Steve's webpage)
Education: B.A., 1990, Clark University, Worcester, Massachussetts; M.S., 1993, Washington State University, Pullman; Ph.D., 1998, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Experience: Postdoctoral Fellow, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 1998-2000; Research Entomologist, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 2000-2001; Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2001-2004; Senior Insect Biosystematist (Specialist), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004; Senior Insect Biosystematist (Supervisor), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004-2006; Program Supervisor, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2006-present.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Diptera (Lauxanioidea, Opomyzoidea, Tephritoidea, Asiloidea), Mecoptera, Phthiraptera, Siphonaptera.
Dr. Rosser W. Garrison, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Rosser's webpage)
Education: B.S., 1971, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff; M.S., 1974, University of California, Berkeley; Ph.D., 1979, University of California, Berkeley.
Experience: Terrestrial Invertebrate Ecologist, University of Puerto Rico, 1981-1982; Senior Biologist/Entomologist, Los Angeles County Agriculture Commissioner's Office, 1984-2004; Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004-2007; Senior Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2007-present.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Miscellaneous small orders of insects (Orthoptera, Dermaptera, Hemiptera, etc.); miscellaneous arthropods other than Arachnida; Mollusca; miscellaneous vertebrates and invertebrates.
Dr. Martin Hauser, Associate Insect Biosystematist (Martin's webpage)
Education: B.S., 1993, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany; M.S., 2002, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Ph.D., 2005, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Experience: CDFA/UC Davis Postdoctoral Fellow, 2005-2007; Lecturer, University of South Carolina, Columbia, 2007-2008; Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2008-present
Area of Specialty: Diptera (Stratiomyidae, Tephritidae, Therevidae), molecular systematics.
Dr. Peter H. Kerr, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Peter's webpage)
Education: B.S., 1993, University of California, Santa Cruz; Ph.D., 2004, University of Maryland.
Experience: CDFA/UC Davis Postdoctoral Fellow, 2003-2004; Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004-2007; Senior Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2007-present.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Arachnida (especially Acari), Diptera (Mycetophilidae, Rhagionidae, Tephritidae), molecular diagnostics.
Dr. Alessandra Rung, Associate Insect Biosystematist (Alessandra's webpage)
Education: B.S., 1990, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; M.S., 1993, Universidade Estadual de São Paulo; Ph.D., 2003, University of Maryland, College Park.
Experience: Research Associate, University of Maryland, College Park, 2003-2007; Adjunct Faculty, Prince George's County Community College, Largo, Maryland, 2006; Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2007-present.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Auchenorrhyncha, Sternorrhyncha, Diptera (Opomyzoidea, Tephritoidea).
Dr. John Sorensen, Senior Insect Biosystematist (John's webpage)
Education: B.S., 1970, University of Minnesota, St. Paul; M.S., 1972, University of Northern Iowa; Ph.D., 1983, University of California, Berkeley.
Experience: Associate Insect Biosystematist, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Specialist), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1982-present.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Sternorrhyncha (Aphidoidea), Hymenoptera (Formicidae).
Dr. Gillian W. Watson, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Gillian's webpage)
Education: B.Sc., 1976, University of Reading; Post-grad Diploma, 1982, Imperial College; Ph.D., 1982, University of London.
Experience: Taxonomic Researcher and Pest Identifier, CAB International Institute of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, London, 1986-2000; Research Entomologist, The Natural History Museum, London, 2001-2003; Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004-2007; Senior Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2007-present.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Sternorrhyncha (exclusive of Aphidoidea and Psylloidea), Thysanoptera
Supervisors
Dr. Andy Cline, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Supervisor) (Andy's webpage)
Education: B.S., 1996, University of Alabama, Huntsville; M.S., 2000, University of Missouri, Columbia; Ph.D., 2005, Lousiana State University, Baton Rouge.
Experience: Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2005-2007; Senior Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2007; Senior Insect Biosystematist (Supervisor), 2007-present..
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Coleoptera (Cucujoidea).
Dr. Stephen D. Gaimari, Program Supervisor (Steve's webpage)
Education: B.A., 1990, Clark University, Worcester, Massachussetts; M.S., 1993, Washington State University, Pullman; Ph.D., 1998, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Experience: Postdoctoral Fellow, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 1998-2000; Research Entomologist, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 2000-2001; Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2001-2004; Senior Insect Biosystematist (Specialist), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004; Senior Insect Biosystematist (Supervisor), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004-2006; Program Supervisor, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2006-present.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Diptera (Lauxanioidea, Odiniidae, Tephritoidea, Asiloidea), Mecoptera, Phthiraptera, Siphonaptera.
Technical Staff
Donna Imes, Agricultural Biological Technician
Scott Kinnee, Senior Agricultural Biological Technician
Jackie Kishmirian, Agricultural Biological Technician
Thomas Manos, Senior Laboratory Assistant
Megan O'Donnell, Agricultural Biological Technician
Seasonal Technical Staff
Matthew Beyers, Scientific Aide
Robert Copsey, Scientific Aide
Clarisa Deverel, Scientific Aide
Rachel Guzzetta, Scientific Aide
Alisa Hossay, Agricultural Aide
Dominique Orozco, Scientific Aide
Former Scientific Staff
Dr. Fred Andrews, Senior Insect Biosystematist, Retired
Education: Ph.D., 1970, University of California, Riverside.
Experience: Associate Insect Biosystematist, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Specialist), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1969-2003; Retired, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2003.
Area of Specialty: Coleoptera (Lathridiidae, Chrysomelidae, Tenebrionidae).
Dr. Matthew Buffington, Former Postdoctoral Scientist
Education: B.S., 1996, University of California, Riverside; M.S., 2000, Texas A&M University, College Station; Ph.D., 2005, University of California, Riverside.
Experience: Postdoctoral Scientist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2005-2006; Research Entomologist, USDA-ARS-Systematic Entomology Lab, Washington, DC, 2006-present.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Hymenoptera (parasitoids).
Dr. Thomas Eichlin, Senior Insect Biosystematist, Retired
Education: Ph.D., Auburn University.
Experience: Associate Insect Biosystematist, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Specialist), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1973-2003; Retired Annuitent, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2003-2004. Retired, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004.
Area of Specialty: Lepidoptera (Sesiidae).
Dr. Eric Fisher, Senior Insect Biosystematist, Retired (Eric's webpage)
Education: B.S., M.A., California State University Long Beach; Ph.D., 1986, University of California, Riverside.
Experience: Associate Insect Biosystematist, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Specialist), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1982-present.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Diptera (Asilidae, Tephritoidea).
Raymond J. Gill, Senior Insect Biosystematist, Retired
Education: B.S., 1964, University of California, Davis; M.S., 1970, University of California, Riverside.
Experience: General Taxonomic and Economic Entomologist, Riverside County California Agricultural Commissioner's Office, 1964-1971; Associate Insect Biosystematist, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Specialist), Senior Insect Biosystematist (Supervisor), Laboratory Program Supervisor, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1971-2004; Retired, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004.
Area of Specialty: Sternorrhyncha (Coccoidea), Auchenorrhyncha, Thysanoptera.
Dr. Alan Hardy, Senior Insect Biosystematist, Retired
Education: B.S., 1964, M.A., 1966, Long Beach State College; Ph.D., 1971, University of.California, Riverside.
Experience: Associate Insect Biosystematist, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Lead Specialist), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1972-2004. Retired, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004.
Area of Specialty: Miscellaneous small orders of insects (Orthoptera, Dermaptera, Hemiptera, etc.); Coleoptera; miscellaneous arthropods other than mites; Mollusca; miscellaneous vertebrates and invertebrates.
Dr. Lynn S. Kimsey, Former Visiting Scientist (UC Davis, Sabbatical)
Education: Ph.D., University of California, Davis.
Experience: Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University; Professor of Entomology, Director of the Bohart Museum, Director of the Center for Biosystematics, University of California, Davis; Visiting Scientist (Sabbatical), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2007-2008; Head, Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, 2008-present.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Hymenoptera.
Terry N. Seeno, Senior Insect Biosystematist, Retired
Education: B.S., California State University, San Jose
Experience: Associate Insect Biosystematist, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Supervisor), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1967-2004; Retired, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004.
Area of Specialty: Coleoptera.
Dr. Jeffrey Skevington, former Senior Insect Biosystematist
Education: M.S., University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Ph.D., University of Queensland.
Experience: Canadian National Collection of Insects, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 2004-present.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Auchenorrhyncha (including GWSS), Diptera (Therevidae, Pipunculidae, Syrphidae).
Dr. Ronald E. Somerby, Senior Insect Biosystematist, Retired
Education: M.S., 1966, California State University, Long Beach; Ph.D., 1972, University of California, Riverside.
Experience: General Taxonomic and Economic Entomologist, Riverside County California Agricultural Commissioner's Office, 1971-1972; Associate Insect Biosystematist, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Specialist), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1972-2004; Retired, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004.
Area of Specialty: Coleoptera (Tenebrionidae, tribe Eleodini).
Dr. Shaun L. Winterton, former Senior Insect Biosystematist
Education: B.A.S., 1992, University of Southern Queensland; Post-grad Diploma, 1997, University of Queensland; Advanced Diploma, 1999, Central Queensland University; Ph.D., 2000, University of Queensland
Experience: Research Associate, Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, 2002-2003; Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2003-2006; Senior Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2006-2007; Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane, Australia, 2007-present..
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Auchenorrhyncha (including GWSS), Sternorrhyncha (Psylloidea), Neuroptera, Diptera (Therevidae, Scenopinidae, Acroceridae).