Elizabeth Grafton-Cardwell
 IPM Specialist and Research Entomologist
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1985

Phone (559) 646-6591      FAX (559) 646-6593
E-mail: bethgc@uckac.edu

Department of Entomology
University of California, Riverside

Area of Specialty:
Integrated Pest Management of citrus

Research Statement

My major research and extension goal is to help growers and pest control advisors understand and utilize Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods to manage arthropod pests of citrus and other crops in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The basic principles of IPM include the following elements: sample for pests and natural enemies, maximize the use of biological and cultural control methods, use pesticides only when pests reach economically damaging levels, use the most selective insecticides first so that natural enemy populations can help control the pest, and save the most toxic broad spectrum insecticides as a last resort.

To accomplish the goal of improving IPM I have initiated research and extension projects covering many subject areas including; 1) developing a rapid, presence-absence sampling plan for growers to detect citricola scale, 2) utilizing predatory mites to control citrus thrips and spider mites infesting nursery citrus, 3) studying pesticides to determine how effective they are in controlling the pest and whether they allow natural enemies to survive, 4) develop bioassay techniques to detect pesticide resistance in pests such as California red scale in citrus, and spider mites, aphids, and Lygus bugs in cotton, 5) use a pheromone trap to catch male citrus cutworm moths in conjunction with degree-day units to predict when larvae first appear in citrus so that microbial insecticides will be more effective, and 6) study the aphids infesting citrus and their ability to transmit citrus tristeza virus.

As of June 2006 I am also Director of Lindcove Research and Extension Center in Exeter California.  This 175 acre Center supports research projects on citrus breeding, horticulture and pest management. 

 Citrus Entomology web site

Selected Publications

Rill, S., M., E. E. Grafton-Cardwell, and J. G. Morse.  2007.  Effects of pyriproxyfen on California red scale (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) development and reproduction.  J. Econ. Entomol. 100:1435-1443.

Grafton-Cardwell, E. E., D. A. Headrick, K. E. Godfrey, J. N. Kabashima, B. A. Faber, V. F. Lazaneo, P. A. Mauk, and J. G. Morse. 2007.  Citrus Leafminer. UC IPM Pest Note 74137.  4 pp.

Morse, J.G., Luck, R.F., and Grafton-Cardwell, E.E. 2007. The evolution of biologically-based integrated pest management in California citrus: history and perspective. UC Plant Protection Quarterly 16(4)/17(1):1-11. http://www.uckac.edu/ppq/PDF/oct2006v16_04_--jan2007v17_01_.pdf

Grafton-Cardwell, E. E., J. E. Lee, J. Stewart, and K. Olsen.  2006.  Role of two insect growth regulators in integrated pest management of citrus scales. J. Econ. Entomol. 99: 733-744.

Grafton-Cardwell, E. E., K. E. Godfrey, M. E. Rogers, C. C. Childers and P. A. Stansly.  2006.  Asian citrus psyllid.  University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication 8205.  Oakland, CA. 8 pp.  http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8205.pdf

Grafton-Cardwell, B.  2006.  The Positive Points System for Citrus: what is it and why should a grower get involved?  Topics in Subtropics 4(3): 2-5. 

Grafton-Cardwell, E. E., Gu, P., and G. Montez.  2005.  Effects of Temperature on Development of Vedalia Beetle, Rodolia cardinalis (Mulsant).  Biological Control.  Submitted October 18, 2004, 20 ms pp

Grafton-Cardwell, E. E., L. D. Godfrey, W. E. Chaney, and W. J. Bentley.  2005.  Various novel insecticides are less toxic to humans, more specific to key pests.  Calif. Agri.  Cal Ag 59 (1): 29-34. 

Grafton-Cardwell, E. E., Y. Ouyang, R. A. Striggow, J. A. Christiansen, and C. S. Black.  2004.  The role of esterase enzymes in monitoring for resistance of California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) (Homoptera: Diaspididae) to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides.  J. Econ. Entomol. 97(2):606-613.

 Grafton-Cardwell, E. E., N. V. O’Connell, C. E. Kallsen, and J. G. Morse.  2003.  A Photographic guide to citrus fruit scarring.   DANR publication 8090.  http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8090.pdf 

Grafton-Cardwell, E. E., and P. Gu. 2003.  Conserving vedalia beetle, Rodolia cardinalis (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), in citrus: a continuing challenge as new insecticides gain registration.  J. Entomol. Entomol. 96: 1388-1398.