top of page
The Team
Matthew Berry
Research Associate
Rodrigo Diaz
Associate Professor
Fatima Nguyen
Student Worker
Matthew received his Bachelor of Science from LSU in Biological Sciences with a marine science concentration. He oversees the organization and completion of surveys and collections of Phragmites in the Mississippi River Delta and in the surrounding areas of southeast Louisiana. This is accomplished in order to better determine the health of the Phragmites as well as the abundance of roseau cane scale insects.
Rodrigo leads the research program on biological control and invasive species.
Fatima runs thermal ecology studies of Mexican rice borer (Eoreuma loftini), and assists with field and laboratory experiments.
Emily Passman
Student Worker
Emily assists with sample processing including aquatic macroinvertebrates, salvinia weevils and roseau cane scale.
Keyla Pruett
Student Worker
Keyla works with parasitoids of the roseau cane scale (Nipponaclerda biwakoensis), and assist with field and laboratory experiments.
Korey Pham
Research Associate
Korey has broad interests on conservation ecology in managed and natural systems. In partnership with the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) and LSU AgCenter, Korey is responsible for managing the giant salvinia weevil mass-rearing operation and monitoring giant salvinia infestations across Southern Louisiana.
Charlie Wahl
Research Associate
Charlie is responsible for the mass rearing of salvinia weevils in open-earthen ponds. In addition, he conducts research on the impact of giant salvinia on coastal freshwater wetlands.
Carlos Wiggins
Graduate Student
Carlos studies the insect herbivores associated with Conyza spp. (Asteraceae) in the Southeastern United States.
Lab Alumni
Leslie Aviles, MsC
Leslie studied the host range of the roseau cane scale and host plant resistance.
Leslie Aviles, MsC
Leslie studied the host range of the roseau cane scale and host plant resistance.
Leslie Aviles, MsC
Leslie studied the host range of the roseau cane scale and host plant resistance.
Leslie Aviles, MsC
Leslie studied the host range of the roseau cane scale and host plant resistance.
Salvinia weevil rearing operation in St. Gabriel, LA. Collection of plant and water quality parameters.
Rodrigo Diaz
Associate Professor
Rodrigo leads the research program on biological control and invasive species.
Fatima Nguyen
Student Worker
Fatima runs thermal ecology studies of Mexican rice borer (Eoreuma loftini), and assists with field and laboratory experiments.
Emily Passman
Student Worker
Emily assists with sample processing including aquatic macroinvertebrates, salvinia weevils and roseau cane scale.
Keyla Pruett
Student Worker
Keyla works with parasitoids of the roseau cane scale (Nipponaclerda biwakoensis), and assist with field and laboratory experiments.
Korey Pham
Research Associate
Charlie Wahl
Research Associate
Korey has broad interests on conservation ecology in managed and natural systems. In partnership with the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) and LSU AgCenter, Korey is responsible for managing the giant salvinia weevil mass-rearing operation and monitoring giant salvinia infestations across Southern Louisiana.
Carlos Wiggins
Graduate Student
Carlos studies the insect herbivores associated with Conyza spp. (Asteraceae) in the Southeastern United States.
Lab Alumni
Leslie Aviles, MsC
Leslie studied the host range of the roseau cane scale and host plant resistance.
Leslie studied the host range of the roseau cane scale and host plant resistance.
Leslie studied the host range of the roseau cane scale and host plant resistance.
Rodrigo Diaz
Associate Professor
Rodrigo leads the research program on biological control and invasive species.
Dane Shackelford
Research Associate
Dane leads the mass rearing and monitoring of salvinia weevils. Dane has a bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Ecology and Management with a concentration in conservation biology.
Logan Herbert
Research Associate
Logan is completing his Masters degree in Biology from Eastern Illinois University, where he is looking at insect community dynamics in hazelnut agroecosystems. He oversees the organization and completion of surveys and collections of Phragmites in the Mississippi River Delta and in the surrounding areas of southeast Louisiana. This is accomplished in order to better determine the health of the Phragmites as well as the abundance of roseau cane scale insects.
Josh Snook
Research Associate
Josh completed his Master’s of Science degree in Entomology at Michigan State University in 2020 where he identified the effects of heat waves on the interaction and development of potato plants, early blight, and the Colorado potato beetle. Josh will be studying the invasive Roseau cane scale and its role in the Phragmites “Roseau cane” die-off in the Mississippi River Delta.
Tanner Sparks
PhD Student
Tanner studies the parasitoids of the roseau cane scale (Nipponaclerda biwakoensis) present in Louisiana. The three species, Astymachus lasallei, Neastymachus japonicus, and Boucekiella depressa, are potential biocontrol agents of the scale. Tanner received his master’s degree from the University of Georgia in 2020 studying insecticide resistance in sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci.
Rylea Norton
Student Worker
Rylea helps with the mass rearing of salvinia weevil in the greenhouse, and monitoring of experiments related to aquatic weeds.
Morgan Carrere
Student Worker
Morgan assists with the Phragmites die-back program, specifically with field surveys of roseau cane scales, evaluation of restoration plots, and mesocosm experiments.
Victoria Ayala
Visiting Scholar
Victoria got her bachelor's degree from Zamorano University in Honduras. Victoria will be assisting with the projects on Phragmites die-back, and biological control of giant salvinia.
Brandi Misiaszek
MSc Student
Brandi got her bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from University of Rhode Island in 2022. Beginning Fall 2023, Brandi is studying the naturalized weevil Ochyromera ligsutri, a natural enemy of invasive Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) in southeastern US. She is investigating the distribution, phenology, population dynamics, host range, and more.
Karina Nolasco
Visiting Scholar
Karina got her B. S. degree at Zamorano University in Honduras and interested in coastal dynamics. Karina will be working with Phragmites die-back project, specifically assessing the genetic diversity of Phragmites populations at the Mississippi River Delta.
Victor Lee Mejia
Visiting Scholar
Victor got his B. S. in Agronomy at the National University of Agriculture in Honduras. Victor works on the salvinia weevil mass rearing operation and helps with experiments related to weevil population growth. Victor will be applying for graduate school programs in Fall 2024.
Emily Steen
Student Worker
Emily Steen is an undergraduate student majoring in Natural Resources and Ecology Management with a concentration in Wildlife Ecology. Emily joined the lab through an Honors project that aided in the identification of phenological patterns of Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense). She will be applying to both graduate school and school of veterinary medicine for Fall 2025.
Lab Alumni
Steven Woodley, PhD,
Postoctoral Associate
Ian Knight, PhD, Postoctoral Associate
Leslie Aviles, M. Sc.
Giovana Matos, M. Sc.
Balwinder Kaur, M. Sc.
Lori Moshman, M. Sc.
Zinan Wang, M. Sc.
Alana Russell, M. Sc.
Steven worked on biological control of giant salvinia, specifically, on population dynamics and the impact of salinity on the salinia weevil.
Ian managed the roseau cane scale project including field sampling, biological control, and host plant resistance projects.
Leslie studied the host range of the roseau cane scale and host plant resistance among Phragmites populations.
Giovana studied the impact of commercial entomophatogens on the crapemyrtle bark scale and associated predators.
Balwinder evaluated the establishment of parasitoids for the emerald ash borer.
Lori measured the impact of row cover fabrics and crowding as methods to increase overwintering temperatures for salvinia weevils.
Zinan studied the overwintering ecology of the crapemyrtle bark scale.
Alana compared the thermal ecology of the salvinia weevil from populations from Louisiana, Australia and Argentina.
Seth Spinner, B.S.
Matthew Berry, B. S.
Charlie Wahl, PhD
Seth studied air potato beetle distribution in LA and MS, and the biology of the fortuitous biological control agent of parrotfeather.
Matt assisted with the Phragmites die-back project. Matt was responsible for surveys of scales at the MS River Delta.
Charlie studied the impact of giant salvinia on macroinvertebrate communities in Louisiana.
Carlos Wiggins, M. Sc.
Carlos studied the diversity of insect herbivores on Conyza sp. in MS, LA and TX. This project was in cooperation with CSIRO from Australia.
Korey Pham, M. Sc.
Korey worked as Research Associate in the CWPPRA salvinia weevil program, and was a Masters Student studying methods to improve integrated management of salvinia.
Ilgoo Kang
Postdoctoral Associate
Ilgoo studied the phylogeny of the subfamily Cardiochilinae (Braconidae) which contains several parasitoid species of crop pests. In addition, Ilgoo participated in several projects on the use of molecular techniques in biological control.
bottom of page