Research Entomologist
Contact Information
Horticultural Insects Research Lab
Application Technology Research Unit
USDA-ARS
1680 Madison Ave
Wooster, OH 44691
Phone: (330) 464-0311
Fax: (330) 263-3696
Education
Ph.D. in Entomology. 2004. University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.
M.S. in Entomology. 1999. The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.
B.S. in Entomology. 1997. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
Professional and Academic Appointments
1/2007-Present
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH
8/2006-Present
Research Entomologist
USDA-ARS, Horticultural Insects Laboratory, Application Technology Research Unit, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH
6/2004-8/2006
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension, 125A Lake Oswego Rd., Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Chatsworth, NJ
Research
The core of my research program uses principles of chemical ecology to develop sustainable strategies for managing horticultural insect pests. My current program mainly focuses on improving our understanding of the host-selection behavior of ambrosia beetles within ornamental nurseries. I am especially interested in the mechanisms by which abiotic and biotic stressors predispose ornamental nursery trees to attack by ambrosia beetles. Such information is being used to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in ambrosia beetle biology and behavior, thereby helping to improve monitoring and management programs. Additional projects focus on characterizing and developing botanically-based alternatives to conventional insecticides for key horticultural insect pests. Instruments and techniques associated with my laboratory include: solid phase microextraction-gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (SPME-GC-MS), thermal desorption system-gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (TDS-GC-MS), gas chromatograph-electroantennographic detector (GC-EAD), electroantennogram (EAG), z-Nose portable gas chromatograph, and a high performance liquid chromatograph-photodiode array detector-mass spectrometer (HPLC-PDA-MS/MS).
Book Chapters
Backus, E. A., M. Serrano and C. M. Ranger. 2005. Mechanisms of hopperburn: an overview of insect taxonomy, behavior, and physiology. Annual Review of Entomology. 50: 125-151.
Refereed Journal Articles
Ranger, C. M., P. C. Tobin, M. E. Reding, A. M. Bray, J. B. Oliver, P. B. Schultz, S. D. Frank, and A. B. Persad. 2013. Interruption of the semiochemical-based attraction of ambrosia beetles to ethanol-baited traps and ethanol-injected trap trees by verbenone. Environmental Entomology. In press.
Oliver, J. B., C. M. Ranger, M. E. Reding, J. J. Moyseenko, N. N. Youssef, and A. M. Bray. 2013. Pre-harvest quarantine treatments of chlorantraniliprole, clothianidin, and other imidacloprid-based insecticides for larval Japanese beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) control in field-grown nursery trees. Journal of Economic Entomology. In press.
Ranger, C. M., M. E. Reding, J. B. Oliver, J. J. Moyseenko, N. Youssef, and C. R. Krause. 2013. Acute toxicity of plant essential oils to scarab larvae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and their analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Journal of Economic Entomology. 106: 159-167.
Reding, M. E., J. B. Oliver, P. B. Schultz, C. M. Ranger, and N. N. Youssef. 2013. Ethanol injection of ornamental trees facilitates testing insecticide efficacy against ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 106: 289-298.
Persad, A., J. Siefer, S. Kirby, R. Montan, O. J. Rocha, M. E. Reding, and C. M. Ranger. 2013. Effect of emerald ash borer on structure and material properties of ash trees. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry. 39: 11-16.
Ranger, C. M., M. E. Reding, P. B. Schultz, and J. B. Oliver. 2012. Influence of flood-stress on ambrosia beetle host-selection and implications for their management in a changing climate. Agricultural and Forest Entomology. 15: 56-64.
Ranger, C. M., M. E. Reding, P. B. Schultz, and J. B. Oliver. 2012. Ambrosia beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) responses to volatile emissions associated with ethanol-injected Magnolia virginiana L. Environmental Entomology. 41: 636-647.
Derksen, R. C., L. A. Canas, C. M. Ranger, M. E. Reding, and H. E. Ozkan. 2012. Implications for pesticide delivery and insecticide selection using chemical analysis of plant tissue and efficacy. International Advances in Pesticide Application-Aspects of Applied Biology. 114: 279-286.
Reding, M. E., P. B. Schultz, C. M. Ranger, and J. B. Oliver. 2011. Optimizing ethanol-baited traps for monitoring damaging ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) in ornamental nurseries. Journal of Economic Entomology. 104: 2017-2024.
Ranger, C. M., M. E. Reding, J. B. Oliver, P. B. Schultz, J. J. Moyseenko, and N. Youssef. 2011. Comparative efficacy of plant-derived essential oils for managing ambrosia beetles and their corresponding mass spectral characterization. Journal of Economic Entomology. 104: 1665-1674.
Castrillo, L., M. H. Griggs, C. M. Ranger, M. E. Reding, and J. D. Vandenberg. 2011. Virulence of commercial strains of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium brunneum (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) against adult Xylosandrus germanus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and impact on brood. Biological Control. 58: 121-126.
Ranger, C. M., R. E. K. Winter, A. P. Singh, M. E. Reding, J. M. Frantz, J. C. Locke, and C. Krause. 2011. Rare excitatory amino acid from flowers of zonal geranium responsible for paralyzing the Japanese beetle. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 108: 1217-1221.
Ranger, C. M., M. E. Reding, K. J. K. Gandhi, J. B. Oliver, P. B. Schultz, L. Ca?as, and D. A. Herms. 2011. Species dependent influence of (-)-a-pinene on attraction of ambrosia beetles to ethanol-baited traps in nursery agroecosystems. Journal of Economic Entomology. 104: 574-579.
Reding, M., and C. M. Ranger. 2011. Systemic insecticides reduce feeding, survival and fecundity of adult black vine weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on a variety of ornamental nursery crops. Journal of Economic Entomology. 104: 405-413.
Derksen, R. C., C. M. Ranger, H. Zhu, and C. Krause. 2010. Greenhouse evaluation of air-assist delivery parameters for mature poinsettias. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 26: 947-953.
Oliver, J.B., D. C. Fare, N. Youssef, S. Scholl, M. E. Reding, C. M. Ranger, J. J. Moyseenko, and M. A. Halcomb. 2010. Evaluation of a single application of neonicotinoid and multi-application contact insecticides for flatheaded borer management in field grown Acer rubrum L. cultivars. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 28: 135-149.
Derksen, R. C., C. M. Ranger, L. A. Ca?as, J. C. Locke, H. Zhu, and C. R. Krause. 2010. Evaluation of handgun and broadcast systems for spray deposition in greenhouse poinsettia canopies. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International. 53: 5-12.
Reding, M. E., J. Oliver, P. Schultz, and C. M. Ranger. 2010. Monitoring flight activity of ambrosia beetles in ornamental nurseries with ethanol-baited traps: influence of trap height on captures. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 28: 85-90.
Ranger, C. M., M. E. Reding, A. B. Persad, and D. A. Herms. 2010. Ability of stress-related volatiles to attract and induce attacks by Xylosandrus germanus and other ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae). Agricultural and Forest Entomology. 12: 177-185.
Youssef, N. N., J. B. Oliver, C. M. Ranger, M. E. Reding, J. J. Moyseenko, M. G. Klein, and R. S. Pappas. 2009. Field evaluation of essential oils for reducing attraction by the Japanese beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Journal of Economic Entomology.102: 1551-1558.
Ranger, C. M., A. P. Singh, J. M. Frantz, L. Ca?as, J. C. Locke, M. E. Reding, and N. Vorsa. 2009. Influence of silicon on resistance of Zinnia elegans to the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Environmental Entomology. 38: 129-136.
Ranger, C. M., M. E. Reding, J. B. Oliver, J. J. Moyseenko, and N. N. Youssef. 2009. Toxicity of botanical formulations to nursery-infesting white grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 102: 304-308.
Oliver, J. B., D. C Fare, N. Youssef, M. A. Halcomb, M. E. Reding, and C. M. Ranger. 2009. Evaluation of systemic insecticides for potato leafhopper control in field-grown red maple. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 27: 17-23.
Derksen, R. C., J. Frantz, C. M. Ranger, J. C. Locke, H. Zhu and C. Krause. 2007. Comparing greenhouse handgun delivery to poinsettias by spray volume and quality. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International. 51: 27-33.
Ranger, C. M., A. Singh, J. Johnson-Cicalese, S. Polavarapu, and N. Vorsa. 2007. Intraspecific variation in aphid resistance and constitutive phenolics exhibited by the wild blueberry Vaccinium darrowi. Journal of Chemical Ecology. 33: 711-729.
Ranger, C. M., J. Johnson-Cicalese, S. Polavarapu, and N. Vorsa. 2006. Evaluation of Vaccinium spp. for blueberry aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) performance and phenolic content. Journal of Economic Entomology. 99: 1474-1482.
Casteel, C. L., C. M. Ranger, E. A. Backus, M. Ellersieck, and D. W. Johnson. 2006. Influence of plant ontogeny and abiotic factors on resistance of glandular-haired alfalfa to the potato leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 99: 537-543.
Ranger, C. M., R. E. K. Winter, E. A. Backus, G. E. Rottinghaus, M. Ellersieck and D. W. Johnson. 2005. Discrimination by the potato leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) of host volatiles from resistant and susceptible alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. Environmental Entomology. 34: 271-280.
Ranger, C. M., R. E. K. Winter, G. E. Rottinghaus, E. A. Backus, and D. W. Johnson. 2005. Mass spectral characterization of fatty acid amides from alfalfa trichomes and their deterrency against the potato leafhopper. Phytochemistry. 66: 529-541.
Ranger, C. M., R. E. K. Winter, G. E. Rottinghaus, E. A. Backus, M. Ellersieck and D. W. Johnson. 2004. Bioactivity of lipophilic metabolites from glandular trichomes of Medicago sativa against the potato leafhopper. Journal of Chemical Ecology. 30: 1969-1983.
Ranger, C. M., E. A. Backus, R. E. K. Winter, G. E. Rottinghaus, M. Ellersieck and D. W. Johnson. 2004. Glandular trichome extracts from Medicago sativa deter settling by the potato leafhopper Empoasca fabae. Journal of Chemical Ecology. 30: 921-937.
Ranger, C. M. and A. A. Hower. 2002. Glandular trichomes on perennial alfalfa affect host-selection behavior of Empoasca fabae. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 105: 71-81.
Ranger, C. M. and A. A. Hower. 2001. Role of the glandular trichomes in resistance of perennial alfalfa to the potato leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 94: 951-957.
Ranger, C. M. and A. A. Hower. 2001. Glandular morphology from a perennial alfalfa clone with reference to potato leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) resistance. Crop Science. 41: 1427-1434.
