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Justin George

Research Entomologist

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Contact Information

USDA-ARS
Southern Insect Management Research Unit
141 Experiment Station Road
P.O. Box 346
Stoneville, MS 38776
Ph: (662) 686-5278
Fax: (662) 686-5421

Work Experience

  • January 2021 to present: Research Entomologist, Southern Insect Management Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Stoneville, MS.
  • August 2017 to Dec 2020: Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL.
  • August 2013 to August 2017: Entomologist, US Horticultural Research Lab, Ft Pierce, FL.
  • August 2012 to July 2013: Postdoctoral Researcher, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA.
  • August 2008 to August 2012: Ph.D. Entomology, Graduate Research Assistant, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA.
  • May 2005 to August 2007: M.S Entomology, Graduate Research Assistant, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.

Participation in Scientific Meetings

  • Entomological Society of America (2005 to present): Attended 9 meetings and made 9 presentations.
  • Entomological Society of America-South Eastern branch (2013 to present): Attended 5 meetings and made 5 presentations.
  • Florida Entomological Society (2013 to 2020): Attended 4 meetings and made 5 presentations.
  • Attended 3 conferences of International Research Conference of Huanglongbing and made 4 presentations.

 

Professional Affiliations, Honors and Awards

  • Entomological Society of America
  • Florida Entomological Society
  • Pi Chi Omega, Sigma Xi honor Society, Gamma Sigma Delta
  • Topic editor, Insects Journal, 2019-present
  • Co-chair, ESA-SEB Student awards committee (2020-2021)
  • Annual Achievement Award for Research, Florida Entomological Society, 2019.
  • Henry and Sylvia Richardson Grant (Early Career Professional Award), Entomological Society of America, 2017.
  • Harold K Schilling Dean’s Graduate Scholarship, Graduate School, Pennsylvania State University, 2012.
  • Pi Chi Omega Scholarship, National Pest Management Association, 2010.
  • Katherine Mabis McKenna Graduate Fellowship, Pennsylvania State University, 2008.
  • Provost Fellowship, Graduate school, North Carolina State University, 2007.

Research Interests and Technical Responsibilities

Research interests: Integrated pest management, insect chemical ecology (EAG, GC-EAD, Single-sensillum recordings), semiochemical based insect traps, visual cues, insect neurophysiology, host-vector-pathogen interactions, hemipteran feeding behaviors and pathogen transmission (Electrical Penetration Graph), cultural management practices, plant resistance mechanisms, mosquito olfaction and flight behaviors, fungal entomopathogens, biocontrol using parasitoids and predators, tri-trophic interactions.

 

Dr. George is currently doing research on the biology, behavior, chemical ecology, plant-insect interactions, and biological control of various insect pests in cotton, corn and soybean in order to develop integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. Current research focuses on developing semiochemical based trapping methods for sustainable management of plant bugs and other lepidopteran pests in cotton, soybean and corn. Pheromone/attractants that are identified using chemical (SPME, GC, GC-MS), behavioral (Y-tube olfactometer assays) and electrophysiological (EAG, GC-EAD) techniques will be used to develop semiochemical-based trapping methods for efficient monitoring and management of plant bugs and other lepidopteran pests. Understanding the feeding behaviors of tarnished plant bugs (TPB) and other pentatomids in row crops and on other wild hosts using Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG) recordings will contribute to the development of trap cropping and other cultural management strategies. .

 

Peer Reviewed Publications

  1. George J, Lapointe SL, Markle LT, Patt JM, Allan SA, Setamou M, Rivera MJ, Qureshi JA, Stelinski LL. 2020. A Multimodal Attract-and-Kill Device for the Asian Citrus Psyllid Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae). Insects 11(12): 870. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11120870
  2. Ammar E-D, George J, Sturgeon K, Stelinski LL, Shatters BG. 2020. Asian citrus psyllid adults inoculate huanglongbing bacterium more efficiently than nymphs when this bacterium is acquired by early instar nymphs. Sci. Rep. 10, 18244. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-75249-5
  3. Allan SA, George J, Stelinski LL, Lapointe SL. 2020. Attributes of yellow traps affecting attraction of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) Insects 11(7): 452. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11070452
  4. George J, Paris T, Allen SA, Stelinski LL and Lapointe SL. 2020. UV reflective properties of magnesium oxide increases the attraction and probing behavior of Asian citrus psyllids. Sci. Rep. 10: 1890; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-58593-4
  5. George J, Kanissery R, Ammar E-D, Cabral I, Markle LT, Patt JM, Stelinski LL. 2020. Feeding behavior of Asian citrus psyllid [Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae)] nymphs and adults on common weeds occurring in cultivated citrus described using electrical penetration graph recordings. Insects. 11, 48. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11010048
  6. George J*, Shareef S, Lapointe SL. 2019. Biology, chemical ecology and sexual dimorphism of the weevil Myllocerus undecimputulatus undatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Fla. Entomol. 102: 3. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.102.0305
  7. George J*, Shi Q, Stelinski LL, Stover E and Lapointe SL. 2019. Formic acid induced release of citrus volatiles influence the host selection, oviposition and feeding behavior of Diaphorina citri. Front. Ecol. Evol. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00078
  8. Shi Q, George J, Stelinski LL, Stover E and Lapointe SL. 2019. Hexaacetyl-chitohexaose, a chitin derived oligosaccharide transiently activates citrus defenses and alter the feeding behavior of Asian citrus psyllid. Hort. Res. 6: 76, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-019-0158
  9. George J, Ammar E-D, Hall DG, Lapointe SL. 2018. Prolonged phloem feeding activities by Diaphorina citri nymphs may explain their greater acquisition of citrus greening pathogen. Sci. rep. 8:10352, https://doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-28442-6
  10. George J and Lapointe SL. 2018. Host plant resistance associated with Poncirus trifoliata influences the oviposition, larval development and adult emergence of Asian citrus psyllids, Diaphorina citri. Pest Manag. Sci., https://doi: 10.1002/ps.5113
  11. George J, Ammar E-D, Hall DG, Lapointe SL. 2017. Sclerenchymatous ring as a barrier to phloem feeding by Asian citrus psyllid: Evidence from electrical penetration graph and visualization of stylet pathways. PLoS One 12(3), https://doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173520
  12. Martini X, Hughes MA, Killiny N, George J, Lapointe SL, Smith JA, Stelinski LL. 2017.
    The Fungus Raffaelea lauricola modifies behavior of its symbiont and vector, the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus Glabratus), by altering host plant volatile production.  J. Chem. Ecol. 43(5): 519-531. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-017-0843-y
  13. Lapointe SL, George J and Hall DG. 2016. A phagostimulant blend for the Asian citrus psyllid. J. Chem. Ecol. 42(9): 941-951. https://doi 10.1007/s10886-016-0745-4
  14. Willett DS, George* J, Willett NS, Stelinski LL, Lapointe SL. 2016. Machine learning for characterization of insect vector feeding. PLoS Comp. Biol. 12(11): e1005158. https://doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005158 (*Co-first author).
  15. George J, Robbins PS, Alessandro RT, Stelinski LL, Lapointe SL. 2016. Formic and acetic acids in degradation products of plant volatiles elicit olfactory and behavioral responses from an insect vector. Chem. Senses 41(4). https://doi:10.1093/chemse/bjw005
  16. Hall, DG, George J, Lapointe SL. 2015. Further investigations on colonization of
    Poncirus trifoliata by the Asian citrus psyllid Crop Prot. 72:112-118. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2015.03.010
  17. George J, Morse W, Lapointe SL. 2015. Morphological and sexually dimorphic characteristics of Srilankan weevil, Myllocerus undecimpustulatus undatus Marshall (Coleoptera:  Curculionidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 1–8; https://doi: 10.1093/aesa.
  18. George J, Blanford S, Thomas MB and Baker TC. 2014. Malaria mosquitoes host-locate and feed upon caterpillars. PLoS One 9(11): e108894. https://doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0108894
  19. Cator LJ, George* J, Baker TC and Thomas MB. 2013. Manipulation without the parasite: altered feeding behavior of mosquitoes is not dependent on infection with malaria parasites. Proc. Royal Soc. B. 20130711. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.0711
  20. (*Co-first author).
    George J, Jenkins NK, Blanford S, Thomas MB and Baker TC. 2013. Malaria mosquitoes attracted by fatal fungus. PLoS One 8(5) e62632. https://doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0062632
  21. George J, Blanford S, Domingue MJ, Thomas MB, Read AF and Baker TC. 2011. Reduction in host-finding behavior in fungus-infected mosquitoes is correlated with reduction in olfactory receptor neuron responsiveness. Malaria J 10:219. http://www.malariajournal.com/content/10/1/219
  22. George J and Potter DA. 2008. Potential of Azadirachtin for managing Black Cutworms and Japanese beetle Grubs in Turf. Acta Hort. 783, ISHS. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2008.783.51
  23. George J, Redmond CT, Royalty NR and Potter DA. 2007. Residual effects of Imidacloprid on Japanese beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) oviposition, egg hatch, and larval viability in turfgrass. J. Econ. Entomol. 100(2): 431-439. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/100.2.431

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