Gerald Michels

Title: Professor of Entomology

Education:

• B.S. Wildlife Management and Conservation, University of Wyoming, 1975
• M.S. Entomology, University of Wyoming, 1977
• Ph.D. Entomology, University of Wyoming, 1980

Research Emphasis:
To conduct basic and applied research dealing with insect and mite pests of field crops in the Texas Panhandle, and biological control of weeds.

Research Activity:
Research is broken down into: 1) predator/prey ecology involving coccinellids and aphids, other aphid biological control aspects, 2) applied and theoretical biological control of insects and weeds, 3) insect/host-plant interactions, 4) varietal resistance, and 5) the development precision agriculture techniques in relation to insect pest control.

Specific Objectives stated in H-8622, Integrated Management Strategies for Agricultural Pests in the Texas High Plains are:

1. Continue previous research on the ecology and biology of small grain aphids and their natural enemies on wheat and sorghum, including long-term population sampling.
2. Develop an active biological control of weeds program in the Texas High Plains.
3. Conduct research on the application aspects of precision agriculture to pest management, primarily in the area of remote sensing of insects and/or insect damage to crops.
4. Address new pest problems as they arise.

All research is carried out under the designs of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Strategic Research Plan and the mission of the Amarillo Research and Extension Center. Cooperation is actively sought with other entomologists, other researchers, extension, and industry personnel.

Selected Publications:

G. J. Michels, Lazar, M. D., and D. A. Fritts. 1997. Reproductive and developmental rates of two greenbug biotypes in relation to two wheat host resistance genes through multiple generations. Southwest. Entomol. 22:431-437.

Michels, G. J., Jr., G. Piccinni, C. M. Rush, and D. A. Fritts. 1999. Using infrared transducers to sense greenbug (Homoptera: Aphididae) infestations in wheat. Southwest. Entomol. 24: 269-279.

Phoofolo, M. W, J. J. Obrycki, and G. J. Michels, Jr. 1999. Beneficial organisms: Lady beetles. pg. 131-133. In Steffey, K. L. et al. Handbook of Corn Insects. Entomol. Soc. Amer. Handbook Series

Fritts, D. A., G. J. Michels, Jr., and M. D. Lazar. 2000. Greenbug dispersal and colonization on a resistant winter wheat genotype: antixenosis, antibiosis or both? Southwest. Entomol. 25: 113-121.

Michels, G. J., Jr., N. C. Elliott, R. A. Romero, D. A. Owings, and J. B. Bible. 2001. Impact of indigenous coccinellids on Russian wheat aphids and greenbugs (Homoptera: Aphididae) infesting winter wheat in the Texas Panhandle. Southwest. Entomol. 26: 97-114.

Pollock, D. A., and G. J. Michels, Jr. 2002. Distribution of Stethorus nigripes Kapur (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a predator of Banks grass mite [Oligonychus pratensis (Banks)] in the southern United States. Southwest. Entomol. 27: 217-220.

Michels, G. J., Jr., C. M. Rush, G. Piccinni, D. A. Owings, and D. Jones. 2002. Effect of irrigation regimes and plant populations on greenbug (Homoptera: Aphididae) abundance on grain sorghum. Southwest. Entomol. 27: 135-147.

Elliott, N. C., R. W. Kieckhefer, G. J. Michels, Jr., and K. L. Giles. 2002. Predator abundance in alfalfa fields in relation to aphids, within-field vegetation, and landscape matrix. Environ. Entomol. 31: 253-260.