Lab Mission
We provide pest management alternatives to agricultural producers and the public that address insect pests and are environmentally sustainable. Our extension outreach relies on research on ecologically based pest management methods. We are part of the UConn Integrated Pest Management Program and collaborate with other IPM researchers and extension personnel in the region.
For more information, please contact Dr. Ana Legrand at 860-486-0869 or ana.legrand@uconn.edu
Maussi Arrunategui
I am a graduate student in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture. My favorite insect is the bumble bee because this insect is very industrious and always minds its own “beezness”. I have witnessed first-hand the crop devastation that insect pests can create. IPM is a very useful and environmentally-friendly way to control pests. For my master’s project I am working on new IPM methods to protect our food crops.
Bivek Bhusal
I am interested in the use of GIS and remote sensing software in the fields of plant science and entomology. I am much interested in connecting agriculture with geo-spatial science and remote sensing. Specifically, I am working on the use of unmanned aerial systems for remote monitoring of potato leafhopper in agricultural crops.
Dr. Ana Legrand
My research interests focus on plant-insect interactions, insect behavior, and ecology of insect predators and parasitoids. My goal is to contribute to the science of biological control and my research has been on the management of insects that afflict horticultural systems of importance in Connecticut. I enjoy teaching about insects through extension efforts and the following courses: SPSS1125 Insects, Food and Culture, SPSS 3840/SAPL 840 Integrated Pest Management and SPSS 3830 Horticultural Entomology.
Danny Mitola
“I am a senior undergraduate student studying Sustainable Plant and Soil Systems and English. I am currently conducting research through the Integrated Pest Management Fellowship program, with a focus on beneficial hoverflies (family Syrphidae) and their attraction to the insectary plant Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima). In addition to my research, I am also dedicated to beekeeping, having kept honey bees for four years.”
Ryan Morais
I am a Senior undergrad environmental engineering major and EEB minor with a passion for entomology. This summer I will be working as a vegetable entomology intern through UConn’s Extension Internship Program. I work closely with Professor Legrand to develop an informational entomology website and outreach educational materials. Other than web development, I am creating informational and fun content for Bug Week, developing a social media presence for the vegetable entomology lab, as well as collecting and rearing various insects. Through this internship I am excited to continue learning about entomology and the various aspects of integrated pest management.
Kaelin Smith
I am a SustainAable Plant and Soil Systems major/IPM minor who is interested in finding sustainable alternatives to pesticide use in agriculture. Currently, I am doing an undergraduate research project on the Asiatic Garden Beetle and observing its feeding preferences on different basil cultivars.