Kaushalya Amarasekare

Dr. Kaushalya Amarasekare Postdoctoral Research Associate in Entomology Ph.D., 2007, University of Florida, Gainesville,FL Phone: 541 386 2030 ext 217 Send e-mail to Kaushalya Amarasekare

Research Area:

Integrated pest management (IPM), biological control of arthropod pests, pesticides efficacy and their effect on natural enemies, biology and life history of arthropod pests.

Description of Research:

Research activities involve studies on biological control of arthropod pests, natural enemy phenology, use of herbivore induced plant volatiles (HIPV’s) as a natural enemy monitoring method, pesticides efficacy and their sublethal effect on natural enemies, biology and life history.

 Related Publications:

Amarasekare, K. G. and P. W. Shearer. 2013.  Comparing effects of insecticides on two green lacewings species, Chrysoperla johnsoni and Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)J. Econ. Entomol. (in press).

Amarasekare, K. G. and P. W. Shearer. 2013. Laboratory bioassays to estimate the lethal and sublethal effects of various insecticides and fungicides on Deraeocoris brevis (Uhler) (Hemiptera: Miridae).  J. Econ. Entomol. (in press).

Amarasekare, K. G., C. M. Mannion and N. D. Epsky. 2012. Developmental time, longevity and lifetime fertility of three introduced parasitoids of the mealybug Paracoccus marginatus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Environmental Entomology. 41(5): 1184-1189

Amarasekare, K. G. and Mannion C.M. 2011. Life history of a new-to-science exotic soft scale insect Phalacrococcus howertoni(Hemiptera: Coccidae) found in Florida. Florida Entomologist. 94(3): 588-593

Amarasekare, K. G., C. M. Mannion and N. D. Epsky. 2010. Host instar susceptibility and selection and interspecific competition of three introduced parasitoids of the mealybug Paracoccus marginatus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Environmental Entomology. 39(5): 1506-1512

Amarasekare, K. G., C. M. Mannion and N. D. Epsky. 2009. Efficiency and establishment of the three introduced parasitoids of the mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Biol. Control. 51, 91-95

Amarasekare, K. G., J. C. Chong, N. D. Epsky, and C. M. Mannion. 2008. Effect of temperature on the life history of the mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) J. Econ. Entomol. 101(6):1798-1804

Amarasekare, K. G., C. M. Mannion, L. S. Osborne and N. D. Epsky. 2008. Life history of Paracoccus marginatus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on four host plant species under laboratory conditions. Environ. Entomol. 37(3): (630-635).

Amarasekare, K. G. and J. V. Edelson. 2004. Effect of temperature on efficacy of insecticides to differential grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae). J. Econ. Entomol. 97(5): 1595-1602.