Kaspi Roee Ph.D.
Department Head
- Institute of Plant Protection
- Entomology and Units for Nematology and Chemistry
- Department of Entomology, Building 61, Room 17
- +972-506333403
- +972-3-968-3517
Education
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1993-1996
B.Sc. (Magna cum Laude) in Plant Protection, at the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
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1996-2000
Ph.D. in Entomology, at the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Title of thesis:''Lek behavior of Mediterranean fruit flies Ceratitis capitate: factors determining male location and copulatory success'' Supervision by: Professor Boaz Yuval
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2000-2003
Postdoctoral position at the Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis (UCD), with Professor Michael P. Parrella Research subject: Conceived and optimized the use of sterile leafminer Liriomyza trifolii for the suppression of the pest population in ornamental greenhouses, and developing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach that combines the augmentative release of Diglyphus isaea and sterile flies
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2003-2006
Project Scientist position at the Department of Entomology UCD, with Professor Michael P. Parrella Research subject: Covered broad topics in environmental horticulture and pest management, including the control of Liriomyza leafminers on chrysanthemum, gerbera, greenhouse tomatoes, and other crops.
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2006-2008
Researcher at the Section of Plant Biology, College of Biological Sciences, UCD, with Professor Katayoon Dehesh Research subject: Examined the influence of different amounts of plant volatiles and plant secondary metabolites within Arabidopsis plants on insect-herbivores, parasitoids, and plant parasitic nematodes.
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2008-2009
Researcher (Staff Research Associate) in the group of Professor Ed E. Lewis & Harry K. Kaya, Department of Nematology, UCD. Evaluating entomopathogenic nematodes as tools for the control of citrus root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus, in California citrus soil. Determining the persistence and efficacy of entomopathogenic nematode species in California citrus groves. Investigating plant parasite nematode – plant interactions.
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2009-2010
Associate researcher in the group of Professor Sharoni Shafir, Department of Entomology, The B. Triwaks Bee Research Center, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Research subject: Associative olfactory learning of the red dwarf honey bee, Apis florea.
Research Interests
Our lab specializes in research on biological and integrated control of agricultural pests, as well as the ecology of pests and their natural enemies.
The main projects in the lab include:
Classical biological control of the false codling moth.
Classical and integrated biological control of the spotted-wing drosophila.
Integrated control of harmful thrips in avocado and pepper crops.
Impact of climate change on predator-prey relationships, with a focus on aphids in pepper crops.
Sensitivity of natural enemies, such as parasitic wasps and predatory ladybugs, to pesticides.
Biological control of invasive armored scales in mango orchards.
Study of camouflage behavior in mealybugs.
Biological control of the Asian citrus psyllid.
Research Areas
- Biological and integrated pest management
- Ecology of pest insects and their natural enemies
- Resistance of natural enemies to pesticides
- Predator-prey and parasite-host relationships
- Multi-trophic interactions
- Effects of climate change on natural enemy-pest interactions