Profile

Current research

My research centers on the biology and control of insect pests in stored products (grain, flour mills, food processing) and museum artefacts, especially on the development of biological control and other non-chemical control methods.

Projects:

• Biological control of the granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius) in grain stores; we are investigating the potential of parasitoids (Lariophagus distinguendus and Anisopteromalus calandrae) for this purpose, with special attention to the parasitoid-host population dynamics at the low temperatures prevailing in Danish grain stores.
• Biological control of the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella in flour mills. Natural enemies investigated were the egg parasitoid Trichogramma turkestanica (evanescens) The investigations have elucidated the magnitude of parasitoid induced mortality (PIM), including host feeding exerted by the natural enemies. Another promising natural enemy investigated in the project was the predatory mite Blattisocius tarsalis.
• Development of the maize weevil and a parasitoid on transgenic Bt-maize.
• Ozonation as a method to control insect pests in stored grain
• Monitoring methods, e.g. use of Near-Infrared Transmission Spectroscopy (NIT) for detection of storage mites in grain
• Detection and quantification of allergens from insect and mite pests in stored grain.
• Insect pests in museums, focussed on investigating the potential of physical methods, freezing and heat treatment, for control of dermestid pests. In a new project involving colleagues from other Nordic countries, I will investigate the consumption rate of Attagenus smirnovi in relation to temperature and on different materials.

Other professional experience

• Treasurer and member of executive committee of the International Organisation for Biological Control (IOBC) Global, 2004-present.
• Vice chair of EU COST Action 842, chair of Working Group IV (Biological control of arthropod pests in stored products), 2003-2006. Proceedings available at : http://cost842.csl.gov.uk/
• Head of organising committee for an international workshop “Implementation of biocontrol in practice in temperate regions – present and near future”, Nov. 1-3, 2005, Flakkebjerg, Denmark with 80 participants from 10 countries. Proceedings available at http://www.centre-biological-control.dk/proc2005.pdf