Research Interests

My long-term research goal is to develop novel, applied solutions to reduce the detrimental effects of pest insects in both agricultural and natural systems, while simultaneously increasing basic knowledge of the theory and practice of pest management.

My current research is focused on evaluating the efficacy and safety of fruit fly parasitoids in the Hawaiian Islands.

My past research has focused on understanding the biology, behavior and ecology of parasitoids used in biological control programs. I am particularly interested in the behavioral ecology of parasitic hymenoptera and, more specifically, in understanding the proximate mechanisms by which these parasitoids locate and successfully attack their hosts. Other research projects include: the application of biological control in integrated pest management (IPM) programs, and alternative pest management strategies that optimize the role of natural enemies

Selected Publications

Wang, X.G., Messing, R.H. (In Press). Feeding and attraction of non-target flies to spinosad-based fruit fly baits. Pest Management Science.

Wang, X.G., Ekhlass, J., McGraw, B.K., Bokonon-Ganta, A.H., Messing, R.H, Johnson, M.A. (2005) Effects of spinosad-based fruit fly bait GF-120 on fruit fly and aphid parasitoids. Biological Control 35, 155-162.

Bokonon-Ganta, A.H., Ramadan, M.M., Wang, X.G., Messing, R.H. (2005) Biological performance and potentials of Fopius ceratitivorus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an egg-pupal parasitoid of tephritid fruit flies, newly imported to Hawaii. Biological Control 33, 238-247.

Wang, X.G., Keller, M.A. (2005) Patch time allocation by the parasitoid Diadegma semiclausum (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). II. Effects of host density and distribution. Journal of Insect Behavior 18, 171-186.

Wang, X.G., Messing, R.H. (2004) Fitness consequence of body size-dependent host species selection in a generalist ectoparasitoid. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 56, 513-522.

Wang, X.G., Messing, R.H. (2004) The ectoparasitic pupal parasitoid, Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Hym., Pteromalidae), attacks other primary tephritid fruit fly parasitoids: host expansion and non-target impact. Biological Control 31, 227-236.

Wang, X.G., Messing, R.H. (2004) Potential interactions among pupal and egg- or larval-pupal parasitoids of tephritid fruit fly. Environmental Entomology 33, 1313-1320.

Wang, X.G., Messing, R.H. (2004) Two different life history strategies determine the competitive outcome between Dirhinus giffardii and Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae, ectoparasitoids of cyclorrhaphous Diptera. Bulletin of Entomological Research 94, 473-480.

Wang, X.G., Bokonon-Ganta, A.H., Ramadan, M.M., Messing, R.H. (2004) Egg-larval opiine parasitoids (Hym., Braconidae) of tephritid fruit fly pests do not attack the flowerhead-feeder Trupanea dubautiae (Dip., Tephritidae). Journal of Applied Entomology 128, 716-722.

Wang, X.G., Duff, J., Keller, M.A., Zalucki, M.P., Liu, S.S., Bailey, P. (2004) Role of Diadegma semiclausum (Hym., Ichneumonidae) in controlling Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae): cage exclusion experiments and direct observation. Biocontrol Science and Technology 14, 571-586.