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| E-mail: leblancl
[at] ctahr [dot] hawaii [dot] edu |
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I am originally
from Montréal, Canada. After my completing my studies in entomology
in my home country (BScAgr, McGill University, 1986, MSc, Carleton
University, 1988), I left for an adventurous and fulfilling work
career that took me to Africa (Guinea and Rwanda, 1989-1994) and
the Pacific Islands (Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji Islands,
1994-2002). It is in the Pacific that I became a full-time fruit
fly entomologist, working for the Regional
Fruit Fly Project in the Pacific. In early 2003, I joined the
University of Hawai'i CTAHR-PEPS, working as a Junior Researcher
for the Area-Wide
Fruit Fly IPM program in Hawai'i, in close association with the US
Department of Agriculture Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center.
Initially, I was in charge of the mass-rearing operation of melon
fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae) and Oriental fruit fly (B. dorsalis)
for sterile insect release in the area-wide program. In October 2004, I joined
the UH insect Systematics lab as a Junior Researcher, leading a research
project on the attraction of non-target arthropods to female attractants
(Biolure) and male lures (methyl eugenol and Cue-lure) used for monitoring
and controling fruit flies (Tephritidae). I am assessing
the risks to beneficial insects and to native Hawaiian insects
of applying fruit fly control using attractants in various ecological
situations, ranging from orchards and farmlands, to disturbed forest
and to native forest. Special emphasis is on assessing risks of attracting
Hawaiian Drosophilidae. With 491
described endemic species and probably over 900 in total in Hawai'i,
this group is very important to conservationists and basic evolutionary
research. The main achievements and findings from
the first two years of the project are summarized below.
Successful integrated
pest management emphasizes the use of environmentally less toxic
control methods for agricultural pests. However, it is possible that
some of these more desirable methods may have unanticipated non-target
impacts. This study evaluates the potential for such impacts in Hawaii's
Fruit Fly (Tephritidae) suppression efforts. Field investigations
are underway to assess the possible attraction to fruit fly attractants
along ecological gradients ranging from native, mixed and secondary
forests to agricultural farmlands and residential areas.
Traps baited
with female attractants (solulys, torula yeast, Biolure 3-component
lure) and male lures (Cue-lure and methyl eugenol) were emptied weekly
at 35 sites along three transects on Hawai'i (Big Island) and 46
sites in native forest and persimmon and coffee orchards on Mau'i,
during the 2005 and 2006 summer seasons, respectively. Trap catches
were compared to catches by unbaited control traps.
To minimize and
assess the effect of decaying flies, propylene glycol was used as
a liquid preservative in all traps, and traps baited with decaying
flies were also maintained at most sites. Non-target insects from
over 6000 samples are being processed. Male lures failed to attract
insects other than target fruit flies, except for a weak honeybee
and syrphid fly attraction and probable fungus gnat attraction to
methyl eugenol. Non-targets were abundant in traps baited with dead
fruit flies, and the same species were also observed in male lure
traps with large accumulations of dead trapped fruit flies. Protein
attractants, Biolure and decaying flies, on the other hand, attracted
large numbers of mostly Dipteran non-targets (mainly Drosophilidae,
Calliphoridae, Phoridae, Sarcophagidae, Chloropidae and Lonchaeidae).
Numerous native Drosophilids and Calliphorids were collected at traps
were in native and adjacent mixed forest, but non-native species
were attracted to traps set up in invasive forest, orchards, farmlands
and backyards. Traps did not attract beneficial predatory or parasitoid
insects, except for a weak attraction of adult syrphids to methyl
eugenol.
| 2003
to 2004 Junior
Researcher; fruit fly entomologist. University
of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human
Resources. HAWAII, USA. Area-wide fruit fly management
program in Hawaii. |
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Mass production
of melon fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae) for field control by
Sterile Insect Technique, as a component of the Area-Wide
fruit fly IPM project, implemented by the US Department of
Agriculture and the University of Hawaii. |
| 1999
to 2002 Entomologist
(Fruit Flies). Secretariat of the Pacific Community
(SPC). Suva, FIJI ISLANDS. FAO/AusAID/UNDP/SPC Project
RAS/97/331 “Regional Management of Fruit Flies in
the Pacific." |
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Coordination
of the Regional Project's involvement in Papua New Guinea,
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, French Polynesia
and New Caledonia. Regular technical backstopping country
visits to the above countries, plus Palau, Federated States
of Micronesia and Nauru. Coordination of whole project from
April 2000 to February 2001 (taken over since by a Pacific
Islander). Advisory involvement in the Nauru and French Polynesia
fruit fly eradication programs. Creation and webmastering
of Pacific Fruit Fly Website.
Publication of country status reports, technical reports
and pest advisory leaflets on fruit flies and their management
in the Pacific. Compilation of regional information database
on fruit fly distribution, host relations and economic impact
of fruit flies throughout the Pacific region. Creation of
Pacific regional fruit fly reference collection (>120
species). |
| 1997
to 1999 United Nations
Volunteer Entomologist. United Nations Development
Programme. Port Moresby, PAPUA NEW GUINEA. FAO/AusAID/UNDP/SPC
Project RAS/97/331 “Regional Management of Fruit
Flies in the Pacific." |
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Establishment
of fruit fly research laboratory in Papua New Guinea, including
building renovations. Research on fruit fly biology and control,
including trapping, host fruit surveying, damage assessments,
field control by bagging and protein bait spraying and laboratory
rearing. Establishment of quarantine surveillance in PNG
Island Provinces and the Highlands. Demonstration of control
methods to farmers and in schools. Development of databases
to preserve trapping, host surveying and lab colony data.
Training of national counterpart staff and quarantine and
extension agents. Coordination of fruit fly activities throughout
PNG via national staff in fruit fly laboratories in Lae and
Port Moresby. Publication of a newsletter, extension leaflets,
survey reports and regular technical reports. |
| 1994
to 1997 United Nations
Volunteer Entomologist. United Nations Development
Programme. Pohnpei Island. FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA.
FAO/AusAID/UNDP/SPC Project RAS/93/300 “Regional
Fruit Fly Project in the Pacific." |
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Same duties
as above, but based on Pohnpei Island, Federated States of
Micronesia. Additional duties achieved include development
of an emergency response plan for FSM, preliminary heat tolerance
testing on mango fly (Bactrocera frauenfeldi) in
preparation for post harvest quarantine treatments, host
status testing of limes and lemons and submission of results
to USDA to develop export opportunities to Guam, introduction,
rearing and release of fruit fly parasitoids, and publication
of results in scientific papers. |
| 1992
to 1994 United Nations
Volunteer Entomologist. United Nations Development
Programme. Kigali, RWANDA. |
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Initiation
and follow up of biological control programs against pest
insects of cassava and stored products. Writing and publication
of technical documents to prepare initiation of new integrated
control programs against main agricultural pests in Rwanda.
Surveys of crop pest insects. Constitution of pest insect
reference collections. Training in biological control and
in collecting, preserving and identification of insects for
agronomists and university students. |
| 1989
to 1991 Instructor
in Entomology. CECI: Centre Canadien d'Etudes et
de Coopération Internationale. Konakry, REPUBLIC
OF GUINEA. |
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Volunteer
for a Canadian NGO. Teaching lectures and practical courses
in general, medical and agricultural entomology at University
of Conakry (Republic of Guinea, West Africa). Preparation
for publication of a course syllabus. Supervisor for thirteen
student final projects in agricultural and medical entomology.
Missions to Mount Nimba, for a UNESCO project, to survey
(collecting, preservation and identification) agricultural
pest insects and arthropods of medical and veterinary importance. |
| 1983
to 1994 Technician in entomology
(Hymenoptera taxonomy). Agriculture Canada. Canadian National
Collection of Insects. Ottawa, CANADA. |
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Assistance
to research scientists in systematics of parasitoid Hymenoptera
(especially Chalcidoidea). Collection, dissection, preservation
and identification of Hymenoptera. Curation of the Canadian
National Collection of Insects (Hymenoptera section). Scanning
electron microscope photography. Research in systematics
of Ichneumonidae and Tenthredinidae and publication of taxonomic
papers. Employed by Carl Yoshimoto, Gary Gibson and John
Huber. |
| 1986,
1989 Entomologist. Environment
Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service. Ottawa, CANADA. |
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Field
sampling (1989) and sorting and identification (1986) of
aquatic arthropods in a study of the effects of acid rain
pollution on aquatic fauna (ducks, fishes, invertebrates)
of lakes in Northern Ontario |
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