 |
| E-mail: leblancl
[at] ctahr [dot] hawaii [dot] edu |
|
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 were carried out 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. More
info on project.
| 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. |
| |
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." |
| |
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." |
| |
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." |
| |
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. |
| |
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. |
| |
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. |
| |
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. |
| |
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 |
Allwood, A.J. and L. Leblanc.
1997. Losses
Caused by Fruit Flies (Diptera:Tephritidae) in Seven Pacific Island
Countries. pp. 208-211 In: Allwood, A.J., and Drew, R.A.I. Management
of Fruit Flies in the Pacific. A regional symposium, Nadi, Fiji 28-31
October 1996. ACIAR Proceedings No. 76. 267pp.
Allwood, A.J., Vueti, E.T., Leblanc, L. and R.
Bull. 2002. Eradication of introduced Bactrocera species (Diptera:
Tephritidae) in Nauru using male annihilation and protein bait
application techniques. Pp. 19-25 in: Veitch, C.R, and M.N. Clout
(eds). 2002. Turning the tide: the eradication of invasive species.
Occasional papers of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. No.
27.
Clarke, A.R., Balagawi, S., Clifford, B., Drew,
R.A.I., Leblanc, L., Mararuai,
A.N., McGuire, D., Putulan, D., Romig, T., Sar, S., and
D. Tenakanai. 2004. Distribution and biogeography of Bactrocera and Dacus species
(Diptera: Tephritidae) in Papua New Guinea. Australian Journal
of Entomology 43:148-156.
Clarke, A.R., Balagawi, S., Clifford, B., Drew,
R.A.I., Leblanc, L., Mararuai,
A., McGuire, D., Putulan, D., Sar, S., and D. Tenakanai. 2002. Evidence of orchid visitation by Bactrocera species (Diptera:
Tephritidae) in Papua New Guinea. Journal of Tropical Ecology 18: 441-448.
Leblanc, L. 1989. A taxonomic revision of the
Nearctic species of Himerta (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae).
Contributions of the American Entomological Institute. 27(3): 1-75.
Leblanc, L. 1989. The Nearctic Eremotylus
costalis group with the description of a new species (Hymenoptera:
Ichneumonidae). Contributions of the American Entomological Institute.
27(3): 76-82.
Leblanc, L. 1997. Fruit fly fauna in Federated
States of Micronesia, Guam, Palau, Kiribati, Northern Marianas
and Marshall Islands. pp. 64-67 In: Allwood, A.J., and Drew, R.A.I.
Management of Fruit Flies in the Pacific. A regional symposium,
Nadi, Fiji 28-31 October 1996. ACIAR Proceedings No. 76. 267pp.
Leblanc, L. and A.J. Allwood. 1997. Mango fruit
fly (Bactrocera frauenfeldi): Why so many in Federated
States of Micronesia? pp.125-130 In: Allwood, A.J., and Drew, R.A.I.
Management of Fruit Flies in the Pacific. A regional symposium,
Nadi, Fiji 28-31 October 1996. ACIAR Proceedings No. 76. 267pp.
Leblanc, L. 1999. The Nearctic species of Protarchus (Hymenoptera:
Ichneumonidae: Ctenopelmatinae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research.
8: 251-267.
Leblanc, L. and H. Goulet. 1992. Descriptions
of larvae of eight Nearctic species of Dolerus (Hymenoptera:
Tenthredinidae) with focus on six Equisetum feeding species
from the Ottawa region. Canadian Entomologist. 124: 999-1014.
Leblanc, L. and R. Hollingsworth. 1997. Rate of
development of the immature stages of Bactrocera frauenfeldi in
papaya-based diet. pp.164-167 In: Allwood, A.J., and Drew, R.A.I.
Management of Fruit Flies in the Pacific. A regional symposium,
Nadi, Fiji 28-31 October 1996. ACIAR Proceedings No. 76. 267pp.
Leblanc, L., Leweniqila, L., Tau, D., Tumukon,
T., Kassim, A., and R. Hollingsworth. 1997. Can fruit flies be controlled
in a village with a mixed orchard? Pacific Island Experiences.
pp.187-191 In: Allwood, A.J., and Drew, R.A.I. Management of Fruit
Flies in the Pacific. A regional symposium, Nadi, Fiji 28-31 October
1996. ACIAR Proceedings No. 76. 267pp.
Leblanc, L., O’Grady, P.M., Rubinoff, D., and
S.L. Montgomery. 2009. New immigrant Drosophilidae in Hawaii, and a checklist
of the established immigrant species. Proceedings of the Hawaiian
Entomological Society. 41: 121-127.
Leblanc, L., Rubinoff, D., and R.I. Vargas. 2009. Attraction of nontarget species to fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)
male lures and decaying fruit flies in Hawaii. Environmental Entomology.
38: 1446-1461.
Leblanc, L., Vargas, R.I.,
and D. Rubinoff. 2010. Attraction
of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) and endemic
and introduced nontarget insects to BioLure bait and its individual
components in Hawaii. Environmental
Entomology. IN PRESS.
Leblanc, L., William, J., and A.J. Allwood. 2004. Host fruit of mango fly (Bactrocera frauenfeldi (Schiner))
(Diptera: Tephritidae) in Federated States of Micronesia. Micronesica.
37: 21-31.
Mararuai, A., Allwood, A., Balagawi, S., Dori, F., Kalamen,
M., Leblanc, L., Putulan, D., Sar, S., Schuhbeck,
A., Tenakanai, D., and A. Clarke. 2002. Introduction and distribution
of Bactrocera musae (Tryon) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in
East New Britain, Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea Journal of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. 45: 59-65.
McInnis, D., Leblanc, L., and R. Mau. 2007. Melon
fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) genetic sexing: all-male sterile fly
releases in Hawaii. Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society.
39: 105-110.
Shyaka J.B., and L. Leblanc. 1994. Biological
control of cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti, and
its present status in Rwanda. In: Allard GB, Skoglund LG, Neuenschwander
P, Murphy RJ, eds. Proceedings of a Regional Workshop on Root and
Tuber Pest Management in East and Southern Africa 10-14 August
1992, Mombassa. Nairobi, Kenya: CAB International, 161-169.
Vargas, R.I., Leblanc, L., Putoa, R., and A. Eitam.
2007. Impact of
introduction of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae)
and classical biological control releases of Fopius arisanus (Hymenoptera:
Braconidae) on economically important fruit flies in French Polynesia.
Journal of Economic Entomology. 100(3): 670-679.
Vargas, R.I.,
Shelly, T.E., Leblanc, L. and J.C. Pinero. 2010. Recent
advances in methyl eugenol and cue-lure technologies for fruit
fly detection, monitoring, and control. Vitamins and Hormones.
Section: Pheromones, vol. 83. Academic Press. SUBMITTED.
Pacific Fruit Fly Web site: available
online at http://www.spc.int/pacifly .
I have created and webmastered the entire site.
SPC Pest Advisory leaflets
on fruit flies in the Pacific:
Allwood, A.J, Leblanc, L., Tora Vueti, E. and R. Bull. 2001. Fruit
Fly Control methods for Pacific island Countries and Territories.
Leaflet Number 40. 12 pages.
Leblanc, L.. 2000. Fruit flies in Solomon Islands. Leaflet No.30.
4pp.
Leblanc, L. and A. Allwood. 1997. Mango fruit fly. Leaflet No. 34.
4pp.
Leblanc, L., Balagawi, S., Mararuai, A., Putulan, D., Tenakanai,
D., Clarke, A.C. 2001. Fruit flies in Papua New Guinea. SPC Pest
Advisory Leaflet No. 37. 12 pages.
Leblanc, L., Mararuai, A. and M. Kalamen. 1999. Fruit bagging to
control fruit flies. Leaflet No. 36. 4pp.
Leblanc, L. and R. Amice. 2000. Fruit flies in New Caledonia. Leaflet
No. 26. 4pp.
Leblanc, L. and R. Putoa. 2000. Fruit flies in Frwench Polynesia
and Pitcairn Islands. Leaflet No. 29. 4pp.
Numerous technical
reports on fruit flies and other pests of Africa and the Pacific: Complete
list and some sample reports available on request. |
