Insect Ecology and Integrated Pest Management Lab, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Dr. Leyla Valdivia Kaufman M.Sc. (Wageningen University), Ph.D. University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Email: leyla@hawaii.edu

CURRENT PROJECTS:
Management of thrips on papaya
Validation of probabalistic risk assessment models for biolgical control risk assessment.
Impact of Anagyrus loekii on papaya mealybug infestations.
Biological control of Quadrastichus erythrinae with Eurytoma erythrinae: post release monitoring.

Publications:

1. Kaufman, L.V. & Wright, M.G. 2011. Ecological correlates of the non-indigenous parasitoid assemblage associated with a Hawaiian endemic moth. Oecologia 166: 1087-1098.   
2. Kaufman, L.V. & Wright, M.G. 2010. Parasitism of a Hawaiian endemic moth by invasive and purposefully introduced Hymenoptera species. Environmental Entomology 39: 430-439.
3. Winkler, K., Waeckers, F.L., Kaufman, L.V., Larraz, V., & van Lenteren, J. 2009. Nectar exploitation by herbivores and their parasitoids is a function of flower species and relative humidity. Biological Control (In Press).
4. Kaufman, L.V., King, C.B.A., Leblanc, L. & Haines, W.P. 2008. Triclistus nr. aitkeni, a new adventive species to the Hawaiian Islands. Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 40: 55-59.
5. Kaufman, L.V. & Wright, M.G. 2009. Kaufman, L.V. & Wright, M.G. 2009. The impact of exotic parasitoids on populations of a native Hawaiian moth assessed using life table studies. Oecologia 159: 295-304.
6. Kaufman, L.V. & Wright, M.G. 2009. Life history, seasonal phenology and parasitism of the Hawaiian endemic moth Udea stellata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 102: 104-111.
7. Winkler, K, Valdivia-Buitriago, L.V., Waeckers, F.L., & J.C. van Lenteren. 2005. Herbivores and their parasitoids show differences in abundance on eight different nectar producing plants. Proceedings of the Netherlands Entomological Society Meeting 16: 125-130.
8. Valdivia-Buitriago, L. & Wright, M.G. 2003. Retrospective probabilistic non-target risk assessments for insect biological control agents. Paper presented at XIII International Entomophagous Insects Workshop, Tucson, AZ, July 27-31. Abstract published in Journal of Insect Science 3:33, p. 25.
9. Winkler. K., Valdivia, L., Larraz, V., Wäckers, F.L. & van Lenteren, J.C. 2002. Functional biodiversity: boosting natural enemies by strategic use of nectar sources. Stimulation Program Biodiversity Newsletter 5: 6–8.
10. Winkler. K., Valdivia, L., Larraz. V., Wäckers, F.L. & van Lenteren, J.C. 2003. Strategic use of nectar sources to boost biological control. IOBC/WPRS Bulletin 26:  209–214. 7. Valdivia, L., M. Palacios and A. Lagnaoui. 1999. “Effects of different concentrations of neem extract, eucalyptus essential oil and lemon essence on larval development of Phthorimaea operculella”. Summaries of the 2 nd National Workshop “Botanical Resources with Biocide Potential “. RAAA. Lima-Perú. (in Spanish). 
11. Delfín, A., Johnson, A., Valdivia L., Chirinos, I. 1997. “Morphologic and some physiologic evaluations in mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum) in four towns of Tarma-Peru”. Summaries of the Peruvian Congress of Ecology. UNALM. Lima- Perú. (in Spanish).

Oral and Poster Presentations:
1. Kaufman, L.V. & Wright, M.G., 2007. Parasitism of the endemic moth Udea stellata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) by invasive and introduced species. Oral Presentation. 12th Pacific Entomology Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii.
2. Kaufman, L.V. & Wright, M.G., 2007.Non-target parasitism of the Hawaiian endemic moth Udea stellata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Oral Presentation. CTAHR Student Research Symposium, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
3. Kaufman, L.V. & Wright, M.G., 2007. Effects of alien parasitoid species on the endemic moth Udea stellata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Oral Presentation. Hawai'i Conservation Conference, Honolulu,  Hawaii.
4. Kaufman, L.V. & Wright, M.G., 2007. Impact of alien parasitoids on the endemic Hawaiian moth Udea stellata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Poster Presentation. X European Workshop on Insect Parasitoids, Erice, Italy.
5. Kaufman, L.V. & Wright, M.G., 2007. Evaluation of the Impact of Exotic Parasitoids on the Native Hawaiian Moth Udea stellata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae).
Student Competition Oral Presentation. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, San Diego, California.
6. Wright, M.G., Kaufman, L.V. and Vorsino, A.E. 2007. A test of Darwin's 'naturalization hypothesis' using invasive insect in the Hawaiian Archipelago. Oral presentation, Evolution 2007, Cristchurch, New Zealand.
7. Kaufman, L.V. & Wright, M.G. 2006. Exotic parasitoids as mortality factors of the Hawaiian endemic moth Udea stellata (Crambidae). Student Competition Oral Presentation. Entomological Society of America (ESA) Annual Meeting. Indianapolis, Indiana.
8. Kaufman, L.V. & Wright, M.G. 2006. Environmental factors influencing the parasitoid community of Udea stellata (Crambidae) in Hawai’i . Poster presented at CTHAR Student Research Symposium, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
9. Kaufman, L.V. & Wright, M.G. 2006. Environmental factors influencing the parasitoid community of Udea stellata (Crambidae) in Hawai’i . Poster Presentation. Pacific Branch Entomological Society of America (PBESA), Maui , Hawaii .
10. Kaufman, L.V. & Wright, M.G. 2005. Origin and potential impacts of parasitoids of the endemic moth Udea stellata (Crambidae) in Hawai’i . Oral Presentation. CTHAR Student Research Symposium, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
11. Valdivia-Buitriago, L. & Wright, M.G. 2005. Biocontrol, Ecological Theory and Non-target Risk Assessment. Oral Presentation . Hawaiian Entomological Society Meeting. Waikiki, Hawaii .
12. Valdivia-Buitriago, L. & Wright, M.G. 2004. Parasitoid community of the endemic moth Udea stellata (Crambidae) in Hawai’i . Student Competition Oral Presentation. Entomological Society of America (ESA) Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City , Utah .
13. Valdivia-Buitriago, L. & Wright, M.G. 2004. Measuring and predicting non-target impacts of biological control. Oral Presentation. CTHAR Student Research Symposium, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
14. Valdivia-Buitriago, L. & Wright, M.G. 2003. Retrospective probabilistic non-target risk assessments for insect biological control agents. Paper presented at XIII International Entomophagous Insects Workshop, Tucson , AZ , July 27-31.
15. Valdivia L., M. Palacios and A. Lagnaoui. 1999. “Effects of different concentrations of neem extract, eucalyptus essential oil and lemon essence on larval development of Phthorimaea operculella”. Poster presented at the Botanical Resources with Biocide Potential Workshop. RAAA. Lima-Perú.

Awards:
2007 Best PEPS Entomology Graduate Student Oral Presentation. CTAHR Student Research Symposium, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
2006 Minoru Tamashiro Endowment for Urban and Agricultural Entomology Travel Award, University of Hawaii at Manoa ($1000)
2006 Best PEPS Entomology Graduate Student Poster Presentation. CTHAR Student Research Symposium, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
2005 Minoru Tamashiro Prize in Urban and Agricultural Entomology, University of Hawaii at Manoa ($ 2000)
2005 Best PEPS Entomology Graduate Student Oral Presentation. CTHAR Student Research Symposium, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
2004 Edward M. Ehrhorn Entomological Scholarship, University of Hawaii at Manoa ($1130)
2003 OAS-LASPAU Fulbright Scholarship (declined)
2000 - 2002 University Fellowship Programme. Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education (Nuffic).
1997 - 1999 International Potato Center. Research Fellowship.

Dedicated field researcher!

 

Research Experience:
Apr 2008 - present: Post-doctoral researcher, UH Manoa, PEPS.

Jan 2003-April 2008: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Graduate Research Assistant , Advisor: Dr. Mark G. Wright
Dissertation Title: Non-target impacts introduced parasitoids, and validation of a probabilistic risk assessment approach for biological control introductions.

May – Nov 2002: CABI Bioscience Switzerland Centre (A division of CAB International), Summer Research Assistant., Supervisor: Dr. Ulrich Kuhlmann. Involved in research work pertaining to the classical biological control of several agricultural pests such as the European apple sawfly, Hoplocampa testudinea; plant bugs Lygus spp.; cabbage seedpod weevil Ceutorhynchus obstrictus; cabbage maggot Delia radicum, and Western Corn Rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera. Main duties: Field surveys, field collections, field work and experimentation, insect rearing, laboratory experimentation and evaluation, insect pinning and preservation, among others.

Jun – Jan 2002: Wageningen University and Research Centre, Graduate assistant, Crop Protection Department - Functional Biodiversity Group, Advisor: Dr. Felix Waeckers
Thesis Title: Comparison of flowering herbs with respect to their nectar suitability for Plutella xylostella and its parasitoid Diadegma semiclausum.

Teaching Experience:
Spring 2007: Presented 25% of PEPS 422, Biocontrol of invasive species, lectures on predator and parasitoid taxonomy; case studies in biological control.
Fall 2007: Teaching assistant for PEPS 363 and PEPS 363L (General Entomology).

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