My research program addresses questions related to the chemical ecology of insect species, especially sweetpotato pests. We have investigated the host plant effects on sweetpotato weevil and more recently, the sugarcane beetle; studying the role of food quality and insect behavior on sweetpotato resistance mechanisms. The manipulation of insect behavior with natural products and synthetic mimics is an exciting area of research. We are attempting to improve our insect control methods through manipulation of semiochemical communication in certain pest species. For example a state-wide pheromone-based survey system is used to monitor for the presence of sweetpotato weevil. Louisiana’s quarantine program for this insect has been developed based on this new technology. As part of our host plant resistance program in sweetpotato, we plan a chemical analysis of root periderm for the presence of insect behavioral modifiers.

Knowledge gained from our sweetpotato IPM program should help increase the benefits of semiochemical use in other IPM systems. Innovative uses of chemical messengers, like the weevil pheromone, have yet to be discovered and exploited for regulating insect behavior.

Diagne, A., R. N. Story, and A. M. Hammond. 2006. Partial Life Cycle of Phyllophaga ephilida Say (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in South Louisiana. J. Entomol. Sci. 41(4):409-411.

Diagne, A., R. N. Story, and A. M. Hammond. 2006. Adult Phyllophaga ephilida Say host plant feeding preference. Florida Entomologist. 83(3):391-395.

Smith, T. P. and A. M. Hammond. 2006. Comparative susceptibility of sweetpotato weevil (Coleoptera: Brentidae) to selected insecticides. J. Econ. Entomol. 99(6):2024-2029.

Gao, Y., Li-Zhi, L., and Abner Hammond. 2006. Antennal morphology, structure and sensilla distribution in Microplitis pallidipes (Hymenoptera: Braeonidae). Micron (2006), doi:10.1016/j.micron. 2006.09.004

Robbins, P.S., Hammond, A.M., et al. 2006. Trapping Phyllophaga spp. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) in the United States and Canada using sex attractants. J. of Insect Sci. Vol. 6(39): Available online: insectscience.org/6.39.

Mao, L., L.E. Jett, R.N. Story, A.M. Hammond, J. K. Peterson, and D.R. LaBonte. 2004. Influence of drought stress on sweet potato resistance to sweetpotato weevil and storage root chemistry. Florida Entomologist 87(3):261-267

Mao, L., R. N. Story, A. M. Hammond, J. K. Peterson, and D. R. LaBonte. 2003. Effects of previous insect feeding injury to sweet potato on resistance to sweetpotato weevil and storage root chemistry. J. Entomol. Sci. 38(1):72-83.

Luo, L., S. J. Johnson, A. M. Hammond, J. D. Lopez, J.P. Geaghan, K.R. Beerwinkle, and J. K. Westbrook. 2002. Determination and consideration of flight potential in a laboratory population of true armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Environ. Entomol. 31(1):1-9.

McElfresh, J. S., A. M. Hammond, and J. G. Millar. 2001. Sex pheromone components of the buck moth. J. Chem. Ecology. 27 (7):1409-1422.

Mao, L., R. N. Story, A. M. Hammond, and D. R. LaBonte. 2001. Effect of sweetpotato genotype, storage time and production site on the feeding and ovipostion behavior of the sweetpotato weevil. Fla. Entomol. 84(2):259-264.

Mao, L., R. N. Story, A. M. Hammond, J. K. Peterson, and D. R. LaBonte. 2001. Effect of nitrogen on the resistance of sweetpotato to the sweetpotato weevil. J. Econ. Entomol. 94(5):1285-1291