Thomas O. Holtzer

Thomas O. Holtzer

Professor of Entomology and Department Head

B.A., Biology, Thiel College, 1969, Greenville, Pennsylvania
M.S., Entomology, Ecology Minor, North Carolina State University, 1971, Raleigh, North Carolina
Ph.D., Entomology, Ecology Minor, North Carolina State University, 1975, Raleigh, North Carolina

Research Interests

My research interests focus on insect ecology and behavior and on related studies aimed at developing new strategies and tactics for the management of insect pests. I have enjoyed involvement in interdisciplinary studies of insect population dynamics and physiological ecology, insect-plant relationships, mechanisms of crop yield reduction resulting from pest feeding, dispersal and migration, and biological control.

In my research group, we are currently working on a series of related projects that address: 1) the landscape ecology of rangeland grasshoppers, 2) Russian wheat aphid biological control, 3) Russian wheat aphid dispersal and migration, 4) development and implementation of computer-based decision support and information delivery systems, and 5) application of Geographical Information System technology to insect ecology and pest management.

Current Staff

Other Faculty:
  • Ian MacRae, Ph.D., Oregon State University, Research Associate

    Graduate Students:

  • Lorraine Nakai, M.S. program
  • Ahmed Al-Jaber, M.S. program
  • Ron Weeks, M.S. program

    Selected Recent Publications

    Randolph, T., J. Quick, F. Peairs, and T. Holtzer. 1994. Tritrophic relationships with winter wheat, Russian wheat aphid and a coccinellid: Comparison between susceptible and resistant varieties. Pp. 238 - 241 in, F. Peairs, M. Kroening and C. Simmons, compilers. Proceedings 6th Russian Wheat Aphid Workshop, Fort Collins, CO. January 23 - 25, 1994.

    Williams-Anderson, A. and T. Holtzer. 1994. Comparative growth rates and survival of the Russian wheat aphid and Colorado native Diuraphis species. Pp. 185 - 197 in, F. Peairs, M. Kroening and C. Simmons, compilers. Proceedings 6th Russian Wheat Aphid Workshop, Fort Collins, CO. January 23 - 25, 1994.

    Isard, S.A., M.Carter, T.O. Holtzer, and M.E. Irwin. 1994. Temperature stratification and insect layer concentrations: a preliminary analysis of atmospheric measurements and concurrent aerial insect collections obtained in northeast Colorado and east central Illinois. Preprints of the 11th Conference on Biometeorology and Aerobiology. American Meteorology Society. Boston, MA.

    Godfrey, L.D., Norman, J.M., and Holtzer, T.O. 1992. Interactive effects of European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) tunneling and drought stress on field corn water relations. Environmental Entomology 21, 1060-1071.

    Godfrey, L.D. and Holtzer, T.O. 1992. Effects of soil incorporated insecticides and foliar applied chemicals on corn gas exchange parameters. Crop Protection 11, 427-432.

    Godfrey, L.D., Holtzer, T.O., Spomer, S.M., and Norman, J. M. 1991. European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) tunneling and drought stress: Effects on corn yield. Journal of Economic Entomology 84, 1850-1860.

    Berry, J.S., Holtzer, T.O., and Norman, J.M. 1991. Experiments using a simulation model of the banks grass mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) and the predatory mite Neoseiulus fallacis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in a corn microenvironment. Environmental Entomology 20, 1074-1078.

    Godfrey, L.D., Holtzer, T.O., and Norman, J.M. 1991. Effects of European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) tunneling and drought stress on field corn gas excahnge parameters. Journal of Economic Entomology 84, 1370-1380.

    Godfrey, L.D. and Holtzer, T.O. 1991. Influence of temperature and humidity on European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) egg hatchability. Environmental Entomology 20, 8-14.

    Berry, J.S., Holtzer, T.O., and Norman, J.M. 1991. MiteSim: a simulation model of the Banks grass mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) and the predatory mite, Neoseiulus fallacis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on maize: model development and validation. Ecological Modelling 53, 291-317.

    Holtzer, T.O. and Arndt, C. 1991. An overview of sustainable agriculture and an illustration drawn from Russian Wheat Aphid management. Proceedings, Great Plains Agricultural Council Forestry Committee Annual Meeting 132, 99-103.

    Berry, J.S., Holtzer, T.O., and Ball, H.J. 1990. Ambulatory dispersal of spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) on whole, untreated maize plants after exposure to fenvalerate and permethrin. Journal of Economic Entomology 83, 217-220.

    Berry, J.S., Holtzer, T.O., Innes, G.S., and Logan, J.A. 1988. A simple order of preference technique for modeling the predator functional response in an acarine predator/prey system. Experimental and Applied Acarology 5, 207-224.

    Holtzer, T.O., Norman, J.M., Perring, T.M., Berry, J.S., and Heintz, J.C. 1988. Effects of microenvironment on the dynamics of spider mite populations. Experimental and Applied Acarology 4, 247-264.

    Holtzer, T.O., Archer, T.L., and Norman, J.M. 1988. Host plant suitability in relation to water stress. In Plant Stress - Insect Interactions, E.A. Heinrichs, Ed., Wiley Interscience, New York, pp. 111-137.

    Holtzer, T.O., Perring, T.M., and Johnson, M.W. 1984. Winter and spring distribution and density of Banks grass mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) in adjacent wheat and corn. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 57, 333-335.