Daniel C. Peck
Assistant Professor
dp25@cornell.edu

Areas of Expertise

Soil insect ecology, turfgrass entomology, integrated pest management, grass-feeding insect pests, spittlebugs

Research

I am interested in the associations of phytophagous insects with perennial grass-based agroecosystems.   My research addresses the ecology and management of soil-dwelling, turf-infesting and grass-feeding insect pests.   Our program currently addresses two major lines of inquiry:

Impact of plant protection technologies on nontarget soil arthropod communities. Our program objectives are to gauge the magnitude and relevance of impacts on the abundance, diversity and ecological function of soil- and surface- active arthropods.  We are examining two contrasting systems.  In low-maintenance turf, we are conducting a series of field trials that are shedding light on the unintended consequences of reliance on long-residual soil insecticides for insect pest management, and possible approaches for mitigating those unintended consequences.  In a second system, we are using a similar approach to examine nontarget effects within two tropical cropping systems – maize and cotton – where modern Bt-transgenic technology is being deployed for the first time in Colombia.

Natural history and management of key turfgrass pests. Our program objectives are to fill major knowledge gaps in our understanding of biology and ecology, advance alternative cultural and biological controls, and identify and exploit new windows for pest management.  We are conducting studies in three systems that represent major priorities of New York State stakeholders and in turn are highly relevant to pest management in the Northeast and beyond.

Our research on the landscape ecology of the annual bluegrass weevil (Listronotus maculicollis) emphasizes what goes on at the overwintering sites in protected off-course areas, what goes on at the developmental sites on low-cut turf, what the nature of flux is between those two habitats, and how this understanding can be exploited for improved pest management.  Current studies focus on the patterns of variation in population fluctuations and phenology, calendar and degree-day models to predict population development, and host plant and habitat selection.

Our research on the invasion biology of exotic crane flies (Tipula oleracea and Tipula paludosa) addresses two European species of that pose a tremendous new risk to regional plant protection.  Since their first detection in western New York in 2004, they have emerged as injurious pests in home lawns, golf courses, sod farms and other turfgrass systems, with the potential to impact other horticultural systems as well.   Current studies focus on insecticidal control, host plant and habitat selection, range expansion, and ecological niche modeling.  Because of the establishment of two closely-related species, our studies also emphasize interspecific variation in pest status and invasion dynamics.

Our research on the biologically-based management of white grubs encompasses both basic and applied research with a focus on soil insect behavior. We study the impact of chemical and biological products on grub movement using radiographic imaging techniques, and we gauge the efficacy of controls using traditional laboratory and field bioassays.  The long-term goal is to develop curative control alternatives that would permit sampling and better decision-making, and biological alternatives that could supplant reliance on chemical insecticides.  Current studies focus on interspecific variation in the susceptibility of grub species to control products, synergistic combinations of biological and chemical insecticides for curative control, and the sublethal impacts of control products on grub behavior.

Extension and Outreach

The goal of my extension program is to reduce the environmental, ecological  and economic impact of turf-infesting, soil-dwelling and grass-feeding insect pests and their management. We emphasize turfgrass habitats as they are diverse, valuable, and extensive systems in the U.S. and provide a broad range of aesthetic, economic, recreational and environmental services.  In the form of sod farms, residential lawns, golf courses, sports fields, school grounds and other public areas, turfgrass is managed across 1.38 million ha of New York. Any improvement in how insect pests are managed across this area could yield significant societal benefits.  My program's extension efforts are structured around five main objectives and four main approaches:

Objectives. For Cornell University, contribute to a multidisciplinary turf program.  For New York State, improve the capacity of pest management practitioners to implement IPM for turfgrass and soil insect pests.  For the Northeast U.S, minimize the repercussions posed by the establishment and spread of invasive crane flies in turfgrass and other horticultural systems.  For eastern North America, apply science-based knowledge to expand opportunities for the protection of high maintenance turf from the annual bluegrass weevil.  For North and South America, coalesce and disseminate advanced information on the natural history and management of spittlebug pests in perennial grass-based agroecosystems.

Approaches. Synthesize and transmit advanced science-based knowledge. Articulate, validate and promote best management practices.  Strengthen the dialogue among practitioners, extensionists and researchers to best define current problems, anticipate future challenges and mitigate the negative impacts of insect pests and their management.  Provide service to the New York State turfgrass industry and other related stakeholders.

Publications (last 5 years)

• Morales, A., A. Ospina and D.C. Peck. 2010. Variation in the laboratory susceptibility of turf-infesting white grubs to biological, biorational and chemical insecticides. Pest Management Science 66: 90-99.
• Peck, D.C. and D. Olmstead. 2010. Neonicotinoid insecticides disrupt predation on the eggs of turf-infesting scarab beetles. Bulletin of Entomological Research 100: 689-700.
• Peck, D.C., D. Olmstead and M.J. Petersen. 2010. Pest status of invasive crane flies in New York turfgrass and the repercussions for regional plant protection. Journal of Integrated Pest Management 1(1):1-8.
• Morales, A. and D.C. Peck. 2009. Synergies between biological and neonicotinoid insecticides for the curative control of the white grubs Amphimallon majale and Popillia japonica. Biological Control 51: 169-180.
• Morales, A., A. Ospina and D.C. Peck. 2009. Variation in the laboratory susceptibility of turf-infesting white grubs to biological, biorational and chemical insecticides. Pest Management Science 66: 90-99.
• Ospina, C.M., J. Rodríguez Ch. and D.C. Peck. 2009. Key for the identification of the genera of Collembola in agroecosystems of Colombia [in Spanish]. Revista Colombiana de Entomología 35(1): 57-61.
• Peck, D.C. 2009. Long term effects of imidacloprid on the abundance of surface- and soil-active nontarget fauna in turf. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 11: 405-419.
• Peck, D.C. 2009. Comparative impacts of white grub (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) control products on the abundance of nontarget soil-active arthropods in turfgrass. Pedobiologia 52: 287-299.
• Peck, D.C. and D. Olmstead. 2009. Invasive Tipula (Diptera: Tipulidae) in turfgrass of the Northeast United States: geographic distribution and local incidence three years after detection. Journal of Economic Entomology 102(2): 652-658.
• Robbins, P.S., S. Nojima, S. Palavarapu, A.M. Koppenhöfer, C. Rodríguez-Saona, R.J. Holdcraft, N.H. Consolie, D.C. Peck and W.L. Roelofs. 2009. Sex pheromone of the scarab beetle Phyllophaga (Phytalus) georgiana (Horn). Journal of Chemical Ecology 35: 336-341.
• Diaz, M.D., M. Seto and D.C. Peck. 2008. Patterns of variation in the seasonal dynamics of Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) populations on golf course turf. Environmental Entomology 37(6): 1438-1450.
• Peck, D.C., D. Olmstead and A. Morales. 2008. Application timing and efficacy of alternatives for the insecticidal control of Tipula paludosa Meigen (Diptera: Tipulidae), a new invasive pest of turf in the Northeast United States. Pest Management Science 64: 989-1000.
• Diaz, M.D. and D.C. Peck. 2007. Overwintering of annual bluegrass weevils, Listronotus maculicollis (Dietz) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in the golf course landscape. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 125: 259-268.
• Rodríguez, J. and D.C. Peck. 2007. Biology and habits of Mahanarva andigena (Homoptera: Cercopidae) under screenhouse conditions [in Spanish]. Revista Colombiana de Entomología 33(1): 31-35.
• Peck, D.C., E.R. Hoebeke and C. Klass. 2006. Detection and establishment of the European crane flies Tipula paludosa Meigen and Tipula oleracea L. (Diptera: Tipulidae) in New York: a review of their distribution, invasion history, and recognition.  Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 108(4): 985-994.
• Rodríguez, J. and D.C. Peck. 2006. Population parameters of Zulia carbonaria (Homoptera: Cercopidae) on Brachiaria ruziziensis [in Spanish]. Revista Colombiana de Entomología 32(2): 145-150.