Samantha Willden
Applied Entomology, Education and Extension
My research is motivated by a desire to design pest management programs that preserve ecosystem services while providing fresh and healthy food to local communities. As a problem solver, I enjoy turning basic research into effective, practical and accessible solutions. My broad research interest is agroecology, and more specifically applied entomology and biological control of insect pests. I currently integrate multidisciplinary tools to test and implement pest management programs for specialty crops.
Current Projects
Project 1: Characterizing specialty crop production and pest management under high tunnels across the rural -- urban landscape gradient
Small diversified farms have been historically excluded from extension and research efforts by institutions. The purpose of this study is to describe small farms in urban, suburban and rural landscapes and identify the challenges in crop production and pest management specific to these systems. Starting Fall 2022, 40 farms across three states will be monitored for environmental data and pest pressure.
Project 2: Identifying effect biocontrol agents for to manage overwintering aphids on high tunnel spinach
Aphids are commonly a key pest of leafy green crops, especially under high tunnels. If left unmanaged during the Fall and Winter, rapid aphid populations become large and difficult to manage during spring harvests. The goal of this project is to identify biocontrol agents that are active during the Fall and Winter to reduce the overwintering aphid population and need for pesticide sprays during the spring.
Past Projects
Project 1: Describing the flora and fauna of the low tunnel strawberry system
Low tunnel production systems of strawberry are relatively new to the northeaster U.S. The objective of this research was to describe the presence of weeds, pathogens and arthropod pests on low tunnel strawberry as well as the abundance of beneficial predators, pollinators and parasitoids.
See published results:
Willden, S.A., Cox, K.D., Pritts, M.P., and Loeb, G.M. 2021. A comparison of weed, pathogen and insect pests between low tunnel and open-field grown strawberries in New York. Crop Protection. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2020.105388
Willden, S.A., Pritts, M.P., and Loeb, G.M. 2022. The effect of plastic low tunnels on natural enemies and pollinators in strawberry. Crop Protection. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2021.105820
Project 2: Developing cultural and biological control recommendations for two-spotted spider mite on low tunnel strawberry
Two-spotted spider mites were identified as a key pest of low tunnel strawberry (i.e., their density was >500% higher under tunnels compared to the open field). Options for their sustainable management are needed by growers. This project is evaluating two avenues of control that are compatible with IPM programs:
1. How cultivar choice can be used to provide cultural control of spider mites
2. How to optimize biocontrol by commercially available predatory mites
3. The effect of rearing host plant on predatory mite performance
See published results:
1. Willden, S.A., Pritts, M.P. and Loeb, G.M. 2022. Twospotted spider mite preference and performance on day-neutral strawberry in New York and role of structural characteristics in plant susceptibility. Journal of the American Pomological Society. 76(2): 66 – 80.
2. Willden, S.A. Sanderson, J., Nyrop, J., Wentworth, K. and Loeb, G. 2022. The status of twospotted spider mite on low tunnel strawberry and implications for management. Fruit Quarterly. 30 (3): 19-22.
3. Rosser, E.C., Willden, S.A. and Loeb, G.M. 2022. Effects of SmartWater, a fluorescent mark, on the dispersal, behavior and biocontrol efficacy of Phytoseiulus persimilis. Experimental and Applied Acarology: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-022-00732-9.
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Project 3: Using UVB-blocking plastics to improve efficacy of Beauveria bassiana and conventional products against tarnished plant bug on low tunnel strawberry
Tarnished plant bug is a key pest of low tunnel strawberry, causing > 30% yield loss if unmanaged. Biocontrol by entomopathogens is a sustainable management option, but UV-degradation in the field is major limiting factor. This project evaluated if UV-blocking plastic tunnels could be used to improve spore survival and infectivity of Beauveria bassiana in lab and field experiments. Efficacy in the field, and impact on yield, was compared to a conventional product.
See published results:
Willden, S.A., Ugine, T., and Loeb, G.M. 2022. The effect of UVB-blocking plastics on Beauveria bassiana and a conventional product against Lygus lineolaris on low tunnel strawberry. Pest Management Science: https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7046
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