Douglas G. Pfeiffer

Douglas G. Pfeiffer
Professor
Department of Entomology
205C Price Hall
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0319
Ph. (540) 231-4183
Fax (540) 231-9131

Departmental bio page

dgpfeiff at vt.edu

Virginia Tech Principles of Community

General Areas of Interest

Dr. Pfeiffer's position (40% teaching, 35% research, 25% extension) deals primarily with fruit IPM and ecological interactions in orchards and vineyards. In recent years, research has centered in three areas of activity, mating disruption for lepidopteran pests, biogeography of plum curculio, and insect/plant interactions. Current Research focus has centered strongly in vineyard pest management, especially grape root borer, Japanese beetle and sharpshooters that transmit Pierce's disease. Another new research focus deals with insects feeding in primocane-bearing caneberries (raspberries and blackberries), especially Japanese beetle, green June beetle and stink bugs. Two recent invasive pests are important research subjects: brown marmorated stink bug and spotted wing drosophila. Extension activities include electronic dissemination of fruit IPM information through a web site and e-mail lists, in addition to conventional extension publications and grower meetings. Courses taught are Insect Structure and Function (graduate), Insect Pest Management (undergraduate) and Arthropod Pest Management (graduate). A new course on Managing Arthropod Pests is offered in the new on-line Masters of Agriculture and Life Sciences, for which Dr. Pfeiffer is the Director (see 2012-2013 Extended Campus tuition rates). Dr. Pfeiffer has developed an international component to his program, and is involved in two regional projects within IPM CRSP (Integrated Pest Management Collaborative Research Support Program, supported by USAID), as Site Chair for the project in West Africa (Mali, Senegal and Ghana), and coordinating the Indian component of the project in South Asia (India, Nepal and Bangladesh). He was formerly the Site Chair for the Eastern European regional project (Albania, Ukraine and Moldova) within the IPM CRSP. These projects deal with high value horticultural crops, primarily vegetable crops.

Regional Web Site for Tree Fruit and Small Fruit Information:

Visit the Virginia Fruit Web Site, a source of multi-disciplinary information relating to fruit crops

Eastern Branch Site

Visit the Eastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America.

Education

Ph.D. - Washington State University, 1982. Entomology.
M.S. - North Carolina State University, 1978. Entomology.
B.S. - University of Massachusetts, 1976. Entomology.

Selected Publications

Books

Шестопал, Г., i Д. Файфер. 2008. Яблуня – Комерцiйна Культура в Україна. [Shestopal, G., and D. Pfeiffer. 2008. Apple - A Commercial Crop for Ukraine.] Triada-Plus Publ., L'viv, Ukraine. 256 p. 20 pls. [in Ukrainian]

Tedeschini, J., B. Stamo and D. Pfeiffer. 2006. Menaxhimi i paraziteve ne ullishtet organike. [Biological management in organic olive production.] Plant Protection Institute. Durres, Albania. [in Albanian]

Tedeschini, J., B. Stamo and D. Pfeiffer. 2005. Menaxhimi i integruar i paraziteve te ullirit. [Integrated and biological management in olive.] Plant Protection Institute. Durres, Albania. [in Albanian]

Шестопал, З. А., Д. Г. Файфер i Г. С. Шестопал. 1999. Довiдник з iнтегрованого захисту плодово-ягiдних культур вiд шкiдникiв i хвороб. [Shestopal, Z. A., D. G. Pfeiffer and G. C. Shestopal. Integrated pest management for orchards and small fruit crops.] Kyiv Horticultural Institute. L'viv, Ukraine. [in Ukrainian]

Book Chapters

Pfeiffer, D. G. 2012. Japanese beetle and other Coleoptera feeding on grapevines in eastern North America. p. 403-439. In: N. J. Bostanian, C. Vincent and R. Isaacs (eds.). Arthropod Management in Vineyards; Pests, Approaches, and Future Directions. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. 505 p.

Pfeiffer, D. G., T. C. Leskey and H. J. Burrack. 2012. Threatening the harvest: The threat from three invasive insects in late season vineyards. p. 449-474. In: N. J. Bostanian, C. Vincent and R. Isaacs (eds.). Arthropod Management in Vineyards: Pests, Approaches, and Future Directions. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. 505 p.

Pfeiffer, D. G., J. Tedeschini, L. Daku, M. Hasani, R. Uka, B. Stamo and B. Ferraj. 2005. Developing IPM packages in eastern Europe: Participatory IPM research in Albanian olives. p. 121-139 p. In G. W. Norton, E.A. Heinrichs, G. C. Luther, M. E. Irwin. (eds.) Globalizing Integrated Pest Management. Blackwell, Oxford UK.

Pfeiffer, D. G. 2000. Selective insecticides. p. 131-144. In J. E. Rechcigl and N. A. Rechcigl (eds). Integrated Pest Management: Techniques for Environmental Protection. Lewis.

Pfeiffer, D. G. 1997. Deciduous fruit trees. p. 293-322. In: Y. Ben-Dov & C. J. Hodgson (eds.) Soft Scale Insects: Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control. World Crop Pests, vol 7B. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

Papers Published in Refereed Journals (* denotes graduate student)

Leskey, T . C., G. C. Hamilton, A. L. Nielsen, D. Polk, C. Rodriguez-Saona, J. C. Bergh, A. Herbert, T. Kuhar, D. Pfeiffer, G. Dively, C. Hooks, M. Raupp, P. Shrewsbury, G. Krawczyk, P. W. Shearer, J. Whalen, C. Koplinka-Loehr, E. Myers, D. Inkley, K. Hoelmer, D.-H. Lee, and S. E. Wright. In press. Pest status of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) in the USA. Outlooks in Pest Management

Wallingford, A. K.* and D. G. Pfeiffer. 2012. A survey of sharpshooters (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Virginia vineyards, a region of expanding concern for Pierce’s disease. J. Entomol. Sci. 47: 360-365.

Shahini, Sh., E. Kullaj, A. Çakalli, M. Çakalli, S. Lazarevska, D. G. Pfeiffer and F. Gumeni. 2010. Population dynamics and biological control of European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana: Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Albania using different strains of Bacillus thuringiensis. Internat. J. Pest Manag. 56: 281-286.

Zhang, X.*, S. Luckhart, J. Tu and D. G. Pfeiffer. 2010. Analysis of Wolbachia strains associated with Conotrachelus nenuphar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the eastern United States. Environ. Entomol. 39: 396-405.

Zhang, X.*, and D. G. Pfeiffer. 2008. Evaluation of reproductive compatibility of interstrain matings among plum curculio populations in the eastern United States

. Environ. Entomol. 37: 1208-1213.

Zhang, X.*, J. Tu, S. Luckhart and D. G. Pfeiffer. 2008. Genetic diversity of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) among geographical populations in the eastern United States

. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 101: 824-832.

Hitchner, E. M.*, T. P. Kuhar, J. C. Dickens, R. R.Youngman, P. B. Schultz and D. G. Pfeiffer. 2008. Host plant choice experiments of Colorado potato beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Virginia. J. Econ. Entomol. 101: 859-865.

Lim, G. T.*, L. G. Kirton, S. M. Salom, L. T. Kok, R. D. Fell and D. G. Pfeiffer. 2008. Host plants and associated trophobionts of the weaver ants Oecophylla spp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources.

Lim, G. T. *, L. G. Kirton, S. M. Salom, L. T. Kok, R. D. Fell and D. G. Pfeiffer. 2008. Mahogany shoot borer control in Malaysia and prospects for biocontrol using weaver ants. J. Trop. For. Sci. 20: 147-155.

Gronning, E. K.,* and D. G. Pfeiffer. 2007. Ground beetle assemblages in Virginia apple orchards receiving pheromone-based or conventional tortricid management programs. J. Entomol. Sci. 42: 501-516.

Pfeiffer, D. G., and K. Love. 2007. Handheld applications in fruit extension delivery. J. Extension 45 (5): Article Number 5TOT6

Wallingford, A. K.*, S. A. Tolin, A. L. Myers, T. K. Wolf and D. G. Pfeiffer. 2007. Expansion of the range of Pierce's disease in Virginia. Plant Health Progress. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2007-1004-01-BR.

Bergh, J. C., D. G. Pfeifferand K. Love. 2005. Survey of grape root borer, Vitacea polistiformis (Harris), using pheromone traps in Virginia vineyards. J. Entomol. Sci. 40: 337-342.

McClanan, M. E.*, S. Luckhart and D. G. Pfeiffer. 2004. Use of random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) to differentiate populations of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst). J. Entomol. Sci. 39: 117-121.

McClanan, M. E.*, S. Luckhart and D. G. Pfeiffer. 2004. Wolbachia strains associated with univoltine and multivoltine plum curculios. J. Entomol. Sci. 39: 132-135

Metzger, J. A.* and D. G. Pfeiffer. 2002. Topical toxicity of pesticides used in Virginia vineyards to the predatory mite, Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman). J. Entomol. Sci. 37: 329-337.

Gronning, E. K.*, D. M. Borchert*, D. G. Pfeiffer, C. M. Felland, J. F. Walgenbach, L. A. Hull and J. C. Killian. 2000. Effect of specific and generic pheromone blends on captures in pheromone traps by four leafroller species in mid-Atlantic apple orchards. J. Econ. Entomol. 93: 157-164.

Pfeiffer, D. G., J. C. Killian and K. S. Yoder. 1999. Clarifying the roles of white apple leafhopper and potato leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) in fire blight transmission in apple. J. Entomol. Sci. 34: 314-321.

Pfeiffer, D. G. and J. C. Killian. 1999. Dogwood borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) flight activity and an attempt to control damage in `Gala' apples using mating disruption. J. Entomol. Sci. 34: 210-218

Welker, R. M.*, R. P. Marini and D. G. Pfeiffer. 1996. Ultrastructural and surface features of apple leaves following white apple leafhopper feeding. HortScience 31: 249-251.

Welker, R. M.*, R. P. Marini and D. G. Pfeiffer. 1995. Influence of first-generation white apple leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) and leaf-to-fruit ratio on apple fruit size and quality. J. Econ. Entomol. 88: 959-964.

Pfeiffer, D. G. and E. K. Gronning*. 1995. Spotted fireworm (Lepidoptera:Tortricidae) in variegated leafroller pheromone traps, and its orientation to traps in variegated leafroller pheromone-permeated orchards. J. Agric. Entomol. 12: 21-24.

Marini, R. P., D. G. Pfeiffer and D. S. Sowers. 1994. Influence of European red mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) and crop density on fruit size and quality and on crop value of `Delicious' apples. J. Econ. Entomol. 87: 1302-1311.

Kaakeh, W.*, D. G. Pfeiffer and R. P. Marini. 1993. Effect of Aphis spiraecola and Aphis pomi (Homoptera: Aphididae) on the growth of young apple trees. Crop Protect. 12: 141-147.

Pfeiffer, D. G., W. Kaakeh, J. C. Killian, M. W. Lachance and P. Kirsch. 1993. Mating disruption to control damage by leafrollers in Virginia apple orchards. Entomol. Exp. Applic. 67: 47-56.

Pfeiffer, D. G., W. Kaakeh, J. C. Killian, M. W. Lachance and P. Kirsch. 1993. Mating disruption for control of damage by codling moth in Virginia apple orchards. Entomol. Exp. Applic. 67: 57-64.

Kaakeh, W.*, D. G. Pfeiffer and R. P. Marini. 1992. Combined effects of spirea aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) and nitrogen fertilization on net photosynthesis, total chlorophyll content, and greenness of apple leaves. J. Econ. Entomol. 85: 939-946.

Kaakeh, W.*, D. G. Pfeiffer and R. P. Marini. 1992. Combined effects of spirea aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) and nitrogen fertilization on shoot growth, dry matter accumulation, and carbohydrate concentration in young apple trees. J. Econ. Entomol. 85: 496-506.

Despins, J. L.*, E. C. Turner and D. G. Pfeiffer. 1991. Evaluation of methods to protect poultry house insulation from infestations by lesser mealworm (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). J. Agric. Entomol. 8: 209-217.

Pfeiffer, D. G., J. C. Killian, E. G. Rajotte, L. A. Hull and J. W. Snow. 1991. Mating disruption for reduction of damage by lesser peachtree borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) in Virginia and Pennsylvania peach orchards. J. Econ. Entomol. 84: 218-223.

Campbell, R. J. , K. N. Mobley, R. P. Marini and D. G. Pfeiffer. 1990. Growing conditions alter the relationship between SPAD-501 values and apple leaf chlorophyll. HortScience 25: 330-331.

Varn, M.* and D. G. Pfeiffer. 1989. Effect of rosy apple aphid and spirea aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) on dry matter accumulation and carbohydrate concentration in young apple trees. J. Econ. Entomol. 82: 565-569.

Boucher, T. J.* and D. G. Pfeiffer. 1989. Influence of Japanese beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) foliar feeding on `Seyval Blanc' grapevines in Virginia. J. Econ. Entomol. 82: 220-225.

Pfeiffer, D. G., M. W. Brown and M. W. Varn*. 1989. Incidence of spirea aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) in apple orchards in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. J. Entomol. Sci. 24: 145-149.

Pfeiffer, D. G. and J. C. Killian. 1988. Disruption of olfactory communication in oriental fruit moth and lesser appleworm in Virginia peach orchard. J. Agric. Entomol. 5: 235-239.

Boucher, T. J.*, D. G. Pfeiffer, J. A. Barden and J. M. Williams. 1987. Effects of simulated insect injury on net photosynthesis of potted grapevines. HortScience 22: 927-928.

Pfeiffer, D. G. and S. W. Pfeiffer. 1986. Relative susceptibility to slide-dip application of cyhexatin in three populations of Panonychus ulmi (Koch) in Virginia apple orchards. J. Agric. Entomol. 3: 326-328.

Pfeiffer, D. G. 1986. Effects of field applications of paraquat on densities of Panonychus ulmi (Koch) and Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman). J. Agric. Entomol. 3: 322-325.

Pfeiffer, D. G. 1986. Arytainilla spartiophila (Foerster) (Homoptera: Psyllidae) on Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link in Virginia: First record in eastern North America. J. Entomol. Sci. 21: 214-218.

Pfeiffer, D. G. 1985. Toxicity of avermectin B₁ to San Jose scale (Homoptera: Diaspididae) crawlers, and effects on orchard mites by crawler sprays versus full-season applications. J. Econ. Entomol. 78: 1421-1424.

Pfeiffer, D. G. 1985. Pheromone trapping of males and prediction of crawler emergence for San Jose scale (Homoptera: Diaspididae) in Virginia apple orchards. J. Entomol. Sci. 20: 351-353.

Pfeiffer, D. G. and E. C. Burts. 1984. Effect of tree fertilization on protein and free amino acid content and feeding rate of pear psylla (Homoptera: Psyllidae). Environ. Entomol. 13: 1487-1490.

Pfeiffer, D. G. and E. C. Burts. 1983. Effect of tree fertilization on numbers and development of pear psylla (Homoptera: Psyllidae), and on fruit damage. Environ. Entomol. 12: 895-901.

Pfeiffer, D. G. and R. C. Axtell. 1980. Coleoptera of poultry manure in caged-layer houses in North Carolina. Environ. Entomol. 9: 21-28.

Gentile, A. G., A. W. Vaughan and D. G. Pfeiffer. 1978. Cucumber pollen germination and tube elongation inhibited or reduced by pesticides and adjuvants. Environ. Entomol. 7: 689-691.

Hagedorn, H. H., S. Turner, E. A. Hagedorn, D. Pontecorvo, P. Greenbaum, D. Pfeiffer, G. Wheelock and T. R. Flanagan. 1977. Postemergence growth of the ovarian follicles of Aedes aegypti. J. Insect Physiol. 23: 203-206.

Extension Publications

Pfeiffer, D. G. (Bulletin Coordinator since 1988), J. C. Bergh, R. D. Fell, C. R. R. Hooks, R. Yuan, C. S. Walsh, K. S. Yoder, A. R. Biggs, J. B. Kotcon, J. F. Derr, R. S. Chandran, M. J. Weaver, A. Brown and J. Parkhurst. 2012. 2012 Spray Bulletin for Commercial Tree Fruit Growers. Va. Coop. Ext. Publ. 456-419. (A regional publication between Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland; hard copy $12.60, Extension Distribution Center)

Pfeiffer, D. G., K. S. Yoder and C. Bergh. 2012. Commercial Small Fruits: Disease and Insects. p. 2-1 - 2-16 In: 2012 Pest Management Guide for Horticultural and Forest Crops. Va. Coop. Ext. Pub. 456-017. (hard copy $6.00 plus $5.27 shipping for individual copies, Extension Distribution Center)) (Ordering information for Pest Management Guides)

Pfeiffer, D. G., A. B. Baudoin and J. C. Bergh. 2012. Grapes: Diseases, Insects, and Weeds. p. 3-1 - 3-18. In: 2012 Pest Management Guide for Horticultural and Forest Crops. Va. Coop. Ext. Pub. 456-017. (hard copy $6.00 plus $5.27 shipping for individual copies, Extension Distribution Center)) (Ordering information for Pest Management Guides)

Yoder, K. S., D. G. Pfeiffer and J. C. Bergh. 2012. Home Fruit: Diseases and Insects. p. 3-1 - 3-22. In: 2012 Pest Management Guide for Home Grounds and Animals. Va. Coop. Ext. Pub. 456-018. (hard copy $5.00 plus $5.27 shipping for individual copies, Extension Distribution Center)) (Ordering information for Pest Management Guides)

Nita, M. (Ed.), (Pathology) T. Sutton (NCSU), M. Nita (VT), (Entomology) H. Burrack (NCSU), D. Pfeiffer (VT), (Weed Sci.) W. Mitchem (NCSU), (Vertebrate and Grape Culture) D. Lockwood (Univ TN), (Pesticide Stewardship & Safety) B. Bellinger (Clemson) and P. Gillebeau (UGa). 2012. 2012 Southeast Regional Bunch Grape Integrated Management Guide. Southeastern Small Fruit Consortium.