| Biography | |
|---|---|
 Dr. Mohsen Mohamad Ramadan State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, Plant Pest Control Branch, USA |
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| Title: Top Ten Weeds and Insect Pests Targeted for Biological Control Programs on the State of Hawaii and the Oriental Hawaii, Hainan Island. | |
| Abstract: Non-native noxious weeds and insect pests, have a huge influence on livelihoods, food production, natural ecosystems and biodiversity around the world. The introduction and release of specific natural enemies from the native regions of the pests provides a long term solution for reducing populations of invasive species and minimizes the use of chemical control. Top ten weeds and insects pests targeted for classical biological control in Hawaii and Hainan islands will be discussed with special reference to recent projects on fireweed, Senecio madagascariensis (Asteraceae), Erythrina gall wasp, Quadrastichus erythrinae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), and current collaboration with Hainan, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, on fruit flies, Bactrocera species (Diptera: Tephritidae). | |
| Biography: Dr. Mohsen Mohamad Ramadan is the exploratory entomologist for the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Plant Pest Control Branch, USA. He is responsible for planning and conducting explorations in foreign countries for natural enemies of insect pests and weeds targeted by the branch for suppression. Dr. Ramadan earned his doctorate and master degrees in entomology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and a bachelor degree in entomology from Alexandria University, Egypt. He has conducted research and published extensively in areas related to classical biological control, insect behavior, biology, evaluation of biocontrol agents, and mass rearing of parasitoids for augmentative biocontrol programs. | |
