Research interests

Insecticide resistance detection and its management in insects and mites of agricultural significance

Background

Dr Herron supervises the Insecticide Resistance Research Unit located at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle. His research team includes a collaborating Senior Research Scientist in molecular biology (Dr Yizhou Chen), a Senior Technical Officer (Mrs Jeannette Rophail), three Technical Officers (Ms Kate Marshall, Mr Brendan Langfield and Mr Daniel Bogema. He currently leads national research efforts into improved resistance management in cotton and horticulture for a number of key agricultural pests. These include two-spotted mite (Tetranychus urticae) and western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) n horticulture and cotton; cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) and green mirid (Creontiades dilutus).

Qualifications

• B.Appl.Sc. (1981) NSW Institute of Technology
• Dip.Agri.Ent. (1988) University of Sydney
• Ph.D. (1994) University of Sydney

Current projects

• Consultancy,  Cross-resistance risk of  experimental insecticides against spinosad and fipronil resistant Frankliniella occidentalis 
  
• DAN197, Sustainable chemical control of mirids, aphids and TSM in cotton   

Selected recent publications

Herron, GA and Wilson LJ (2011) Neonicotinoid resistance in Aphis gossypii Glover (Aphididae: Hemiptera) from Australian cotton. Australian Journal of Entomology, 50: 93-98.

Kay IR and Herron GA (2010) Evaluation of existing and new insecticides including spirotetramat and pyridalyl to control Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)(Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on peppers in Queensland. Australian Journal of Entomology, 49: 175-181.

Mo JH, Stevens M, Liu DL, Herron G (2009) Investigating the Effect of Invasion Characteristics on Onion Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Populations in Onions With a Temperature-Driven Process Model. Environmental Entomology. 38(6):1575-1584.

Broughton S and Herron GA (2009) Management of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergandae)(Thysanoptera, Thripidae) on strawberries. General and Applied Entomology, 38: 37-42

Broughton S and Herron GA (2009) Potential new insectides for the control of western flower thrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) on sweet pepper, tomato and lettuce. Journal of Economic Entomology, 102: 646-651

Xue YG, Beattie GAC, Meats A, Spooner-Hart R, Herron GA (2009) Relative toxicity of nC24 agricultural mineral oil to Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and its possible relationship to egg ultrastructure. Australian Journal of Entomology. 48(Part 3):251-257.

Xue YG, Beattie GAC, Meats A, Spooner-Hart R, Herron GA (2009) Impact of nC24 agricultural mineral oil deposits on the searching efficiency and predation rate of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Australian Journal of Entomology. 48(Part 3):258-264.

McLoon MO and Herron GA (2009) PCR detection of Pirimicarb resistance in Australian field isolates of Aphis gossypii Glover (Aphididae: Hemiptera). Australian Journal of Entomology, 48: 65-72.

Herron GA, James TM, Rophail J. and Mo J (2008) Australian populations of onion thrips Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) are resistant to some chemicals used for their control. Australian Journal of Entomology, 47: 361-364

Thalavaisundaram S, Herron GA, Clift AD and Rose H (2008) Pyrethroid resistance in Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)(Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and implications for its management in Australia. Australian Journal of Entomology 47: 64-69

Broughton S and Herron GA (2007) Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) chemical control: insecticide efficacy associated with the three consecutive spray strategy Australian Journal of Entomology 46, 140-145

Herron GA and James TM (2007) Insecticide Resistance in Australian Populations of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) General and Applied Entomology 36, 1-5

Herron GA, Broughton S and Clift AD (2007) Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) chemical control: residues associated with the three consecutive spray strategy Australian Journal of Entomology 46, 146-151.

Herron GA, Rophail J and James TM (2006) A method to bioassay onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) for pesticide response. General and Applied Entomology, 35: 15-19.

Herron G and James T (2005) Monitoring insecticide resistance in Australian Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) detects fipronil and spinosad resistance. The Australian Journal of Entomology 44, 299-303

Herron GA, Rophail J and Wilson L (2004) Chlorfenapyr resistance in two-spotted spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) from Australian cotton. Experimental & Applied Acarology, 34:315-321.

Herron GA, Gullick G, and Holloway J (2004) Amparo®: a new cotton seed-dressing mixture of imidacloprid and thiodicarb. General and Applied Entomology, 33: 25-28.

Herron GA, Rophail J, (2003) First detection of chlorfenapyr (Secure (R)) resistance in two-spotted spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) from nectarines in an Australian orchard following a single application of product to nectarines. Experimental & Applied Acarology, 31:131-134

Herron GA, Gullick GC and Powis K (2003) Cross-resistance studies in cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover from Australian cotton. General and Applied Entomology, 32: 13-19.

Herron GA, Rophail J, Holloway J and Barchia I (2003) Potentiation of a propargite and fenpyroximate mixture against two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) Experimental and Applied Acarology 29: 115-119.

Spooner-Hart RN and Herron GA (2003) Laboratory based relative pesticide efficacy against cyclamen mite, Phytonemus pallidus (Banks)(Acari: Tarsonemidae). General and Applied Entomology, 32: 61-64.

Barchia IM, Herron GA and Gilmour AR (2003) Use of a generalised linear mixed model to reduce excessive heterogeneity in petroleum spray oil bioassay data. Journal of Economic Entomology 96 (3): 983-989.

Professional associations and activities

• Member of the NSW Entomological Society     
• Member of the Australian Entomological Society         
• Technical Editor, the Australian Journal of Entomology
• Editorial Board Member, General and Applied Entomology
• Editorial Board Member,  Experimental and Applied Acarology
• Adjunct Research Fellow, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury       

Fields of Research

• 070308 Crop and Pasture Protection (Pests, diseases and weeds)

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

Keyword/phrase list of research interests

Plant protection > Entomology > Insecticide resistance