Faculty Profile
Name: Heather McAuslane
Homepage: http://entnem.ifas.ufl.edu/mcauslan.htm
Research Interests:
Interactions between plants and insects; chemical ecology of insects including pheromones

Current Running Projects:
Agricultural - Southern Chinch Bug Chemical Ecology
An undergraduate research position is available in insect chemical ecology. The successful applicant will help investigate the response of southern chinch bug (Blissus insularis), a major pest of St. Augustinegrass, to volatiles produced by aggregations of conspecifics. The overall goals of this research are to: 1) observe the response of adult and nymphal bugs to volatiles produced by chinch bug aggregations, 2) determine whether the attractive volatiles are produced by adult males, females, or both sexes, and 3) identify the components of the aggregation pheromone.

This project will be carried out at UF’s Entomology and Nematology Department in the McAuslane Lab during the Summer of 2009 and may be continued through the Fall semester. This is an unpaid research position, but can be completed for credit through the University of Florida. A summer stipend may also be available to competitive students through application to the University Scholars Program or the CALS Summer Research Internship Program (CALS students only). Interested students should email Dr. Karla Addesso (addesso@ufl.edu) or Dr. Heather McAuslane (hjmca@ufl.edu) with a letter of interest and resume.


Requirements: Students with background and interests in behavior, chemistry and insect pest management are especially encouraged to apply, though all applicants will be considered.

Time Commitment: 5-10 hours/week
Independent Study: Available
Work Study: Not Available
Salary: Available
Volunteer: Available
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Agricultural - Pepper Weevil Feeding Stimulants
An undergraduate research position is available in insect nutritional ecology. The successful applicant will help identify feeding stimulants for the pepper weevil (Anthonomus eugenii), a major pest of sweet and hot peppers. The overall goals of this research are to: 1) develop an effective feeding assay for testing pepper weevil feeding stimulants, and 2) isolate and identify stimulatory compounds in the surface waxes of pepper fruit.

This project will be carried out at UF’s Entomology and Nematology Department in the McAuslane Lab during the Summer of 2009. This is an unpaid research position, but can be completed for credit through the University of Florida. A summer stipend may also be available to competitive students through application to the University Scholars Program or the CALS Summer Research Internship Program (CALS students only). Interested students should email Dr. Karla Addesso (addesso@ufl.edu) or Dr. Heather McAuslane (hjmca@ufl.edu) with a letter of interest and resume.


Requirements: Students with background and interests in nutritional ecology, chemistry and insect pest management are especially encouraged to apply, though all applicants will be considered.

Time Commitment: 5-10 hours/week
Independent Study: Available
Work Study: Not Available
Salary: Available
Volunteer: Available
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