Asha
Rao
Doctoral Student
Department of Entomology
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-2475
(979) 845-4772
asha@tamu.edu
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Biological control of insect pests;
Behavior and physiology of parasites and ants (especially fire
ants);
Molecular genetics of various
biological control agents, plant-insect interactions; and
International agriculture.
CURRENT RESEARCH:
- Interaction of
established native ant colonies with founding fire ant colonies in laboratory
and greenhouse arenas.
- Examination of M. minimum venom’s
effect on fire ant behavior--interaction and foraging.
EDUCATION:
~ (Ph.D.) Currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Department
of Entomology, Texas A & M University (TAMU), College Station, Texas.
~ M.S. (Entomology), TAMU, College Station,
Texas, August 1996.
Thesis Title: Evaluation of
natural enemies of greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) using two approaches
of the insecticidal check method.
~ B.S. (Sericulture), University of
Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India, December 1990.
EMPLOYMENT:
January 1996 to
present:
Graduate Research Assistant for Dr. Bradleigh Vinson, Department of
Entomology, TAMU, College Station, TX.
August to December
1995: Demonstration Assistant
for Dr. Allen Knutson, Department of Entomology, Texas Agriculture and Extension
Services, Dallas, TX.
May 1992 to July
1995:
Graduate Research Assistant for Dr. Frank Gilstrap, Department of Entomology,
TAMU, College Station, TX.
January 1991 to April 1992:
Junior Research Fellow for Dr. M. C. Devaiah, Department of
Sericulture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India.
PRESENTATIONS:
- December 1998: Behavioral modifications in fire ants induced by Monomorium
minimum. XIII International Congress of the International Union for
the Study of Social Insects, Adelaide, Australia.
- November 1998: Behavioral interactions
between established native ant and fire ant founding colonies. National
Meetings of Entomological Society of America, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- April 1998: Impact of native ants on
fire ant colony foundation. 1998 Imported Fire ant Conference, Hot
springs, Arkansas.
- December 1997: Impact of native ant
species on colony foundation and establishment of Solenopsis
invicta. National Meetings of Entomological Society of
America, Nashville, Tennessee.
- July 1997: Attack and predation of
Solenopsis invicta colonies by Monomorium minimum workers. The XI
International Entomophagous Insects Workshop, Madison, Wisconsin.
- April 1997: Behavioral response of
founding Solenopsis invicta colonies to Monomorium minimum
workers incursion. 1997 Imported Fire Ant Research Conference,
Gainesville, Florida.
- March 1997: Attraction of an aphid
parasitoid, Aphelinus asychis (Walker) to an insecticide-damaged plant
- A tritrophic interaction. Sixth European Workshop on Insect
Parasitoids, Valencia, Spain.
- March 1997: Interaction of an aphid
parasitoid, Aphelinus asychis (Walker) and an insecticide-treated
plant. Third Annual Research Competition at TAMU, Texas.
- December 1996: Response of the aphid
parasitoid, Aphelinus asychis (Walker) in relation to its host-plant
complex and malathion. National Meetings of Entomological Society of
America, Louisville, Kentucky.
- March 1996: Natural enemy evaluation
of greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) using insecticidal check
method. Second Annual Research Competition at TAMU, Texas.
- December 1995: Evaluation of natural
enemies attacking greenbug using two approaches of the Insecticidal exclusion
method. Nationals Meetings of Entomological Society of America, Las
Vegas, Nevada.
- August 1993: Insecticidal exclusion
studies on natural enemies of greenbug on sorghum. Rocky Mountain
Conference of Entomologists, Rocky Mountain, Colorado.
PUBLICATIONS:
Submitted
- A. Rao, S. B. Vinson, F. E. Gilstrap and G. J. Michels. Response
of an aphid parasitoid, Aphelinus asychis (Walker) to its host, plant,
host-plant complex, and to malathion. Entomol. Exp.
Applicata.
In
preparation
- A. Rao, F. E. Gilstrap, G. J. Michels and S. B. Vinson.
Evaluation of natural enemies of greenbug, Schizaphis graminum
(Rondani) using two approaches of the insecticide check method. J.
Econ. Entomol.
- A. Rao, S. B. Vinson and S. Ellison. Behavioral response of
founding Solenopsis invicta colonies to Monomorium mininum
workers incursion. Environ. Entomol.
AFFILIATIONS:
- 1997 to present: Member of the
International Union for the Study of Social Insects.
- 1995
to1996: Member of Gamma Sigma Delta
The Honor Society of Agriculture.
- 1993 to present: Member of
Entomological Society of America.
- 1993 to present: Member of Entomology
Graduate Student Organization at Texas A & M University, College
Station, Texas.
- 1993 to present: Member of India
Association and International Student Association, Texas A & M
University.
SERVICES &
ACTIVITIES:
- March 1998: Volunteer Judge at the
Brazos Valley Regional Science and Engineering Fair.
- May 1998: Graduate Student
Representative to “Graduate Education Committee” committee, Department of
Entomology, TAMU.
- May 1997 to May 1998: President,
Entomology Graduate Student Organization (EGSO), Texas A & M University.
Graduate Student Representative to “International Programs” committee,
Department of Entomology, TAMU. Organizer of the Fall 1997 Entomology
Departmental Seminar Series, Texas A & M University.
- March 1997: Volunteer Judge at the
Brazos Valley Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Coordinator, “Women
of India - A Presentation”, Women’s Week, Texas A & M University.
- June 1996 to April 1997: Graduate
Student Representative from Department of Entomology to The Graduate Student
Council, TAMU. Treasurer of the Entomology Graduate Student Organization
(EGSO), TAMU. Served on Seminar committee (Organizer of the Spring 1997
Entomology Departmental Seminar Series), “Graduate Students Enhancement
Funds” Scholarship Committee and T-shirt committee, Department of
Entomology, TAMU. Active member of India Association, TAMU. Active member of
International Student Association, TAMU.
- June 1995 to May 1995: Secretary,
Entomology Graduate Student Organization (EGSO)
- April 1995: Volunteer, Helped
administer the 4-H Entomology Contest.
- December 1994: Represented TAMU in Linnaean
Games at Annual meetings of Entomological Society of America, Dallas TX.
Volunteer work at Career Center at the meetings.
- August 1994: Presentation to the College
Hills Elementary School as a part of the “Kids Talk” program, College Station,
Texas.
- March 1994: Represented TAMU in
Linnaean Games at Annual meetings of South-Western Branch Entomological
Society of America, Monterey, Mexico.
AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS:
- Fall 1998: Competitive Scholarship of
$ 300 for travel to “XIII International Congress of the International Union
for the Study of Social Insects,” Adelaide, Australia.
- April 1997: “Certificate of
Recognition for Outstanding Commitment and Service,” Graduate Student Council
, TAMU.
- Spring 1997: Graduate Program
Enhancement Competitive Scholarship of $ 250 for travel to “International
Workshop on Entomophagous Insects,” Madison, Wisconsin, Department of
Entomology, TAMU.
- 1994 to 1997: “Outstanding
Performance Award”, International Talent Show, Texas A & M University.
- December 1996: Graduate Program
Enhancement Competitive Scholarship of $ 500 for publication, Department of
Entomology, TAMU.
- Spring 1996: Graduate Program
Enhancement Competitive Scholarship of $ 150 for use in research, Department
of Entomology, TAMU.
- December 1995: Graduate Program
Enhancement Competitive Scholarship of $ 500 for travel to entomological
meetings, Department of Entomology, TAMU.
- August 1994: Certificate of Honor for
Outstanding Participation in the Entomological Society of America National
Linnaean Games Competition.
- December1994: Certificate of Honor
for Outstanding Participation in the Entomological Society of America
Southwestern Branch Linnaean Games Competition.
- August 1994: Awarded $ 500 by the
Entomological Society of America to travel to Entomological National Meetings
for winning the Southwestern Branch Linnaean Games Competition in Monterey,
Mexico.
- January 1991: Junior Research
Fellowship for 2 years at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore,
India.
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