Professor, Forest Entomology
PhD, Forest Entomology, 1990, University of Minnesota;
MS, Forestry, 1985, Northern Arizona University; BS, Biology, 1981, Northern Arizona University
Contact Information
243 Natural Science
Dept. of Entomology
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1115
Phone: (517) 355-7445
Fax: (517) 353-4354
Email: mccullo6@msu.edu
Courses Taught
- Diseases and Insects of Forest and Shade Trees (BOT/ENT 407)
Program Overview
Dr. McCullough has an active research, extension and teaching program in forest entomology. She works closely with natural resource agencies, Christmas tree growers and private landowners to identify impacts and contributing factors associated with damaging forest insect populations, and to develop long-term management strategies to conserve or enhance forest health. Research interests include invasive forest insect ecology, impacts and management; dynamics of forest insect populations; silvicultural and biological control of forest insect pests; and effects of disturbance on forest insect communities.
Personnel
Post-doctoral research associate
Nathan W. Siegert. Emerald ash borer population dynamics and rate of spread in outlier sites; historical reconstruction of emerald ash borer expansion in southeast Michigan.
Graduate Students and thesis topics
Andrea Anulewicz (M.S.), Dept. of Forestry. Host range and host preference of emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis.
Amy Kearney (M.S.), Dept of Entomology. Impact of beech bark disease on stand composition and wildlife resources in Michigan.
Nancy Schwalm (M.S.), Dept. of Fisheries & Wildlife (co-advisor with Dan Hayes). Rate of spread of the advancing front of beech bark disease in lower and upper Michigan.
Andrew Tzulcek (M.S.), Dept. of Entomology. Effects of host stress and larval density on development of emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis.
Current Research Projects
Emerald Ash Borer Biology, Ecology and Methods to Enhance Survey and Containment Efforts
Our studies address (1) the beetle’s life cycle including factors that influence larval development rate; (2) dispersal distance and pattern; (3) population dynamics and rate of spread; (4) host range and host preference; (5) effectiveness of insecticides for control of adult and larval beetles; (6) detection, survey and trapping technology; and (7) survival of life stages following chipping, debarking and heat treatment.
Spread and Impact of Beech Bark Disease
(1) Field surveys identify the advancing fronts of beech bark disease in lower and upper Michigan; (2) Development of models to predict rate of spread of beech scale over time; (3) Long-term assessment of impacts of beech bark disease on species composition and wildlife habitat in affected stands.
Jack Pine Ecology and Management
Assessing the (1) influence of jack pine budworm defoliation and stand-related factors on jack pine mortality, volume and accumulation of coarse woody debris in northern Michigan; (2) abundance and diversity of carabid ground beetles in young, pole-sized and mature jack pine regenerated after fire, conventional harvest or whole-tree harvest.
Pathways of Invasion of Exotic Plant Pests
Selected Research Publications
McCullough, D.G., T.T. Work, J.F. Cavey, A.T. Liebhold and D. Marshall. 2006. Interceptions of nonindigenous plant pests at U.S. ports of entry and border crossings over a 17 year period. Biological Invasions 8:611-630.
Poland, T.M. and D.G. McCullough. 2006. Emerald ash borer: invasion of the urban forest and the threat to North America’s ash resource. Journal of Forestry 104(3):118-124.
Liebhold, A.M., T.T. Work, D.G. McCullough and J.F. Cavey. 2006. Airline baggage as a pathway for alien insect species entering the United States. American Entomologist 52:48-54.
Cappaert, D., D.G. McCullough, T.M. Poland and N.W. Siegert. 2005. Emerald ash borer in North America: a research and regulatory challenge. American Entomologist 51(3):152-165.
Fondren, K.M. and D.G. McCullough. 2005. Phenology, natural enemies and horticultural oil for control of pine needle scale (Chionapsis heterophylla) (Fitch) (Homoptera: Diaspidae) on Christmas tree plantations. Journal of Economic Entomology 98(5):1603-1613.
Fondren, K.M., D.G. McCullough and A.J. Sommers. 2004. Insect predators and augmentative biological control of balsam twig aphid (Mindarus abietinus) (Homoptera: Aphididae) on Christmas tree plantations. Environmental Entomology 33:1652-1661.
Work, T.T., D.G. McCullough, J.F. Cavey and R. Komsa. 2005. Approach rate of nonindigenous insect species into the United States through cargo pathways.Biological Invasions 7:323-332.
National Research Council, Board of Agriculture and Natural Resources, National Academy of Science. 2002. Predicting Invasions of Nonindigenous Plants and Plant Pests. National Academy Press, Washington, DC. 198 pp.Selected Extension Publications
McCullough, D.G. and J. Zablotney. 2002. Directory of exotic forest insect and disease pests. MSU Extension Bulletin E-2811. 42 p.
McCullough, D.G., R.L. Heyd, J.G. O’Brien and W. Cook. 2000. Beech bark disease. Michigan Society of American Foresters web site. http://forestry.msu.edu/msaf/main%20page/BBdisease.htm
McCullough, D.G., S. Katovich, D. Neumann, D. Mahr, C. Sadof and M. Raupp. 1999. Biological control of insect pests in forested ecosystems: a manual for foresters, Christmas tree growers and landscapers.MSU Bulletin E-2679. 123 p.
McCullough, D.G., S.A. Katovich, M.E. Ostry, and J. Cummings-Carlson. 1998. Christmas Tree Pest Manual. USDA Forest Service and MSU Extension. MSU Bulletin E-2676. 143 pp.