Tasks

Researcher in the working group “Entomology in fruit crops” Participation in the project „Die Kirschessigfliege in Deutschland - Möglichkeiten zur Bekämpfung" (Spotted Wing Drosophila in Germany – Possibilities for its control)

• Development of innovative strategies for spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) management including species-specific attractive or repellent natural compounds and pathogenic microorganisms
• Comparative microbiome studies for SWD host-fruits via metabarcoding and HTS
• Effects of viruses on SWD fitness
• Role of the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia in SWD physiology