Wayne Hunter
Specializes in conducting research on IPM technologies using genomic and emerging technologies for the management of invasive and exotic insect pests. Primary research areas have been advances in insect genomics, primarily for Hemipterans; gene expression; discovery of insect viral pathogens, development of virus-based plant protection technologies against plant pathogens and their insect vectors. Serves as a Lead Researcher for glassy-winged sharpshooter and Pierce’s disease of grapes. Member of Pea Aphid Genomic Consortium working group, Founder International Psyllid Genome Consortium, Co-lead on National psyllid genome Initiative (Dr. Bextine, Univ.Texas-Tyler), Steering committee for Parasitoid Nasonia Genomic Consortium, International Whitefly Genomic Consortium, and Lead researcher for Glassy-winged sharpshooter leafhopper Genomics. Has produced and released ETS's for several Hemipteran pest species, the citrus aphid, Toxoptera citricida, melon aphid, Aphis gossypii, Pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, Potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli, Glassy-winged sharpshooter, H. coagulata, Homalodisca vitripennis, Black-winged sharpshooter, Oncometopia nigricans, Blue-green sharpshooter, Graphocephala atropunctata, Pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, Citrus root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus, Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, Parasitoid Nasonia, and Aphid parasitoid, Lysiphlebus testaceipes, and the Fire ant, Solenopsis invictus. These approaches have led to the identification of over 12 new viruses of insects, and help establish a new field of study in ant viral pathogens.
