In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Mark Hoddle of University of California Riverside. They discuss some of Mark's worldly adventures while trying to track down biological control agents and his work with the South American palm weevil.

Additional Resources

Entomology's Indiana Jones

Biocontrol lab

Center for Invasive Species

South American Palm Weevil

Time Stamps

(00:00) Introduction to Dr. Mark Hoddle

(02:43) Mark's Journey into Entomology

(05:50) Transition to Biological Control Agents

(08:34) Diverse Insect Pests and Their Management

(11:54) Adventures in Field Research

(14:40) International Collaborations in Entomology

(17:34) The Importance of Networking in Academia

(20:33) Upcoming Research and Challenges

Skip to the main topic:

(23:55) The South American Palm Weevil and Its Impact

(35:15) The Charismatic Palm Tree and Its Weevil Invader

(36:18) Understanding the South American Palm Weevil

(39:06) The Journey of the Weevil to California

(42:19) The Invasion of Two Weevil Species

(46:55) The Impact of Human Activity on Weevil Spread

(49:40) The Complex Life Cycle of Palm Weevils

(58:04) Culinary Delights: Eating Weevil Larvae

(01:04:44) Flight and Spread of the Palm Weevil

(01:06:34) Understanding Insect Flight Mechanics

Zaworski, E. (Host) Hoddle, M. (Interviewee). S4:E41 (Podcast). The Bug Crusade: Adventures of the Indiana Jones of Entomology Part 1. 11/26/2025. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Chad Hart Ag economist at Iowa State University. They discuss the basics of ag economics, the current state of the ag economy and what the future may hold.

Additional Resources

https://faculty.sites.iastate.edu/chart/extension-presentations

https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/

https://www.card.iastate.edu/

Time Stamps

How to cite the podcast:

Zaworski, E. (Host) Hart, C. (Interviewee). S4:E40 (Podcast). Dr. Doom's Crash Course in Ag Economics Part 2. 11/12/2025. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Chad Hart ag economist at Iowa State University. They discuss the basics of ag economics, the current state of the ag economy and what the future may hold.

Additional Resources

https://faculty.sites.iastate.edu/chart/extension-presentations

https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/

https://www.card.iastate.edu/

Time Stamps

(0:00) Introductions

Skip to the main topic:

(7:08) What is economics?

(9:25) what is the ag economy?

(15:16) How much of a role do pests and diseases play in the ag economy

(29:05) Changes to the ag economy over time

How to cite the podcast:

Zaworski, E. (Host) Hart, C. (Interviewee). S4:E39 (Podcast). Dr. Doom's Crash Course in Ag Economics Part 1. 11/5/2025. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode of alternate hosts Ed Zaworski, Maddle Hendrickson and Chelsea Harbach embrace the spirit of Halloween and discuss the salem witch trials. One possible explaination for the witch hunt is that the people of salem consumed grains infested with a plant disease called ergot. Whatever you believe, join us for a fun conversation shedding light on a historically significant plant disease! Happy Halloween!

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Deb Samac of the USDA-ARS. They discuss the long-overlooked disease of alfalfa, bacterial stem blight.

Additional Resources

https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PHYTO-02-23-0059-R?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed

Time Stamps

(0:00) Introductions

(4:06) Overview of alfalfa production

Skip to the main topic:

(16:30) Bacterial stem blight

(21:33) The role of frost

(25:00) Pathogen differentiation

(30:15) Pseudomonas and ice nucleation

(39:02) Disease management

(49:15) wrap-up

How to cite the podcast:

Zaworski, E. (Host) Samac, D.(Interviewee). S4:E38 (Podcast). Blightmare on Stem Street: Alfalfa Bacterial Stem Blight. 10/22/2025. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Isaac Esquivel of the University of Florida and Dr. Phillip Roberts of the University of Georgia. They discuss a new pest of cotton, the cotton jassid or two-spot leaf hopper, that has very rapidly become a new concern for cotton growers.

Additional Resources

https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/9/966

https://site.extension.uga.edu/colquittag/2025/08/cotton-jassid-two-spotted-cotton-leafhopper-in-georgia/

https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/crop-production/alabama-cotton-jassid-update/

Time Stamps

(0:00) Introducing Our Guests and Their Entomology Journeys

Skip to the main topic:

(5:33) Identifying the New Cotton Pest and Its Damage

(12:52) How the Cotton Jassid Rapidly Invaded the Southeast

(25:13) Managing the Jassid Across Multiple Crop Hosts

(33:13) Exploring Long-Term Solutions and Environmental Influences

(40:20) Essential Advice for Cotton Growers Facing the Jassid

(53:37) Highlighting Agricultural Importance and Team Contributions

How to cite the podcast:

Zaworski, E. (Host) Esquivel, I. and Roberts, P. (Interviewees). S4:E37 (Podcast). A New Threat to Cotton: The Cotton Jassid. 10/8/25. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Adam Ingrao. They discuss Adam's Heroes to hives program and his philosophy on implementing integrated pest management.

Additional Resources

https://miffs.org/heroes-to-hives/

https://miffs.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QvEc6_Hook

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY80cEx15H0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1GuCEK1Hpk

Time Stamps

(0:45) Introductions

(2:23) How did Adam get his start in Entomology

(4:50) Heroes to Hives program

(9:54) How do bees help veterans

(14:10) Do bees benefit from more beekeepers

Skip to the main topic:

(16:43) Integrated pest management discussion begins

(19:11) The IPM triangle

(23:57) Scouting and IPM

(30:50) The 5 Ws of IPM

(35:11) Making an IPM plan

(41:44) Insect damage thresholds

(47:29) Wrap-up

How to cite the podcast:

Zaworski, E. (Host) Ingrao, A. (Interviewee). S4:E36 (Podcast). The IPM Triangle: Making a Plan to Use Integrated Pest Management. 10/1/25. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews the sustainable pest management lab from the university of Hawaii at Manoa, led by Dr. Koon-Hui Wang. Along with graduate students Roshan Paudel, Lauren Braley and Ben Wiseman they discuss various projects the lab is working on across several different crops.

Additional Resources

How to cite the podcast:

Zaworski, E. (Host) Wang, KH, Paudel, R., Braley L. and Wiseman, B.(Interviewees). S4:E35 (Podcast). Island IPM: CTAHR Sustainable Pest Management Part 2. 9/24/25. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.