Crystal HomiczUniversity of California, Davis | UCD · Department of Entomology
Crystal Homicz
Bachelor of Science
About
5
Publications
852
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Citations
Introduction
I am currently a PhD student at UC Davis advised by Dr. Chris Fettig. My dissertation research is focused on western pine beetle and red turpentine beetle interactions with forest disturbances such as drought, wildfire and prescribed fire. I find landscape level interactions especially interesting and increasingly important to understand. I am also interested in the chemical ecology of western pine beetle and the development of an effective repellent.
Additional affiliations
September 2019 - present
April 2017 - December 2018
Position
- Research Assistant
Description
- Conducted undergraduate research on host selection by walnut twig beetle (Pithyophthorus juglandis).
September 2019 - present
Position
- Graudate Student
Description
- My graduate research focuses on fire and bark beetle interactions, specifically how bark beetles influence tree mortality post-fire.
Education
August 2013 - December 2018
Publications
Publications (5)
Western pine beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte) is a major cause of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex. Laws.) mortality in western North America. Twenty-first century epidemics are among the largest in history and have affected hundreds of thousands of hectares. We synthesize literature on the chemical ecology of western pine beetle a...
Purpose of Review: Fire and insects are major disturbances in North American forests. We reviewed literature on the effects of fire on bark beetles, defoliators, and pollinators, as well as on the effects of bark beetle and defoliator epidemics on fuels and wildfires.
Recent Findings: Fire has direct and indirect effects on insects, but our unders...
The western pine beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte (Coleoptera:
Curculionidae, Scolytinae), is a bark beetle native to parts of western North
America. The beetle colonizes and kills ponderosa (Pinus ponderosa) and Coulter
(P. coulteri) pines. Western pine beetle prefers to colonize larger diameter trees (>20 inches [50 centimeters (cm)] diame...
1. Host selection behaviour of the walnut twig beetle (WTB) among hardwood trees was investigated in a riparian forest in northern California by monitoring the landing rate of the beetle with sticky traps on branches baited with 3‐methyl‐2‐buten‐1‐ol, the male‐produced aggregation pheromone.
2. The assay was conducted over 7 days (22 May to 29 May...
• The host selection behaviour of the walnut twig beetle, Pityophthorus juglandis , was assessed by monitoring the landing rates of the beetles with sticky sheet traps on the host and nonhost hardwood branches.
• Sticky sheet traps were deployed for 8 weeks from 6 June to 2 August. 2017 in the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve, Davis, CA . Branches from...
