Leslie Saul-Gershenz

Leslie Saul-Gershenz
University of California, Davis | UCD · John Muir Institute of the Environment

PhD

About

25
Publications
8,823
Reads
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448
Citations
Introduction
Leslie Saul-Gershenz currently is Associate Director of Research of the Wild Energy Initiative, John Muir Institute of the Environment at the University of California, Davis. Leslie does research in Entomology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Chemical Ecology and Pollination Ecology and the nexus of wild ecosystems and renewable energy development.
Additional affiliations
March 2020 - May 2021
United States Department of Agriculture-ARS
Position
  • Researcher
Description
  • Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research Unit 3026 Bee Biology Road; Davis, CA 95616
December 2017 - February 2019
University of California, Davis
Position
  • Lecturer
Description
  • Natural History of Insects, co-taught: for undergraduates (Winter 2018, Winter 2019).
August 2010 - April 2020
University of California, Davis
Position
  • Parasitoid host-switching across a complex geographic mosaic

Publications

Publications (25)
Article
Full-text available
A network of scientists involved in shipment of live insects has met and generated a series of articles on issues related to live insect transport. The network is diverse, covering large-scale commercial interests, government operated area-wide control programmes, biomedical research and many smaller applications, in research, education and private...
Article
Informal science education institutions such as zoos, natural history museums and botanical gardens exhibit live native and exotic insects and other arthropods to improve the general public's knowledge about these organisms and promote their conservation in nature. The purpose of this paper is to summarise the process of shipping exotic arthropods...
Article
Full-text available
The purpose of this study was to assess the ecological knowledge surrounding the western queen butterfly, Danaus gilippus thersippus (H. Bates). Specifically, our objectives were to synthesize existing data and knowledge on the ecology of the queen and use results of this assessment to inform the direction of future research on this understudied sp...
Article
Full-text available
Butterfly-host plant relationships can inform our understanding of ecological and trophic interactions that contribute to ecosystem function, resiliency, and services. The ecology of danaid-milkweed (Apocynaceae) host plant interactions has been studied in several biomes but is neglected in deserts. Our objective was to determine effects of plant t...
Article
Full-text available
The strategic engineering of solar energy technologies—from individual rooftop modules to large solar energy power plants—can confer significant synergistic outcomes across industrial and ecological boundaries. Here, we propose techno–ecological synergy (TES), a framework for engineering mutually beneficial relationships between technological and e...
Article
Full-text available
1. Solar energy could become the largest energy source by 2050. There is a new model for engineering solar energy systems that maximizes both technological and ecological benefits. 2. Scientists call this type of installation a "techno-ecological synergy," and there are over 15 different types of these installations that can be developed, including...
Article
We recorded video providing the first conclusive evidence that the black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) consumes Mojave milkweed (Asclepias nyctaginifolia) containing phytochemicals in the Ivanpah Valley, Mojave Desert, California, USA. We discuss possible chemical and biological interactions between the black-tailed jackrabbit and Mojave m...
Article
Full-text available
Chemosensory signals play a key role in species recognition and mate location in both invertebrate and vertebrate species. Closely related species often produce similar but distinct signals by varying the ratios or components in pheromone blends to avoid interference in their communication channels and minimize cross-attraction among congeners. How...
Presentation
This talk is about integrating botanical garden plants and education themes that connect plants and insects and other animals together to engage both children and adults. Insects and plants are inseparable in nature. Bees are the primary group that pollinate flowering plants. However there are many other fascinating stories to tell that can change...
Technical Report
Full-text available
Findings 1. Blue vane traps, colored bowl/cup traps and hand-netting along transects are adept at capturing thousands of bee pollinators to biomonitor sensitive ecological responses to perturbation to the insect community. 2. These trapping methods can be integrated and incorporated by solar energy personnel and ecologists into a functioning USSE f...
Conference Paper
We tested several functional traits and analyzed their role in defining cleptoparasite Meloe franciscanus (Coleoptera: Meloidae) host range across its geographic mosaic. Meloe franciscanus larvae cooperate to preempt the chemical communication system of its host bee by mimicking the sex pheromone of its female bee (Saul-Gershenz and Millar 2006). C...
Article
This chapter discusses insectariums around the world and their importance. Insect zoos, exhibits that display live insects and arthropods to the general public, have gained recognition for their broad appeal and enormous educational value. Insects represent the majority of terrestrial species on earth and display a dazzling diversity of lifestyles,...
Chapter
This chapter defines insect zoos and butterfly houses and describes their value to public education. It also gives a detailed history of insectariums worldwide from 1797 to the publication date. Included in the chapter is a list of major insectariums worldwide with their date of establishment.
Article
Full-text available
Cooperative behaviors are common among social insects such as bees, wasps, ants, and termites, but they have not been reported from insect species that use aggressive mimicry to manipulate and exploit prey or hosts. Here we show that larval aggregations of the blister beetle Meloe franciscanus, which parasitize nests of the solitary bee Habropoda p...
Article
Full-text available
One male specimen of Pedilus punctulatus LeConte, 1851 and one male specimen of Pedilus inconspicuus (Horn 1874) (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae) were found firmly attached to two different dorsal intersegmental membranes on the abdomen of a male Meloe strigulosus Mannerheim, 1852. These two species, represent new records of Pedilus Fischer von Waldheim,...
Technical Report
Abstract.-- We conducted a study of the primary flower visitors of the endangered plant Cordylanthus palmatus (Ferris) MacBr. at the Springtown Wetlands Reserves. Lasioglossum spp. represented 96% of bees observed visiting C. palmatus during timed observations in 18-five minute trials conducted over a thirty day period from Jun through Jul. Bombus...
Article
Full-text available
The life cycles of parasites often involve complex behavioural and morphological adaptations in order to find a host. Here we report a remarkable mode of host-finding by the blister beetle Meloe franciscanus, in which young larvae aggregate together on vegetation to mimic the appearance of a female bee, luring male bees to land on them and collect...
Article
Full-text available
SYNOPSIS. Four adult females of the katydid Lirometopum coronatum Scudder (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Copiphorinae) were collected at night near the Old Lab building at Finca La Selva Research Station in Costa Rica 12–14 April 1983. From laboratory observations, this katydid appears to be primarily nocturnal and carnivorous. These and subsequent ge...
Article
Thecontemporary paradigm in ecol- ogy,patch dynamicsanditslogicalcom- panions, ecosystemandlandscapeecol- ogy, quite recently has received signifi- cant attention in the ecological and con- servation literature (e.g., Botkin 1990, Gosselink et al. 1990,Keiter and Boyce 1991, Pulliarn and Danielson 1991, Salwasser 1991, Walker 1992, among many other...

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