Extension Educator
220-C Agricultural Biotechnology Laboratory
Department of Plant Science, Unit 4163
University of Connecticut
1390 Storrs Road
Storrs, Connecticut 06269-4163

telephone: (860) 486-6448
fax: (860) 486-0534
email: Donna.Ellis@uconn.edu

   M. S. 1996, University of Connecticut
   B. S. 1979, University of Rhode Island

Courses taught:

  No teaching responsibilities.

I conduct applied research and educational outreach programs in Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Subject areas within IPM include invasive non-native plants (identification, management and selection of non-invasive alternatives), biological control, and detection of new or recently introduced plant pests. 

I initiated the Purple Loosestrife Biological Control Program in Connecticut in 1996 and continue to coordinate and conduct all statewide program activities for this invasive non-native plant. We have introduced more than 200,000 purple loosestrife biological control agents in 27 wetland locations throughout Connecticut and conduct long-term monitoring studies to determine impacts by the natural enemies on purple loosestrife populations. We have been rearing purple loosestrife biological control agents (Galerucella calmariensis and G. pusilla leaf-feeding beetles) at the University of Connecticut Plant Science Research and Teaching Facility since 1999. These beneficial insect introductions are part of long-term biological control efforts in the U.S. to reduce purple loosestrife populations in wetland ecosystems. Information on purple loosestrife biological control and Integrated Pest Management can be found on the University of Connecticut IPM web site (www.hort.uconn.edu/ipm).

Educational outreach on IPM, invasive plants and biological control is a vital part of my program. I co-founded the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) in 1997 and continue to serve as Co-Chairperson. The goal of this statewide group is to promote awareness of invasive plant issues and our focus is on education. The CIPWG website (www.eeb.uconn.edu/cipwg) was launched in 2000. Our membership includes representatives from Federal and State agencies, universities, conservation-related organizations, interest groups and the general public. In addition to the web site we developed fact sheets, color posters and a management guide for invasive plants. We are also working on recommendations of alternative plants to use in the garden or landscape as substitutes for invasive species.

We recently began to enhance IPM and environmental education by working with schoolteachers and science consultants to develop school curricula units that teach the principals of IPM. The curricula units emphasize the relevance of basic science in IPM and show responses to environmental problems. The IPM units will be developed for a variety of student age groups and will be made available to teachers, accompanied by resource materials such as CDs, workbooks and videos.

I serve as Connecticut State Survey Coordinator for the USDA APHIS Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) program. CAPS program activities include survey and applied research projects for exotic pest and beneficial organisms in agriculture and minimally managed habitats. 

One of my ongoing projects with USDA APHIS is to evaluate beneficial insects for control of silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia argentifolii), also known as the sweet potato whitefly, a serious pest of poinsettias and tomatoes. We have conducted research in the greenhouse on two biological control agents, a predatory beetle (Serangium parcesetosum) and a parasitic wasp (Encarsia formosa Nile Delta strain).