Contact Information
Address:
444 Russell Laboratories
Department of Entomology
1630 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Phone Number:
(608)
263-0964
FAX:
(608) 262-3322
E-Mail:
My research interests combine the following fields of study: Entomology, horticulture, and landscape architecture. In general, I am interested in how we can manipulate plant communities to enhance beneficial insect populations and improve ecosystem services in urban areas. I am also interested in whether beneficial insect populations change across and urban to rural gradient. In the future, I hope to apply the results of my research to the design and planning of urban areas.
Native Plants, Diversity, and Beneficial Insects
I am examining how flower diversity influences beneficial insect populations in urban areas. I will be collecting data on the attractiveness of individual species as well as the effect of flower diversity on beneficial insect populations. I also will measure the impact of flower diversity on pest populations by measuring predation and parasitism by natural enemies. By increasing plant diversity, I anticipate beneficial insect abundance and diversity also will increase, improving ecosystem services like pest suppression and pollination in urban landscapes.
 |
|---|
 |
Greenspace, Hardscape, and Beneficial Insects
In addition to investigating the effects of habitat diversity on beneficial insects, I am also interested in how insect populations may vary across an urban to rural gradient. If beneficial insect populations are different between urban and rural areas, I would like to identify factors in the urban environment like fragmentation and hardscape that may be contributing to the differences in insect populations. Identifying factors in the urban landscape that may be altering insect communities could improve future design and planning of urban areas.
 |
B.S. (2000) Department of Biology, Millikin University, Decatur, IL. Secondary concentrations in Chemistry and Political Science.
M.S. (2003) Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL. Dr. L. M. Hanks, Advisor. Thesis topic: Conservation biological control of pine needle scale (Homoptera: Diaspididae) in ornamental landscapes.
PhD. (2004-expected 2008) Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI. Dr. C. Gratton, Advisor. Thesis topic: Enhancing beneficial insect populations in urban landscapes.
Employment/Teaching Experience
Laboratory teaching assistant, Biology 104: Animal Biology. University of Illinois.
Fall 2000, Fall 2001
Laboratory teaching assistant, Biology 120: Genetics, Evolutions and Biodiversity. University of Illinois, Spring 2001.
Quiz writer and grader, Biology 120: Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity. University of Illinois, Spring 2002.
Exam grader, Integrated Biology 385: Toxic Substances in the Environment. University of Illinois, Spring 2003.
Guest lecturer, Integrated Biology 385: Toxic Substances in the Environment: “Water Pollutions, Persistence, and Bioaccumulation” and “Hazardous Waste Disposal”. University of Illinois, Spring 2003.
Laboratory teaching assistant, Entomology 319: Fundamentals of Insect Pest Management. University of Illinois, Fall 2003.
Guest lecturer, Entomology 319: Fundamentals of Insect Pest Management: “IPM of Christmas Trees.” University of Illinois, December 2003.
Laboratory teaching assistant, Integrated Biology 202: Form and Function. University of Illinois, Spring 2004.
Master’s Thesis Title: Conservation biological control of pine needle scale (Homoptera: Diaspididae) in ornamental landscapes.
Ellis J.A., A.D. Watler, J.F. Tooker, M.D. Ginzel, P.F. Reagel, E.S. Lacey, A.B. Bennett, E.M. Grossman, L.M. Hanks. Conservation biological control in urban landscapes: Manipulating parasitoids of bagworms (Lepidoptera:Psycidae) with flowering forbs. Biological Control 34: 99-107.
Invited Presentations
Bennett, A.B., L.M. Hanks, and C.S. Sadof. “Conservation biological control of pine needle scale”. Conservation biological control in ornamental landscapes. 58th annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America North Central Branch, Madison, WI, March 2003.Contributed Presentations
Bennett, A.B., J.F. Tooker, M.D. Ginzel, L.M. Hanks, and C.S. Sadof. “Manipulating natural enemies in ornamental landscapes with flowering forbs.” Entomological Society of America annual meeting, San Diego, CA, December 2001.Bennett, A.B., L.M. Hanks, and C.S. Sadof. “Manipulating floral density in ornamental landscapes to encourage natural enemies of herbivorous insects.” Entomological Society of America annual meeting, Fort Lauderdale, FL, November 2002.
Bennett, A. B., L.M. Hanks, and C.S. Sadof. “Manipulating floral density in ornamental landscapes to encourage natural enemies of herbivorous insects.” 88th annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Savannah, GA, August 2003.
Bennett, A.B. L.M. Hanks, and C.S. Sadof. “Manipulating natural enemies in ornamental landscapes.” Entomological Society of America annual meeting, Cincinnati, OH, November 2003.
Bennett, A.B and L.M. Hanks. “Evaluation of native plant species as floral resources for parasitoids and other pollinators. Salt Lake City, UT, November 2004.
Bennett, A.B. and C. Gratton. Attractiveness of native prairie species to beneficial insects. Entomological Society of America annual meeting. Indianapolis, IN, December 2006.
Master’s Thesis Research Grant, Graduate College, UIUC, Spring 2002.
Conference Travel Grant, Graduate College, UIUC, Fall 2003.
The Illinois Native Plant Society Research Fund, Illinois Native Plant Society, Spring 2004.
Coppel Biological Control Scholarship, UW, Fall 2006
Public service
Demonstration of research for the University of Illinois Turf Grass and Landscape Horticulture Field Day, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. 1 August 2002 and 7 August 2003.
Volunteer, Graduate Student Association, public relations committee member. Department of Entomology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL. Spring 2004.
Volunteer, Insect Ambassadors, Insect outreach in elementary schools. Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 2005.
Volunteer, Entomology Graduate Student Association, academic affairs committee member. Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 2006, 2007.
Volunteer, Urban Horticultural Field Day. West Madison Agricultural Field Station, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 18 September, 2007
Presentation of Prairie Insects, Prairie Day, West Middleton Elementary School, Middleton, Wisconsin. 25 September, 2007.
Professional Service
Symposium organizer with E. Rebek, Entomological Society of America North Central Branch meeting: “Conservation Biological Control in Ornamental and Agricultural Landscapes”. March 2004
Softball, volleyball, tennis, golf, scuba diving, hiking, and photographing native prairie plants