Russell Groves
he/him
Professor and Extension Specialist
Interests: Vegetable crops IPM, insects in relation to plant disease, resistance management
(608) 262-3229
840 Russell Labs
1630 Linden Dr
Madison, WI 53706
Faculty Profile
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Affiliations
- Co-State Liaison, Inter-Regional Research Project 4, (IR-4) Federal Project, Minor Crops Pest Management (2006-Present).
- Wisconsin Eco-Potato Collaboration (WWF, WPVGA, &UW), Advisory Committee and Executive Committee (2006-Present).
- Faculty Co-Director, Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin (2009-2012). http://www.cias.wisc.edu
Program Information
As a Vegetable Extension Specialist (65%) and Applied Insect Ecologist (35%) in the Department of Entomology at the University of Wisconsin, my responsibilities include the development, implementation, and delivery of a research-based, extension program to support integrated pest management of insect and mite pests affecting fresh-market and processing vegetable production in Wisconsin.
My extension and research program is centered on the ecology and management of insects of commercial and fresh market vegetable crops. To meet current and emerging challenges, novel research approaches are formulated in response to the stated needs of Wisconsin vegetable growers and producers, cooperating statewide and regional Extension Specialists, County Extension Agricultural Agents, pest management practitioners, crop consultants, and other agribusiness stakeholders in order to assess immediate and developing pest problems. Next, my research program tests hypotheses that further the understanding of pest population biology based on sound ecological principles derived from a combination of both field and laboratory research. Here, it is essential to balance the development of short-term solutions to these immediate and emerging problems, which out of necessity may require purely empirical and at times ad hoc approaches, with research to develop fundamental concepts and knowledge that will lead to the development of long-term sustainable solutions. Solutions and strategies developed for the commercial and fresh-market vegetable industry must be durable, economical and both environmentally and socially acceptable to remain effective against key, vegetable pest species affecting the industry.
As an extension educator, it is my goal to create an environment conducive to learning and information exchange where vegetable industry stakeholders can be motivated to acquire new information, concepts and skills. A successful extension and research program is most often the result of a team of collaborators working together. My extension and applied research-based program collaborates with research and extension faculty within the departments of Entomology, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, and Crop Science at the University of Wisconsin as well as scientists from other institutions.
Publications
Online Profiles
Recent Publications
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Current biology : CB. pmid:42407438, doi:10.1016/j.cub.2026.06.002
A central challenge in predicting biological responses to climate change is bridging the mismatch between coarse changes in climate and the fine-scale environments organisms experience.¹^(,)² Behavior plays a crucial, understudied role in bridging these scales. For small ectotherms like pollinating insects, behavioral responses to microclimate variation can buffer or amplify thermal exposure, generating temperature differences that meet or exceed mean climate warming.³^(,)⁴^(,)⁵^(,)⁶^(,)⁷…
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Pest management science. pmid:42410328, doi:10.1002/ps.71109
BACKGROUND Crop pests can significantly damage crops, cause economic loss, and reduce the sustainability of agroecosystems. Control of pests is challenging because of the development of pesticide resistance, increasing environmental variation, the continual emergence of invasive pests, and growing demand for sustainable production. New ecoinformatic approaches are needed to understand the drivers of pest population dynamics and improve pest management practices. Here we analyze spatiotemporal…
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Pest management science. pmid:42316476, doi:10.1002/ps.71027
CONCLUSION: These findings support the presence of phenotypic cross-resistance in L. decemlineata, however, transcriptomic analyses of a subset of metabolic detoxification genes did not reveal consistent expression patterns across populations, treatments, or doses, limiting definitive inference about the contribution of detoxification pathways to this response. Variation seen here in gene expression across populations underscores the complexity of resistance evolution and the need for further…
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Pest management science. pmid:41126596, doi:10.1002/ps.70294
CONCLUSION: Optimal timing and frequency of ledprona applications are critical for effective CPB control in potato. Our findings indicated that the phenology of the CPB infestation will need to be monitored closely early in the season to enable proper timing of the first ledprona application. We offer practical insights for how best to integrate dsRNA-based insecticides into season-long CPB management programs. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.
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BMC biology. pmid:41039468, pmc:PMC12492533, doi:10.1186/s12915-025-02408-3
CONCLUSIONS: Diapause in the Colorado potato beetle is associated with changes in lipid composition in the fat body, which is mediated through changes at the transcriptome and proteome levels.
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Plant disease. pmid:40296283, doi:10.1094/PDIS-11-24-2453-RE
Potato virus Y (PVY), potato mop-top virus (PMTV), potato virus S (PVS), and tobacco rattle virus (TRV) can be difficult to identify based on visual foliar symptoms. Using tuber samples collected from seven locations and 12 cultivars during 2017 to 2019, we developed a molecular assay using customized Whatman Flinders Technology Associates Plantsaver cards (FTA cards) and a reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) for efficient sample collection and nucleic acid extraction. PMTV and PVY were detected…
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Plant disease. pmid:40296282, doi:10.1094/PDIS-11-24-2454-RE
To reduce reliance on time consuming postharvest seed potato grow outs, a Whatman Flinders Technology Associates Plantsaver Cards (FTA)-based pathogen detection protocol based on dormant tubers was developed for four potato viruses. Viruses tested included potato virus Y (PVY), potato virus S (PVS), potato mop-top virus (PMTV), and tobacco rattle virus (TRV). Viruses were also detected from potato tubers, sprouts, and leaves using different experimental test methods and sample collection timings…
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Frontiers in microbiology. pmid:37025631, pmc:PMC10072269, doi:10.3389/fmicb.2023.1102523
BACKGROUND: Soil-derived prokaryotic gut communities of the Japanese beetle Popillia japonica Newman (JB) larval gut include heterotrophic, ammonia-oxidizing, and methanogenic microbes potentially capable of promoting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, no research has directly explored GHG emissions or the eukaryotic microbiota associated with the larval gut of this invasive species. In particular, fungi are frequently associated with the insect gut where they produce digestive enzymes and…
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. pmid:36067290, pmc:PMC9477387, doi:10.1073/pnas.2203230119
Overwintering success is an important determinant of arthropod populations that must be considered as climate change continues to influence the spatiotemporal population dynamics of agricultural pests. Using a long-term monitoring database and biologically relevant overwintering zones, we modeled the annual and seasonal population dynamics of a common pest, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), based on three overwintering suitability zones throughout North America using four decades of soil temperatures:…
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Scientific reports. pmid:35595751, pmc:PMC9122940, doi:10.1038/s41598-022-11750-3
Hemipteran insects are ubiquitous inhabitants of the phyllosphere. Changes in microbial phyllosphere communities have recently been demonstrated following infestation by Macrosteles quadrilineatus (Aster Leafhopper). Although epiphytic Salmonella enterica populations naturally decline in the phyllosphere of plants, M. quadrilineatus infestation facilitated the growth of the bacterial pathogen populations. Here, we demonstrate that cellular damage by insect stylet penetration results in a…
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Pest management science. pmid:33817958, pmc:PMC8252485, doi:10.1002/ps.6393
CONCLUSION: The results suggest the genetic response of these populations may be partially linked to geographic location and corresponding management practices. © 2021 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Insect biochemistry and molecular biology. pmid:33610660, doi:10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103549
Calcium (Ca²^(+)) regulates many cellular and physiological processes from development to reproduction. Ca²^(+) is also an important factor in the metabolism of lipids, the primary energy source used during insect starvation and diapause. Ca^(2+) signaling proteins bind to Ca^(2+) and maintain intracellular Ca^(2+) levels. However, knowledge about Ca^(2+) signaling proteins is mostly restricted to the model Drosophila melanogaster and the response of Ca^(2+) signaling genes to starvation or…
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PloS one. pmid:33606799, pmc:PMC7895381, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0247325
The human enteric bacterial pathogen Salmonella enterica causes approximately 1.35 million cases of food borne illnesses annually in the United States. Of these salmonellosis cases, almost half are derived from the consumption of fresh, raw produce. Although epiphytic S. enterica populations naturally decline in the phyllosphere, a subset of phytophagous insects have recently been identified as biological multipliers, consequently facilitating the growth of bacterial populations. We investigated…
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PloS one. pmid:33539350, pmc:PMC7861454, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0239956
Aster Yellows phytoplasma (AYp; ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’) is an obligate bacterial pathogen that is the causative agent of multiple diseases in herbaceous plants. While this phytoplasma has been examined in depth for its disease characteristics, knowledge about the spatial and temporal dynamics of pathogen spread is lacking. The phytoplasma is found in plant’s phloem and is vectored by leafhoppers (Cicadellidae: Hemiptera), including the aster leafhopper, Macrosteles quadrilineatus…
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Archives of insect biochemistry and physiology. pmid:33118236, doi:10.1002/arch.21755
Molecular chaperones are crucial for the correct folding of newly synthesized polypeptides, in particular, under stress conditions. Various studies have revealed the involvement of molecular chaperones, such as heat shock proteins, in diapause maintenance and starvation; however, the role of other chaperones in diapause and starvation relatively is unknown. In the current study, we identified two lectin-type chaperones with calcium affinity, a calreticulin (LdCrT) and a calnexin (LdCnX), that…
Selected Publications
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Presentations
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Teaching
Courses Taught
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Honors and Awards
- 2001 – Kenneth R. Keller, Outstanding Doctoral Research Award. CALS-NCSU, Raleigh, NC.
- 2001 – John Henry Comstock Award, Entomological Society of America Southeastern Branch.
- 2009 – Researcher of the Year, Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, Antigo, WI
- 2011 – Midwest Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement. National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Chicago, IL.
- 2011 – Team/ Workgroup Leadership and Responsiveness Award. ANRE, Wisconsin Dells, WI.
- 2011 – Outstanding National Extension Project Award. Potato Association of America, 95th Annual PAA Meeting.
- 2013 – Pound Extension Award, University of Wisconsin, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Madison, WI
- 2014 – Second Mile Award, Wisconsin Association of County Agricultural Extension Agents, La Crosse, WI.
- 2015 – UW ARS Researcher Award, University of Wisconsin, Agricultural Research Stations, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
- 2016 – University of Arkansas Distinguished Alumnus Award, Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
- 2017 – Wisconsin Seed Potato Industry Leadership Award, Wisconsin Seed Potato Industry Association, January 25, 2017