Individual Listing

SPI
University of California
Riverside, CA 92521

Greenberg, Les

Specialist

College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Entomology


Biography

Research Specialization
I have been involved with the red imported fire ant research and extension program for UC Riverside since the official arrival of the pest in California in 1998. Our objectives include looking for ways to improve monitoring for fire ants and to find replacements for organophosphates and other petsicides that are contaminating runoff water. We are evaluating newer pesticides and biocontrol agents that are not yet available in California. I am also studying flight behavior of the red imported fire ant in California, both in the laboratory and the field. I also study low-toxic control of Argentine ants in urban and agricultural settings, including the use of liquid sugar water baits in bait stations. A recent "hobby" project has been a study in Arizona of the sex pheromone of a slave-making ant.

Degrees

BS Biology 1967

Brooklyn College

MA Biology 1975

City College, NY

PhD Entomology 1981

University of Kansas

Research Area

Control of Argentine ants and red imported fire ants in urban and aricultural environments. Flight behavior of red imported fire ants. The use of ant pheromones and other attractants for enhancing baits. Sex pheromone of the slave making ant, Polyergus breviceps.

Publications

Costa, H.S., L. Greenberg, J.H. Klotz, and M.K. Rust. 2005. Response of Argentine ants and red imported fire ants to permethrin-impregnated plastic strips: foraging rates, colonization of potted soil, and differential mortality. J. Econ. Entomol. 98(6): 2089-2094

Greenberg, L., A. Aliabadi, S. McElfresh, H. Topoff and J. Millar. 2004. Sex pheromone of the slave-making ant, Polyergus breviceps. J. Chem. Ecol. 30(6): 1297-1303.

Greenberg, L., D. Reierson and M.K. Rust. 2003. Fipronil trials in California against the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, using sugar water consumption and mound counts as measures of ant abundance. J. Urban and Agricultural Entomology. 20(4): 221-233.

Peloquin, J.J. and L. Greenberg. 2003. Identification of midgut bacteria from fourth instar red imported fire ant larvae, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Urban and Agricultural Entomology. 20(3): 157-164.

Klotz, J.H., M.K. Rust, D. Gonzalez, L. Greenberg, H. Costa, P. Phillips, C. Gispert, D.A. Reierson and K. Kido. 2003. Directed sprays and liquid baits to manage ants in vineyards and citrus groves. J. Urban and Agricultural Entomology. 20: 31-40.

Greenberg, L. 2003. Fire ants. In: Encyclopedia of Insects. V.H. Resh and R.T. Carde, eds., Academic Press, 414-416.

Klotz, J.H., K. Jetter, L. Greenberg, J. Hamilton, John Kabashima and D.F. Williams. 2003. An insect pest of agricultural, urban and wildlife areas: The red imported fire ant. In: Exotic Pests and Diseases: Biology and Economics for Biosecurity. Daniel A. Sumner, editor. Iowa State Press, pp. 151-166.

Costa, H., L. Greenberg, J. Klotz, and M.K. Rust. 2001. Monitoring the effects of granular insecticides for argentine ant control in nursery settings. J. Urban and Agricultural Entomology. 18: 13-22.

Klotz, J.H., L. Greenberg, C. Amrhein and M.K. Rust. 2000. Toxicity and repellency of borate-sucrose water baits to Argentine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Economic Entomol. 93: 1256-1258.

Klotz, J.H., L. Greenberg and G. Venn. 2000. Evaluation of two hydramethylnon granular baits for control of Argentine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 36: 201-107.

Greenber, L. and J.H. Klotz. 2000. Argentine ant trail pheromone enhances consumption of liquid sucrose solution (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Economic Entomol. 93: 119-122.

Greenberg, L., J. Kabashima, J.H. Klotz and C. Wilen. 1999. The red imported fire ant in California. Pacific Coast Nurseryman. 58: 69-73.

Klotz, J.H., L. Greenberg, B.L. Reid and L. Davis, Jr. 1998. Spatial distribution of colonies in three carpenter ants, Camponotus pennsylvanicus, C. flordanus, and C. laevigatus (Hympenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology. 32: 51-62.

Klotz, J.H., L. Greenberg and E.C. Venn. 1998. Liquid boric acid bait for control of argentinue ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Economic Entomol. 91: 910-914.

Klotz, J.H., L. Greenberg, H.H. Shorey and D.F. Williams. 1997. Alternative control strategies for ants around homes. J. Agric. Entomol. 14: 249-257.