Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** this project is designed to further…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** this project is designed to further the development and training of a postdoctoral scholar, gabriel zilnik. The scholar will conduct an independent research program on the wasp trechnites insidiosus. This wasp attacks pear psylla. Pear psylla is the major pest of pears in the pacific northwest. Wasps were captured for release from five countries in europe and asia. The wasp was released in the united states beginning in california in the 1960S. Releases were made in the pacific northwest in the late 1980S. This project has three goals. The first goal is to understand the spread of the wasp throughout the pacific northwest. The second goal is to understand how an infection by a bacterium, wolbachia, affects the wasp and its ability to manage pear psylla numbers. The third goal is to figure out what impact climate change has on the wasp, its bacterial infection, and its ability to manage pear psylla numbers. This project will produce genetic resources for scholars and the public such as a novel genome and cell line. Additional products will include multiple scientific articles and public presentations.