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J. Christopher Bergh

Professor
  • Tree Fruit and Grape Entomology
J. Chirstopher Bergh
540-232-6046
  • Fax: 540-869-0862

Education

  • Ph.D., Entomology, 1988, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
  • B.A., Biology, 1980, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada

Professional Experience

  • 2012 – present Professor of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Winchester, Va.
  • 2006 – 2012 Associate Professor of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Winchester, Va.
  • 2000 – 2006 Assistant Professor of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Winchester, Va.
  • 1994 – 2000 Post-Doctoral Research Associate, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, Fla.
  • 1993 – 1994 Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, Nova Scotia
  • 1990 – 1993 Visiting Research Scientist, Agriculture Canada, Summerland, British Columbia
  • 1988 – 1990 Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan.

Professional Memberships

  • Entomological Society of America
  • Virginia Horticultural Society

My research program employs the principles of applied insect ecology to address extant and emerging pest management issues in eastern tree fruits and wine grapes. These projects seek to expand our knowledge of the biology and behavior of pest and beneficial species, toward the refinement of existing monitoring and management technologies and the development and validation of new tactics that will reduce reliance on synthetic pesticides.

Open House Presentation: Crop Protection Entomology in Tree Fruit and Grapes at the AHSAREC 

Projects

Personnel

Current Graduate Students

  • Whitney Hadden  (PhD)
  • Jared Dyer (MS)

My Extension program promotes the adoption of decision-making processes for pest management that rely on information about the occurrence, relative abundance, and developmental stage of pest species of tree fruits and wine grapes. Current emphasis in tree fruit systems is to assist growers with the need to simultaneously manage brown marmorated stink and the other key pests of historical importance while minimizing secondary pest outbreaks. Regular updates for growers, extension agents and crop consultants throughout each growing season provide information about the current status of key pests of apple and peach, based on pheromone trap-based monitoring in my research orchards and on the predictions of degree-day, pest phenology models. New results from insecticide efficacy trials are incorporated into all recommendations, toward promotion of optimized pest control, insecticide resistance management, and minimization of detrimental biological and ecological effects of management programs. Major components of my Extension program include presentations at winter, spring and summer educational meetings for growers, Master Gardeners, and other stakeholders, updates via blog, maintenance of a Tree Fruit Pest Management website, and participation in annual revisions to numbered extension publications.

Publications of the last five years are listed (*denotes graduate student or post-doctoral associate).

  • *Hadden, W.T., L.J. Nixon, T.C. Leskey, and J.C. Bergh. 2021. Seasonal Distribution of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Captures in Woods-to-Orchard Pheromone Trap Transects in Virginia. J. Econ. Entomol. doi.org/10.1093/jee/toab226
  • Bergh, J.C., W.T. Morrison III, J.W. Stallrich, B.D. Short, J.P. Cullum, and T.C. Leskey. 2021. Border habitat effects on captures of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in pheromone traps and fruit injury at harvest in apple and peach orchards in the Mid-Atlantic, USA. Insects doi.org/10.3390/insects120504
  • *Quinn, N.F., E.J. Talamas, T.C. Leskey, and J.C. Bergh. 2021. Seasonal captures of Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) and the effects of habitat type and tree species on detection frequency. Insects doi.org/10.3390/insects12020118
  • *Cullum, J.P., L.J. Nixon, W.R. Morrison, M.J. Raupp, P.M. Shrewsbury, P.D. Venugopal, H. Martinson, J.C. Bergh, and T.C. Leskey. 2020. Influence of landscape factors and abiotic conditions on dispersal behavior and overwintering site selection by Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 113: 2016-2021
  • Akotsen-Mensah, C., B. Blaauw, B.D. Short, T.C. Leskey, J.C. Bergh, D. Polk, and A L. Nielsen. 2020. Using IPM-CPR as a management program for apple orchards. J. Econ. Entomol. 113: 1894-1902
  • Acebes-Doria, A.L., A.M. Agnello, D.G. Alston, H. Andrews, E.H. Beers, J.C. Bergh, and 32 others. 2020. Season-long monitoring of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), throughout the United States using commercially available traps and lures. J. Econ. Entomol. 113: 159-171
  • Ludwick, D., W.R. Morrison III, *A.L. Acebes-Doria, A.M. Agnello, J.C. Bergh, M.L. Buffington, G.C. Hamilton, J.K. Harper, K.A. Hoelmer, G. Krawczyk, T.P. Kuhar, D.G. Pfeiffer, A.L. Nielsen, K.B. Rice, C. Rodriguez-Saona, P.W. Shearer, P.M. Shrewsbury, E.J. Talamas, J.F. Walgenbach, N.G. Wiman, and T.C. Leskey. 2020.  Invasion of the brown marmorated stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) into the USA: Developing a national response to an invasive species crisis through collaborative research and outreach efforts. J. IPM 11: 4; 1–16
  • *Hancock, T.J, D.-H. Lee, J.C. Bergh, W.R. Morrison III, and T.C. Leskey. 2019. Presence of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on home exteriors during the autumn dispersal period: Results generated by citizen scientists. Agric. and Forest Entomol. 21: 99-1
  • *Quinn, N.F, E.J. Talamas, T.C. Leskey, and J. C. Bergh. 2019. Sampling methods for adventive Trissolcus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) in a wild tree host of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 112: 1997-2000
  • Bergh, J.C., *S.V. Joseph, *B.D. Short, M. Nita, and T.C. Leskey. 2019. Effect of pre-harvest exposures to adult Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera:Pentatomidae) on feeding injury to apple cultivars at harvest and during post-harvest cold storage. Crop Protection 124: article 104872
  • *Quinn, N.F., E.J. Talamas, *A.L. Acebes-Doria, T.C. Leskey, and J.C. Bergh. 2019. Vertical sampling in tree canopies for Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) life stages and its egg parasitoid, Trissolcus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Environ. Entomol. 48: 173-180
  • Morrison, W.R. III, B.R. Blaauw, B.D. Short, A.L. Nielsen, J.C. Bergh, G. Krawczyk, Y.-L. Park, B. Butler, A. Khrimian, and T.C. Leskey. 2019. Successful management of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in commercial apple orchards with an attract-and-kill strategy. Pest Manag. Sci. 75: 104-114
  • Bergh, JC and NF Quinn*. 2018. Can the dispersal behavior of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) inform the use of insecticide-treated netting to mitigate homeowner issues from its fall invasion? Environ. Entomol. 47: 1501–1508
  • Rice, KB, WR Morrison III, BD Short, AL Acebes-Doria*, JC Bergh, and TC Leskey. 2018. Improved trap designs and retention mechanisms for Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 111: 2136-2142
  • Rijal JP* and JC Bergh. 2017. Grape root borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae): An economic pest of commercial vineyards in the eastern United States. J. IPM 8: 1–7
  • Abram, PK, KA Hoelmer, AL Acebes-Doria*, H Andrews, EH Beers, JC Bergh, and 43 others. 2017. Indigenous arthropod natural enemies of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug in North America and Europe. J. Pest Sci. 90:1009–20
  • Morrison III WR, AL Acebes-Doria*, E Ogburn, TP Kuhar, JF Walgenbach, JC Bergh, L Nottingham, A Dimeglio, P Hipkins, and TC Leskey. 2017. Behavioral response of the brown marmorated stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) to semiochemicals deployed inside and outside anthropogenic structures during the overwintering period. J. Econ. Entomol. 110: 1002-1009
  • Bergh JC, WR Morrison III, SV Joseph*, and TC Leskey. 2017. Characterizing spring emergence of adult Halyomorpha halys using experimental overwintering shelters and commercial pheromone traps. Entomol. Exp. & Appl. 162: 336-345
  • Acebes-Doria AL*, TC Leskey, and JC Bergh. 2017. Temporal and directional patterns of nymphal Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) movement on the trunk of selected wild and tree fruit hosts in the Mid-Atlantic region. Environ. Entomol. 46: 258-267

 

Tree Fruit Pest Management Updates