Dr. David Held
Assistant Professor
327 Funchess Hall
(334) 844-3818
dwh0004@auburn.edu

B.S. Horticulture Minor in Pest Management University of Kentucky 1994
MS. Entomology University of KY 2000
PhD Entomology University of KY 2003

Research emphasis is the ecology and management of phytophagous insects particularly those pest attacking turfgrass and ornamental plants. Research interests include plant-insect interactions, insect behavior, and ecotoxicology.

Professional Experience:

August 2008 to Present -Entomologist/Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama.

Dec 2003 to July 2008 - Extension Entomologist/Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Coastal Research and Extension Center, Biloxi, Mississippi.

Feb 1995 to Nov 2003 - Research Analyst, Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.

Graduate Students:

Cheri M. Abraham (MS State University), M.S., Summer 2006-present. Research on the biology and ecology of Larra bicolor, ectoparasite of pest mole crickets.

PUBLICATIONS
Book chapters

Peck, D.C. and D.W. Held. 2007. Injurious Arthropods: Root Feeders: Crane Flies
In: ESA Handbook of Forage and Rangeland Insects.

Held, D. and D. Potter. 2004. June beetles, Phyllophaga spp. In: J. Capinera [ed] Encyclopedia
of Entomology, Kluwer (Invited).

Potter, D. and D. Held. 2004. Japanese beetle. In: J. Capinera [ed] Encyclopedia of Entomology,
Kluwer (Invited).

Held, D. and D. Potter. 2003. Japanese beetle. In: V. Resh and R. Carde [eds.] Encyclopedia of
Insects, Academic, San Diego, CA. (Invited).

Potter, D. and D. Held. 2003. May beetle. In: V. Resh and R. Carde [eds.] Encyclopedia of
Insects, Academic, San Diego, CA. (Invited).

Refereed papers

Held, D.W., C. Wheeler, C.M. Abraham, and K. Pickett. 2008. Paper wasps (Polistes spp.)
attacking fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) larvae in turfgrass. Applied Turfgrass
Science (7 Aug 2008; Available online at http://plantmanagementnetwork.org/ats).

Abraham, C.M., Held, D.W. and C. Wheeler. 2008. First report of Larra bicolor (Hymenoptera:
Sphecidae) in Alabama. Mid-South Entomol. 1(2):81-84.

(Available online at http://midsouthentomologist.org.msstate.edu)

Held, D.W. and D. W. Boyd. 2008. New records of Gynaikothrips uzeli
(Thysanoptera:Phlaeothripidae) on Ficus benjamina in Texas and O’ahu, Hawaii. Pan-Pacific
Entomol. 82(2).

Held, D. W. and D. W. Boyd. 2008. Monitoring and management of Gynaikothrips uzeli
Zimmerman (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), an exotic thrips attacking Ficus
benjamina Pest. Manag. Sci. 64: 133–140.

Robbins PS, Alm SR, Armstrong CD, Averill AL, Baker TC, Bauernfiend RJ, Baxendale FP,
Braman SK, Brandenburg RL, Cash DB, Couch GJ, Cowles RS, Crocker RL, DeLamar ZD,
Dittl TG, Fitzpatrick SM, Flanders KL, Forgatsch T, Gibb TJ, Gill BD, Gilrein DO, Gorsuch
CS, Hammond AM, Hastings PD, Held DW, Heller PR, Hiskes RT, Holliman JL, Hudson
WG, Klein MG, Krischik VL, Lee DJ, Linn Jr. CE, Luce NJ, MacKenzie KE, Mannion CM,
Polavarapu S, Potter DA, Roelofs WL, Royals BM, Salsbury GA, Schiff NM, Shetlar DJ,
Skinner M, Sparks BL, Sutschek JA, Sutschek TP, Swier SR, Sylvia MM, Vickers NJ, Vittum
PJ, Weidman RB, Weber DC, Williamson RC, Villani MG. 2006. Trapping Phyllophaga spp.
(Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) with sex attractants in the United States and
Canada. Journal of Insect Science 6:39, available online: insectscience.org/6.39.

Boyd, D. W. and D. W. Held. 2006. Androthrips ramachandrai (Thysanoptera:
Phlaeothripidae): an introduced thrips in the United States. Florida Entomol. 89: 455–458.

Held, D.W. and J. Gelhaus. 2006. Damage in centipede sod associated with Crane fly and
March fly larvae (Diptera: Tipulidae, Bibionidae) in Mississippi. Florida Entomol. 89(1): 89–
90.

Held, D.W., D. Boyd, T. Lockley, G.B. Edwards. 2005. Gynaikothrips uzeli Zimmerman
(Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) in the southeastern United States: Distribution and review of
biology. Florida Entomol. 88(4): 538–540.

Held, D.W. 2005. Occurrence of Larra bicolor (Hymenoptera:Sphecidae), ectoparasite of mole
crickets (Scapteriscus spp.), in coastal Mississippi. Florida Entomol. 88(3): 327–328.

Potter, D.A., D.W. Held, M.E. Rogers. 2005. Natural organic fertilizers as a risk factor for
ataenius spretulus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) infestation on golf courses. Int. Turfgrass
Society Research Journal 10: 753–760.

Held, D.W. 2004. Relative susceptibility of woody landscape plants to Japanese beetle
(Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). J. of Arboric. 30: 328–335.

Potter, D.A., L. Foss, R. E. Baumler, and D.W. Held. 2004. Managing eastern tent caterpillars
Malacosoma americanum (F.) on horse farms to reduce risk of mare reproductive loss
syndrome. Pest Management Science 61: 3–15.

Held, D. W. and D. A. Potter. 2004. Floral characteristics affect susceptibility of hybrid tea
roses, Rosa × hybrida, to Japanese beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). J. Econ. Entomol.
97: 353–360.

Held, D. W. and D. A. Potter. 2004. Floral affinity and consequences of flower-feeding and
diet mixing for the Japanese beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Oecologia 140: 312–319.

Held, D. W., J. A. Gels, E. J. Marsland, and M. L. Griffin. 2003. Graduate Student Debate
2000: Controversial issues regarding biological control in the United States. J. K. Tomberlin
(Ed.) Am. Entomol. 49: 238–249.

Held, D. W. and D. A. Potter. 2003. Characterizing toxicity of Pelargonium spp. and two other
reputedly toxic plant species to Japanese beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Environ.
Entomol. 32: 873–880.

Stephens, M., D. W. Held, L. H. Townsend, and D. A. Potter. 2003. Timing of emergence of
Eastern Tent Caterpillars and management with reduced risk insecticides and treatment
strategies. Proc. First Symposium on Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome, Gluck Equine
Research Center, Lexintgon, KY.

Held, D. W., P. Gonsiska, and D. A. Potter. 2003. Evaluating companion planting and non-host
masking odors for protecting roses from the Japanese beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). J.
Econ. Entomol. 96: 81–87.

Gels, J. A., D. W. Held, and D. A. Potter. 2002. Hazards of insecticides to bumble bees,
Bombus impatiens (Hymenoptera: Apididae), foraging on flowering white clover in turf. J.
Econ Entomol. 95: 722–728.

Potter, D. A. and D. W. Held. 2002. Biology and management of the Japanese beetle. Annu.
Rev. Entomol. 47: 175–205.

Rogers, M., D. W. Held, and D. A. Potter. 2001. Effects of two plant growth regulators on
suitability of creeping bentgrass for turfgrass insects. International Turfgrass Society
Research Journal 9: 3–6.

Held, D. W., T. Eaton, and D. A. Potter. 2001. Potential for habituation to a neem-based
feeding deterrent in Japanese beetles, Popillia japonica. Entomol. Exp. Applic. 101: 19–23.

Held, D. W., D. A. Potter, R. S. Gates, and R. G. Anderson. 2001. Modified atmosphere
treatments as a potential disinfestation technique for arthropod pests in greenhouses. J. Econ.
Entomol. 94: 430–438.

Walston, A. T., D. W. Held, N. R. Mason, and D. A. Potter. 2001. Absence of interaction
between endophytic perennial ryegrass and susceptibility of Japanese beetle grubs to
Paenibacillus popilliae Dutky J. Entomol. Sci. 36: 105–108.

Kunkel, B. A., D. W. Held, and D. A. Potter. 2001. Lethal and sublethal effects of bendiocarb,
halofenozide, and imidacloprid on Harpalus pennsylvanicus (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
following different modes of exposure in turfgrass. J. Econ. Entomol. 94: 60–67.

Lopez, R., D. W. Held, and D. A. Potter. 2000. Management of a mound-building ant, Lasius
neoniger Emery, on golf putting greens and tees using delayed-action baits or fipronil. Crop
Sci. 40: 511-517.

Potter, D. A. and D. W. Held. 1999. Absence of food aversion learning by a polyphagous
scarab, Popillia japonica Newman, following intoxication by geranium, Pelargonium x
hortorum. Entomol. Exp. Applic. 91: 83-88.

Kunkel, B. A., D. W. Held, and D. A. Potter. 1999. Impact of halofenozide, imidacloprid, and
bendiocarb on beneficial invertebrates and predatory activity in turfgrass. J. Econ. Entomol.
92: 922-930.

Potter, D. A., P. G. Spicer, D. W. Held, and R. E. McNiel. 1998. Relative susceptibility of
cultivars of flowering crabapples, lindens, and roses to defoliation by Japanese beetles. J.
Environ. Hort. 16:105–110.