Tom Saunders

My PhD project in a nut shell

Tom — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 23:12:39 +0000

I started my PhD in October 2017 at the University of Auckland. My supervisor is Associate Professor Greg Holwell. Greg is interested in evolution—particularly sexual selection—and uses arthropods to work on some of the biggest questions in this area. My co-supervisor is Dr Gonzalo Avila, leader of the biocontrol team at Plant & Food...

How to separate BMSB from NZ stink bugs

Tom — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 20:32:15 +0000

Brown marmorated stink bug is a serious horticultural pest native to East Asia. It damages crops, infests ornamental plants, and seeks out shelter over the winter causing massive problems for homes and businesses. Fortunately we don’t have it in New Zealand yet, but in order to keep it out we need to know what it...

One year of blogging!

Tom — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 19:55:50 +0000

I published my first blog post exactly one year ago today. Since then I’ve delved into a broad range of topics, such as pest control with 1080, native New Zealand wasps, and how students can set up their own website. Because this is my 21st post, it means I’ve published one post every two and...

Stink Bugs of NZ

Tom — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 20:30:48 +0000

My PhD project focuses on biocontrol: using beneficial species to manage the impacts of undesirable species. I’m looking at Trissolcus japonicus, or the ‘samurai wasp.’ This tiny Asian wasp has been proposed for release against the brown marmorated stink bug in New Zealand (if and when the stink bug is found to have established here)....

Better Biosecurity Conference 2018

Tom — Wed, 09 May 2018 23:32:50 +0000

I was in Wellington on Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th May for the 2018 Better Border Biosecurity (B3) Conference. Everything ready for #B32018 plant border #biosecurity conference at Te Papa NZ tomorrow May 7 with 150 attendees and presentations from @MPI_NZ @PBCRC @BioHeritage_NZ @BioprotectionNZ @CEBRA_UoM @TiraWhakamataki @docgovtnz @SITplusPD @drjoluck @CSIROnews and more — B3 Director...

Finding NZ’s Rarest ‘Bug’

Tom — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 21:45:55 +0000

I’m riding in a truck with Brian Lyford through the valleys surrounding Queenstown on a crisp December morning. Our destination is 1400 meters up on a nearby mountain. We complete the trip through private forestry land mostly by vehicle. An amazing view of the surrounding landscape greets us as we emerge from the tree-line. This...

Zapping Severed Antennae for Science

Tom — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 22:00:52 +0000

Last week I travelled to Lincoln to meet with Dr Kye Chung Park. The reason for my visit was to learn some interesting electrophysiology techniques from Dr Park. He was clearly passionate about the work he does, as well as an excellent teacher. I thank him for his patience and generosity during my stay. I’m...

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Tom — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 19:30:47 +0000

Scientific name: Halyomorpha halys (Stål 1855) Common name: Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) Native range: China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan Current invaded range: Canada, USA, Chile, at least 11 EU countries Public Enemy #1 The Ministry for Primary Industries has recently classified BMSB as one of the top pests of most concern to New Zealand....

Samurai Wasp vs Sneaky Stink Bug: A PhD in the Making

Tom — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 20:45:58 +0000

Insects fascinate me, and I want my science to have real impact. That’s why I’m teaming up with Dr Gonzalo Avila from Plant & Food Research, and Dr Greg Holwell from The University of Auckland. I started a PhD project last month to improve the way that classical biological control agents are tested before release....