Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Kelly Estes
1816 South Oak Street
Champaign, IL 61820
MC–652
Phone: 217-333-1005   Fax: 217-265-5110
Email: kcook8@illinois.edu
Title: Agricultural Pest Survey Coordinator
Office Location: 2084 I-BLDG

Activities Serve as state survey coordinator of the Illinois Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey (coordinate surveys for harmful or economically significant plant pests and weeds that have eluded first-line inspections at ports of entry and serve as the liaison between the CAPS program, Illinois Department of Agriculture and State PPQ office).

Develop public information and educational material for selected harmful or economically significant non-native plant pests and weeds, including exotic pests, pests of export significance, and/or pests not known to occur in the United States.

Management of data generated by pest survey data and entry into the National Agricultural Pest Information System (NAPIS) database.

Provide diagnostic work for insect samples submitted to the University of Illinois Plant Clinic and University of Illinois Distance Diagnostics through Digital Imaging (DDDI).

Serve as primary IPM contact for the Degree-Day Calculator website

Certified First Detector Educator


Research
2009 Cooperative Agriculture Pest Surveys
Conduct or assist with state-wide surveys for emerald ash borer, soybean rust, old world bollworm, light brown apple moth, false codling moth, summer fruit tortrix moth, and others.

Coordinate and conduct the state-wide survey for exotic bark beetles and wood borers.

Invasive species surveys monitoring the spread and dispersal of the following insects in Illinois: soybean aphid, gypsy moth, Asian gypsy moth, sudden oak death, pine shoot beetle, Asian longhorned beetle, karnal bunt, kudzu, and Japanese beetle. These surveys are primarily conducted by other individuals, but I coordinate data reporting through the CAPS program.


All data and information gathered from CAPS surveys are maintained on the National Agricultural Pest Information System (NAPIS). I am responsible for entering and maintaining all data for the state of Illinois.

Research done in cooperation with University of Illinois, Department of Crop Sciences
Western Bean Cutworm Survey – I serve as a primary resource for insect identification and trapping protocol questions for the Illinois Western Bean Cutworm Survey.

IPM Degree-Day Calculator (http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/degreedays/) – The development of insects can be tracked and projected by maintaining an account of degree-days accumulated each season. I serve as the primary contact for pest information and interpretation. I am assisted by Michael Greifenkamp (IPM webmaster) and Bob Scott (Illinois State Water Survey).

Serve as one of two entomologists to receive and diagnose entomology samples submitted to the University of Illinois Plant Clinic.


Selected
publications
Cook, K.A., R.A. Weinzierl, J.K. Pataky, P.D. Esker, and F.W. Nutter. 2005. Population densities of the corn flea beetle, Chaetocnema pulicaria (Melsheimer) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and incidence of Stewart’s wilt in sweet corn. J. Econ. Entomol. 98 (3): 673-682.

Cook, K.A., L.B. Kent, J.G. Lundgren, and E.M. Marlow. “The federal government should not support the use of pesticides previously banned in the US to fight vector-borne diseases in developing countries.” In “Current Issues in Management of Arthropod Disease Vectors: A Student Debate”, (ed. S. Wooley). American Entomologist 51:105-106.

Cook, K.A., J.G. Lundgren, T.R. Mabry, and C.M.F. Pierce. 2003. “Crops that are genetically modified using transgenic approaches so not require stricter regulations than crops modified by conventional crop breeding approaches.” In “Current Issues Surrounding the Utilization of Genetically Modified Organisms: A Student Debate”, (ed. A. Huberty). American Entomologist 49:44-45.

Cook, K.A. and R.A. Weinzierl. 2003. “Chaetocnema pulicaria.” Corn flea beetle datasheet. In CAB International Crop Protection Compendium, United Kingdom.


Program
Affiliates
Mark Cinnamon, State Plant Regulatory Officer, IL Dept. of Agriculture
Jeff Coath, EAB Coordinator, USDA-APHIS-PPQ
Jeff Davidson, State Plant Health Specialist, USDA-APHIS-PPQ
Laura Ettema-Khan, Domestic Program Coordinator, USDA-APHIS-PPQ
Christopher Evans, Coordinator, River to River Cooperative Weed Management Area
Scott Frank, IL Dept. of Agriculture
Warren Goetsch, Bureau Chief,IL Dept. of Agriculture
Steve Knight, State Plant Health Director, USDA-APHIS-PPQ
Nancy Pataky, Plant Clinic Director, University of Illinos
Greg Rentschler, Pest Survey Specialist, USDA-APHIS-PPQ


Professional
society
involvement
and activities
Entomological Society of America
North Central Branch Meeting Program Co-chair, 2007-2008

Education and Youth Committee, 2006-2007.

University of Illinois Department of Entomology Debate Team, Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, San Diego, California, 2001

University of Illinois Department of Entomology Debate Team, Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 2002

Linnaean Game Team Member, North Central Branch of the Entomological Society of America, March, 2001


Education M.S., University of Illinois, 2003
B.S., University of Illinois, 2000



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Last updated 09/21/09

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