| Turfgrass Entomology and Applied Ecology | My research focuses on trophic interactions and their consequences/implications for turfgrass systems at ecological scales ranging from the community to the population. I examine these interactions from both bottom-up and top-down perspectives in order to bolster basic understanding of the structure and function of these systems and support the development of biologically-based pest management strategies. Applied research focuses on enhancing integration of cultural, biological and chemical management tools and uses a highly multi-disciplinary approach to clarify biological, aesthetic and economic trade-offs associated with different management approaches. |
| Trophic Interactions and Neotyphodium Endophytes | One of our primary lines of research explores how bottom-up, top-down and inside-out forces interact in turfgrass ecosystems. To accomplish this, we are studying how mineral nutrition governs plant resource allocation, endophyte-mediated resistance, arthropod performance and the efficacy of biological controls in turfgrass environments. Such studies aim to provide basic information on the structure and function of turfgrass communities and facilitate the integration of cultural and biological management tools. We also expect this work to advance the conceptual framework for the study of plant nutrition as it affects interactions between trophic levels. |
| Integration of Cultural and Biological Tools | Because of the need for reduced reliance on chemical tools to manage pests in urban landscapes, there is an increasing need for research which better integrates cultural and biological tools. Our research addresses this demand by examining how common cultural practices/decisions such as fertilization, mowing and turfgrass species selection influence the efficacy and persistence of natural enemies with particular emphasis on entomopathogenic nematodes and Neotyphodium endophytes. |
| Turfgrass IPM: Addressing Biological, Aesthetic, and Economic, Trade-offs | Studies designed to develop alternative turfgrass management strategies often deal with insects, weeds, and diseases independently, focusing on specific pest problems within one of these major pest categories. While such studies provide important biological and pest management information, they do not provide a holistic framework for managing turfgrass. In an effort to address the many hurdles that have frustrated the adoption of alternative management methodologies, our research program employs a highly multi-disciplinary approach to evaluate and describe entire suites of biological, economic and aesthetic parameters associated with divergent landscape management philisophies. This research aims to provide a broad basis for comparing the relative strengths and weaknesses of fundamentally different management approaches while allowing us clarify the trade-offs associated with each. |
| Purdue Urban Landscape Project (PULP) | This project involves cooperation between Purdue University and several hundred homeowners located in Tippecanoe and surrounding Counties. We use detailed management information in conjunction with on site data collection to search for and describe relationships between management practices, physical and spatial features of the landscape, and biological characteristics of residential lawns. The primary goal of this project is to examine how urban pests respond to a broad range of management approaches in the home landscape and to identify key factors which contribute to or reduce the pest problems in this environment. This research compliments and provides feedback for more controlled studies aimed at clarifying trade-offs associated with management tactics and inputs. |
| ENTM 443 | The course is designed to introduce students seeking careers in turfgrass science, landscape management and pest management to the biology, ecology, and management of arthropods and diseases associated with turfgrass ecosystems. These systems include, but are not limited to golf courses, parks and green spaces, athletic fields, and residential and commercial lawns. The course is co-instructed with Dr. Richard Latin (Botany and Plant Pathology) |
| ENTM 543 | The course targets graduate students in Entomology, Botany and Plant Pathology, Agronomy and Horticulture and Landscape Architecture who are training for careers in academic and/or industry research, product development or professional consulting involving turfgrass. The course is designed to provide advanced instruction on the biology, ecology, identification and management of turfgrass arthropods and diseases and familiarize students with the contemporary literature in these fields. The course is co-instructed with Dr. Richard Latin (Botany and Plant Pathology) |
| Richmond, D.S., J. Cardina, and P.S. Grewal. 2006. Influence of grass species and endophyte infection on weed populations during establishment of low maintenance lawns. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment 115: 27-33 |
| Salminen, S. O., D. S. Richmond, S. K. Grewal, and P. S. Grewal. 2005. Influence of temperature on alkaloid levels and fall armyworm performance in endophytic tall fescue and perennial ryegrass. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 115: 417-426 |
| Richmond, D.S., B.A. Kunkel, S. Nethi, and P.S. Grewal. 2004. Top-down and Bottom-up regulation of herbivores: Spodoptera frugiperda turns tables on endophyte-mediated plant defense and virulence of an entomopathogenic nematode. Ecological Entomology 29(3):353-360 |
| Richmond, D.S., P. S. Grewal, and J. Cardina. 2004. Influence of Japanese beetle Popillia japonica larvae and fungal endophytes on competition between grasses and dandelion. Crop Science 44:600-606 |
| Richmond, D. S., P. S. Grewal, and J. Cardina. 2003. Competition between Lolium perenne and Digitaria sanguinalis: Ecological consequences for harboring an endosymbiotic fungus. Journal of Vegetation Science 14:835-840 |
| Richmond, D. S. and D. J. Shetlar. 2001. Black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), larval emigration and biomass in mixtures of endophytic perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass. Journal of Economic Entomology 94(5):1883-1886 |
| Richmond, D. S., H. D. Niemczyk, and D. J. Shetlar. 2000. Overseeding endophytic perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L., into stands of Kentucky bluegrass, Poa pratensis L. to manage bluegrass billbug Sphenophorus parvulus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 93(6):1662-1668 |
| Richmond, D. S. and D. J. Shetlar. 2000. Hairy chinch bug (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) damage, population density, and movement in relation to the incidence of perennial ryegrass infected by neotyphodium endophytes. Journal of Economic Entomology 93(4):1167-1172. |
| Niemczyk, H. D., D. J. Shetlar, K. T. Power, and D. S. Richmond. 2000. Seasonal occurrence of the sod webworm moths of Ohio. Great Lakes Entomologist 33(3&4):173-185. |
| Richmond, D. S. and D. J. Shetlar. 1999. Bluegrass webworm, Parapediasia teterrella (Zincken) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), larval survival and movement in mixed stands of endophytic perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L., and Kentucky bluegrass, Poa pratensis L. Journal of Economic Entomology 92(6):1329-1334 |
| Richmond, D. S. and D. J. Shetlar. 1996. Eclosion time and spatial distribution of overwintering spruce spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) eggs on Colorado spruce. Journal of Economic Entomology 89(2): 447-452 |
| Keeney, G., M. S. Ellis, D. S. Richmond and R. N. Williams. 1994. A Preliminary Study of the Nitidulidae (Coleoptera) in Shawnee State Forest, Ohio. Entomological News 105(3):149-158 |
| Williams, R. N., J. L. Blackmer, D. S. Richmond, and M. S. Ellis. 1992. Nitidulidae (Coleoptera) diversity in three natural preserves in Portage County, Ohio. Ohio Journal of Science 92(4):82-87 |
