sean-prager - College of Agriculture and Bioresources

Research Area(s)

Entomology
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Vector Biology
Insect Ecology
Pollination Biology
Plant Virology

Department

Plant Sciences

Other Affiliations/Positions

Associate Member, Department of Biology

Research Interests

My research interests are in the broad topic of insect ecology. Within that context, my group conducts both fundamental and applied research on a variety of arthropod taxa. Our primary fundamental interests are in the ecology and evolution of multitrophic interactions and adaptive traits. We are particularly curious about traits that are associated with choices. This research has examined topics such as social polymorphisms, oviposition behaviors, mate choice, and host choice of parasitioids and herbivores. My applied research generally focuses on ecologically sustainable and sound methods of managing insect pests, especially disease vectors. In that context, we often focus on implications for Integrated Pest Management. Ideally, we strive to combine our various lines of inquiry and apply knowledge of ecological traits to develop management strategies.

Education

Ph.D., Brock University

B.A., Clark University, U.S.A.

Selected Publications

Simin Sabaghian, Zachary Gorman, Sean M. Prager, Jianchi Chen, Christopher M. Wallis. Mitochondrial Genome Resource of the Cottony Ash Psyllid, a Host of a Newly Identified ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’ bacterium. In Press, Phytofrontiers.

Berenice Romero+, Axel Mithöfer, Chrystel Olivier, Tyler Wist, Sean M. Prager. The role of plant defense signaling pathways in phytoplasma-infected and uninfected aster leafhoppers’ oviposition, development, and settling behavior. In Press, Journal of Chemical Ecology.

Tyler Hartl, Vivek Srivastava, Sean Prager, Tyler Wist. Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Pea Aphid Habitat Suitability at a Global Scale: A Species Distribution Modelling Approach. In Press, Climate Change Ecology.

Caleb B. Bryan and Sean M. Prager (2023) Developing and evaluating a new method and apparatus for examining bumble bee foraging behaviour. Journal of Insect Behavior. 36, 120-132.

Ningxing Zhou, Tyler Wist, Sean M. Prager (2023) Developing an economic injury level and economic threshold for pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) management on lentil (Lens culinaris) in Saskatchewan, Canada. Journal of Economic Entomology. 116(4): 1233-1242.

Berenice Romero+, Tim Dumonceaux, Chrystel Olivier, Tyler Wist, Sean M. Prager (2023) Development of Aster Yellows on crop and non-crop species from the Canadian Prairies. PhytoFronteirs. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-01-23-0008-R

Sean M. Prager, Abigail Cohen+, W. Rodney Cooper, Richard Novy, Arash Rashed, Erik. J Wenninger, Christopher Wallis. A comprehensive review of zebra chip disease in potato and its management through breeding for resistance/tolerance to “Candidatus liberibacter solanacearum” and its insect vector. Pest Management Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.6913

Berenice Romero+, Chrystel Olivier, Tyler Wist, Sean M. Prager. Do options matter? Settling behaviour, stylet sheath counts, and oviposition of Aster leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in two-choice bioassays. Environmental Entomology, 51(2): 460–470. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvab148

Dan Malamura, Bill Biligetu, Sean M. Prager. Assessing chemical control options and their effects on the lesser clover leaf weevil (Hypera Nigrostis) and red clover pollinators in Canada. Crop Protection. 139: 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2020.105375

Berenice Romero+, Chrystel Olivier, Tyler Wist, Sean M. Prager. Oviposition behaviour and development of Aster leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) on selected host plants from the Canadian Prairies. Journal of Economic Entomology. 113(6): 2695-2704

Courses

Undergraduate:

PLSC 260, Principals of Plant Protection
PLSC 450, Applied Entomology
PLSC 475, Insect Ecology

Graduate:

PLSC 875, Insect Ecology