Eric W. Riddick Email & Phone Number

Washington, Dc, Us

Conducting research, writing, and editing peer-reviewed manuscripts on mass production, release, and conservation of natural enemies (predators and parasitoids), autecology of aphids and associated parasitoids and predators, host-parasite interactions between ectoparasitic mites and fungi on coccinellid beetles, discovering and testing the effects of plant-based natural products as repellents, attractants, and aggregation pheromones of coccinellids, utilization of insect meal/powder as alternative food for coccinellids and insect frass as alternative fertilizer for crop plants, discovering and testing natural products (flavonoids) as oviposition stimulants for natural enemies, and utilization of native solitary bees (e.g., mason bees) as pollinators of small fruits and vegetables on small farms. Collaborating with other entomologists, organic chemists, biologists, and supervising biological science technicians (temporary, undergraduate students) and postdocs. Specialties: Insect behavior, ecology, nutrition, reproduction, mass production, and biological control. Customers: biocontrol producer industry, applied research scientists in academia and private industry, and organic growers in protected plant culture (greenhouses, high tunnels) and on small farms.

Washington, Dc, Us

Conducted team-based technical analysis of written reports, documents, and application packages from the chemical industry to petition USEPA to register or re-register pesticides (insecticides, nematicides, and herbicides) and allow emergency exemptions in accordance with the Food Quality Protection Act. Collaborated with other entomologists, botanists, economists, and a nematologist.

Washington, Dc, Us

Investigated the use of natural product-based chemical repellents, attractants, and pheromones to manage populations of invasive “nuisance-pest” coccinellid beetles in agricultural and suburban landscapes. Collaborated with several other entomologists, chemists, supervised biological science technicians (temporary, undergraduate students), and published peer-reviewed articles in reputable scientific journals.

College Park, Md, Us

Tested the potential risks associated with deploying genetically modified organisms (transgenic potato plants to control the Colorado potato beetle) on non-target beneficial insects residing in agricultural landscapes. This research was related to crop protection and pest management. Collaborated with several other entomologists, supervised biological science technicians (temporary, undergraduate students) and published peer-reviewed articles in reputable scientific journals.

Berkeley, Ca, Us

Evaluated the effects of conventional and organic apple orchard pest (codling moth) management practices on beneficial insects, i.e., predatory ground beetles, naturally occurring in the agricultural landscape. This research was related to crop protection, pest management, and conservation of beneficial organisms. This research formed the bulk of my Ph.D. dissertation. This work was published in several peer-reviewed, reputable scientific journals.Elected to Sigma Xi

Washington, Dc, Us

Provided technical assistance to curatorial staff for the adult mosquito collection (1.5 million pinned specimens) housed at the Smithsonian Museum Support Center, in Suitland, Maryland, in the suburbs of Washington DC. This work supported efforts to identify and manage medically important insect vectors throughout the world in collaboration with the Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit (WRBU). Interacted with students, staff scientists, visiting scientists, and technicians in daily performance of assigned duties.

Washington, Dc, Us

Provided technical assistance to Chemistry and Zoology Professors (J. Wheeler, and R. Duffield) in field and laboratory research on natural product-based chemical ecology and behavior of native, naturalized, and invasive bees and wasps distributed in urban, suburban, and rural landscapes in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC.

Washington, Dc, Us

As a MS graduate student, assisted Zoology Professor (G. Twitty) with teaching and mentoring undergraduate students (primarily freshman and sophomores) in a General Zoology course. Course content included diverse subjects such as comparative anatomy, development, growth, physiology, and reproduction in model invertebrates and select vertebrates. Class (lab) size typically ranged from 20 - 40 students.

Washington, Dc, Us

As a MS graduate student, provided technical assistance to Chemistry and Zoology Professors (J. Wheeler, and R. Duffield) in field and laboratory research on natural product-based chemical ecology and behavior of native, naturalized, and invasive bees and wasps distributed in urban, suburban, and rural landscapes in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC. Responsible for dissection of venom and Dufour’s gland systems from specimens in preparation for chemical analysis of endogenous volatile constituents, using GC-MS. This work was related to the identification of venom and non-venom compounds in stinging insects in North America. This work was partially funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Minority Biomedical Research Support Program, awarded to J. Wheeler and R. Duffield.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Entomology

Master Of Science - Ms, Zoology

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Zoology

High School Diploma, College Prep