HR job title
- Professor
- Contact Info
- 1 301 335 4464
- Websites
Medina, Raul Professor
Positions
- Professor, Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Dr. Medina's research centers around the role that ecological factors play in the population genetics of arthropods. He is particularly interested in the incorporation of evolutionary ecology considerations into pest control practices. His laboratory is currently assessing how species interactions at macroscopic (host-parasite interactions) and microscopic (arthropod microbiomes) levels interact with genetic variation of agricultural pests and arthropod vectors of human disease. His research team is exploring if the same principles governing insect herbivores' adaptation to their hosts translate into arthropod parasites of animals. He is also interested in understanding the factors that make some biotechnology innovations in agriculture controversial in the public sphere.
Research Areas
- Overview
- Publications
- Research
- Teaching
- Works By Students
- Background
- Contact
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Overview
Publications
selected publications
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academic article
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Wright, C., Helms, A. M., Bernal, J. S., Grunseich, J. M., & Medina, R. F.
(2022).
Aphelinus nigritus Howard (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) Preference for Sorghum Aphid, Melanaphis sorghi (Theobald, 1904) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Honeydew Is Stronger in Johnson Grass, Sorghum halepense, Than in Grain Sorghum, Sorghum bicolor. Insects.
14(1), 10-10.
-
Resnik, D. B., Medina, R. F., Gould, F., Church, G., & Kuzma, J.
(2022).
Genes drive organisms and slippery slopes. PATHOGENS AND GLOBAL HEALTH.
1-10.
-
West, W. F., Buchman, L. W., & Medina, R. F.
(2022).
Public deliberation and the regulation of gene drive in the USA. Science and Public Policy.
49(6), 843-852.
-
Wright, C., Lei, J., Bernal, J. S., Zhu-Salzman, K., & Medina, R. F.
(2022).
Aphelinus nigritus-induced transgenerational fecundity compensation in parasitized Melanaphis sorghi. Ecological Entomology.
47(6), 967-980.
-
Thompson, M. N., Medina, R. F., Helms, A. M., & Bernal, J. S.
(2022).
Improving Natural Enemy Selection in Biological Control through Greater Attention to Chemical Ecology and Host-Associated Differentiation of Target Arthropod Pests. Insects.
13(2), 160-160.
-
Goldsmith, C. L., Kang, K. E., Heitman, E., Adelman, Z. N., Buchman, L. W., Kerns, D., ... Vedlitz, A.
(2022).
Stakeholder Views on Engagement, Trust, Performance, and Risk Considerations About Use of Gene Drive Technology in Agricultural Pest Management. Health Security.
20(1), 6-15.
-
Tietjen, M., Esteve-Gasent, M. D., Castro-Arellano, I., & Medina, R. F.
(2022).
Genomic evidence for host-associated differentiation in an animal parasite, Dermacentor variabilis, the American dog tick. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA.
170(1), 95-107.
-
Medina, R. F.
(2022).
Host-associated differentiation of target pests should be assessed before using gene drive as a pest control tool - an opinion. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA.
170(1), 88-94.
-
Harrison, K., Tarone, A. M., DeWitt, T., & Medina, R. F.
(2022).
Predicting the occurrence of host-associated differentiation in parasitic arthropods: a quantitative literature review. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA.
170(1), 5-22.
-
Holt, J. R., Malacrin, A., & Medina, R. F.
(2022).
Quantifying the impacts of symbiotic interactions between two invasive species: the tawny crazy ant (Nylanderia fulva) tending the sorghum aphid (Melanaphis sorghi). PeerJ.
10, e14448-e14448.
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Fu, Z., Antwi, J. B., Sword, G. A., Barman, A. K., & Medina, R. F.
(2021).
Geographic Variation of Bacterial Communities Associated with Cotton Fleahopper, Pseudatomoscelis seriatus. SOUTHWESTERN ENTOMOLOGIST.
46(1), 17-32.
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Nibouche, S., Costet, L., Medina, R. F., Holt, J. R., Sadeyen, J., Zoogones, A., Brown, P., & Blackman, R. L.
(2021).
Morphometric and molecular discrimination of the sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari, (Zehntner, 1897) and the sorghum aphid Melanaphis sorghi (Theobald, 1904). PLoS ONE.
16(3), e0241881-e0241881.
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Tietjen, M., Esteve-Gasent, M. D., Li, A. Y., & Medina, R. F.
(2020).
A comparative evaluation of northern and southern Ixodes scapularis questing height and hiding behaviour in the USA. Parasitology (Cambridge).
147(13), 1569-1576.
-
Holt, J. R., Styer, A., White, J. A., Armstrong, J. S., Nibouche, S., Costet, L., ... Medina, R. F.
(2020).
Differences in Microbiota Between Two Multilocus Lineages of the Sugarcane Aphid (Melanaphis sacchari) in the Continental United States. Annals of the Entomological Society of America: devoted to the interest of classical entomology.
113(4), 257-265.
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Jones, T., & Medina, R. F.
(2020).
Corn Stunt Disease: An Ideal Insect-Microbial-Plant Pathosystem for Comprehensive Studies of Vector-Borne Plant Diseases of Corn. Plants.
9(6), 747-747.
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Modarelli, J. J., Westrich, B. J., Milholland, M., Tietjen, M., Castro-Arellano, I., Medina, R. F., & Esteve-Gasent, M. D.
(2020).
Prevalence of protozoan parasites in small and medium mammals in Texas, USA. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife.
11, 229-234.
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Carbaugh, J. R., Renthal, R. D., Vinson, S. B., & Medina, R. F.
(2020).
Color discrimination and preference in the fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren. 67(1), 167-178.
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Esteve-Gasent, M. D., Rodrguez-Vivas, R. I., Medina, R. F., Ellis, D., Schwartz, A., Corts Garcia, B., ... Prez de Len, A. A.
(2020).
Research on Integrated Management for Cattle Fever Ticks and Bovine Babesiosis in the United States and Mexico: Current Status and Opportunities for Binational Coordination. Pathogens.
9(11), 871-871.
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Bernal, J. S., Dvila-Flores, A. M., Medina, R. F., Chen, Y. H., Harrison, K. E., & Berrier, K. A.
(2019).
Did maize domestication and early spread mediate the population genetics of corn leafhopper?. Insect Science.
26(3), 569-586.
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Tietjen, M., Esteve-Gassent, M. D., & Medina, R. F.
(2019).
Searching for the Immature Stages of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in Leaf Litter and Soil in Texas. Journal of Medical Entomology.
56(1), 35-39.
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Bernal, J. S., & Medina, R. F.
(2018).
Agriculture sows pests: how crop domestication, host shifts, and agricultural intensification can create insect pests from herbivores. Current Opinion in Insect Science.
26, 76-81.
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Nibouche, S., Costet, L., Holt, J. R., Jacobson, A., Pekarcik, A., Sadeyen, J., ... Medina, R. F.
(2018).
Invasion of sorghum in the Americas by a new sugarcane aphid (Melanaphis sacchari) superclone. PLoS ONE.
13(4), e0196124-e0196124.
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Malacrin, A., Campolo, O., Medina, R. F., & Palmeri, V.
(2018).
Instar- and host-associated differentiation of bacterial communities in the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata. PLoS ONE.
13(3), e0194131-e0194131.
-
Medina, R. F.
(2018).
Gene drives and the management of agricultural pests. 5(sup1), S255-S262.
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Medina, R. F., Armstrong, S. J., & Harrison, K.
(2017).
Genetic population structure of sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari, in sorghum, sugarcane, and Johnsongrass in the continental USA. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA.
162(3), 358-365.
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Medina, R. F., Dickey, A. M., Harrison, K., & Miller, G. L.
(2017).
Host-associated differentiation in a pecan and water hickory Aphidomorpha community. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA.
162(3), 366-378.
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Esteve-Gassent, M. D., Castro-Arellano, I., Feria-Arroyo, T. P., Patino, R., Li, A. Y., Medina, R. F., de Len, A., & Rodrguez-Vivas, R. I.
(2016).
TRANSLATING ECOLOGY, PHYSIOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, AND POPULATION GENETICS RESEARCH TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF TICK AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES IN NORTH AMERICA. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology.
92(1), 38-64.
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Vyavhare, S. S., Way, M. O., & Medina, R. F.
(2016).
White Clover as an Alternate Host to Soybean for Redbanded Stink Bug. SOUTHWESTERN ENTOMOLOGIST.
41(2), 303-312.
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Vyavhare, S. S., Way, M. O., & Medina, R. F.
(2015).
Determination of Growth Stage-Specific Response of Soybean to Redbanded Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and its Relationship to the Development of Flat Pods. Journal of Economic Entomology.
108(4), 1770-1778.
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Vyavhare, S. S., Way, M. O., Pearson, R. A., & Medina, R. F.
(2015).
Redbanded Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Infestation and Occurrence of Delayed Maturity in Soybean. Journal of Economic Entomology.
108(4), 1516-1525.
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Antwi, J. B., Sword, G. A., & Medina, R. F.
(2015).
Host-associated differentiation in a highly polyphagous, sexually reproducing insect herbivore. Ecology and Evolution.
5(13), 2533-2543.
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NESCent Working Group on the Evolutionary Biology of the Built Environment, .., Martin, L. J., Adams, R. I., Bateman, A., Bik, H. M., Hawks, J., ... Dunn, R. R.
(2015).
Evolution of the indoor biome. Trends in Ecology and Evolution.
30(4), 223-232.
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Esteve-Gassent, M. D., Grover, A., Feria-Arroyo, T. P., Castro-Arellano, I., Medina, R. F., Gordillo-Prez, G., & de Len, A.
(2015).
Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi-infected ticks from wildlife hosts, a response to Norris et al. Parasites and Vectors.
8(1), 129-129.
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Vyavhare, S. S., Way, M. O., & Medina, R. F.
(2014).
Stink bug species composition and relative abundance of the redbanded stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in soybean in the upper gulf coast Texas. Environmental Entomology.
43(6), 1621-1627.
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Joyce, A. L., White, W. H., Nuessly, G. S., Solis, M. A., Scheffer, S. J., Lewis, M. L., & Medina, R. F.
(2014).
Geographic population structure of the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), in the southern United States. PLoS ONE.
9(10), e110036-e110036.
-
Feria-Arroyo, T. P., Castro-Arellano, I., Gordillo-Perez, G., Cavazos, A. L., Vargas-Sandoval, M., Grover, A., ... Esteve-Gassent, M. D.
(2014).
Implications of climate change on the distribution of the tick vector Ixodes scapularis and risk for Lyme disease in the Texas-Mexico transboundary region. Parasites and Vectors.
7(1), 199.
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Joyce, A. L., White, W. H., & Medina, R. F.
(2014).
Host plants impact courtship vibration transmission and mating success of a parasitoid wasp, Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). 28(2), 361-372.
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Medina, R. F., Szendrei, Z., Harrison, K., Isaacs, R., Averill, A., Malo, E. A., & Rodriguez-Saona, C.
(2014).
Exploring host-associated differentiation in the North American native cranberry fruitworm, Acrobasis vaccinii, from blueberries and cranberries. 150(2), 136-148.
-
Bellota, E., Medina, R. F., & Bernal, J. S.
(2013).
Physical leaf defenses - altered by Zea life-history evolution, domestication, and breeding - mediate oviposition preference of a specialist leafhopper. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA.
149(2), 185-195.
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Barman, A. K., Sansone, C. G., Parajulee, M. N., & Medina, R. F.
(2013).
Population genetic structure of Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (Hemiptera: Miridae) in the cotton-growing regions of the United States. Journal of Economic Entomology.
106(5), 2225-2233.
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Simonato, M., Battisti, A., Zovi, D., & Medina, R. F.
(2012).
Testing for host-associated differentiation in two egg parasitoids of a forest herbivore. 145(2), 124-133.
-
Dickey, A. M., & Medina, R. F.
(2012).
Host-associated genetic differentiation in pecan leaf phylloxera. 143(2), 127-137.
-
Hartfield, E. A., Harris, M. K., & Medina, R. F.
(2012).
Population structure of the pecan nut casebearer Acrobasis nuxvorella throughout its geographical distribution. 14(2), 119-125.
-
Barman, A. K., Parajulee, M. N., Sansone, C. G., Suh, C., & Medina, R. F.
(2012).
Geographic pattern of host-associated differentiation in the cotton fleahopper, Pseudatomoscelis seriatus. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA.
143(1), 31-41.
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Medina, R. F., Reyna, S. M., & Bernal, J. S.
(2012).
Population genetic structure of a specialist leafhopper on Zea: likely anthropogenic and ecological determinants of gene flow. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA.
142(3), 223-235.
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Barman, A. K., Parajulee, M. N., Sansone, C. G., & Medina, R. F.
(2012).
Host preference of cotton fleahopper, Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter) is not labile to geographic origin and prior experience. Environmental Entomology.
41(1), 125-132.
-
Dickey, A. M., & Medina, R. F.
(2011).
Immigrant inviability in yellow pecan aphid. 36(4), 526-531.
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Hartfield, E. A., Harris, M. K., & Medina, R. F.
(2011).
Relative abundance and flight phenology of two pheromone types of Acrobasis nuxvorella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). 40(4), 889-892.
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Dickey, A. M., & Medina, R. F.
(2011).
Lack of sequential radiation in a parasitoid of a host-associated aphid. 139(2), 154-160.
-
Medina, R. F., Nachappa, P., & Tamborindeguy, C.
(2011).
Differences in bacterial diversity of host-associated populations of Phylloxera notabilis Pergande (Hemiptera: Phylloxeridae) in pecan and water hickory. JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY.
24(4), 761-771.
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Snchez-Pea, S. R., Lara, J., & Medina, R. F.
(2011).
Occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi from agricultural and natural ecosystems in Saltillo, Mxico, and their virulence towards thrips and whiteflies. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE.
11(1), 1-10.
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Joyce, A. L., Bernal, J. S., Vinson, S. B., Hunt, R. E., Schulthess, F., & Medina, R. F.
(2010).
Geographic variation in male courtship acoustics and genetic divergence of populations of the Cotesia flavipes species complex. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA.
137(2), 153-164.
-
Hartfield, E. A., Harris, M. K., & Medina, R. F.
(2010).
Searching for pheromone strains in the pecan nut casebearer. 137(1), 11-18.
-
Medina, R. F., Rondon, S. I., Reyna, S. M., & Dickey, A. M.
(2010).
Population structure of Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in the United States. 39(3), 1037-1042.
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Dickey, A. M., & Medina, R. F.
(2010).
Testing host-associated differentiation in a quasi-endophage and a parthenogen on native trees. JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY.
23(5), 945-956.
-
Barrientos-Lozano, L., Medina, R. F., & Rocha-Snchez, A. Y.
(2009).
Contribution to Geographic Distribution of some Mexican Melanoplinae and Description of a New Species. Journal of Orthoptera Research.
18(1), 37-50.
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MEDINA, R. F., BARBOSA, P., CHRISTMAN, M., & BATTISTI, A.
(2006).
Number of individuals and molecular markers to use in genetic differentiation studies. 6(4), 1010-1013.
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Medina, R. F., & Barbosa, P.
(2002).
Predation of Small and Large Orgyia leucostigma (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Larvae by Vertebrate and Invertebrate Predators. Environmental Entomology.
31(6), 1097-1102.
-
Wright, C., Helms, A. M., Bernal, J. S., Grunseich, J. M., & Medina, R. F.
(2022).
Aphelinus nigritus Howard (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) Preference for Sorghum Aphid, Melanaphis sorghi (Theobald, 1904) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Honeydew Is Stronger in Johnson Grass, Sorghum halepense, Than in Grain Sorghum, Sorghum bicolor. Insects.
14(1), 10-10.
-
chapter
-
Medina, R. F.
(2012).
Implications of HostAssociated Differentiation in the Control of Pest Species. Insect Outbreaks Revisited.
(pp. 291-310).
Wiley.
-
Medina, R. F.
(2012).
Implications of HostAssociated Differentiation in the Control of Pest Species. Insect Outbreaks Revisited.
(pp. 291-310).
Wiley.
-
conference paper
-
Medina, R. F., & Barbosa, P.
(2008).
The role of host plant species in the phenotypic differentiation of sympatric populations of Aleiodes nolophanae and Cotesia marginiventris. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA.
14-26.
-
Medina, R. F., & Barbosa, P.
(2008).
The role of host plant species in the phenotypic differentiation of sympatric populations of Aleiodes nolophanae and Cotesia marginiventris. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA.
14-26.
-
Medina, R. F., & Barbosa, P.
(2007).
Phenotypic and genetic differentiation of hymenopteran parasitoids. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE.
15-15.
-
Medina, R. F., Barbosa, P., & Waddell, K.
(2005).
Parasitism levels in Orgyia leucostigma feeding on two tree species: implications for the slowgrowth highmortality hypothesis. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA.
193-197.
-
Medina, R. F., & Barbosa, P.
(2008).
The role of host plant species in the phenotypic differentiation of sympatric populations of Aleiodes nolophanae and Cotesia marginiventris. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA.
14-26.
Research
principal investigator on
- Variation in IPM-Relevant Traits Among Geneticaly Distinct Pest Populations awarded by National Institute of Food and Agriculture - (Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States) 2019 - 2024
- Evaluation of New Anti-Tick Antigens on Rabbit for Control of Vector Tick Species awarded by Agricultural Research Service - (Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States) 2017 - 2020
- Factors Mediating Host-Associated Differentiation in Insect Communities awarded by National Institute of Food and Agriculture - (Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States) 2014 - 2019
co-principal investigator on
- Microbial Diversity Associated with Livestock Pests Across Ecosystems awarded by Agricultural Research Service - (Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States) 2016 - 2020
- Population Genetic Structure of Ixodes scapularis and disease transmission awarded by National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States) 2015 - 2018
Teaching
teaching activities
- ENTO201 General Entomology Instructor
- ENTO401 Princl Of Intgrt Pest Mgmt Instructor
- ENTO425 Disease Ecology Instructor
- ENTO491 Research Instructor
- ENTO610 Host Plant Resistance Instructor
- ENTO631 Prncl Of Intgrt Pst Mgmt Instructor
- ENTO681 Seminar Instructor
- ENTO684 Prof Internship Instructor
- ENTO685 Directed Studies Instructor
- ENTO691 Research Instructor
Works By Students
chaired theses and dissertations
-
Antwi, Josephine Bema (2015-08). Host Plant Use by Insect Herbivores Mediated by Microorganisms.
-
Barman, Apurba (2012-02). Interactive Effects of Geography and Host Plant Species on Genetic and Phenotypic Variation of Cotton Fleahopper Populations.
-
Bellota Villafuerte, Edwin (2013-01). Effects of Life History, Domestication, and Breeding of Zea on the Specialist Herbivore Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae).
-
Carbaugh, Jason Ryan (2016-12). Perception and Handling of Inanimate Objects by the Red Imported Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta Buren with an Emphasis on Polymorphism and Recognition Chemicals.
-
Dickey, Aaron (2011-02). Host-Associated Differentiation in an Insect Community.
-
Harrison, Kyle Edward (2017-04). Ecological Factors Explaining Genetic Differentiation in Aphidomorpha Associated with Pecan and Water Hickory Trees.
-
Hartfield, Emilie Anne (2011-02). Molecular and Pheromone Studies of Pecan Nut Casebearer, Acrobasis nuxvorella Neunzig (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).
-
Vyavhare, Suhas (2014-08). Establishing and Implementing an IPM Program for the Redbanded Stink Bug: An Emerging Soybean Pest in the Southern Region.
Background
education and training
- Ph.D. in Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park - (College Park, Maryland, United States) 2005
- M.S. in Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park - (College Park, Maryland, United States) 1999
- B.S. in Biology, National Agrarian University - (Lima, Peru) 1995
Contact
first name
- Raul
has last name
- Medina
mailing address
-
Texas A&M University
Entomology
2475 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-2475
USA
Other
In the News
- Aggie awarded grant for sugarcane aphid research News Release
- rfmedina@tamu.edu