HR job title
- Professor
- Contact Info
- 1 979 845 3411
- Websites
Behmer, Spencer Professor
Positions
- Professor, Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Overview
- Publications
- Research
- Teaching
- Works By Students
- Background
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Overview
Publications
selected publications
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academic article
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Lau, P., Lesne, P., Grebenok, R. J., Rangel, J., & Behmer, S. T.
(2022).
Assessing pollen nutrient content: a unifying approach for the study of bee nutritional ecology. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
377(1853), 20210510.
-
Ugine, T. A., Krasnoff, S. B., & Behmer, S. T.
(2022).
Omnivory in predatory lady beetles is widespread and driven by an appetite for sterols. Functional Ecology.
36(2), 458-470.
-
Bhasin, D., Behmer, S. T., & McAdams, D. A.
(2021).
Fostering Function-Sharing Using Bioinspired Product Architecture. Journal of Mechanical Design - Transactions of the ASME.
143(6),
-
Ugine, T. A., Nagra, A., Grebenok, R. J., Behmer, S. T., & Losey, J. E.
(2020).
Herbivory improves the fitness of predatory beetles. Journal of Animal Ecology.
89(11), 2473-2484.
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Chen, I. W., Grebenok, R. J., Schaller, H., Zhu-Salzman, K., & Behmer, S. T.
(2020).
Aphid growth and reproduction on plants with altered sterol profiles: Novel insights using Arabidopsis mutant and overexpression lines. Journal of Insect Physiology.
123, 104054-104054.
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Jing, X., & Behmer, S. T.
(2020).
Insect Sterol Nutrition: Physiological Mechanisms, Ecology, and Applications. Annual Review of Entomology.
65(1), 251-271.
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Ugine, T. A., Krasnoff, S. B., Grebenok, R. J., Behmer, S. T., & Losey, J. E.
(2019).
Prey nutrient content creates omnivores out of predators. Ecology Letters.
22(2), 275-283.
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Deans, C., Sword, G. A., & Behmer, S. T.
(2019).
First evidence of protein-carbohydrate regulation in a plant bug (Lygus hesperus). Journal of Insect Physiology.
116, 118-124.
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Oh, J. K., Behmer, S. T., Marquess, R., Scholar, E. A., & Akbulut, M.
(2019).
Investigation of mechanical properties of tibia and femur articulations of insect joints with different joint functions. MRS Communications.
9(3), 900-903.
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Deans, C. A., Sword, G. A., Lenhart, P. A., Burkness, E., Hutchison, W. D., & Behmer, S. T.
(2018).
Quantifying Plant Soluble Protein and Digestible Carbohydrate Content, Using Corn (Zea mays) As an Exemplar. Journal of Visualized Experiments.
2018(138),
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Fuentes, N. R., Mlih, M., Barhoumi, R., Fan, Y., Hardin, P., Steele, T. J., ... Chapkin, R. S.
(2018).
Long-Chain n-3 Fatty Acids Attenuate Oncogenic KRas-Driven Proliferation by Altering Plasma Membrane Nanoscale Proteolipid Composition. Cancer Research.
78(14), 3899-3912.
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Tessnow, A. E., Behmer, S. T., Walsh, T. K., & Sword, G. A.
(2018).
Protein-carbohydrate regulation in Helicoverpa amigera and H. punctigera and how diet protein-carbohydrate content affects insect susceptibility to Bt toxins. Journal of Insect Physiology.
106(Pt 1), 88-95.
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Behmer, S. T.
(2017).
Overturning dogma: tolerance of insects to mixed-sterol diets is not universal. Current Opinion in Insect Science.
23, 89-95.
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Deans, C. A., Behmer, S. T., Tessnow, A. E., Tamez-Guerra, P., Pusztai-Carey, M., & Sword, G. A.
(2017).
Nutrition affects insect susceptibility to Bt toxins. Scientific Reports.
7(1), 39705.
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Oh, J. K., Behmer, S. T., Marquess, R., Yegin, C., Scholar, E. A., & Akbulut, M.
(2017).
Structural, tribological, and mechanical properties of the hind leg joint of a jumping insect: Using katydids to inform bioinspired lubrication systems. Acta Biomaterialia.
62, 284-292.
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Zera, A. J., Clark, R., & Behmer, S.
(2016).
Lipogenesis in a wing-polymorphic cricket: Canalization versus morph-specific plasticity as a function of nutritional heterogeneity. Journal of Insect Physiology.
95, 118-132.
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Clark, R. M., Zera, A. J., & Behmer, S. T.
(2016).
Metabolic rate is canalized in the face of variable life history and nutritional environment. Functional Ecology.
30(6), 922-931.
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Deans, C. A., Sword, G. A., & Behmer, S. T.
(2016).
Nutrition as a neglected factor in insect herbivore susceptibility to Bt toxins. Current Opinion in Insect Science.
15, 97-103.
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Deans, C. A., Behmer, S. T., Fiene, J., & Sword, G. A.
(2016).
Spatio-Temporal, Genotypic, and Environmental Effects on Plant Soluble Protein and Digestible Carbohydrate Content: Implications for Insect Herbivores with Cotton as an Exemplar. Journal of Chemical Ecology.
42(11), 1151-1163.
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Cook, S. C., Eubanks, M. D., Gold, R. E., & Behmer, S. T.
(2016).
Summer and fall ants have different physiological responses to food macronutrient content. Journal of Insect Physiology.
87, 35-44.
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Caballero, I. C., Sakla, A. J., Detwiler, J. T., Le Gall, M., Behmer, S. T., & Criscione, C. D.
(2015).
Physiological Status Drives Metabolic Rate in Mediterranean Geckos Infected with Pentastomes. PLoS ONE.
10(12), e0144477-e0144477.
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Lenhart, P. A., Eubanks, M. D., & Behmer, S. T.
(2015).
Water stress in grasslands: dynamic responses of plants and insect herbivores. OIKOS.
124(3), 381-390.
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Deans, C. A., Sword, G. A., & Behmer, S. T.
(2015).
Revisiting macronutrient regulation in the polyphagous herbivore Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): New insights via nutritional geometry. Journal of Insect Physiology.
81, 21-27.
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Clark, R. M., Zera, A. J., & Behmer, S. T.
(2015).
Nutritional physiology of life-history trade-offs: how food protein-carbohydrate content influences life-history traits in the wing-polymorphic cricket Gryllus firmus. Journal of Experimental Biology.
218(Pt 2), 298-308.
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Deans, C. A., Behmer, S. T., Kay, A., & Voelz, N.
(2015).
The importance of dissolved N:P ratios on mayfly (Baetis spp.) growth in high-nutrient detritus-based streams. Hydrobiologia: the international journal on limnology and marine sciences.
742(1), 15-26.
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Le Gall, M., & Behmer, S. T.
(2014).
Effects of protein and carbohydrate on an insect herbivore: the vista from a fitness landscape. INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY.
54(5), 942-954.
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Roeder, K. A., & Behmer, S. T.
(2014).
Lifetime consequences of food protein-carbohydrate content for an insect herbivore. Functional Ecology.
28(5), 1135-1143.
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Jing, X., Grebenok, R. J., & Behmer, S. T.
(2014).
Diet micronutrient balance matters: How the ratio of dietary sterols/steroids affects development, growth and reproduction in two lepidopteran insects. Journal of Insect Physiology.
67, 85-96.
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Bouvaine, S., Faure, M., Grebenok, R. J., Behmer, S. T., & Douglas, A. E.
(2014).
A dietary test of putative deleterious sterols for the aphid Myzus persicae. PLoS ONE.
9(1), e86256-e86256.
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Clark, R. M., McConnell, A., Zera, A. J., & Behmer, S. T.
(2013).
Nutrient regulation strategies differ between cricket morphs that trade-off dispersal and reproduction. 27(5), 1126-1133.
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Behmer, S. T., Olszewski, N., Sebastiani, J., Palka, S., Sparacino, G., Sciarrno, E., & Grebenok, R. J.
(2013).
Plant phloem sterol content: forms, putative functions, and implications for phloem-feeding insects. Frontiers in Plant Science.
4(SEP), 370.
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Jing, X., Grebenok, R. J., & Behmer, S. T.
(2013).
Sterol/steroid metabolism and absorption in a generalist and specialist caterpillar: effects of dietary sterol/steroid structure, mixture and ratio. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
43(7), 580-587.
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Thompson, B. M., Grebenok, R. J., Behmer, S. T., & Gruner, D. S.
(2013).
Microbial symbionts shape the sterol profile of the xylem-feeding woodwasp, Sirex noctilio. Journal of Chemical Ecology.
39(1), 129-139.
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Jing, X., Vogel, H., Grebenok, R. J., Zhu-Salzman, K., & Behmer, S. T.
(2012).
Dietary sterols/steroids and the generalist caterpillar Helicoverpa zea: physiology, biochemistry and midgut gene expression. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
42(11), 835-845.
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Bouvaine, S., T Behmer, S., Lin, G. G., Faure, M., Grebenok, R. J., & Douglas, A. E.
(2012).
The physiology of sterol nutrition in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum. Journal of Insect Physiology.
58(11), 1383-1389.
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Joern, A., Provin, T., & Behmer, S. T.
(2012).
Not just the usual suspects: insect herbivore populations and communities are associated with multiple plant nutrients. ECOLOGY.
93(5), 1002-1015.
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Cook, S. C., Wynalda, R. A., Gold, R. E., & Behmer, S. T.
(2012).
Macronutrient regulation in the Rasberry crazy ant (Nylanderia sp nr. pubens). Insectes Sociaux.
59(1), 93-100.
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Jing, X., Grebenok, R. J., & Behmer, S. T.
(2012).
Plant sterols and host plant suitability for generalist and specialist caterpillars. Journal of Insect Physiology.
58(2), 235-244.
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Cook, S. C., Eubanks, M. D., Gold, R. E., & Behmer, S. T.
(2011).
Seasonality directs contrasting food collection behavior and nutrient regulation strategies in ants. PLoS ONE.
6(9), e25407-e25407.
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Pearson, R., Behmer, S. T., Gruner, D. S., & Denno, R. F.
(2011).
Effects of diet quality on performance and nutrient regulation in an omnivorous katydid. Ecological Entomology.
36(4), 471-479.
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Behmer, S. T., Grebenok, R. J., & Douglas, A. E.
(2011).
Plant sterols and host plant suitability for a phloem-feeding insect. Functional Ecology.
25(3), 484-491.
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Chi, Y. H., Jing, X., Lei, J., Ahn, J., Koo, Y. D., Yun, D., ... Zhu-Salzman, K.
(2011).
Stability of AtVSP in the insect digestive canal determines its defensive capability. Journal of Insect Physiology.
57(3), 391-399.
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Roeder, K. A., Kuriachan, I., Vinson, S. B., & Behmer, S. T.
(2010).
Evaluation of a microbial inhibitor in artificial diets of a generalist caterpillar, Heliothis virescens. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE.
10(197), 197-12.
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Cook, S. C., & Behmer, S. T.
(2010).
Macronutrient Regulation in the Tropical Terrestrial Ant Ectatomma ruidum (Formicidae): A Field Study in Costa Rica. Biotropica.
42(2), 135-139.
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Cook, S. C., Eubanks, M. D., Gold, R. E., & Behmer, S. T.
(2010).
Colony-level macronutrient regulation in ants: mechanisms, hoarding and associated costs. Animal Behaviour.
79(2), 429-437.
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Janson, E. M., Grebenok, R. J., Behmer, S. T., & Abbot, P.
(2009).
Same host-plant, different sterols: variation in sterol metabolism in an insect herbivore community. Journal of Chemical Ecology.
35(11), 1309-1319.
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Warbrick-Smith, J., Raubenheimer, D., Simpson, S. J., & Behmer, S. T.
(2009).
Three hundred and fifty generations of extreme food specialisation: testing predictions of nutritional ecology. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA.
132(1), 65-75.
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Behmer, S. T.
(2009).
Animal behaviour: feeding the superorganism. Current Biology.
19(9), R366-R368.
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Behmer, S. T.
(2009).
Insect herbivore nutrient regulation. Annual Review of Entomology.
54(1), 165-187.
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Behmer, S. T., & Joern, A.
(2008).
Coexisting generalist herbivores occupy unique nutritional feeding niches. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
105(6), 1977-1982.
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Warbrick-Smith, J., Behmer, S. T., Lee, K. P., Raubenheimer, D., & Simpson, S. J.
(2006).
Evolving resistance to obesity in an insect. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
103(38), 14045-14049.
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Lee, K. P., Behmer, S. T., & Simpson, S. J.
(2006).
Nutrient regulation in relation to diet breadth: a comparison of Heliothis sister species and a hybrid. Journal of Experimental Biology.
209(Pt 11), 2076-2084.
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Pompilio, L., Kacelnik, A., & Behmer, S. T.
(2006).
State-dependent learned valuation drives choice in an invertebrate. Science.
311(5767), 1613-1615.
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Behmer, S. T., Belt, C. E., & Shapiro, M. S.
(2005).
Variable rewards and discrimination ability in an insect herbivore: what and how does a hungry locust learn?. Journal of Experimental Biology.
208(Pt 18), 3463-3473.
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Behmer, S. T., Lloyd, C. M., Raubenheimer, D., Stewart-Clark, J., Knight, J., Leighton, R. S., Harper, F. A., & Smith, J.
(2005).
Metal hyperaccumulation in plants: mechanisms of defence against insect herbivores. Functional Ecology.
19(1), 55-66.
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Simpson, S. J., Sibly, R. M., Lee, K. P., Behmer, S. T., & Raubenheimer, D.
(2004).
Optimal foraging when regulating intake of multiple nutrients. Animal Behaviour.
68(6), 1299-1311.
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Opstad, R., Rogers, S. M., Behmer, S. T., & Simpson, S. J.
(2004).
Behavioural correlates of phenotypic plasticity in mouthpart chemoreceptor numbers in locusts. Journal of Insect Physiology.
50(8), 725-736.
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Lee, K. P., Raubenheimer, D., Behmer, S. T., & Simpson, S. J.
(2003).
A correlation between macronutrient balancing and insect host-plant range: evidence from the specialist caterpillar Spodoptera exempta (Walker). Journal of Insect Physiology.
49(12), 1161-1171.
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Behmer, S. T., Cox, E., Raubenheimer, D., & Simpson, S. J.
(2003).
Food distance and its effect on nutrient balancing in a mobile insect herbivore. Animal Behaviour.
66(4), 665-675.
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Behmer, S. T., Simpson, S. J., & Raubenheimer, D.
(2002).
HERBIVORE FORAGING IN CHEMICALLY HETEROGENEOUS ENVIRONMENTS: NUTRIENTS AND SECONDARY METABOLITES. ECOLOGY.
83(9), 2489-2501.
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Behmer, S. T., Simpson, S. J., & Raubenheimer, D.
(2002).
Herbivore foraging in chemically heterogeneous environments: Nutrients and secondary metabolites. ECOLOGY.
83(9), 2489-2501.
-
Simpson, S. J., Raubenheimer, D., Behmer, S. T., Whitworth, A., & Wright, G. A.
(2002).
A comparison of nutritional regulation in solitarious- and gregarious-phase nymphs of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria. Journal of Experimental Biology.
205(1), 121-129.
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Lee, K. P., Behmer, S. T., Simpson, S. J., & Raubenheimer, D.
(2002).
A geometric analysis of nutrient regulation in the generalist caterpillar Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval). Journal of Insect Physiology.
48(6), 655-665.
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van der Zee, B., Behmer, S. T., & Simpson, S. J.
(2002).
Food mixing strategies in the desert locust: effects of phase, distance between foods, and food nutrient content. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA.
103(3), 227-237.
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Behmer, S. T., Raubenheimer, D., & Simpson, S. J.
(2001).
Frequency-dependent food selection in locusts: a geometric analysis of the role of nutrient balancing. Animal Behaviour.
61(5), 995-1005.
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Behmer, S. T., & Elias, D. O.
(2000).
Sterol metabolic constraints as a factor contributing to the maintenance of diet mixing in grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Physiological and Biochemical Zoology.
73(2), 219-230.
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Frazier, M. R., Harrison, J. F., & Behmer, S. T.
(2000).
Effects of diet on titratable acid-base excretion in grasshoppers. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology.
73(1), 67-76.
-
Behmer, S. T., Elias, D. O., & Grebenok, R. J.
(1999).
Phytosterol metabolism and absorption in the generalist grasshopper, Schistocerca americana (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology.
42(1), 13-25.
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Behmer, S. T., & Elias, D. O.
(1999).
The nutritional significance of sterol metabolic constraints in the generalist grasshopper Schistocerca americana. Journal of Insect Physiology.
45(4), 339-348.
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Behmer, S. T., & Elias, D. O.
(1999).
Phytosterol structure and its impact on feeding behaviour in the generalist grasshopper Schistocerca americana. Physiological Entomology.
24(1), 18-27.
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Behmer, S. T., Elias, D. O., & Bernays, E. A.
(1999).
Post-ingestive feedbacks and associative learning regulate the intake of unsuitable sterols in a generalist grasshopper. Journal of Experimental Biology.
202(6), 739-748.
-
Behmer, S. T., & Grebenok, R. J.
(1998).
Impact of dietary sterols on life-history traits of a caterpillar. Physiological Entomology.
23(2), 165-175.
-
Joern, A., & Behmer, S. T.
(1998).
Impact of diet quality on demographic attributes in adult grasshoppers and the nitrogen limitation hypothesis. Ecological Entomology.
23(2), 174-184.
-
Joern, A., & Behmer, S. T.
(1997).
Importance of dietary nitrogen and carbohydrates to survival, growth, and reproduction in adults of the grasshopper Ageneotettix deorum (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Oecologia.
112(2), 201-208.
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Chambers, P., Sword, G., Angel, J. E., Behmer, S., & Bernays, E. A.
(1996).
Foraging by generalist grasshoppers: Two different strategies. Animal Behaviour.
52(1), 155-165.
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Behmer, S. T., & Joern, A.
(1994).
The influence of proline on diet selection: sex-specific feeding preferences by the grasshoppers Ageneotettix deorum and Phoetaliotes nebrascensis (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Oecologia.
98(1), 76-82.
-
BEHMER, S. T., & JOERN, A.
(1993).
DIET CHOICE BY A GRASS-FEEDING GRASSHOPPER BASED ON THE NEED FOR A LIMITING NUTRIENT. Functional Ecology.
7(5), 522-527.
-
Lau, P., Lesne, P., Grebenok, R. J., Rangel, J., & Behmer, S. T.
(2022).
Assessing pollen nutrient content: a unifying approach for the study of bee nutritional ecology. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
377(1853), 20210510.
-
book
-
Behmer, S. T., & Nes, W. D.
(2003).
Insect sterol nutrition and physiology: A global overview. Ed. 31.
Elsevier.
-
Behmer, S. T., & Nes, W. D.
(2003).
Insect sterol nutrition and physiology: A global overview. Ed. 31.
Elsevier.
-
chapter
-
Behmer, S. T., & Joern, A.
(2012).
Insect Herbivore Outbreaks Viewed through a Physiological Framework: Insights from Orthoptera. Insect Outbreaks Revisited.
(pp. 1-29).
Wiley.
-
Behmer, S. T., & Joern, A.
(2012).
Insect Herbivore Outbreaks Viewed through a Physiological Framework: Insights from Orthoptera. Insect Outbreaks Revisited.
(pp. 1-29).
Wiley.
-
institutional repository document
-
Body, M., Behmer, S. T., Pelisson, P., Casas, J., & Giron, D.
(2019).
Field application of the geometric framework reveals a multistep strategy of nutrient regulation in a leaf-miner
-
Body, M., Behmer, S. T., Pelisson, P., Casas, J., & Giron, D.
(2019).
Field application of the geometric framework reveals a multistep strategy of nutrient regulation in a leaf-miner
Research
principal investigator on
- Canisius College: Insect sterol requirements: a novel target for controlling insect herbivore pests awarded by United States Department of Agriculture - (Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States) 2016 - 2019
- Collaborative Research: Nutritional Physiology of Life History Allocation Trade-Offs awarded by National Science Foundation - (Arlington, Virginia, United States) 2011 - 2016
co-principal investigator on
Teaching
teaching activities
- EEBL601 Physiological Ecology Instructor
- EEBL610 First Year Graduate Seminar Instructor
- ENTO201 General Entomology Instructor
- ENTO306 Insect Physiology Instructor
- ENTO306 Insect Structure & Function Instructor
- ENTO491 Research Instructor
- ENTO681 Seminar Instructor
- ENTO690 Theory Of Research Instructor
- ENTO691 Research Instructor
- NFSC491 Research Instructor
Works By Students
chaired theses and dissertations
-
Boswell, Andrew William Payne (2011-02). Insect Herbivore Stoichiometry: The Effect of Macronutrient Quantity, Ratio, and Quality (Orthoptera: Acridae, Schistocerca americana).
-
Chen, Wei (2019-08). Manipulation of Plant Sterol Profile and its Effect on Insects.
-
Deans, Carrie Ann (2015-08). The Interaction between Nutrition and Insect Stress Response in a Cotton Model System.
-
Jing, Xiangfeng (2012-02). Effects of Sterol Structure on Insect Herbivore Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
-
Le Gall, Marion (2014-05). Diet-mixing in a Generalist Herbivore: Trade-offs Between Nutrient and Allelochemical Regulation.
-
Lenhart, Paul Alvarado (2014-05). Nutrient Niches: an Investigation of Nutritional Ecology in a Generalist Herbivore Community.
-
Marquess, Richelle Renee (2016-12). The Role of Food Protein-Carbohydrate Content on Nutrient Regulation Strategies and Wing Morph Determination in the Wing Polymorphic Cricket Gryllus firmus.
-
Martin, Angela Michele (2015-08). The Effects of Sterols on Drosophila melanogaster: Physiology and Biochemistry.
-
Roeder, Karl Adam (2011-10). Dietary Effect on the Performance and Body Composition of the Generalist Insect Jerbivore, Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).
-
Wynalda, Rachel Anne (2008-10). Nutrient regulation of an exotic, unidentified paratrechina sp. (hymenoptera: formicidae) found in Texas.
Background
education and training
- Ph.D. in Entomology, University of Arizona - (Tucson, Arizona, United States) 1998
- M.S. in Biology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln - (Lincoln, United States) 1993
- B.S. in Biology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln - (Lincoln, United States) 1989
Contact
first name
- Spencer
has last name
- Behmer
mailing address
-
Texas A&M University
Entomology
2475 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-2475
USA
Other
In the News
- Honey Bee Nutrition Might Be Key To Healthy Colonies News Release
- Honey bee nutrition might be key to healthy populations News Release
- New Institute To Study Behavioral Plasticity In Locusts News Release
- s-behmer@tamu.edu