Pacific Southwest Research Station

Education

A.B. Biology, 1984, University of California - Berkeley
M.S. Entomology, 1990, North Carolina State University
Ph.D. Entomology, 1995, North Carolina State University

Research Interests/Duties

Biological control of weeds, Insect ecology, Post-release monitoring of biocontrol agents, Non-target impacts of biocontrol, Plant-herbivore-enemy interactions.

Current Emphases, Studies, Projects

• Insect agents for classical biological control of weeds in Hawaiian forests (Psidium cattleianum, Tibouchina herbacea, Miconia calvescens)
• Pheromone traps for monitoring biological control agents released against weedy Rubus spp.in Hawaii
• Non-target interaction of lantana lace bug (Teleonemia scrupulosa) with a native Hawaiian plant

Selected Publications

Denslow, J. S. and M. T. Johnson. in press. Biological Control of Tropical Weeds: Research Opportunities in Plant-Animal Interactions. Biotropica

Johnson, M.T., P.A. Follett, A.D. Taylor and V.P. Jones. 2005. Impacts of biological control and invasive species on a non-target native Hawaiian insect. Oecologia 142: 529-540.

Picanço, M.C, R.W. Barreto, E.G. Fidelis, A.A. Semeão, J.F. Rosado, S.C. Moreno, E.C. de Barros, G.A. Silva and T. Johnson. 2005. Biological control of Miconia calvescens by phytophagous arthropods. Technical Report 134, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Louda, S. M., R. W. Pemberton, M. T. Johnson, and P. A. Follett. 2003. Non-target effects – the Achilles' heel of biological control? Retrospective analyses to reduce risk associated with biocontrol introductions. Annual Review of Entomology 48:365–96.

Johnson, M.T., P. Yang, J.T. Huber, and V.P. Jones. 2001. Egg parasitoids of Sophonia rufofascia (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Biological Control 22: 9-15.