Dr. Lauren E. Des Marteaux

Image Lauren Des Marteaux
Field Crop Entomologist

I am involved in insect pest monitoring, integrated pest management, biodiversity surveying, and development of novel tools for insect biocontrol. I have a background in insect physiology, particularly in relation to cold tolerance and diapause (overwintering).

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
2585 County Road 20, Harrow, ON

Current research and/or projects

I aim to improve insect surveying methods, understand how agricultural practices influence native insect biodiversity, develop new biocontrol tools that protect both the environment and Canadian agriculture, and ensure that Canada is prepared for new and anticipated insect pests.

I have a background in insect overwintering physiology and cryobiology, which I hope to apply at AAFC. Prior to joining AAFC, I studied mechanisms of extreme freeze tolerance in malt flies at the Biology Centre CAS (Czech Republic), after which I studied circadian clock outputs in bean bugs at Osaka City University (Japan). 

Research and/or project statements

  • Biomonitoring of orchard pests and Japanese beetles in Southwestern Ontario
  • Developing molecular tools to identify cecidomyiid midge pest presence in cruciferous field crops
  • Surveying and assessing native insect biocontrol agents for tomato pests
  • Surveying beneficial insects in various organic field crop systems

Professional activities / interests

  • Science communication and outreach
  • Science graphics
  • Cryobiology
  • International networking

Education and awards

EDUCATION

B.Sc. (Hons.) Zoology, University of Guelph, 2008
M.Sc. Environmental Biology/School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 2012
Ph.D. Biology - Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, 2017

AWARDS / SCHOLARSHIPS / FELLOWSHIPS

KAKEN Grant-in-Aid for JSPS fellows
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship
NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship (declined)
Dr. Irene Uchida Fellowship in Life Sciences
NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship (Doctoral)
Western Science Dean's Doctoral Scholarship
Ontario Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology
​NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship (Masters)
Sable Systems Student & Young Scientist Award
Faculty of Science Graduate Student Teaching Award
Entomological Society of Canada President's Prize
Graduate Teaching Assistant Award
Entomological Society of Ontario President's Prize (2x)
Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers' Association Meeting 1st place prize
XXV International Congress of Entomology 2nd place prize

International experience and/or work

Postdoctoral fellow 2019 (Oct) – 2020 (Sep)
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
Project: Identifying molecular outputs of the insect circadian clock

Postdoctoral fellow 2017 (May) – 2019 (Sep)
Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences (Institute of Entomology), České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
Project: Mechanisms of extreme freeze tolerance in the malt fly

Key publications

  1. Laflair, A., Van Laerhoven, S., Des Marteaux, L., Mlynarek, J. and Labbe, R. 2021. Reproductive and life-history potential of Nabis americoferus: a native generalist biological control agent. Entomological Society of America Conference (ESA) 2021: Poster presented Oct 31 2021.

    2021 - View publication details

  2. Desloges Baril, P., Des Marteaux, L., and VanLaerhoven, S. 2021. Exploring native predatory hemipteran species. (Entomological Society of America AGM – Virtual)

    2021 - View publication details

  3. Des Marteaux, L. and Skevington, J. 2021. Living Lab Ontario - surveying our native pollinators (Living Lab Webinar, Oct 18, 2021).

    2021 - View publication details

  4. Laflair, A., Van Laerhoven, S., Des Marteaux, L., Mlynarek, J. and Labbe, R. 2021. Lifespan and reproductive output of Nabis americoferus: a potential native generalist biological control agent. Canadian Greenhouse Conference (CGC) Poster presented October 6 2021

    2021 - View publication details

  5. Desloges Baril, P., Des Marteaux, L., and VanLaerhoven, S. 2021. Evaluation of native Hemiptera for biocontrol in Canadian tomato crops. (Canadian Greenhouse Conference – Virtual)

    2021 - View publication details

  6. Laflair, A., Van Laerhoven, S., Des Marteaux, L., Mlynarek, J. and Labbe, R. 2021. Egg feeding potential of Nabis americoferus: a native biological control agent of greenhouse pests. Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention Virtual (Niagara Falls).

    2021 - View publication details

  7. Desloges Baril, P., Des Marteaux, L., Labbé, R. Mlynarek, J., and VanLaerhoven, S. 2021. Evaluation of native Hemiptera for biocontrol in Canadian tomato crops. Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention Virtual (Niagara Falls)

    2021 - View publication details

Contact

Research facility

Harrow Research and Development Centre
2585 County Road 20
Harrow, ON N0R 1G0
Canada

Expertise

Agriculture›Animal cryobiology
Agriculture›Biocontrol›Agricultural pests
Agriculture›Biocontrol›Insect pests
Agriculture›Biocontrol›Natural enemies
Agriculture›Biodiversity›Pollinator
Agriculture›Bioinformatics
Agriculture›Biology›Insect
Agriculture›Biology›Insect molecular
Agriculture›Ecophysiology
Agriculture›Environmental science›Environmental biology
Agriculture›Enzymology
Environment›Climate›Climate change adaptation
Sciences›Biodiversity science
Sciences›Biology›Biostatistics
Sciences›Physiology
Sciences›Scientific research

Affiliations

Entomological Society of Ontario
University of Western Ontario
Czech Academy of Sciences
Osaka City University

Language

English