Dr. Tara D. Gariepy

Research Scientist

Molecular Diagnostics and Biological Control of Invasive Insect Pests in Agriculture

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

1391 Sandford Street, London, Ontario

Current research and/or projects

Entomology and parasitology
IPM and biological control of insect pests
Development and use of molecular diagnostic tools for detection and identification of parasitoids and hyperparasitoids
Evaluation of target and non-target effects of biological control agents
Identification of trophic links and host-parasite associations

Education and awards

Ph.D. Biology - Specialization in Entomology and Biological Control (2007) University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK

M.Sc. Biology - Specialization in Pest Management (2002) Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

B.Sc. Biology - Specialization in Parasitology (1998) Concordia University, Montreal, QC

Award - Received the C. Gordon Hewitt Award (2017) from the Entomological Society of Canada for outstanding early career contributions to entomology in Canada

International experience and/or work

Collaborative research with CABI-Switzerland (2002 - present)

Key publications

British Columbia (& Canada’s) Approach to Spotted Lanternfly Preparedness. Moffat, C.E., Williams, H., Kimoto, T., Holden, D., Bullas-Appleton, E., Gariepy, T.,D., Turbelin, A., Roe, A. Washington State Spotted Lanternfly Action Plan Webinar, Presentation to Washington Invasive Species Council. June 6, 2023.
2023 - View publication details
Gariepy, TD (2023) Redistribution of Ganaspis brasiliensis in Canada for Biological Control of SWD & Update on DNA barcoding of Adventive SWD Parasitoids in North America
2023 - View publication details
Gariepy, T.D. (2023) Release of Asian Parasitoids for Biological Control of Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) in Ontario: Current Status and Future Prospects. Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, February 2023, Niagara Falls, Ontario.
2023 - View publication details
P.K. Abram, J. Brodeur, J. Doyon, and T.D. Gariepy (2021). Unsuccessful attack by native parasitoids and unintentional biocontrol by exotic parasitoids: the story of brown marmorated stink bug parasitoids in Canada. 2021 Entomological Society of Canada and Entomological Society of Ontario's Joint Annual Meeting, November 15-18, 2021 (Invited virtual oral presentation).
2021 - View publication details
J. Hepler, K. Athey, D. Enicks, P.K. Abram, T.D. Gariepy, E. Talamas, E.H. Beers (2021). Hidden host mortality from Trissolcus japonicus: Conventional and molecular evaluation of non-target risk to native pentatomids. Entomology 2021: Virtual Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. October 31-November 1, 2021 (Virtual oral presentation).
2021 - View publication details
Ciancio, J.J., Turnbull, K.F., Gariepy, T.D., Sinclair, B.J. (2021). Cold tolerance, water balance, energetics, gas exchange, and diapause in overwintering brown marmorated stink bugs. Journal of Insect Physiology, [online] 128 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2020.104171
2021 - View publication details
Hepler, J.R., Athey, K., Enicks, D., Abram, P.K., Gariepy, T.D., Talamas, E.J., Beers, E. (2020). Hidden host mortality from an introduced parasitoid: Conventional and molecular evaluation of non-target risk. Insects, [online] 11(11), 1-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/insects11110822
2020 - View publication details
Cossentine, J.E., Brauner, A.M., Franklin, J.L., Robertson, M.C., Buhl, P.N., Blatt, S., Gariepy, T.D., Fraser, H., Appleby, M., Grigg-McGuffin, K., Mason, P.G. (2020). Parasitism and phenology of Dasineura mali (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in Canadian apple (Rosaceae) orchards. The Canadian Entomologist, [online] 152(3), 355-373. http://dx.doi.org/10.4039/tce.2020.15
2020 - View publication details
Konopka, J.K., Poinapen, D., Gariepy, T., Holdsworth, D.W., McNeil, J.N. (2020). Timing of failed parasitoid development in Halyomorpha halys eggs. Biological Control, [online] 141 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2019.104124
2020 - View publication details
Gariepy, T.D., Talamas, E.J. (2019). Discovery of Trissolcus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) in Ontario, Canada. The Canadian Entomologist, [online] 151(6), 824-826. http://dx.doi.org/10.4039/tce.2019.58
2019 - View publication details
Stahl, J.M., Gariepy, T.D., Beukeboom, L.W., Haye, T. (2019). A molecular tool to identify Anastatus parasitoids of the brown marmorated stink bug. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, [online] 167(7), 692-700. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/eea.12809
2019 - View publication details
Riddick, E.W., Miller, G.L., Owen, C.L., Bauchan, G.R., Schmidt, J.M., Gariepy, T., Brown, R.L., Grodowitz, M.J. (2019). Discovery of Aphis ruborum (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Aphelinus varipes (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) on Cultivated Strawberry in Mississippi, USA. Journal of Insect Science, [online] 19(3), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iez045
2019 - View publication details
Konopka, J.K., Gariepy, T.D., Haye, T., Zhang, J., Rubin, B.D., McNeil, J.N. (2019). Exploitation of pentatomids by native egg parasitoids in the native and introduced ranges of Halyomorpha halys: a molecular approach using sentinel egg masses. Journal of Pest Science, [online] 92(2), 609-619. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10340-018-01071-8
2019 - View publication details
P.K. Abram, E.J. Talamas, S. Acheampong, P.G. Mason, and T.D. Gariepy (2019). First detection of the samurai wasp, Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) in Canada. Journal of Hymenoptera Research (in press).
2019 - View publication details
Lomeli-Flores, J.R., Rodríguez-Rodríguez, S.E., Rodríguez-Levya, E., González-Hernández, H., Gariepy, T.D., Talamas, E.J. (2019). Field studies and molecular forensics identify a new association: Idris elba Talamas, sp. Nov. Parasitizes the eggs of Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister). Journal of Hymenoptera Research, [online] 93 125-141. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/JHR.73.38025
2019 - View publication details
Gariepy, T.D., Bruin, A., Konopka, J., Scott-Dupree, C., Fraser, H., Bon, M.C., Talamas, E. (2019). A modified DNA barcode approach to define trophic interactions between native and exotic pentatomids and their parasitoids. Molecular Ecology, [online] 28(2), 456-470. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mec.14868
2019 - View publication details
Konopka, J.K., Poinapen, D., Gariepy, T., McNeil, J.N. (2018). Understanding the mismatch between behaviour and development in a novel host-parasitoid association. Scientific Reports, [online] 8(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-33756-6
2018 - View publication details
Haye, T., Olfert, O., Weiss, R., Mason, P.G., Gibson, G., Gariepy, T.D., Gillespie, D.R. (2018). Bioclimatic analyses of Trichomalus perfectus and Mesopolobus morys (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) distributions, two potential biological control agents of the cabbage seedpod weevil in North America. Biological Control, [online] 124 30-39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2018.06.003
2018 - View publication details
Haye, T., Konopka, J.K., Gariepy, T.D., Mason, P.G., Gillespie, D.R. 2017. Can native parasitoids benefit from accidental introductions of exotic biological control agents? (Conference Proceedings) Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Biological Control of Arthropods (Eds. P.G. Mason, D.R. Gillespie and C. Vincent), p. 12-13.
2017 - View publication details
The pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii is currently the most important pest of pepper crops in North America where it poses a high risk to the cultivation of peppers. To address the current need for new management tools for the pepper weevil, we have initiated a research project which aims to identify the natural enemies associated with the immature life stages of the pest in Canada. From work conducted in 2016, parasitoids belonging to three hymenopteran families including Pteromalidae (Jaliscoa hunteri Crawford, Pteromalus anthonomi Ashmead), Eupelmidae (Eupelmus pulchriceps Cameron) and Braconidae (Nealiolus spp., Bracon spp.) were reared out from field-collected peppers, some of whom represent new records of species able to target the pepper weevil. Together with other ongoing research initiatives, these new natural enemy records may provide opportunities for the development of novel tools for the management of the pepper weevil in North America.
2017 - View publication details