Dr. Wim van Herk

Research Scientist
  • Integrated pest management
  • Field vegetable entomology
  • Insect behaviour
  • Toxicology
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
6947 Highway 7, Agassiz, British Columbia

Current research and/or projects

Development of IPM tools and strategies for the management of wireworms and click beetles, western corn rootworm, and cabbage root maggots

Professional activities / interests

  • Insect behaviour and ecology
  • Integrated pest management
  • Field vegetable entomology
  • Toxicology, ecotoxicology, environmental protection

Key publications

  1. Furtado, K., van Herk, W., Gries, G., and M.T. Franklin. 2023. PCR-based assay for the identification of invasive and native Agriotes species (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in Canada. Annual Meeting of the Professional Pest Management Association of British Columbia. Langley, BC, Canada, February 21, 2023 (oral presentation).

    2023 - View publication details

  2. Saguez J, Singleton K, van Herk W.G., Douglas H.B., Gries R., Gries G. 2022. Agriotes sputator: un nouveau venu au Québec à surveiller. Réunion annuelle de la Société d’Entomologie du Québec. Granby, Qc. 27 octobre 2022. Poster.

    2022 - View publication details

  3. Catton, H., van Herk, W., Saguez, J., Schock, C., Otani, J. 2022. Prairie Pest Monitoring Network “Insect of the Week-Flat wireworm (Aeolus mellillus) - A different kind of wireworm” Webpage-bulletin, June 13, 2022 edition (Issue 6). url: https://prairiepest.ca/2022/week-6/#post_12839 (retrieved 2022Nov16).

    2022 - View publication details

  4. Catton, H., van Herk, W., Saguez, J., Schock, C., Otani, J. 2022. Prairie Pest Monitoring Network “Insect of the Week-Sugarbeet wireworm (Limonius californicus) - A big pest in some fields” Webpage-bulletin, June 6, 2022 edition (Issue 5). url: https://prairiepest.ca/2022/week-5/#post_12645 (retrieved 2022Nov16).

    2022 - View publication details

  5. Catton, H., van Herk, W., Saguez, J., Schock, C., Otani, J. 2022. Prairie Pest Monitoring Network “Insect of the Week-Prairie grain wireworm (Selatosomus aeripennis destructor) – The most destructive prairie pest wireworm” Webpage-bulletin, May 31, 2022 edition (Issue 4). url: https://prairiepest.ca/2022/week-4/#post_12601 (retrieved 2022Nov16).

    2022 - View publication details

  6. Catton, H., van Herk, W., Saguez, J., Schock, C., Otani, J. 2022. Prairie Pest Monitoring Network “Insect of the Week-Hypnoidus bicolor – The most common prairie pest wireworm” Webpage-bulletin, May 23, 2022 edition (Issue 3). url: https://prairiepest.ca/2022/week-3/#post_12514 (retrieved 2022Nov16).

    2022 - View publication details

  7. Catton, H., van Herk, W., Saguez, J., Schock, C., Svendsen, E., Otani, J. 2022. Prairie Pest Monitoring Network “Insect of the Week-New prairie wireworm field guide” Webpage-bulletin, May 16, 2022 edition (Issue 2). url: https://prairiepest.ca/2022/week-2/#post_12354 (retrieved 2022Nov16).

    2022 - View publication details

  8. Catton H, van Herk W, Saguez J and Svendsen E (2021) Guide to pest wireworms in Canadian
    Prairie field crop production. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

    2021 - View publication details

  9. Drahun, I., Wiebe, K.F., Koloski, C.W., van Herk, W.G., Cassone, B.J. (2021). Genetic structure and population demographics of Hypnoidus bicolor (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in the Canadian Prairies. Pest Management Science, [online] 77(5), 2282-2291. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ps.6255

    2021 - View publication details

  10. Andrews, K.R., Gerritsen, A., Rashed, A., Crowder, D.W., Rondon, S.I., van Herk, W.G., Vernon, R., Wanner, K.W., Wilson, C.M., New, D.D., Fagnan, M.W., Hohenlohe, P.A., Hunter, S.S. (2020). Wireworm (Coleoptera: Elateridae) genomic analysis reveals putative cryptic species, population structure, and adaptation to pest control. Communications Biology, [online] 3(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s42003-020-01169-9

    2020 - View publication details

  11. Otani, J., Mori, B., van Herk, W. 2020. Insects in Grass and Clover Crops. 2020 Canadian Forage Seed Conference, Edmonton, Alberta, February 25, 2020.

    2020 - View publication details

  12. Kabaluk T, Douglas H, van Herk W (2018) Flight status of invasive European Elateridae in southwestern British Columbia. 58th Western Committee on crop pests. Loydminster AB. Oral presentation.

    2018 - View publication details

  13. Vernon, R., van Herk, W. (2017). Wireworm and Flea Beetle IPM in Potatoes in Canada: Implications for Managing Emergent Problems in Europe. Potato Research, [online] 60(3-4), 269-285. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11540-018-9355-6

    2017 - View publication details

  14. Vernon, R.S., van Herk, W.G., Clodius, M., Tolman, J. (2016). Companion planting attract-and-kill method for wireworm management in potatoes. Journal of Pest Science, [online] 89(2), 375-389. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10340-015-0707-6

    2016 - View publication details

  15. G van Herk, W., Vernon, R.S., Vojtko, B., Snow, S., Fortier, J., Fortin, C. (2015). Contact behaviour and mortality of wireworms exposed to six classes of insecticide applied to wheat seed. Journal of Pest Science, [online] 88(4), 717-739. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10340-015-0697-4

    2015 - View publication details

  16. Van Herk, W.G., Vernon, R.S., Cronin, E.M.L., Gaimari, S.D. (2015). Predation of Thereva nobilitata (Fabricius) (Diptera: Therevidae) on Agriotes obscurus L. (Coleoptera: Elateridae). Journal of Applied Entomology, [online] 139(1-2), 154-157. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jen.12162

    2015 - View publication details

  17. Vernon, R.S., van Herk, W.G., Tanaka, J.A. (2014). Blending of pheromone lures for two exotic European pest elaterid beetles. Journal of Pest Science, [online] 87(4), 619-627. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10340-014-0596-0

    2014 - View publication details

  18. Vernon, R.S., Blackshaw, R.P., van Herk, W.G., Clodius, M. (2014). Mass trapping wild Agriotes obscurus and Agriotes lineatus males with pheromone traps in a permanent grassland population reservoir. Agricultural and Forest Entomology, [online] 16(3), 227-239. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/afe.12058

    2014 - View publication details

  19. Vernon, R.S., van Herk, W.G., Blackshaw, R.P., Shimizu, Y., Clodius, M. (2014). Mark-recapture of Agriotes obscurus and Agriotes lineatus with dense arrays of pheromone traps in an undisturbed grassland population reservoir. Agricultural and Forest Entomology, [online] 16(3), 217-226. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/afe.12045

    2014 - View publication details

  20. Vernon, R.S., van Herk, W.G. (2013). Physical exclusion of adult click beetles from wheat with an exclusion trench. Journal of Pest Science, [online] 86(1), 77-83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10340-012-0472-8

    2013 - View publication details

Contact

Research facility

Agassiz Research and Development Centre
6947 Highway 7
PO Box 1000
Agassiz, BC V0M 1A2
Canada

Expertise

Agriculture›Pest management›Integrated pest management
Agriculture›Pest management›Minor use pesticides
Sciences›Scientific research

Language

English