Dr. Wim van Herk

Research Scientist

Integrated pest management
Field vegetable entomology
Insect behaviour
Toxicology

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

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
van Herk, W.G., Vernon, R.S., McGinnis, S. (2013). Response of the dusky wireworm, Agriotes obscurus (Coleoptera: Elateridae), to residual levels of bifenthrin in field soil. Journal of Pest Science, [online] 86(1), 125-136. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10340-011-0386-x
2013 - View publication details
van Herk, W.G., Vernon, R.S. (2013). Categorization and numerical assessment of wireworm mobility over time following exposure to bifenthrin. Journal of Pest Science, [online] 86(1), 115-123. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10340-011-0381-2
2013 - View publication details
van Herk, W.G., Vernon, R.S. (2013). Wireworm damage to wheat seedlings: Effect of temperature and wireworm state. Journal of Pest Science, [online] 86(1), 63-75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10340-012-0461-y
2013 - View publication details
Benefer, C.M., van Herk, W.G., Ellis, J.S., Blackshaw, R.P., Vernon, R.S., Knight, M.E. (2013). The molecular identification and genetic diversity of economically important wireworm species (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in Canada. Journal of Pest Science, [online] 86(1), 19-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10340-012-0454-x
2013 - View publication details
Vernon, R.S., van Herk, W.G., Clodius, M., Harding, C. (2013). Crop protection and mortality of Agriotes obscurus wireworms with blended insecticidal wheat seed treatments. Journal of Pest Science, [online] 86(1), 137-150. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10340-011-0392-z
2013 - View publication details
Van Herk, W.G., Vernon, R.S., Harding, C., Roitberg, B.D., Gries, G. (2010). Possible aversion learning in the Pacific Coast wireworm. Physiological Entomology, [online] 35(1), 19-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3032.2009.00705.x
2010 - View publication details
Vernon, R.S., Van Herk, W., Tolman, J., Saavedra, H.O., Clodius, M., Gage, B. (2008). Transitional sublethal and lethal effects of insecticides after dermal exposures to five economic species of wireworms (coleoptera: Elateridae). Journal of Economic Entomology, [online] 101(2), 365-374. http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/0022-0493(2008)101[365:TSALEO]2.0.CO;2
2008 - View publication details