Héctor Cárcamo, Ph. D.

Research Scientist

Elucidating insect-plant interactions to validate economic thresholds for prairie crop pests

Development and integration of biological and cultural control approaches with chemical control to improve the sustainability of crop production

Biodiversity conservation studies with a focus on carabid beetles and spiders

The role of natural enemies in contributing to pest management

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

5403 1st Avenue South, Lethbridge, Alberta

Current research and/or projects

Projects

Validation of canola insect pest action thresholds. Project Leader(s): H. Carcamo. Collaborators: J. Otani, D. Bruhjell, T. Wist, J. Gavloski (MAFRI), S. Meers (AAF), A. Costamagna (U of MB)

Integrated approaches for flea beetle control – seeding rates, economic thresholds, prediction models, landscape effects, and natural enemies. Project Leader(s): A. Costamagna (U of MB), T. Wist is AAFC Cluster Lead. Collaborators: H. Carcamo, J. Otani, J. Gavloski (MAFRI).

Biology and management of pea leaf weevil in support of faba bean and field pea production. Project Leader(s): H. Carcamo. Collaborators: M. Evenden, D. Bruhjell, R. De Clerck Floate, N. Harker, J. Broatch (AAF), S. Chatterton.

Sustainable reduced chemical strategies to manage pea leaf weevil in pulse crops in Saskatchewan. Project Leader(s): M. Vankosky. Collaborators: M. Evenden, H. Carcamo, B. Mori.

Biological control of cabbage seedpod weevil. Project Leader(s): H. Carcamo. Collaborators: G. Labrie, E. Lucas, L. Belzile, P. Bouchard, T. Gariepy, P. Mason, M. Vankosky, B. Mori, D. Johnson, S. Meers.

Seed Forage insect pest management. Project Leader(s): H. Carcamo and J. Otani. Collaborators: B. Mori, M. Vankosky

Lygus biological control in emerging and established crops. Project Leader(s): H. Carcamo. Collaborators: Geneviève Labrie, Dan Johnson, Kevin Floate, Diana Wilches, Piratheepa Jegatheeswaran

Research and/or project statements

Our team researches ecological insect pest management strategies to improve the environmental sustainability of crop production

Professional activities / interests

Subject Editor for Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 2014-present.

Secretary of the Entomological Society of Alberta, 2018 to present.

Head Organizer (Chair) of the 6th Joint Meeting of the Entomological Societies of Alberta and Saskatchewan, October 3rd-5th, Elkwater, Alberta.

Co-Editor of Special Issue of Canadian Entomologist to commemorate 40th anniversary of the Biological Survey of Canada (2016-2017).

Co-editor, Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands (Biodiversity and Systematics), Volumes 3-4, published in 2014.

Research Leader for the Field Crops unit at the Lethbridge Research Centre (2012-2013).

+160 abstracts published in conference proceedings, scientific programs or meeting minutes from 1989 to 2019.

40+ miscellaneous publications including thesis, reports and extension articles.

Numerous extension contacts including entomological presentations to elementary school children, business groups, invited lectures or seminars at universities, entomology updates to producer organizations and television, radio and print media interviews.

Reviewer. External referee for scientific manuscripts submitted to international entomology, agronomy, ecology and soil biology journals.

Mentor/supervisor to university undergraduate and graduate students employed at the Lethbridge Research Centre .

Education and awards

Education:

1993-1997 Ph. D. Soil Ecology, University of Calgary

(Effect of sulphur pollution on forest floor invertebrates)

1990-1992 M. Sc. Entomology, University of Alberta

(Effect of agricultural practice on ground beetles)

1986-1990 B.Sc. Agricultural Entomology (distinction)

University of Alberta

Awards:

AAFC Gold Harvest Award, Team member recipient 2015 and 2016 (Insect Pest Field Guide, and Integrated Agronomy)

APHIS – USDA Administrators Award, Team member recipient 2010 (Cereal Leaf Beetle Biocontrol)

IPM Team Award, Pacific Branch of The Entomological Society of America, 2009 (Biological Control)

2013 Canadian Society of Agronomy Outstanding Paper Award in the Canadian Journal of Plant Science:

Beres, B.L., H.A. Cárcamo, J.R. Byers, F.R. Clarke, C.J. Pozniak, S.K. Basu, et al. 2013. Host plant interactions between wheat germplasm source and wheat stem sawfly Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) I. Commercial cultivars. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 93:607-617.

Beres, B.L., H.A. Cárcamo, J.R. Byers, F.R. Clarke, C.J. Pozniak, S.K. Basu, et al. 2013. Host plant interactions between wheat germplasm source and wheat stem sawfly Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: CephidaeII. Other germplasm. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 93: 1169-1177 doi:10.4141/CJPS2013-035

International experience and/or work

International experience:
Mentorship of graduate students from China, France, Colombia, Iran, India, Sirilanka

Additional links

https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=x6i4rZMAAAAJ&hl=en

Key publications

Kher, S.V., Cárcamo, H.A., Dosdall, L.M., and Goettel, M.S. (2012). "Laboratory bioassay of Beauveria bassiana strain GHA (BotaniGardTM) efficacy on cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus) and non-target effects on its parasitoid Tetrastichus julis.", Entomological Society of Canada 62nd and Entomological Society of Alberta 60th joint Annual Meeting, Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel, Edmonton, AB, Canada, November 4-7, 2012, #97. (Abstract)
2012 - View publication details
Kher, S.V., Dosdall, L.M., and Cárcamo, H.A. (2012). "Host-plant nutrients and plant vigor effects on spatio-temporal distribution patterns of cereal leaf beetle, Oulema melanopus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).", Entomological Society of Canada 62nd and Entomological Society of Alberta 60th joint Annual Meeting, Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel, Edmonton, AB, Canada, November 4-7, 2012, #95. (Abstract)
2012 - View publication details
Cárcamo, H.A. (2012). "The pea leaf weevil (Sitona lineatus L.) - an overview of recent research and knowledge gaps.", Entomological Society of Canada 62nd and Entomological Society of Alberta 60th joint Annual Meeting, Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel, Edmonton, AB, Canada, November 4-7, 2012, #26. (Abstract)
2012 - View publication details
Cárcamo, H., Herle, C., Hervet, V. (2012). Greenhouse studies of thiamethoxam effects on pea leaf weevil, Sitona lineatus. Journal of Insect Science, [online] 12 http://dx.doi.org/10.1673/031.012.15101
2012 - View publication details
Beres, B.L., McKenzie, R.H., Cárcamo, H.A., Dosdall, L.M., Evenden, M.L., Yang, R.C., Spaner, D.M. (2012). Influence of seeding rate, Nitrogen management, and micronutrient blend applications on pith expression in solid-stemmed spring wheat. Crop Science, [online] 52(3), 1316-1329. http://dx.doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2011.05.0239
2012 - View publication details
Cárcamo, H.A., Weaver, D., Meers, S., Beres, B., Mauduit, A.L. (2012). First record of Bracon lissogaster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Canada - a potentially important parasitoid of Cephus cinctus (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) in the prairies. Biocontrol Science and Technology, [online] 22(3), 367-369. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2012.658355
2012 - View publication details
Olfert, O., Weiss, R.M., Cárcamo, H.A., Meers, S. (2012). The influence of abiotic factors on an invasive pest of pulse crops, Sitona lineatus (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in North America. Psyche, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/746342
2012 - View publication details
Dosdall, L.M. and Cárcamo, H.A. (2011). "Biology and Integrated Management of the Cabbage Seedpod Weevil in Prairie Canola Crops.", Prairie Soils and Crops, 4, pp. 14-23.
2011 - View publication details
Soroka, J.J., Irvine, R.B., and Cárcamo, H.A. (2011 Internal). Strategies for managing flea beetles in canola. SasKCanola Research Report CARP 2002-11. (Report)
2011 - View publication details
Kher, S.V., Dosdall, L.M., and Cárcamo, H.A. (2011). "Biology of the cereal leaf beetle, Oulema melanopus (coleoptera: chrysomelidae) on different cereal hosts and exploration of antibiotic characters in exotic wheat germplasm.", Entomological Society of Canada 61st and Acadian Entomological Society 71st joint Annual Meeting, Westin Nova Scotian Hotel, Halifax, NS, Canada, November 6-9, 2011, pp. 65.
2011 - View publication details
Cárcamo, H.A. (2011 Internal). Management of lygus bugs and seedpod weevil in canola at the farm level. CARP Project # 2010-20 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada AGR-05955; 2010 Annual Report for the Prairie Canola Agronomic Research Program of the Canola Council of Canada. (Report)
2011 - View publication details
Soroka, J.J., Otani, J.K., and Cárcamo, H.A. (2011). "Survey to detect potential flea beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) species composition shift in Canadian oilseed rape fields.", 13th International Rapeseed Congress, Prague, Czech Republic, June 5-9, 2011, Abstract P 290, pp. 465.
2011 - View publication details
Cárcamo, H.A. et al. (2011). "Alberta Research Report Summaries. Minutes.", Annual Meeting 2011 Western Forum on Crop Pests, Delta Grand Okanagan Resort & Conference Centre, Kelowna, BC, Canada, October 16-18, 2011.
2011 - View publication details
Gavloski, J.E., Cárcamo, H.A., and Dosdall, L.M. (2011). "Insects of Canola, Mustard, and Flax in Canadian Grasslands.", in Floate, K.D. (ed.) - Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands. Vol. 2: Inhabitants of a Changing Landscape, Biological Survey of Canada (BSC), Chapter 8, pp. 181-214.
2011 - View publication details
Olfert, O.O., Meers, S., Cárcamo, H.A., and Hartley, S. (2011). "Pea leaf weevil in Alberta and Saskatchewan in 2010. 2010 Crop Variety Highlights and Insect Pest Forecasts.", Saskatoon Research Centre Technical Bulletin, 2011(1), pp. 18-19.
2011 - View publication details
Cárcamo, H.A. and Herle, C.E. (2011). "Phenology of Lygus bugs and parasitism by Peristenus wasps in alfalfa and canola in southern Alberta.", Entomological Society of Canada 61st and Acadian Entomological Society 71st joint Annual Meeting, Westin Nova Scotian Hotel, Halifax, NS, Canada, November 6-9, 2011, pp. 50.
2011 - View publication details
Cárcamo, H.A. and Vankosky, M.A. (2011). "Managing the Pea Leaf Weevil in Field Peas.", Prairie Soils and Crops, 4, pp. 77-85.
2011 - View publication details
De Clerck-Floate, R.A. and Cárcamo, H.A. (2011). "Biocontrol arthropods: new denizens of Canada's grassland agroecosystems.", in Floate, K.D. (ed.) - Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands. Vol. 2: Inhabitants of a Changing Landscape, Biological Survey of Canada (BSC), Chapter 12, pp. 291-321.
2011 - View publication details
Beres, B.L., Cárcamo, H.A., Weaver, D.K., Dosdall, L.M., Evenden, M.L., Hill, B.D., Yang, R.-C., McKenzie, R.H., and Spaner, D.M. (2011). "Integrating the building blocks of agronomy and biocontrol into an IPM strategy for wheat stem sawfly.", Prairie Soils and Crops, 4, pp. 54-65.
2011 - View publication details
Olfert, O.O., Cárcamo, H.A., and Meers, S. (2011). "Wheat stem sawfly in Alberta in 2010. 2010 Crop Variety Highlights and Insect Pest Forecasts.", Saskatoon Research Centre Technical Bulletin, 2011(1), pp. 16-17.
2011 - View publication details