Paul K. Abram, Ph.D.

Image Paul K. Abram
Research Scientist, Biological Control of Insect Pests

My research program is focused on the biology, behaviour, and ecology of beneficial insects (insect parasitoids) that help manage insect crop pests.  The main goals of my research are to develop, test, and implement theory and methods for: (i) measuring the biological control impact of parasitoids on invasive crop pests; and (ii) forecasting the potential for non-target ecological effects of introduced parasitoids on native Canadian fauna.

I also have a broad range of other research interests that focus on bridging the gap between fundamental ecological research and applied biological pest control.   These include projects on insect symbionts and viruses, different aspects of global change (artificial lighting, anthropogenic noise, temperature increases), and the ecological importance of within-species (intraspecific) trait variation in biological control agents. 

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Agassiz, BC

Current research and/or projects

  • Biological control of invasive agricultural insect pests (spotted wing Drosophila, brown marmorated stink bug) with parasitoid wasps.
  • Ecological risks and benefits of accidentally introduced parasitoid wasps that attack invasive crop pests.
  • Ecological effects of disruptive vibrations and daylength extensions with artificial lighting on pest/natural enemy associations in vegetable greenhouses.
  • Interactions between viruses and microbial symbionts of the invasive spotted wing Drosophila.
  • Parasitoid wasps attacking pest and non-pest leafhoppers in vineyard and adjacent natural habitats.
  • Tolerance and resistance of newly developed blueberry and raspberry selections to various insect pests.

Research and/or project statements

Additional key publications:

For full publication list, see Google Scholar page.

P.K. Abram, A.E. McPherson, R. Kula, T. Hueppelsheuser, J. Thiessen, S.J. Perlman, C.I. Curtis, J.L. Fraser, J. Tam, J. Carillo, M. Gates, S. Scheffer, M. Lewis, and M. Buffington (2020). New records of Leptopilina, Ganaspis, and Asobara species associated with Drosophila suzukii in North America, including detections of L. japonica and G. brasiliensis. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 78:1-17. doi: 10.3897/jhr.78.55026

P.K. Abram, R.M. Labbe, and P.G. Mason (2020). Ranking the host range of biological control agents with quantitative metrics of taxonomic specificity. Biological Control 152: 104427. doi: 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2020.104427

P.K. Abram, N. Mills, and E. Beers (2020). Classical biological control of invasive stink bugs with egg parasitoids: what does success look like? Pest Management Science 76: 1980-1992. doi: 10.1002/ps.5813  

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 68: 29–36. doi:10.3897/jhr.68.32203 

P.K. Abram, J. Brodeur, A. Urbaneja, and A. Tena (2019). Non-reproductive effects of insect parasitoids on their hosts. Annual Review of Entomology 64:259-276. doi: 10.1146/annurev-ento-011118-111753 

P.K. Abram and C.E. Moffat (2018). Rethinking biological control programs as planned invasions. Current Opinion in Insect Science 27:9-15. doi: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.01.011  

P.K. Abram, K.A. Hoelmer, A. L. et al. [+47 Authors] (2017). Indigenous arthropod natural enemies of the brown marmorated stink bug in North America and Europe. Journal of Pest Science 90:1009-1020. doi: 10.1007/s10340-017-0891-7   

P.K. Abram, G. Boivin, J. Moiroux, and J. Brodeur (2017). Behavioural effects of temperature on ectothermic animals: unifying thermal physiology and behavioural plasticity. Biological Reviews 92: 1859-1876. 

Education and awards

  • Ph.D., Biological Sciences, Université de Montréal (2016)
  • MSc, Biology, Carleton University (2012)
  • BSc (Honours), Biology, Queen's University (2009)

Additional links

https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=DNIWI9MAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Paul_Abram

Key publications

  1. J.M. Stahl*, X. Wang, P.K. Abram, A. Biondi, M.L. Buffington, K.A. Hoelmer, M. Kenis, F. Lisi, M.V. Rossi-Stacconi, M.L. Seehausen, A. Vossen, W. Wong and K.M. Daane (2023). Profiling Ganaspis brasiliensis G1 – a review. 3rd meeting of the North American Spotted Wing Drosophila Biological Control Working Group, April 27, 2023 (virtual oral presentation).

    2023 - View publication details

  2. P.K. Abram* (2023). Challenges of accidentally introduced natural enemies for the practice of insect biological control. Professional Pest Management Association of British Columbia Annual Meeting, Langley, BC, February 21, 2023 (invited oral presentation).

    2023 - View publication details

  3. P.K. Abram (2023). Research in importation biological control: what do we need to know to introduce a foreign natural enemy to control an invasive insect? Université de Montréal, Graduate course - Principes de Lutte Biologique, January 26, 2023 (Invited course lecture).

    2023 - View publication details

  4. P.K. Abram (2023). The challenge of accidentally introduced natural enemies for the practice of insect biological control. Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu RDC Seminar Series, January 25, 2023 (Invited oral presentation).

    2023 - View publication details

  5. Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes: Update for the AAFC Biological Control Working Group, 2022.

    2022 - View publication details

  6. C. Capko, J. Thiessen, L. Harach, J. L. Fraser, M. T. Franklin, P. K. Abram (2022). A method for sampling parasitized Drosophila suzukii puparia from the soil, with insights into parasitoid ecology and biological control impact. 2022 Joint Annual Meeting of the ESA, ESC, and ESBC. Vancouver, BC, Canada, November 13-16, 2022 (Oral presentation).

    2022 - View publication details

  7. M. Franklin, T. Nelson, Y. Uriel, P. K. Abram, C. E. Moffat, D. Moreau, J. Renkema (2022). Spatially distinct genotypes of the invasive spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii in Canada. 2022 Joint Annual Meeting of the ESA, ESC, and ESBC. Vancouver, BC, Canada, November 13-16, 2022 (Oral presentation).

    2022 - View publication details

  8. M. Canovas, J. Levesque, T. Galstain, P.K. Abram, M. Dorais (2022). Predators under spotlights! Behavioral responses of Orius insidiosus to artifical light spectra and intensities combinations. 2022 Joint Annual Meeting of the ESA, ESC, and ESBC. Vancouver, BC, Canada, November 13-16, 2022 (Oral presentation).

    2022 - View publication details

  9. M. Gaudreau, P.K. Abram, J. Brodeur (2022). Investigating how UV radiation affects egg parasitoid fitness and behavior. 2022 Joint Annual Meeting of the ESA, ESC, and ESBC. Vancouver, BC, Canada, November 13-16, 2022 (Oral presentation).

    2022 - View publication details

  10. N. Demers, J. Brodeur, P. K. Abram, and J.-P. Parent (2022). No bad vibes: The disruptive effect of vibrations on the winged and apterous morphs of the green peach aphid Myzus persicae. 2022 Joint Annual Meeting of the ESA, ESC, and ESBC. Vancouver, BC, Canada, November 13-16, 2022 (Oral presentation).

    2022 - View publication details

  11. J.-P. Parent, J. Doyon, P.K. Abram (2022). What happens when predator and prey start vibing together: Impact of vibrational pest control on ladybeetles. 2022 Joint Annual Meeting of the ESA, ESC, and ESBC. Vancouver, BC, Canada, November 13-16, 2022 (Oral presentation).

    2022 - View publication details

  12. S. Acheampong, P.K. Abram, and L. Keery (2023). Five years of brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, in interior British Columbia, Canada. 2022 Joint Annual Meeting of the ESA, ESC, and ESBC. Vancouver, BC, Canada, November 13-16, 2022 (Oral presentation).

    2022 - View publication details

  13. P.K. Abram, M.T. Franklin, T. Hueppelsheuser, C. Moffat, and J. Carrillo (2022). What we know, and don't know, about the ecology of larval parasitoids of spotted-wing drosophila in their adventive North American range. 2022 Joint Annual Meeting of the ESA, ESC, and ESBC. Vancouver, BC, Canada, November 13-16, 2022 (Oral presentation).

    2022 - View publication details

  14. J. Fraser, P.K. Abram, M. Dorais (2022). Compatibility of LED greenhouse lighting and parasitoid biocontrol for aphid management in pepper. 2022 Joint Annual Meeting of the ESA, ESC, and ESBC. Vancouver, BC, Canada, November 13-16, 2022 (Oral presentation).

    2022 - View publication details

  15. M. Canovas, A. Barrada, J. Levesque, T. Galstan, P.K. Abram, M. Dorais (2022). Coup de projecteur sur les prédateurs! La composition spectrale de la lumière détermine la performance de prédation de l’auxiliaire généraliste Orius insidiosus (Say). 149e Réunion Annuelle Société d’Entomologie du Québec, Granby, QC, October 27-28, 2022 (Oral Presentation).

    2022 - View publication details

  16. J.-P. Parent, J. Doyon, P.K. Abram (2022). Proies et prédateurs sur la même longueur d’onde : l’impact des vibrations sur les coccinelles. 149e Réunion Annuelle Société d’Entomologie du Québec, Granby, QC, October 27-28, 2022 (Oral Presentation).

    2022 - View publication details

  17. N. Demers, J. Brodeur, P.K. Abram, J.-P. Parent (2023). L’effet perturbateur de la vibration sur les ailés et aptères du puceron vert du pêcher Myzus persicae. 149e Réunion Annuelle Société d’Entomologie du Québec, Granby, QC, October 27-28, 2022 (Oral Presentation).

    2022 - View publication details

  18. Franklin, M.T., Brunet, B., and P. K. Abram. 2022. Progress in unravelling the complex of aphid vectors for blueberry viruses. BC Berries Research Review. Abbotsford, BC, Canada. October 21, 2022 (oral presentation).

    2022 - View publication details

  19. P.K. Abram (2022). Update on the Larval Parasitoid Wasps of Spotted Wing Drosophila Recently Found in BC. BC Berries Research Review, Abbotsford, BC, October 21, 2022 (Extension oral presentation).

    2022 - View publication details

  20. P.K. Abram, J.-P. Parent, J.H. Miall, P.G. Mason, J. Brodeur (2022). Proposed redistribution of Istocheta aldrichi Mesnil (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Ontario and Québec to British Columbia, Canada, for biological control of the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Report submitted to the BCPPAC for final review, October 20, 2022.

    2022 - View publication details

Contact

Research facility

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

Expertise

Agriculture›Biocontrol›Agricultural pests
Agriculture›Biocontrol›Natural enemies
Agriculture›Biology›Insect

Affiliations

  • Adjunct Professor, University of British Columbia, Faculty of Land and Food Systems
  • Adjunct Professor, University of Victoria, Department of Biology
  • Adjunct Professor, Université Laval, Département de Phytologie

Language

English
French