Dr. David Onstad

About

Activities and Interests:

I live in Washington state. I create and analyze mathematical models of insects and plant pathogens. I worked for 11 years with Corteva Agriscience (formerly DuPont Pioneer). For 26 years, I was a professor at the University of Illinois where I taught applied ecology and focused on IPM (Integrated Pest Management). I have created models of more than 30 species of plants, insects, and diseases, including honey bees, predators, parasitoids, insect pathogens and plant diseases in alfalfa, maize, soybean, broccoli, wheat, grape vineyards, apple orchards, woodlands, and a few other systems.

I am Past-President of the Plant-Insect Ecosystems Section of the Entomological Society of America. The third edition of my book, co-edited with Lisa Knolhoff, Insect Resistance Management: biology, economics and prediction, was published by Academic Press in 2022. The Economics of Integrated Pest Management of Insects, was co-edited with Phil Crain and published by CABI in 2019.

My long-term interests include promotion of entomology in museums, schools, universities, and many other facilities and institutions in society. I continue to advocate for the use of economic analysis in IPM. I also emphasize how entomology and IPM should change to significantly contribute to society and agriculture as the world changes beyond 2040. 

Education

• Ph.D. in Entomology with minor in Plant Pathology, Cornell University, 1985
• M.S. in Environmental Systems Engineering, Cornell University, 1982
• B.S. California State University, Sacramento, with major in Biology and minor in Chemistry

Professional Responsibilities and Activities

• Editor-in-Chief of the Annals of the Entomological Society of America (ESA)
• Editor of Environmental Entomology, 2000-2004
• Managing Editor, Illinois Environmental Policy Review, 1999-2000

Publications

Books

Onstad, D. W., and L. M. Knolhoff. 2022. Insect Resistance Management: Biology, Economics and Prediction. 3rd Ed. Academic Press. London.z

Onstad, D. W., and P. R. Crain. 2019. The Economics of Integrated Pest Management of Insects. CABI, England.

Carpenter, J., A. Felsot, L. Giannesi, T. Goode, M. Hammig, D. Onstad, and S. Sankula. 2002. Environmental Impacts of Crops Developed Using Traditional and Modern Biotechnology Breeding Methods: A Literature Review and Comparative Analysis for Soybean, Corn, and Cotton Crops. Council for Agric. Sci and Tech. Ames, Iowa. 189 pages.