Lori Spears
Biology Dept
Entomology, Agriculture, Horticulture Specialist
Educational Background
PhD, Ecology, Utah State University, 2012 Dissertation
Spider community composition and structure in a shrub-steppe ecosystem: the effects of prey availability and shrub architecture
Research Interests
I conduct invasive species surveys throughout Utah. My research focuses on invasive species dynamics including the ecology and management of brown marmorated stink bug (Haylomorpha halys), factors affecting spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) abundance in the Intermountain West, and using bycatch to evaluate arthropod communities in the agricultural landscapes of Utah.
Publications | Books
- Spears, L., (2020). Invasive Pests of Landscape Trees in Utah. Utah State University Extension *
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Fact Sheets
- Spears, L., Davis, R., (2020). Imported Fire Ant. Utah State University Extension
- Alston, D.G, Spears, L., (2019). Common stink bugs of Utah. Utah State University Extension *
- Davis, R., Spears, L., (2020). Pavement Ant. Utah State University Extension *
- Spears, L., Alston, D.G, (2020). Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica Newman). Utah State University Extension *
- Spears, L., (2020). Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia Smith). Utah State University Extension
- Schumm, Z., Hotlhouse, M.C, Minzuno, Y., Alston, D.G, Spears, L., (2019). Parasitoid wasps of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug in Utah. Utah State University Extension *
- Rodman, T., Spears, L., Alston, D.G, Cannon, C., Watson, K., Caputo, J., (2019). Velvet longhorned beetle Trichoferus campestris (Faldermann). Utah State University Extension
- Spears, L., Mull, A., Spotted lanternfly [Lycorma delicatula (White)]. Utah State University Extension and Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory
- Spears, L., Alston, D.G, (2018). European cherry fruit fly [Rhagoletis cerasi (Linnaeus)]. Utah State University Extension and Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory
- Spears, L., Alston, D.G, Murray, M., (2018). Brown marmorated stink bug management for fruits and vegetables in Utah. Utah State University Extension and Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory
- Spears, L., Mull, A., (2018). Small hive beetle [Aethina tumida (Murray)]. Utah State University Extension and Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory
- Alston, D.G, Davis, R., McAvoy, D., Spears, L., Malesky, D., Hebertson, L., (2018). Balsam Woolly Adelgid: Advanced Fact Sheet. Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory and Utah State University Extension
- Alston, D.G, Davis, R., McAvoy, D., Spears, L., Malesky, D., Hebertson, L., (2018). Balsam Woolly Adelgid: Basic Fact Sheet. Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory and Utah State University Extension
- Spears, L., Cannon, C., Alston, D.G, Davis, R., Stanley-Stahr, C., Ramirez, R., (2017). Spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii). Utah State University Extension and Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory
- Holthouse, M.C, Alston, D.G, Spears, L., Petrizzo, E., (2017). Brown marmorated stink bug in Utah. Utah State University Extension and Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory
- Spears, L., Davis, R., Ramirez, R., (2015). Invasive insect look-alikes: mistaken insect identity. Utah State University Extension and Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory
- Spears, L., Davis, R., Ramirez, R., (2014). Emerald Ash Borer [Agrilus planipennis (Fairmaire)]. Utah State University Extension and Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Journal Articles
Academic Journal
- Holthouse, M.C, Schumm, Z., Talamas, E., Spears, L., Alston, D.G, (2020). Surveys in northern Utah for egg parasitoids of Halymorpha halys (Stal) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) detect Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Biodiversity Data Journal, 8:e53363, doi: https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.8.e53363
- Schumm, Z.R, Alston, D.G, Spears, L., Manlove, K., (2020). Impact of brown marmorated stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) feeding on tart cherry (Rosales: Rosaceae) quality and yield in Utah. Journal of Economic Entomology, 113:5, 2328-2334. doi: doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaa143
- Schumm, Z., Alston, D.G, Holthouse, M.C, Spears, L., (2020). Non-sib male guarding behavior observed in Trissolcus euschisti (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). ScienceMatters, 202004000005
- Acebes-Doria, A., Agnello, A., Alston, D.G, Andrews, H., Beers, E., Bergh, C., Bessin, R., Blaauw, B., Buntin, G.D, Burkness, E., Chen, S., Cottrell, T., Daane, K., Fann, L., Fleischer, S., Guedot, C., Gut, L., Hamilton, G., Hilton, R., Hoelmer, K., Hutchison, W., Jentsch, P., Krawcyzk, G., Kuhar, T., Lee, J., Milnes, J., Nielsen, A., Patel, D., Short, B., Sial, A., Spears, L., Tatman, K., Toews, M., Walgenbach, J., Welty, C., Wiman, N., van Zoeren, J., Leskey, T., (2019). Season-long monitoring of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stal) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), throughout the United States using commercially available traps and lures. Journal of Economic Entomology/Entomological Society of America, doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz240
- Spears, L., Looney, C., Ikerd, H., Koch, J., Griswold, T., Strange, J., Ramirez, R., (2016). Pheromone lure and trap color affects bycatch in agricultural landscapes of Utah. Environmental Entomology, 45, 1009-1016.
- Spears, L., Ramirez, R., (2015). Learning to love leftovers: Using bycatch to gain entomological knowledge. American Entomologist, 61:3, 168-173. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ae/tmv046
- Ramirez, R., Spears, L., (2014). Stem nematode counteracts plant resistance of aphids in alfalfa, Medicago sativa.. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 40, 1099-1109.
- Spears, L., MacMahon, J., (2012). An experimental study of spiders in a shrub-steppe ecosystem: the effects of prey availability and shrub architecture. Journal of Arachnology, 40, 218-227.
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | MultiMedia
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Other
Bulletins
- Spears, L., (2019). Biological control of brown marmorated stink bug. Northeastern IPM Center, Integrated Pest Management Insights
- Spears, L., Alston, D.G, (2017). European cherry fruit fly (Rhagoletis cerasi). National Pest Alert. North Central IPM Center.
Newsletter
- Spears, L., (2020). Native and exotic parasitoid wasps of brown marmorated stink bug in Utah. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Spears, L., (2020). Got "worms" in your berries?. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Spears, L., (2020). Be on the lookout for Japanese beetle. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Spears, L., (2020). Tomato brown rugose fruit virus: a new pest of concern. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Spears, L., (2019). The invasive emerald ash borer not yet confirmed in Utah.. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Spears, L., (2019). Loved or loathed, spiders are important ecosystem providers. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Schumm, Z., Holthouse, M.C, Spears, L., Alston, D.G, (2019). Biological control of brown marmorated stink bug. Utah Pests News, Utah State University Extension
- Holthouse, M.C, Schumm, Z., Spears, L., Alston, D.G, (2019). Seasonal development and occurrence of brown marmorated stink bug in Utah. Utah Pests News, Utah State University Extension
- Spears, L., (2019). Biological control of brown marmorated stink bug. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Spears, L., (2018). New invasive tick detected in the U.S. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Spears, L., (2018). Utah imposes firewood quarantine. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Spears, L., (2018). White satin moth. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Christman, M., Spears, L., Ramirez, R., (2018). A new tool for identifying exotic bees. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Spears, L., Cannon, C., (2017). Brown marmorated stink bug status in Utah. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Spears, L., (2017). Pest spotlight: gypsy moth. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Spears, L., (2017). European cherry fruit fly: a new invasive pest in North America.. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Spears, L., (2016). Identifying mechanisms of resistance to emerald ash borer. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Spears, L., (2016). New honey bee pest detected in Utah. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Spears, L., (2016). Velvet longhorned beetle. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Spears, L., (2016). New invasive fruit pest detected in Utah. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Spears, L., (2016). Two new invasive agricultural pests in the United States. Utah Pests Newsletter
- Spears, L., (2015). Ghosts of holiday pests. Utah Pests Newsletter
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Extension
Exotic Bee ID , 2016 - Ongoing
First Detector Training, 2016 - Ongoing
Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey, 2013 - Ongoing
Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab (UPPDL), 2013 - Ongoing