Toward a Volatile-Based Pest Management Strategy for the Lesser Clover Leaf Weevil

This project will support research on a pest insect called the lesser clover leaf weevil, which damages red clover seed crops and currently requires frequent insecticide use. The goal is to develop a safer and more targeted control method using natural scent cues that the insects rely on to find mates and food. To do this, I will spend two months at Murdoch University in Australia, working with experts to study the weevil’s sense of smell at the genetic level. By identifying the specific genes involved in detecting scent, we can better understand which natural compounds might be used to attract or confuse the pest. This will lay the foundation for designing traps that reduce the need for insecticides, protecting pollinators and other beneficial insects in the process. The research also supports international collaboration between the University of Saskatchewan and Murdoch University, while providing advanced training in molecular biology and bioinformatics. This work will contribute directly to my PhD, lead to a scientific publication, and help bring practical, environmentally friendly pest control solutions to Canadian agriculture.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sean Michael Prager

Student:

Partner:

Murdoch University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture and Food; Environmental Science and Technology; Sustainability & the Environment

University:

University of Saskatchewan

Program: