David W. Ragsdale has been a professor at the University of Minnesota, Department of Entomology in the College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences for 24 years. Dr. Ragsdale’s research interests focus on two broad areas: management of insect vectors of plant pathogens and using arthropod herbivores to control invasive perennial plants. He leads an intensive multistate effort in the north central United States on the invasive aphid Aphis glycines, or soybean aphid, whose native range is Asia. He and his colleagues have studied the overwintering biology of this aphid; evaluated its vector potential; conducted foreign exploration for natural enemies of the soybean aphid in China, Japan, and Korea for possible introduction into the United States; and developed management strategies to help soybean producers minimize losses caused by this invasive insect. In 2003, the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council recognized Dr. Ragsdale for his pioneering work on soybean aphid biology in North America.
