Joel P Siegel

Research Entomologist

Dr. Siegel (Ph.D. Entomology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1985) began working for USDA-ARS in 1997.  His research in the Commodity Protection & Quality Research Unit involves the development of chemical and nonchemical control strategies for insects that are pests of postharvest dried fruit, tree nuts and other durable commodities, with an emphasis on promoting the use of selective insecticides and insect pathogens when possible. Currently Dr. Siegel is coordinating a USDA-funded five-year areawide program to control navel orangeworm (NOW) in almonds, pistachios and walnuts, in collaboration with other researchers in his unit, researchers at UC-Berkeley, UC-Davis, and Paramount Farming Company.  The technologies demonstrated include mating disruption and incorporation of reduced risk insecticides into management schemes.  He is also collaborating on a three-year Foreign Agricultural Service Grant with researchers at UC-Davis and Paramount Farming Company to reduce NOW damage in pistachios.  Other projects include assessment of insecticide application efficacy and drift reduction.  As author or co-author Dr. Siegel has published 34 peer-reviewed articles, 14 book chapters, and 33 other publications.