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ARS Home » Plains Area » Brookings, South Dakota » Integrated Cropping Systems Research » People » Louis Hesler, Research Entomologist and Lead Scientist

Louis S Hesler

Research Entomologist

(605) 693-5228
Louis.Hesler@ars.usda.gov

North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory
2923 Medary Avenue
Brookings, SD 57006



 LOUIS  S.  HESLER

Lead Scientist & Research Entomologist

 Research

Professional service

Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Insect Science

Subject Editor, Journal of Economic Entomology

English Technical Editor, North-West Journal of Zoology

Peer-reviewed publications since 2011 & Google Scholar link 

NEW! Hesler, L.S., Perreira, W.D., Matsunaga, J.N., Yee, D.A., Ahmed, M.Z. and Beckendorf, E.A. New state, island and prey records from Hawai‘i, U.S.A., and a new country record from Laos for lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Pac-Pac. Entomol. 99(2):128–141. https://doi.org/10.3956/2022-99.2.128 2023.

Hesler, L.S., E.A. Beckendorf, A.P. Martens and P.J. Johnson. A new state record of Eucera (Xenoglossa) kansensis (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in South Dakota, USA. Insecta Mundi. 0985:1-6. https://centerforsystematicentomology.org/insectamundi/0985_Hesler_etal_2023.pdf. 2023.

Martens, A.P., P.J. Johnson, E.. Beckendorf, L.S. Hesler, J.D. Daniels, and K.A. Roeder. A revised checklist of South Dakota bumble bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae). J. Hymenop. Res. 94:271-286. https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/94584/list/8/. 2022.

Runyon, J.B., E. Beckendorf, and L.S. Hesler. A new species of Chrysotus Meigen (Diptera, Dolichopodidae) from soybean fields in South Dakota, USA. ZooKeys 1135: 171-180. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1135.95026. 2022.

Hesler, L.S., K.J. Tilmon, A.J. Varenhorst, S.R. Conzemius, E. Taliercio and E.A. Beckendorf. 2022. Challenges and prospects of wild soybean as a resistance source against soybean aphid. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 115:25-38. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saab033.

Hesler, L.S., and E.A. Beckendorf. 2021. Declining abundance of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) among crop and prairie habitats of Eastern South Dakota, USA. Frontiers Conserv. Sci. 2:742036. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2021.742036.

Hesler, L.S., and E. A. Beckendorf. 2021. Soybean aphid infestation and crop yield in relation to cultivar, foliar insecticide, and insecticidal seed treatment in South Dakota. Phytoparasitica 49:971-981.  http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12600-021-00914-y.

Hesler, L.S., and E. Taliercio. 2021. Resistance among selected wild soybean and associated soybean accessions against two virulent colonies of Aphis glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Phytoparasitica 49:243-251. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12600-020-00845-0

Hesler, L.S. 2020. New records of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) from the northeastern United States. Entomol. News 129:395-399. 

Hesler, L.S., W.D. Perreira, D.A. Yee & J.H.S. Silva. 2020. New state and island records of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) in Hawai‘i, USA. Insecta Mundi 0795:1-4. https://centerforsystematicentomology.org/insectamundi/0795_Hesler_etal_2020.pdf.

Hesler, L.S. 2020. New state records of lady beetles (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) from Missouri and Mississippi, U.S.A. Insecta Mundi 0745:1–4. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2245&context=insectamundi.

Hesler, L.S. & M.L. Brust. 2020. New records of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) from the central United States. J. Kansas Entomol. Soc. 92:488–491. https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-the-kansas-entomological-society/volume-92/issue-2/0022-8567-92.2.488/New-Records-of-Coccinellidae-Coleoptera-from-the-Central-United-States/10.2317/0022-8567-92.2.488.full

Hesler, L.S., W.D. Perreira, D.A. Yee and J.H.S. Silva. 2019. New records of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) from Hawai'i, U.S.A. Coleopts. Bull. 73:382-386. https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-73.2.382.

Conzemius, S.R., L.S. Hesler, A.J. Varenhorst & K.J. Tilmon. 2019. Resistance of soybean plant introductions to three colonies of soybean aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) biotype 4. J. Econ. Entomol. toz116, https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz116.

Conzemius, S.R., L.S. Hesler, A.J. Varenhorst & K.J. Tilmon. 2019. Resistance to soybean aphid biotype 4 in plant introductions of Glycine soja. Euphytica 215:98. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-019-2421-6.

Hesler, L.S. & K.J. Tilmon. 2018. Identification and characterization of resistance to soybean aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in plant introductions of wild soybean. J. Kansas Entomol. Soc. 91:19-29. https://doi.org/10.2317/0022-8567-91.1.19.

Hesler, L.S., & J.J. Nixon. 2018. Novel prey record for Scymnus caudalis LeConte and first record of four other species of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) in Wisconsin, U.S.A. Great Lakes Entomol. 51:30-33.

Hanson, A.A., A.J. Lorenz, L.S. Hesler, S.J. Bhusal, R. Bansal, A.P. Michel, G. Jiang & R.L. Koch. 2018. Genome-wide association mapping of host-plant resistance to soybean aphid. Plant Genome 11:180011. https://doi.org/10.3835/plantgenome2018.02.0011.

Allen, K.C., R.G. Luttrell, T.W Sappington, L.S. Hesler & S.K Papiernik. 2018. Selected early-season pests of wheat in the United States and factors affecting their risks of infestation. J. Integ. Pest Mngmt. 9(1), 20, https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmy010.

Hesler, L.S., K.C. Allen, R.G. Luttrell, T.W Sappington & S.K Papiernik. 2018. Early-season pests of soybean in the United States and factors that affect their risk of infestation. J. Integ. Pest Mngmt. 9(1), 19, https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmx028.

Papiernik, S.K., T.W Sappington, R.G. Luttrell, L.S. Hesler & K.C. Allen. 2018. Overview: Risk factors and historic levels of pressure from insect pests of seedling corn, cotton, soybean, and wheat in the United States. J. Integ. Pest Mngmt. 9(1), 18, https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmx026

Hesler, L.S., T.W Sappington, R.G. Luttrell, K.C. Allen & S.K Papiernik. 2018. Selected early-season pests of wheat in the United States and factors affecting their risks of infestation. J. Integ. Pest Mngmt. 9(1), 17, https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmx023.

Sappington, T.W., L.S. Hesler, K.C. Allen, R.G Luttrell & S.K Papiernik. 2018. Selected early-season pests of wheat in the United States and factors affecting their risks of infestation. J. Integ. Pest Mngmt. 9(1), 16, https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmx020.

Hesler, L.S. & K.J. Tilmon. 2018. Resistance to Aphis glycines among wild soybean accessions in laboratory experiments. Crop Prot. 112:74-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2018.05.006

Hesler, L.S. and M.J. Hatfield. 2018. First records of Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) for Iowa, U.S.A. Insecta Mundi 0617:1–3. https://journals.flvc.org/mundi/article/download/0617/101772/.

Hesler, L.S., B.M. Van De Stroet, N.R. Schultz, E.A. Beckendorf & K.J. Tilmon. 2017. Laboratory evaluation of soybean plant introductions for resistance to Aphis glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae). J. Agric. Urban Entomol. 33:1-9.

Hesler, L.S. & J.G. Lundgren. 2017. First record of Hippodamia variegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Illinois, U.S.A., and relation to its other Midwestern collection records. Great Lakes Entomol. 50: 43-45.

Lundgren, J.G., L.S. Hesler & R.L. Anderson. 2017. Preceding crop affects soybean aphid abundance and predator–prey dynamics in soybean. J. Appl. Entomol. https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.12395.

Byamukama, E., C. Tande, J. Olson, L. Hesler, K. Grady, T. Nleya & F. Mathew. 2016. First detection of aster yellows associated with phytoplasma on Camelina sativa L. in South Dakota. Plant Dis. 100: 2523. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-15-1179-PDN.

Hesler, L.S. 2016. Attraction of Diabrotica barberi Smith and Lawrence (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) to eugenol-baited traps in soybean. Great Lakes Entomol. 49: 163-168.

Hesler, L.S. 2016. Capture of non-target flies (Diptera: Lauxaniidae, Chloropidae, Anthomyiidae) on traps baited with volatile chemicals in field crop habitats. Psyche 2016; Article ID 6938368, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6938368.

Hesler, L.S. 2016. Volatile semiochemicals increase trap catch of green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in corn and soybean plots. J. Insect Sci. 16(1), article 77, pp. 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iew057.

Nemec, K., E. Beckendorf, L. Hesler, W. Riedell & J. Lundgren. 2016. The effect of flowering calendula and cuphea plants on Orius insidiosus survival and predation of Aphis glycines. Biocontrol Sci Techn. 261: 12-22. doi: 10.1080/09583157.2015.1072130

Bartlett, P.B., L.S. Hesler, B.W. French, M.A. Catangui & J.H. Gritzner. 2015. Detection of reproducing populations of Coccinella novemnotata within coccinellid assemblages (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in western South Dakota and western Nebraska. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 108:474-486. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/sav043.

Brandt, D.M., P.J. Johnson, J. E. Losey, M.A. Catangui & L.S. Hesler. 2015. Development and survivorship of a predatory lady beetle, Coccinella novemnotata, on various aphid diets. BioControl 60:221-229. https://www.springerprofessional.de/en/development-and-survivorship-of-a-predatory-lady-beetle-coccinel/5372662. 

Bhusal, S.J., G.-L. Jiang, L.S. Hesler & J.H. Orf. 2014. Soybean aphid resistance in soybean germplasm accessions of maturity group I. Crop Sci. 54:2093-2098.

Hesler, L.S. 2014. Inventory and assessment of foliar natural enemies of the soybean aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in South Dakota. Environ. Entomol. 43: 577-588. https://doi.org/10.1603/EN13210.

Hesler, L.S. 2014. New state record for Cephaloscymnus zimmermani zimmermani Crotch (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Massachusetts, U.S.A. Coleopts. Bull. 68: 156-157.

Hesler, L.S. 2014. First record of soybean as a host plant of a subspecies of the eastern tailed-blue, Cupido comyntas comyntas (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Insecta Mundi 0330: 1-5. https://journals.flvc.org/mundi/article/view/0330.

Hesler, L.S., J.E. Losey, L.L. Allee & R.R. Smyth. 2014. New records of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) from Wyoming, U.S.A. Coleopts. Bull. 68: 128-130.

Hesler, L.S. 2013. Resistance to soybean aphid among wild soybean lines under controlled conditions. Crop Prot. 53: 139–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2013.06.016

Hesler, L.S. Risk to native Uroleucon aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) from non-native lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Entomol. Amer. 119:14–22. 2013.

Hesler, L.S., M.V. Chiozza, M.E. O’Neal, G.C. MacIntosh, K.J. Tilmon, D.I. Chandrasena, N.A. Tinsley, S.R. Cianzio, A.C. Costamagna, E.M. Cullen, C.D. DiFonzo, B.D. Potter, D.W. Ragsdale, K. Steffey and K.J. Koehler. Performance and prospects of Rag genes for management of soybean aphid. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 147: 201–216. 2013.

Bhusal, S.J., G.-L. Jiang, K.J. Tilmon and L.S. Hesler. Identification of soybean aphid resistance in early maturing genotypes of soybean. Crop Sci. 53: 491–499. 2013.

Lundgren, J.G., L.S. Hesler, S.A. Clay and S.F. Fausti. Insect communities in soybeans of eastern South Dakota: The effects of vegetation management and pesticides on soybean aphids, bean leaf beetles, and their natural enemies. Crop Prot. 43: 104–118. 2013.

Hesler, L.S., G. McNickle, M.A. Catangui, J.E. Losey, E.A. Beckendorf, L. Stellwag, D.M. Brandt and P.B. Bartlett. Method for continuously rearing Coccinella lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Open Entomol. J. 6: 42–48. 2012. https://benthamopen.com/DOWNLOAD-PDF/TOENTOJ-6-42/.

Hesler, L.S., D.A. Prischmann and K.E. Dashiell. Field and laboratory evaluations of soybean lines against soybean aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae). J. Econ. Entomol. 105: 608–615. 2012.

Losey, J., J. Perlman, J. Kopco, S. Ramsey, L. Hesler, E. Evans, L. Allee and R. Smyth. Potential causes and consequences of decreased body size in field populations of Coccinella novemnotata. Biol. Control 61: 98–103. 2012.

Hesler, L.S., K.E. Dashiell, D.A. Prischmann, B.W. Diers and R. Scott. Field evaluation of putatively resistant soybean lines against the soybean aphid. J. Crop Improvement 26: 76–86. 2012.

Hesler, L.S. and K.E. Dashiell. Antixenosis to Aphis glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae) among soybean lines. Open Entomol. J. 5:39–44. 2011. https://benthamopen.com/ABSTRACT/TOENTOJ-5-39.

Hesler, L.S. First record of Polistes dominula (Christ, 1791) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) from Nebraska, U.S.A. Great Lakes Entomol. 44: 61–64. 2011.

Hesler, L.S. and P.K. Lago. First records of both subspecies of Brachiacantha quadripunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Mississippi, U.S.A. Florida Entomol. 94: 361–363. 2011.

Hesler, L.S. and J.G. Lundgren. Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) found in South Dakota. Coleopts. Bull. 65: 78–79. 2011.

Other Recent Scientific Articles

Hesler, L.S.; & E.A. Beckendorf. 2020. Soybean aphids per plant among soybean lines containing various Rag genes. Ag Data Commons https://doi.org/10.15482/USDA.ADC/1519177 (dataset).

Hesler, L., E.A. Beckendorf, & E. Taliercio. 2019. Resistance to soybean aphid in selected wild soybean accessions, 2018–2019. Arthro. Manag. Tests 44: tsz078, https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsz078.

Hesler, L., E. Beckendorf, N. Schultz, B. Van De Stroet, K. Tilmon & P. Rozeboom. 2017. Resistance to soybean aphid in early maturing plant introduction lines of soybean, 2012–2015. Arthro. Manag. Tests 42: tsx112, https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsx112.

Hesler, L.S. & K.J. Tilmon. 2017. Infestation ratings database for soybean aphid on early-maturity wild soybean lines.  Data in Brief https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2017.09.012.

Hesler, L., E. Beckendorf, N. Schultz, B. Van De Stroet, K. Tilmon & P. Rozeboom. 2017. SOYBEAN.APHID.LH.2017. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/method.aspx?id=495901.

Hesler, L.S. 2013.  Efficacy of inorganic compounds against soybean aphid, laboratory tests 2012. Arthro. Manag. Tests 38: F82.