Morgan Horning, Ph.D.
Biography
At Virginia Tech, Morgan completed an M.S. degree focused on varroa mite acaricide resistance in VA and also tested several known and novel acaricides against small hive beetle larvae and honey bees. After completing her M.S., she continued to research small hive beetle physiology and behavior as part of her Ph.D. research at Virginia Tech. Morgan’s PhD research included testing small hive beetle antennal responses to a series of attractant and repellent compounds and contrasting these responses with behavioral tests performed on small hive beetles using olfactometry experiments. Throughout this work, she was able to discover which repellents were most effective against small hive beetles and found that some repellents could obscure responses to attractants in behavioral testing. Morgan is establishing an apiary at LU for teaching and research at the Morris Campus Farm and plans to incorporate this apiary into introduction to entomology and other biology courses. She plans to continue her research in the hope that it can one day be applied in apiary settings in the form of safe and species-specific repellents for small hive beetles.
Courses Taught
- BIOL 125 – Animal Diversity and Conservation
- BIOL 224 – General Biology 1 lab
- BIOL 225 – General Biology 2 lab
- BIOL 320 – Introduction to Entomology
Professional Membership
- Entomological Society of America (ESA)
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Virginia Academy of Science (VAS)
Publications
Peer Reviewed
1. M.A. Roth, C. Lahondère, and A.D. Gross (2023) Discovering Aethina tumida responses to attractant and repellent molecules: A potential basis for future management strategies. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 192: 105386.
2. M.A. Roth, J.M. Wilson, and A.D. Gross (2022) Biology and Management of Small Hive Beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae): A Pest of European Honey Bee (Hymenoptera:Apidae) Colonies, Journal of Integrated Pest Management, 13(1): 7; 1–9.
3. M. Roth, J.M. Wilson, and A.D. Gross. (2021) Assessing Varroa destructor Acaricide Resistance in Apis mellifera colonies of Virginia, Apidologie, 52: 1278–1290.
4. L. Bernaola, M. Darlington, K. Britt, P. Prade, M. Roth…& S. Vakil. (2021) Technological Advances to Address Current Issues in Entomology: 2020 Student Debates, Journal of Insect Science, 21(2): 18; 1–8.
5. M.A. Roth, J.M. Wilson, K.R. Tignor, and A.D. Gross. (2020) Biology and Management of Varroa destructor (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) in Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colonies, Journal of Integrated Pest Management, 11(1):1-8.
6. J.R. Holt…C. McCullough, M. Roth, J. Wagner, M. Ragozzino…& P. Shorter. (2020) Synergisms in Science: Climate Change and Integrated Pest Management Through the Lens of Communication–2019 Student Debates, Journal of Insect Science, 20(5): 31; 1-11.
7. C. Parker…C., McCullough, W. Hadden, M. Ragazzino, M. Roth…& D. Tussey. (2019) Entomology in the 21st Century: Tackling Insect Invasions, Promoting Advancements in Technology, and Using Effective Science Communication – 2018 Student Debates. Journal of Insect Science, 19(4): 4;1-11.
Non-Peer Reviewed
1. M.A. Roth, A.D. Gross, and J.M. Wilson. (2019) Varroa Mite Biology and Feeding Damage. Virginia Cooperative Extension. ID: ENTO-331NP.
2. M.A. Roth, A.D. Gross, and J.M. Wilson. (2019) Varroa Mite Sampling Methods. Virginia Cooperative Extension. ID: ENTO-332NP.
3. M.A. Roth, A.D. Gross, and J.M. Wilson. (2019) Varroa Mite Management Methods. Virginia Cooperative Extension. ID: ENTO-333NP.
4. M.A. Roth, A.D. Gross, and J.M. Wilson. (2019) Small Hive Beetle. Virginia Cooperative Extension. ID: ENTO-338NP.