Insect-Plant interactions Insect Behavioural, Molecular & Evolutionary Ecology Insect Pest Management Biological control

Kumaran Nagalingam is an entomologist/ecologist with a strong interest to advance the basic understanding of behaviour of economically significant arthropods to assist in pest management. His research areas include understanding mechanisms mediating complex behaviours using direct observational and indirect genetic changes in economically important insect pests. His current project focus on understanding genetic mechanisms mediating mating behavioural and physical fitness changes in Australia’s major horticultural pest, Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) to improve the quality of male flies to incorporate in Sterile Insect Techniques program.

Kumaran, Nagalingam, Hayes, R. Andrew, & Clarke, Anthony R. (2014) Cuelure but not zingerone make the sex pheromone of male Bactrocera tryoni (Tephritidae: Diptera) more attractive to females. Journal of Insect Physiology, 68, 36 - 43. Kumaran, Nagalingam, Prentis, Peter J., Mangalam, Kalimuthu P., Schutze, Mark K., & Clarke, Anthony R. (2014) Sexual selection in true fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) : transcriptome and experimental evidences for phytochemicals increasing male competitive ability. Molecular Ecology, 23(18), pp. 4645-4657. Arthofer, Wolfgang, Clarke, Anthony R., Kumaran, Nagalingam, Prentis, Peter J., Schafellner, Christa, Schlick-Steiner, Birgit C., et al. (2014) Genomic resources notes accepted 1 December 2013 - 31 January 2014. Molecular Ecology Resources, 14(3), pp. 664-665. Kumaran, Nagalingam, Balagawi, Solomon, Schutze, Mark K., & Clarke, Anthony R. (2013) Evolution of lure response in tephritid fruit flies : phytochemicals as drivers of sexual selection. Animal Behaviour, 85(4), pp. 781-789.