Dr. Fernandez is an entomologist at IRTA (Research Institute for Agriculture of the Catalan government, Spain) with experience in research, development and transfer of integrated pest management (IPM) programs for horticultural crops and stored products. Her main expertise is in biology and ecology of pests and natural enemies for the development of biological control programs in vegetable crops and stored products. From 2003-2012, she has been the convener of the IOBC/WPRS Working Group on “Integrated Control on Protected Crops, Mediterranean Climate”
Dr. Messelink works at Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture as an applied entomologist on biological control of arthropod pests in greenhouse crops. His main focus is on generalist predatory mites for the control of thrips, whiteflies, spider mites and Tarsonemid and Eriophyid mites in several greenhouse cropping systems. He is also very interested in interactions within food webs of several pests and natural enemies, which was also the topic of his PhD thesis (was completed in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam). His present works on generalist predators includes anthocorid and mirid predatory bugs. Currently, he is involved in several research projects that deal with the evaluation of new natural enemies and developing systems that enhance establishment and persistence of natural enemies for control of thrips, spider mites whiteflies, aphids and mealybugs.
Dr. Parrella's research is focused on developing integrated pest management programs for greenhouse and nursery crops with an emphasis on biological control. His research has recently focused on how soil amendments and the microbiome in the rhizosphere affect overall plant health, pests and natural enemies.
