Speaker: Dr. Kelli Hoover, Professor of Entomology

My Educational Programs / Sessions @ Cultivate

Spotted Lanternfly (SLF)
Tuesday, July 18 • 9:00 AM - 9:50 AM
Spotted lanternfly (SLF) was first detected in the US in 2014 in Southeastern Pennsylvania; since then this planthopper has spread to 15 states primarily in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. It feeds voraciously on phloem sap from a broad range of host plants, with a preference for tree of heaven, grapevines, and several common deciduous trees such as maples, birches, willows, tulip tree, and black walnut, but it does not feed on conifers. Management to date has focused on the use of insecticides and removal of tree of heaven. Adult feeding at high densities markedly reduces photosynthesis and belowground storage of root carbon and nitrogen, which can lead to winter mortality of vines. Recently, PSU researchers found that short-term, moderate to heavy feeding by SLF late-stage nymphs on young maple saplings can impair tree growth, which could have implications for production nurseries and homeowners.

About Our Speaker

Dr. Kelli Hoover, Professor of Entomology at Penn State University
Dr. Hoover received her B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley and her PhD from the University of California, Davis. She has been on the faculty of the Department of Entomology at Penn State University since 1998 and is a member of the Centers for Chemical Ecology and Pollinator Research, as well as the Insect Biodiversity Center. Her research focuses on invasive species that impact tree health, including the Asian longhorned beetle, hemlock woolly adelgid, and most recently the spotted lanternfly (SLF). Her research group has been investigating impacts of SLF on the health of common hardwood trees, nymph dispersal distances, methods for estimating population size and spread, and predation of SLF by native natural enemies such as birds and arthropods. She has received several awards for her research achievements from Penn State University and the Entomological Society of America.

The Penn State Department of Plant Science
If you've ever worked with turfgrass, you know there’s more to maintaining golf courses than mowing the lawn. But did you know that personnel trained to manage turfgrass areas are in demand? Chances are, any golf course superintendent you ask has heard about Penn State's two-year golf turf program—and could very well be an alum of the program. Since 1957, Penn State has offered a certificate in golf course turfgrass management for individuals interested in careers as golf course superintendents. Graduates can be found at top golf courses around the country and around the world.

Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program
Better known as the "2-Year Program," this Professional Certificate Program is designed to provide students with in-class and hands-on learning opportunities. If you’re interested in a supervisory position in golf course turfgrass management, Penn State can help you on your way. Students enrolled in this Professional Certificate Program attend classes during two eight-week terms per year on Penn State's main campus. Between years, students complete six months of on-the-job training at one of the top golf courses in the world.

The Penn State Department of Plant Science is a national leader in teaching, research, and extension programs. Our small-school atmosphere provides a warm, welcoming, intellectually stimulating, and professional environment. Our undergraduate program currently offers three four-year majors: Plant Sciences, Landscape Contracting, and Turfgrass Science. We also offer a two-year program in Golf Course Turfgrass Management, online turfgrass degrees, and certificates, and minors in Agronomy, Arboriculture, and Horticulture.

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