We love insects! And we particularly love local insects, although we really aren’t picky. We also love the trees that insects love… so that would be all trees.

Our current projects include:

• host colonization and overwintering of bark beetles,
• bark beetle genomics,
• conifer chemical defences against insects and pathogens,
• aquatic insect biodiversity,
• macroinvertebrates in anthropogenically disturbed aquatic systems, and
• other insect and chemical ecological research.

Isitt R.L., Bleiker K.P., Pureswaran D.S., Hillier N.K., Huber D.P.W. 2020. Local, geographical, and contextual variation in the aggregation pheromone blend of the spruce beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology in press.

Erasmus D.J. and Huber D.P.W. 2020. Plecoptera from the Crooked River, British Columbia. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia in press.

O’Dell A.D.C., Flores A-M., Schwarzfeld M.D., Erasmus D.J., Heath D.D., Huber D.P.W., Shrimpton J.M. 2020. Determining diets for fish from a small interior British Columbia stream: a comparison of morphological and molecular approaches. The Canadian Entomologist in press.

Thompson K.M., Huber, D.P.W., Murray, B.W. 2020. Autumn shifts in cold tolerance metabolites in overwintering adult mountain pine beetles. PLOS ONE 15(1): e0227203.

Huber D.P.W., Shrimpton C.M., Erasmus D.J. 2019. Eight new provincial species records of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) from one Arctic watershed river in British Columbia. Western North American Naturalist 79: 1-11.

Burian S.K., Erasmus D.J., Shrimpton C.M., Currie D.C., Giberson D.J., Huber D.P.W., Shrimpton C.M., Erasmus D.J. 2018. First records of Baetis vernus Curtis (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) in North America, with morphological notes. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia 115: 3-24.

Isitt R. L., Bleike, K. P., Pureswaran D.S., Hillier N.K., Huber D.P.W. 2018. The effect of feeding and mate presence on the pheromone production of the spruce beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Environmental Entomology 47: 1293–1299.

Balogh S.L., Huber D.P.W., Lindgren B.S. 2018. Single-generation effects on terpenoid defenses in lodgepole pine populations following mountain pine beetle infestation. PLoS ONE 13:e0196063.

Erasmus D.J., Yurkowski E.A., Huber D.P.W. 2018. DNA barcode-based survey of Trichoptera in the Crooked River reveals three new species records for British Columbia. PeerJ 6:e4221.

Floate, K., Huber, D.P.W. 2018. Congratulations to The Canadian Entomologist on this, its sesquicentennial anniversary! The Canadian Entomologist 150: 1-11.

Fraser J.D., Bonnett T.R., Keeling C.I., Huber D.P.W. 2017. Seasonal shifts in accumulation of glycerol biosynthetic gene transcripts in mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), larvae. PeerJ 5:e3284.

Robert J.A., Bonnett T., Pitt C., Spooner L.J., Fraser J., Yuen M.M.S., Keeling C.I., Bohlmann J., Huber D.P.W. 2016. Gene expression analysis of overwintering mountain pine beetle larvae suggests multiple systems involved in overwintering stress, cold hardiness, and preparation for spring development. PeerJ 4:e2109. OPEN ACCESS

Huber, D.P.W. and Robert, J.A. 2016. The proteomics and transcriptomics of early host colonization and overwintering physiology in the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Advances in Insect Physiology 50: 101-128.

McKee, F.R., Huber, D.P.W., Lindgren, B.S., Hodgkinson, R.S., Aukema B.H. 2015. Effect of natal and colonised host species on female host acceptance and male joining behaviour of the mountain pine beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) using pine and spruce. The Canadian Entomologist 147: 39-45.

Pitt, C., Robert, J.A., Bonnett, T.R., Keeling, C.I., Bohlmann, J., Huber, D.P.W. 2014. Proteomics indicators of the rapidly shifting physiology of mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), adults during early host colonization. PLoS ONE 9(10): e110673

Janes, J.K., Li, Y., Keeling, C.I., Yuen, M.M.S., Boone, C.K., Cooke, J.E.K., Bohlmann, J., Huber, D.P.W., Murray, B.W., Coltman, D.W., Sperling, F.A.H. 2014. How the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) breached the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Molecular biology and evolution 31: 1803-1815.

Clark, E.L., Pitt, C., Carroll, A.L., Lindgren, B.S., Huber, D.P.W. 2014. Comparison of lodgepole and jack pine resin chemistry: implications for range expansion by the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). PeerJ 2:e240.

Clark, E.L., Isitt, R., Plettner, E., Fields, P.G., Huber, D.P.W. 2014. An inexpensive feeding bioassay technique for stored-product insects. Journal of Economic Entomology 107:455-461.

Robert, J.A., Pitt, C., Bonnett, T.R., Yuen, M.M.S., Keeling, C.I., Bohlmann, J., and Huber, D.P.W. 2013. Disentangling detoxification: Gene expression analysis of feeding mountain pine beetle illuminates molecular-level host chemical defense detoxification mechanisms. PLoS ONE 8(11): e77777.

Gregory, T.R., Nathwani, P., Bonnett, T.R., and Huber, D.P.W. 2013. Sizing up arthropod genomes: an evaluation of the impact of environmental variation on genome size estimates by flow cytometry and the use of qPCR as a method of estimation. Genome 56:505-510.

McKee, F.R., Huber, D.P.W, Aukema, B.H. 2013. Comparisons of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) reproduction within a novel and traditional host: effects of insect natal history, colonized host species, and competitors. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 15:310-320.

Keeling, C.I., Yuen, M.M.S., Liao N.Y., Docking, T.R., Chan, S.K., Taylor, G.A., Palmquist, D.L., Jackman, S.D., Nguyen, A., Li, M., Henderson, H., Janes, J.K., Zhao, Y., Pandoh, P., Moore, R., Sperling, F.A.H., Huber, D.P.W., Birol, I., Jones, S.J.M., Bohlmann, J. 2013. Draft genome of the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, a major forest pest. Genome biology 14.3: R27.

Bonnett, T.R., Robert, J.A., Pitt, C., Fraser, J.D., Keeling, C.I., Bohlmann, J., Huber, D.P.W. 2012. Global and comparative proteomic profiling of overwintering and developing mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), larvae. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 42:890-901. 

Fettig, C.J., McKelvey, S.R., Dabney, C.P., Fowler, D., Huber, D.P.W., Lait, C., Borden, J.H. 2012. Efficacy of “Verbenone Plus” for protecting ponderosa pine trees and stands from Dendroctonus brevicomis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) attack in British Columbia and California. Journal of Economic Entomology 105:1477-1870.

Keeling, C.I., Henderson, H., Li, M., Yuen, M., Clark, E.L., Fraser, J.D., Huber, D.P.W., Liao, N.Y., Docking, T.R., Birol, I., Chan, S.K., Taylor, G.A., Palmquist, D., Jones, S.J.M., Bohlmann, J. 2012. Transcriptome and full-length cDNA resources for the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, a major insect pest of pine forests. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 42: 525-536.

Clark, E.L., Huber, D.P.W., and Carroll, A.L. 2012. The legacy of attack: implications of high phloem resin monoterpene levels in lodgepole pines following mass attack by mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins. Environmental Entomology 41: 392-398.

Fettig, C.J., McKelvey, S.R., Dabney, C.P., and Huber, D.P.W. 2012. Responses of Dendroctonus brevicomis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in behavioral assays: implications to development of a semiochemical-based tool for tree protection. Journal of Economic Entomology 105: 149-160.

Ott, D.S., Yanchuk, A.D., Huber, D.P.W., and Wallin, K.F. 2011. Genetic variation of lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia, chemical and physical defenses that affect mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae, attack and tree mortality. Journal of Chemical Ecology 37: 1002-1012.

Wallis, C.M., Huber, D.P.W., and Lewis, K.J. 2011 Ecosystem, location, and climate effects on foliar secondary metabolites of lodgepole pine populations from central British Columbia. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 37: 607-621.

Wallis, C.M., Reich, R.W., Lewis, K.J., and Huber, D.P.W. 2010. Lodgepole pine provenances differ in chemical defense capacities against foliage and stem diseases. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 40: 2333-2344.

Clark, E.L., Carroll, A.C., and Huber, D.P.W. 2010. Differences in lodgepole pine constitutive terpene profile across a geographic range in British Columbia and the correlation to historical attack by mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The Canadian Entomologist 142: 557-573.

Fettig, C.J., McKelvey, S.R., Dabney, C.P., Borys, R.R., and Huber, D.P.W. 2009. Response of Dendroctonus brevicomis to different release rates of nonhost angiosperm volatiles and verbenone in trapping and tree protection studies. Journal of Applied Entomology 133: 143-154.

Huber, D.P.W., Aukema, B.H., Hodgkinson, R.W., and Lindgren B.S. 2009. Successful colonization, reproduction, and new generation emergence in live interior hybrid spruce, Picea engelmannii x glauca, by mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 11:83 – 89.

Graves, A.D., Holsten, E.H., Ascerno, M.E., Zogas, K., Hard, J.S., Huber, D.P.W., Blanchette, R., and Seybold, S.J. 2008. Protection of spruce from colonization by the bark beetle, Ips perturbatus, in Alaska. Forest Ecology and Management 256:1825 – 1839.

Fettig, C.J., Dabney, C.P., McKelvey, S.R., and Huber, D.P.W. 2008. Nonhost angiosperm volatiles and verbenone protect individual ponderosa pines from attack by western pine beetle and red turpentine beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae). Western Journal of Applied Forestry 23:40 – 45.

Shepherd, W.P., Huber, D.P.W., Seybold, S.J., and Fettig, C.J. 2007. Antennal responses of the western pine beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), to stem volatiles of its primary host, Pinus ponderosa, and nine sympatric nonhost angiosperms and conifers. Chemoecology 17:209 – 221.

Huber, D.P.W., Erickson, M.L., Leutenegger, C.W., Bohlmann, J., and Seybold, S.J. 2007. Isolation and extreme sex-specific expression of cytochrome P450 genes in the bark beetle, Ips paraconfusus, following feeding on the phloem of host ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa. Insect Molecular Biology, 16:335 – 349.

Ralph, S., Oddy C., Cooper, D., Yueh, H., Jancsik, S., Kolosova, N., Philippe, R.N., Aeschliman, D., White, R., Huber, D., Ritland, C.E., Benoit, F., Rigby, T., Nantel, A., Butterfield, Y.S.N., Kirkpatrick, R., Chun, E., Liu, J., Palmquist, D., Wynhoven, B., Stott, J., Yang, G., Barber, S., Holt, R.A., Siddiqui, A., Jones, S.J.M., Marra, M.A., Ellis, B.E., Douglas, C.J., Ritland, K., Bohlmann, J. 2006. Genomics of hybrid poplar (Populus trichocarpa x deltoides) interacting with forest tent caterpillars (Malacosoma disstria): Normalized and full-length cDNA libraries, expressed sequence tags (ESTs), and a cDNA microarray for the study of insect-induced defenses in poplar. Molecular Ecology 15:1275 – 1297.

Seybold, S.J., Huber, D.P.W., Lee, J.C., Graves, A.D., and Bohlmann, J. 2006. Pine monoterpenes and pine bark beetles: a marriage of convenience for defense and chemical communication. Phytochemistry Reviews 5:143 – 178.

Fettig, C.J., McKelvey, S.R., and Huber, D.P.W. 2005. Nonhost angiosperm volatiles and verbenone disrupt response of western pine beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), to attractant-baited traps. Journal of Economic Entomology 98:2041 – 2048.

Huber, D.P.W., Philippe, R.N., Goddard, K-A., Sturrock, R.N., and Bohlmann, J. 2005. Characterization of four terpene synthases from a methyl jasmonate-induced Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco (Pinaceae), cDNA library. Phytochemistry 66:1427 – 1439.

Huber, D.P.W., Philippe, R.N., Madilao, L., Sturrock, R.N., and Bohlmann, J. 2005. Changes in anatomy and terpene chemistry in Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco, seedlings following treatment of roots with methyl jasmonate. Tree Physiology 25:1075 – 1083.

Huber, D.P.W., Ralph, S., and Bohlmann, J.2004. Genomic hardwiring and phenotypic plasticity of terpenoid based defenses in conifers. Journal of Chemical Ecology 30:2399 – 2418.

Huber, D.P.W.and Bohlmann, J. 2005. The role of terpene synthases in the direct and indirect defense of conifers against insect herbivory and fungal pathogens. In: Multigenic and Induced Systemic Resistance in Plants. S.Tuzun (ed.). Kluwer Academic Press, Dordrecht, the Netherlands. pp. 297 – 313.

Bohlmann, J., Martin, D., Miller, B., and Huber, D.P.W. 2004. Terpenoid synthases in conifers and poplars. In: Plantation Forest Biotechnology for the 21st Century. C. Walter and M. Carson (eds.). Research Signpost, Kerala, India. pp. 181 – 201.

Arimura, G-I., Huber, D.P.W., and Bohlmann, J. 2004. Forest tent caterpillars (Malacosoma disstria) induce local and systemic diurnal emissions of terpenoid volatiles in hybrid poplar (Populus trichocarpa x deltoides): cDNA cloning, functional characterization, and patterns of gene expression of (-)-germacrene D synthase, PtdTPS1. The Plant Journal 37: 603-616.

Huber, D.P.W., and Bohlmann, J. 2004. Terpene synthases and the mediation of plant-insect ecological interactions by terpenoids: a mini-review. In: Plant Adaptation: Molecular Genetics and Ecology. Q.C.B. Cronk, J. Whitton, R.H. Ree, and I.E.P. Taylor (eds.). NRC Research Press, Ottawa, Ontario. pp. 70-81.

Huber, D.P.W., and Borden, J.H. 2003. Comparative behavioural responses of Dryocoetes confusus Swaine, Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby), and Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to angiosperm tree bark volatiles. Environmental Entomology 32:742 – 751.

Borden, J.H., Chong, L.J., Earle, T.J., and Huber, D.P.W. 2003. Protection of lodgepole pine from attack by the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) using high doses of verbenone in combination with nonhost bark volatiles. The Forestry Chronicle 79: 685 – 691.

Huber, D.P.W., Borden, J.H. and Stastny, M. 2001. Response of the pine engraver, Ips pini (Say) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), to conophthorin and other angiosperm bark volatiles in the avoidance of nonhosts. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 3: 225 – 232.

Huber, D.P.W. and Borden, J.H. 2001. Protection of lodgepole pines from mass attack by mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae, with nonhost angiosperm volatiles and verbenone. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 99:131 – 141.

Huber, D.P.W. 2001. Responses of five species of coniferophagous bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to angiosperm bark volatiles. Ph.D. thesis, Simon Fraser University.

Huber, D.P.W. and Borden, J.H. 2001. Angiosperm bark volatiles disrupt response of Douglas-fir beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsugae, to attractant-baited traps. Journal of Chemical Ecology 27: 217 – 233.

Borden, J.H., Chong, L.J., Gries, G., Gries, R., Huber, D.P.W., Pierce, H.D., Jr., and Wilson, I.M. 2001. Nonhost volatiles as repellents for conifer-infesting bark beetles. US Patent # 6217891.

Huber, D.P.W., Borden, J.H., Gries, R., and Jeans-Williams N.L. 2000. Differential bioactivity of conophthorin on four species of North American bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). The Canadian Entomologist 132: 649 – 653.

Huber, D.P.W., Gries, R., Borden, J.H., and Pierce, H.D., Jr. 2000. A survey of antennal responses by five species of coniferophagous bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to bark volatiles of six species of angiosperm trees. Chemoecology 10:103 – 113.

Borden, J.H., Chong, L.J., Gries, G., Gries, R., Huber, D.P.W., Pierce, H.D., Jr., and Wilson, I.M. 2000. Nonhost volatiles as repellents for conifer-infesting bark beetles. US Patent # 6051612.

Huber, D.P.W., Gries, R., Borden, J.H., and Pierce, H.D., Jr. 1999. Two pheromones of coniferophagous bark beetles found in the bark of non-host angiosperms. Journal of Chemical Ecology. 25: 805 – 816.

Karkhoff-Schweizer, R.R., Huber, D.P.W., and Voordouw, G. 1995. Conservation of the genes for dissimilatory sulfite reductase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris and Archaeoglobus fulgidus allows their detection by PCR. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 61:290 – 296.