Jesusa C. Legaspi is a research scientist specializing in biological control, invasive species management, and physiological ecology. Her work focuses on developing environmentally sustainable pest management strategies through the study of insect physiology, ecological interactions, and the use of natural enemies to suppress pest populations.

Her research contributes to improving biological control systems for invasive insects, with an emphasis on understanding how physiological and ecological factors influence pest survival, reproduction, and population dynamics. She works on integrating ecological knowledge into practical pest management solutions for agricultural and environmental systems.

Areas of Interest

• Biological Control
• Invasive Species Management
• Physiological Ecology
• Insect Ecology
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Sustainable Pest Management Systems

Education

Ph.D. in Entomology / Ecology

University of California, Riverside, USA

M.S. in Biological Sciences

University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines

B.S. in Biology

University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines

Professional Experience

Research Entomologist (Current)

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), USA

• Conducts research on biological control of invasive insect species
• Studies physiological responses of insects to environmental stressors
• Develops sustainable pest management strategies for agricultural systems
• Collaborates on national and international IPM programs

Research Scientist (Previous Role)

USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USA

• Worked on invasive species ecology and management
• Conducted laboratory and field experiments on biological control agents
• Evaluated insect physiological and ecological responses

Postdoctoral Research Associate

University of California, Riverside, USA

• Focused on insect physiological ecology and biological control
• Studied host–parasite and predator–prey interactions
• Developed models for pest population dynamics

Research Focus

Jesusa C. Legaspi’s research integrates physiological and ecological approaches to improve pest management strategies:

• Biological control of invasive insect pests
• Physiological ecology of pest insects
• Population dynamics and insect-environment interactions
• Development of sustainable IPM strategies
• Evaluation of natural enemies and microbial control agents
• Climate and stress effects on insect biology

Academic Accomplishments & Contributions

• Contributions to USDA national biological control programs
• Research publications on invasive species management and insect ecology
• Development of integrated ecological pest management strategies
• Participation in international collaborative IPM research initiatives
• Advances in physiological ecology of pest insects

Research Projects & Resources

• USDA Biological Control of Invasive Species Program
• National Integrated Pest Management Research Projects
• Insect Physiological Ecology Studies
• Invasive Pest Monitoring and Management Programs
• Ecological Modeling of Pest Populations

Extension & Outreach Activities

• Support for biological control implementation programs
• Training on invasive species identification and management
• Contribution to USDA extension and IPM outreach initiatives
• Collaboration with agricultural stakeholders on pest management solutions

Professional Profiles

• Google Scholar
• ResearchGate
• ORCID

Contact Information

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Attention to: Dr. Jesusa C. Legaspi
USDA Agricultural Research Service
Beltsville, MD, USA

Email: Jesusa.Legaspi@usda.gov