Louie Nottingham, Washington State University entomology, at the 2017 Pear IPM Field Visit at K&K Orchards in Cashmere, Washington on June 1, 2017. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

Louie Nottingham

Two new entomologists have joined the Washington State University’s Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee to work on a new pear integrated pest management project funded by the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative.

Louie Nottingham has joined as a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of WSU entomologist Elizabeth Beers.

A native of Virginia, Nottingham earned his doctorate in entomology from Virginia Tech, where he focused on pest management in snap beans, lima beans and soybeans.

Since starting at WSU in January, he’s begun evaluating the effectiveness of existing pesticides against pear psylla at various life stages to track developing resistance in the pest and looking at possible pest repellent strategies.

Chris Strohm, Washington State University entomology, at the 2017 Pear IPM Field Visit at K&K Orchards in Cashmere, Washington on June 1, 2017. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

Chris Strohm

Chris Strohm is working as an extension assistant in Tianna DuPont’s lab. A New York native, he earned his master’s in entomology from the University of Kentucky.

This season, his work is focused on field surveys for pear pests and their natural enemies.