Professor Michael Furlong

Professor

School of the Environment
Faculty of Science
m.furlong@uq.edu.au
+61 7 336 54822

Overview

My research focuses on the biological control and integrated management of insect pests. Understanding the ecological and biological relationships between insects and their natural enemies (pathogens, parasitoids and predators) and the interactions between these natural enemies is fundamental to effective biological control and is central to my research. Strategies which manipulate natural enemies to enhance their impact on pest populations are under development, examples include

  • Integration of biological stressors and fungal entomopathogens for improved control of insect pests
  • Reduced insecticide inputs combined with the provision of adult food sources to enhance endemic parasitoid performance
  • Utilizing inducible plant defences to manipulate pests and improve the effectiveness of natural enemies.

Externally funded research projects concentrate on the development of sustainable pest management strategies for insect pests in developing countries. In Indonesia the structure and function of the natural enemy complexes attacking the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) and the cabbage cluster caterpillar (Crocidolomia pavonana) are being determined. In Samoa the biology and ecology of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis is being investigated and the possibility of its release as a biological control agent of C. pavonana in Fiji, Tonga and Solomon Islands explored. Research in Fiji is focused on quantifying field resistance of the diamondback moth to commonly used insecticides. An insecticide resistance management strategy has been developed and will be implemented in collaboration with UN-FAO.

Publications

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Grants

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Supervision

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Publications

Featured Publications

Book

Book Chapter

  • Panwar, Neha, Bansal, Lukesh, Furlong, Michael and Kumar, Sarwan (2024). Introduction. Plant resistance to insects in major field crops. (pp. 1-12) edited by Sarwan Kumar and Michael Furlong. Singapore: Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-981-99-7520-4_1

  • Furlong, Michael J., Day, Michael D. and Zalucki, Myron P. (2021). Biological control and climate change. Biological control global impacts challenges and future directions of pest management . (pp. 220-235) edited by Peter G. Mason. Clayton, VIC Australia: CSIRO Publishing.

  • Wyckhuys, K. A. G., Day, Michael D., Furlong, Michael J., Hoddle, Mark S., Sivapragasam, Annamalai and Tran, Hoa Dang (2021). Biological control successes and failures: Indo-Pacific/Oriental region. Biological control: global impacts, challenges and future directions of pest management. (pp. 438-466) edited by Peter G. Mason. Clayton South, VIC Australia: CSIRO.

  • Day, Michael D., Cock, Matthew J. W., Conant, Patrick , Cooke, Brian, Furlong, Michael J., Paynter, Quentin, Ramadan, Mohsen M. and Wright, Mark G. (2021). Biological control successes and failures: Oceania region. Biological control: global impacts, challenges and future directions of pest management. (pp. 334-367) edited by Peter G. Mason. Clayton South, VIC Australia: CSIRO.

  • Perović, David J., Gámez-Virués, Sagrario, Landis, Douglas A., Tscharntke, Teja, Zalucki, Myron P., Saura, Santiago, Furlong, Michael J., Desneux, Nicolas, Sciarretta, Andrea, Balkenhol, Niko, Schmidt, Jason M., Trematerra, Pasquale and Westphal, Catrin (2021). Broadening the scope of empirical studies to answer persistent questions in landscape-moderated effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The Future of Agricultural Landscapes, Part III. (pp. 109-131) edited by David A. Bohan, Alex J. Dumbrell and Adam J. Vanbergen. San Diego, CA, United States: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/bs.aecr.2021.10.003

  • Furlong, Michael J. (2016). Exploiting ecosystems services for biological control of pests and diseases. Mainstreaming ecosystem services and biodiversity into agricultural production and management in the Pacific Islands. (pp. 56-65) Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

  • Adamson, David, Zalucki, Myron P. and Furlong, Michael J. (2014). Pesticides and integrated pest management practice, practicality and policy in Australia. Integrated pest management: experiences with implementation, global overview. (pp. 387-411) edited by Rajinder Peshin and David Pimentel. Berlin, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-7802-3_16

  • Furlong, M. J. and Pell, J. K. (2005). Interactions between Entomopathogenic Fungi and Arthropod Natural Enemies. Insect-Fungal Associations: Ecology and Evolution. (pp. 51-73) edited by Fernando E Vega and Meredith Blackwell. New York: Oxford University Press.

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Other Outputs

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

Completed Supervision