William (Bill) A. Overholt

Relevant Work Experience

2002 - present: Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology and Nematology, Indian River Research and Education Center, University of Florida.

1991 - 2002: Program Leader and Principal Scientist, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Nairobi, Kenya.

1989 - 1991: Technical Advisor (Pest management), USAID Science and Technology Bureau, Washington, D. C.

1989 - 1989: Technical Advisor (Entomology), USAID Desert Locust Task Force, Washington, D. C.

1985 - 1989: Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.

1984 - 1984: Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

1979 - 1984: Project Officer, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA/APHIS/PPQ) on an inter-agency loan agreement with USAID in Nouakchott, Mauritania
 

Book Chapters

Cardwell, K., D. E. Conlong, R. Goebel, Z. R. Khan, R. Kfir, W. A. Overholt, F. Schulthess and M. Setamou. 2004. Gramineous stemborers in Africa. pp. 990-997 In J. L. Capinera (ed.), Encyclopedia of Entomology. Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, The Netherlands

Overholt, W. A., D. E. Conlong, R. Kfir, F. Schulthess and M. Setamou. 2003. Biological control of gramineous lepidopteran stemborers in sub-Saharan Africa. pp. 131-144. In P. Neuenschwander and C. Borgemeister (eds.), Biological control in IPM Systems in Africa. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK.

Braima, J., P. Neuenschwander, R. Markham, P. Anderson, A. Brown, W. A. Overholt, Z. R. Khan, K. Makkouk and A. Embechebe. 2003. Bridging the gap with the CGIAR systemwide programme on integrated pest management. pp. 419-434. In K. Maredia and D. Dokouo (eds.) Integrated pest management in the global arena. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK.

Khan, Z. R., W. A. Overholt and A. Mengech. 2003. Integrated pest management case studies from ICIPE. pp. 441-452. In K. Maredia and D. Dokouo (eds.) Integrated pest management in the global arena. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK.

Overholt, W. A. 1998. Biological control. pp 349-362. In A. Polaszek (ed.) African cereal stem borers: economic importance, taxonomy, natural enemies and control. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK. 530 pp.
 

Journal Articles (2000-present)

Bekele, J., A. J. Ngi-Song and W. Overholt. 2003. Olfactory responses of Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to target and non-target Lepidoptera and their host plants. Biological Control 28: 360-367.

Bonhof, M. J. and W. A. Overholt 2001. The impact of solar radiation, rainfall and cannibalism on disappearance of maize stemborers in Kenya. Insect Science and Its Application 21: 403-407.

Chinwada, P., W. A. Overholt, C. O. Omwega and J. M. Mueke. 2004. Biology of Sturmiopsis parasitica (Diptera: Tachinidae) and suitability of three cereal stem borers (Lepidoptera: Crambidae, Noctuidae) for its development. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 97: 153-160.

Chinwada, P., W. A. Overholt, C. O. Omwega and J. M. Mueke. 2003. Geographic differences in host acceptance and suitability of two Cotesia sesamiae populations in Zimbabwe. Biological Control 28: 354-359.

Chinwada, P. and W. A. Overholt. 2001. Natural enemies of maize stem borers on the highveld of Zimbabwe. African Entomology 9: 67-75.

Chinwada, P., C. O. Omwega and W. A. Overholt. 2001. Stemborer research in Zimbabwe and prospects for the establishment of Cotesia flavipes. Insect Science and Its Application 21: 327-334.

Cole, T. J., M. S. Ram, F. E. Dowell, C. O. Omwega, W. A. Overholt and S. B. Ramaswamy. 2003. Near-infrared spectroscopic method to identify Cotesia flavipes and Cotesia sesamiae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 96: 865-869.

Cugala, D., W. A. Overholt, L. Santos and D. Giga. 2001. Release of Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) for biological control of cereal stemborers in two ecological zones in Mozambique. Insect Science and Its Application 21: 303-310.

Cugala, D., W. A. Overholt, D. Giga and L. Santos. 2000. Introduçao de Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) como agente de controlo biológico das brocas dos cereais em Moçambique. O Agrário, 18: 4-8.

Emana, G., W.A. Overholt and E. Kairu. 2003. Comparative studies on the influence of relative humidity and temperature on the developmental time of two populations of Cotesia flavipes. Ethiopian Journal of Biological Sciences 2: 49-60.

Emana, G., W. A. Overholt, E. Kairu, L. MacOpiyo and G. Zhou. 2001. Predicting the distribution of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) and its parasitoid, Cotesia flavipes Cameron in Ethiopia using correlation, step-wise regression and geographic information systems. Insect Science and Its Application 22: 123-129.

Getu, E., W. A. Overholt and E. Kairu 2004. Comparative studies on the influence of relative humidity and temperature on life table parameters of two populations of Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Biocontrol Science and Technology 14: 595-605.

Getu, E., W. A. Overholt and C. O. Omwega. 2003. Evidence of the establishment of Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of cereal stemborers, and its host range expansion in Ethiopia. Bulletin of Entomological Research 93: 125-129.

Getu, E., W. A. Overholt and E. Kairu. 2001. Distribution and species composition of stemborers and their natural enemies in maize and sorghum in Ethiopia. Insect Science and Its Application 21: 353-359.

Gitau, C. W., A. J. Ngi-Song, W. A. Overholt and S. A. Otieno. 2005. Acceptance and suitability of four gramineous stem borers (Lepidoptera: Crambidae, Noctuidae, Pyralidae) for the development of the pupal parasitoid Xanthopimpla stemmator (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Biocontrol Science and Technology (in press).

Gitonga, L. M., W. A. Overholt, B. Löhr, J. K. Magambo and J. M. Mueke. 2002. Functional response of Orius albidipennis (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) to Megalurothrips sjostedti (Thysanoptera : Thripidae). Biological Control 24: 1-6.

Gitonga, L. M., B. Löhr, W. A. Overholt, J. K. Magambo and J. M. Mueke. 2002. Temperature dependent development of Megalurathrips sjostedti and Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). African Entomology 10: 325-331.

Gitonga, L. M., B. Löhr, W. A. Overholt, J. K. Magambo, and J. M. Mueke. 2002. Effects of temperature on the development of Orius albidipennis Reuter, a predator of the Africa legume flower thrips, Megalaurothrips sjostedti Trybom. Insect Science and Its Application 22: 215-220.

Gohole, L. S., W. A. Overholt, Z. R. Khan, J. A. Pickett and L. E. M. Vet. 2003. Effects of molasses grass, Melinis minutiflora volatiles on the foraging behaviour of the cereal stemborer parasitoid, Cotesia sesamiae. Journal of Chemical Ecology 29: 731-745.

Gohole, L.S., W. A. Overholt, Z. R. Khan and L. E. M. Vet. 2003. Role of volatiles emitted by host and non-host plants in the foraging behaviour of Dentichasmias busseolae, a pupal parasitoid of the spotted stemborer Chilo partellus. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 107: 1-9.

Kalyebi, A., W.A. Overholt, S. Sithanantham, J.M. Mueke, S.A. Hassan and F. Schulthess. 2004. Functional response of six indigenous trichogrammatid egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in Kenya: Influence of temperature and relative humidity. Biocontrol Science and Technology 32: 164-171.

Khan, Z. R., A. Hassanali, T. M. Khamis, W. A. Overholt, A. M. Hooper, J. A. Pickett, L. J. Wadhams, and C. M. Woodcock. 2003. Control of witchweed, Striga hermonthica, by intercropping with Desmodium spp. and the mechanism defined as allelopathic. Journal of Chemical Ecology 28: 1871-1885.

Kfir, R., W. A. Overholt, A. Polaszek and Z. R. Khan. 2002. Biology and management of economically important lepidopteran cereal stem borers in Africa. Annual Review of Entomology 47: 701- 731.

Mbapila, J. C., W. A. Overholt and H. Y. Kayumbo. 2002. Comparative development and population growth of an exotic cereal stemborer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) and an ecologically similar congener, Chilo orichalcociliellus (Strand) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Insect Science and Its Application 22: 21-27.

Mbapila, J. C. and W. A. Overholt. 2001. Comparative development, longevity and population growth of exotic and native parasitoids of lepidopteran cereal stemborers in Kenya. Bulletin of Entomological Research 91: 347-354.

Midega, C. A. O., C. K. P. O. Ogol and W. A. Overholt. 2005. Effect of Agroecosystem diversification through agroforestry and intercroping on activity of natural enemies of maize stemborers at the Kenyan coast. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 24: 280-286.

Mochiah, M. B., A. J. Ngi-Song, W. A. Overholt and R. Stouthamer. 2003. Variation in encapsulation sensitivity of Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) biotypes to Busseola fusca Fuller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 105: 111-118.

Mochiah, M. B., A. J. Ngi-Song, W. A. Overholt and M. Botchey. 2003. Variation in total and differential haemocyte count of encapsulation sensitivity of Busseola fusca (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) parasitized by two biotypes of Cotesia sesamiae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and larval growth responses. Environmental Entomology 32(2): 247-255.

Mochiah, M. B., A. J. Ngi-Song, W. A. Overholt and A. Botchey. 2002. Effects of calyx fluid from a population of Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Bracondiae) on the immune system of its host Busseola fusca Fuller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Insect Science and Its Application 22: 81-85.

Mochiah, M. B., A. J. Ngi-Song, W. A. Overholt and R. Stouthamer. 2002. Wolbachia Infection in Cotesia sesamiae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) causes cytoplasmic incompatibility: Implications for biological control. Biological Control 25: 74-80.

Mochiah, B. M., A. J. Ngi-Song, W. A. Overholt and M. Botchey. 2001. Host suitability of four cereal stemborers (Lepidoptera: Crambidae, Noctuidae) for different geographic populations of Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Kenya. Biological Control 21: 285-292.

Mohamed, S. A., W. A. Overholt, R. A. Wharton, S. A. Lux and E. M. Eltoum. 2003. Host specificity of Psyttalia cosyrae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and the effect of different host species on parasitoid fitness. Biological Control 28: 155-163.

Mohamed, H. M., Z.R. Khan, W.A. Overholt and D.K. Elizabeth. 2005. Behavior and biology of Chilo partellus (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae) on maize and wild gramineous plants. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 24: 287-297.

Morgan, E. C. and W. A. Overholt. 2005. New records of invasive exotic plant species in St. Lucie county Florida. Castanea 70: 59-62.

Morgan, E. C. and W. A. Overholt. 2005. Potential allelopathic effects of Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi Anacardiaceae) aqueous extract on germination and growth of selected Florida native plants. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society. 132 (in press).

Ngi-Song, A. J., S. W. Kimani-Njogu and W. A. Overholt. 2001. Multiple parasitism by Cotesia sesamiae and Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on Busseola fusca (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Biocontrol Science and Technology 11: 381-390.

Ngi-Song, A. J., P. G. N. Njagi, B. Torto, and W. A. Overholt. 2000. Identification of behaviourally active components from maize volatiles for the stem borer parasitoid Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Insect Science and Its Application 20: 181-189.

Ngumbi, E., A. J. Ngi-song, L. Wadhams, J. Pickett, W. A. Overholt, R. Torto and B. Torto. 2005. Responses of the stem borer larval endoparasitioid Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to plant derived synomones: laboratory and field cage experiments. Biocontrol Science and Technology (in press).

Niyibigira, E. I., Z. S. Abdallah, W. A. Overholt, V.Y. Lada and A. Van Huis. 2001. Distribution and abundance in maize and sorghum of lepidopteran stemborers and associated indigenous parasitoids in Zanzibar. Insect Science and Its Application 21: 335-346.

Niyibigera, E. I., W. A. Overholt and R. Stouthamer. Cotesia flavipes Cameron and Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) do not exhibit Complementary Sex Determination: Evidence from field populations. Applied Entomology and Zoology 39: 705-715.

Niyibigera, E. I., W. A. Overholt and R. Stouthamer. Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) does not exhibit Complementary Sex Determination (ii) Evidence from laboratory experiments. Applied Entomology and Zoology 39: 716-725.

Ofomata, V. C., W. A. Overholt, S. A. Lux, A. Van Huis and R. I. Egwuatu. 2000. Comparative studies on the fecundity, egg survival, larval feeding and development of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) and Chilo orichalcociliellus Strand (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on five grasses. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 93: 492-499.

Overholt, W. A., S. M. L. Ewe, R. Diaz, E. C. Morgan and O. E. Moeri. 2004. Feeding effects of Ischnodemus variegatus (Hemiptera: Blissidae) on photosynthesis and growth of Hymenachne amplexicaulis (Poaceae). Florida Entomologist 87: 312-316.

Sallam, M. N., W. A. Overholt and E. Kairu. 2002. Intraspecific and interspecific competition between Cotesia flavipes and Cotesia sesamiae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), gregarious larval endoparasitoids of lepidopteran stemborers. Biocontrol Science and Technology 12: 493-506.

Sallam, M. N., W. A. Overholt and E. Kairu. 2001. Dispersal of the exotic parasitoid Cotesia flavipes in a new ecosystem. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata: 98: 211-217.

Sallam, M. N., W. A. Overholt and G. Zhou. 2001. Will Cotesia flavipes drive its African homologue, Cotesia sesamiae, to extinction? Insect Science and Its Application 21: 297-302.

Sithanantham, S., T. H. Abera, J. Baumgaerter, S. A. Hassan, B. Löhr, J. C. Monje, W. A. Overholt, A. V. N. Paul, F. H. Wan and C. P. W. Zebitz. 2001. Egg parasitoids for augmentative biological control of lepidopteran vegetable pests in Africa: research status and needs. Insect Science and Its Application 21: 189-205.

Songa, J. M., G. Zhou and W. A. Overholt. 2001. The relationships of stemborer damage and plant physical conditions to maize yield in a semi-arid zone of eastern Kenya. Insect Science and Its Application 21: 243-249.

Songa, J. M., W. A. Overholt, J. M. Mueke and R. O. Okello. 2001. Colonization of Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in stemborers in semi-arid eastern province of Kenya. Insect Science and Its Application 21: 289-295.

Songa, J. M., W. A. Overholt, J. M. Mueke and R. O. Okello. 2002. Farmers’ perceptions of aspects of maize production systems and pests in semi-arid eastern Kenya: factors influencing occurrence and control of stemborers. International Journal of Pest Management 48: 1-11.

Songa, J. M., W. A. Overholt, J. M. Mueke and R. O. Okello. 2002. Regional distribution of lepidopteran stemborers and their parasitoids among wild grasses in the semi-arid eastern Kenya. African Crop Science Journal 10: 183-194.

Songa, J. M., W. A. Overholt, R. O. Okello and J. M. Mueke. 2002. Control of lepidopteran stem borers in maize by indigenous parasitoids in semi-arid areas of eastern Kenya. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 20: 77-90.

Wharton, R. A., M. K. Trostle, R. H. Messing, R. S. Copeland, S. W. Kimani-Njogu, S. Lux, W. A. Overholt, S. Mohamed* and J. Sivinski. 2000. Parasitoids of medfly, Ceratitis capitata, and related tephridids in Kenyan coffee: a predominantly koinobiont assemblage. Bulletin of Entomological Research 90: 517-526.

Zhou, G., W. A. Overholt and S.W. Kimani-Njogu. 2003. Species richness, parasitism and trophic relationships in an assemblage of parasitoids attacking maize stem borers in coastal Kenya. Ecological Entomology 28: 109-118.

Zhou, G., J. Baumgartner and W. A. Overholt. 2001. Impact of an exotic parasitoid on stemborer (Lepidoptera) population dynamics in Kenya. Ecological Applications 11: 1554-1562.

Zhou, G. and W. A. Overholt. 2001. Spatial-temporal population dynamics of Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Kenya. Environmental Entomology 30: 869-876.

Zhou, G., W. A. Overholt and B. M. Mochiah. 2001. Changes in the distribution of lepidopteran maize stemborers in Kenya from the 1950s to the 1990s. Insect Science and Its Application 21: 395-402.

Last Edited: 05/09/2006