Insect and Disease Research
Insect and Disease Research
Forest
fires make the evening news, but insects and disease kill far more trees that do
fires. Entomologists, botanists, plant pathologists, and biologists are
learning more about a variety of damaging pests. Information from their
research is being used to develop new forest management practices that minimize
disease and insect attack.
Look for these job series on the Federal Job Vacancy Announcements -- usajobs.opm.gov list: GS-0414; 0434; 0404; 0462.
SRS-4502, Wood Products Insect Research. The
mission of this unit is to define the role of termites in forest ecosystems, to improve
protection of wood against damage, and to understand the impact of termites on forest
health. All new termiticides must undergo extensive laboratory and field testing by this
unit prior to EPA registration.
http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/termites/
SRS-4501, Southern Pine Beetle: Ecology, Behavior,
and Management. This unit is responsible for Forest Service research on improved methods
for predicting and managing the southern pine beetle through acquisition and use of basic
knowledge of its ecology and behavior.
http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/4505/
