Southern
Research Station

Education

Ph.D. in Entomology, 1997

University of Georgia

B.A. in Liberal Arts, 1990

St. John’s College

Professional Experience

Research Entomologist, USDA Forest Service

2000—Current

My research addresses the biology, systematics, chemical ecology, and management of native and invasive forest pest insects of North America.

Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Entomology, University of Georgia

1997—2000

Featured Publications and Products

• Shepherd, William; Sullivan, Brian; Hoosier, Bradley; Barrett, JoAnne; Bauman, Tessa. 2010. Characterization of an Aggregation Pheromone in Hylesinus pruinosus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).
• Sullivan, Brian; Mori, Kenji. 2009. Spatial displacement of release point can enhance activity of an attractant pheromone synergist of a bark beetle.
• Hanula, James L.; Sullivan, Brian. 2008. Manuka oil and phoebe oil are attractive baits for xyleborus glabratus (coleoptera: scolytinae), the vector of Laurel Wilt.
• Pureswaran, Deepa S.; Sullivan, Brian T.; Ayres, Matthew P. 2008. High individual variation in pheromone production by tree-killing bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).
• Moreno, Benjamin; Macias, Jorge; Sullivan, Brian T.; Clarke, Stephen R. 2008. Field response of Dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) to Synthetic Semiochemicals in Chiapas, Mexico.

Publications

• Sullivan, Brian T.; Munro, Holly L.; Shepherd, William P.; Gandhi, Kamal J. K. 2022. 4‐allylanisole as a lure adjuvant for dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) and two associated beetles.
• Sullivan, Brian ; Brownie, Cavell . 2022. The role of wind and semiochemicals in mediating switching behavior in the southern pine beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).
• Sullivan, Brian ; Shepherd, William ; Nowak, John ; Clarke, Stephen ; Merten, Paul ; Billings, Ronald ; Upton, William ; Riggins, John ; Brownie, Cavell . 2021. Alternative formulations of trap lures for operational detection, population monitoring, and outbreak forecasting of southern pine beetle in the United States.
• McNichol, Bailey H.; Sullivan, Brian T.; Munro, Holly L.; Montes, Cristián R.; Nowak, John T.; Villari, Caterina ; Gandhi, Kamal J. K. 2021. Density‐dependent variability in an eruptive bark beetle and its value in predicting outbreaks.
• Ross, Darrell W.; Sullivan, Brian T. 2021. Douglas-fir beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) response to single-point-source 3-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-one (MCH) releasers.
• Sullivan, Brian T.; Grady, Amanda M.; Hofstetter, Richard W.; Pureswaran, Deepa S.; Brownie, Cavell ; Cluck, Daniel ; Coleman, Tom W.; Graves, Andrew ; Willhite, Elizabeth ; Spiegel, Lia ; Scarbrough, Dwight ; Orlemann, Andrew ; Zúñiga, Gerardo . 2021. Evidence for semiochemical divergence between sibling bark beetle species: Dendroctonus brevicomis and Dendroctonus barberi.
• Sullivan, Brian T.; Clarke, Stephen R. 2021. Semiochemicals for management of the southern pine beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae): successes, failures, and obstacles to progress.
• Sullivan, Brian ; Brownie, Cavell. 2021. Some effects of endo -brevicomin background on southern pine beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) aggregation behavior.
• Munro, Holly L.; Gandhi, Kamal J. K.; Barnes, Brittany F.; Montes, Cristian R.; Nowak, John T.; Shepherd, William P.; Villari, Caterina ; Sullivan, Brian T. 2020. Electrophysiological and behavioral responses Dendroctonus frontalis and D. terebrans (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to resin odors of host pines (Pinus spp.).
• Munro, Holly ; Sullivan, Brian ; Villari, Caterina ; Gandhi, Kamal K. 2019. A review of the ecology and management of black turpentine beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).
• Bookwalter, J.D. ; Riggins, J.J. ; Dean, J.F.D. ; Mastro, V.C. ; Schimleck, L.R. ; Sullivan, B.T. ; Gandhi, K.J.K. . 2019. Colonization and development of Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) in bolts of a native pine host and six species of pine grown in the southeastern United States.
• Valerio-Mendoza, Osiris ; Garcia-Roman, Jazmin ; Becerril, Moises ; Armendariz-Toledano, Francisco ; Cuellar-Rodriguez, Gerardo ; Negron, Jose F.; Sullivan, Brian T.; Zuniga, Gerardo . 2019. Cryptic species discrimination in western pine beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte (Curculionidae: Scolytinae), based on morphological characters and geometric morphometrics.
• Niño-Domínguez, Alicia ; Sullivan, Brian ; Lopez-Urbina, Jose ; Macías-Sámano, Jorge E. 2018. Discrimination of odors associated with conspecific and heterospecific frass by sibling species Dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) and Dendroctonus mesoamericanus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).
• Lombardo, J. A.; Weed, A. S.; Aoki, C. F.; Sullivan, B. T.; Ayres, M. P. 2018. Temperature affects phenological synchrony in a tree-killing bark beetle.
• Armendáriz-Toledano, Francisco ; García-Román, Jazmín ; López, María Fernanda; Sullivan, Brian T.; Zúñiga, Gerardo . 2017. New characters and redescription of dendroctonus vitei (coleoptera: curculionidae: scolytinae).
• Bracewell, Ryan R.; Bentz, Barbara J.; Sullivan, Brian T.; Good, Jeffrey M. 2017. Rapid neo-sex chromosome evolution and incipient speciation in a major forest pest.
• Shepherd, William P; Sullivan, Brian T. 2017. Spatial displacement of a lure component can reduce catches of two nontarget species during spring monitoring of southern pine beetle.
• Sullivan, Brian T.; Brownie, Cavell; Barrett, JoAnne P. 2016. Intra-annual variation in responses by flying southern pine beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) to pheromone component endo-brevicomin.
• Shepherd, William P.; Sullivan, Brian T.; Mayfield, Albert (Bud); McDonald, Richard C. 2016. Olfactory responses of the hemlock woolly adelgid predator, Laricobius nigrinus (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), to natural and synthetic conifer volatiles.
• Nino-Dominguez, Alicia; Sullivan, Brian T.; Lopez-Urbina, Jose H.; Macias-Samano, Jorge E. 2016. Responses by Dendroctonus frontalis and Dendroctonus mesoamericanus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to Ssemiochemical lures in Chiapas, Mexico: possible roles of pheromones during joint host attacks.
• Pureswaran, Deepa S.; Hofstetter, Richard W.; Sullivan, Brian; Potter, Kristen A. 2016. The role of multimodal signals in species recognition between tree-killing bark beetles in a narrow sympatric zone.
• Pureswaran, Deepa S.; Hofstetter, Richard W.; Sullivan, Brian T.; Grady, Amanda M.; Brownie, Cavell. 2016. Western pine beetle populations in Arizona and California differ in the composition of their aggregation pheromones.
• Armendariz-Toledano, Francisco; Nino, Alicia; Sullivan, Brian T.; Kirkendall, Lawrence R.; Zunig, Gerado. 2015. A new species of bark beetle, Dendroctonus mesoamericanus sp nov. (Curculionidae: Scolytinae), in southern Mexico and Central America.
• Staeben, Jenny C.; Sullivan, Brian; Nowak, John T.; Gandhi, Kamal J.K. 2015. Enantiospecific responses of southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) and its clerid predator, Thanasimus dubius, to a-pinene.
• Nino-Dominguez, Alicia; Sullivan, Brian T.; Lopez-Urbina, Jose H.; Macias-Samano, Jorge E. 2015. Pheromone-mediated mate location and discrimination by two syntopic sibling species of Dendroctonus bark beetles in Chiapas, Mexico.
• Sullivan, Brian T.; Allison, Jeremy D.; Goyer, Richard A.; Shepherd, William P. 2015. Sex pheromone of the baldcypress leafroller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).
• Sullivan, Brian; Erbilgin, Nadir. 2014. Evidence for divergence in cuticular hydrocarbon sex pheromone between California and Mississippi (United States of America) populations of bark beetle parasitoid Roptrocerus xylophagorum (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). .
• Shepherd, William; Montgomery, Michael; Sullivan, Brian; Mayfield, Albert (Bud), III. 2014. Novel method for determining sex of live adult Laricobius nigrinus (Coleoptera: Derodontidae).
• Armendariz-Toledano, Francisco; Nino, Alicia; Sullivan, Brian; Macias-Samano, Jorge; Victor, Javier; Clarke, Stephen R.; Zuniga, Gerardo. 2014. Two species within Dedroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): evidence from morphological, karyological, molecular, and crossing studies.
• Martinson, Sharon J.; Ylioja, Tiina; Sullivan, Brian T.; Billings, Ronald F.; Ayres, Matthew P. 2013. Alternate attractors in the population dynamics of a tree-killing bark beetle.
• Cano-Ramirez, Claudia; Lopez, Maria Fernanda; Cesar-Ayala, Ana K.; Pineda-Martinez, Veronica; Sullivan, Brian T.; and Zuniga, Gerardo. 2013. Isolation and expression of cytochrome P450 genes in the antennae and gut of pine beetle Dendroctonus rhizophagus (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) following exposure to host monoterpenes.
• Shepherd, William; Sullivan, Brian. 2013. Southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, antennal and behavioral responses to nonhost leaf and bark volatiles.
• Hanula, James; Sullivan, Brian; Wakarchuk, David. 2013. Variation in manuka oil lure efficacy for capturing Xyleborus glabratus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scholytinae), and Cubeb oil as an alternative attractant.
• Sullivan, Brian T.; Nino, Alicia; Moreno, Benjamin; Brownie, Cavell; Macias-Samano, Jorge; Clarke, Stephen R.; Kirkendall, Lawrence R.; and Zuniga, Gerardo. 2012. Biochemical evidence that Dendroctonus frontalis consists of two sibling species in Belize and Chiapas, Mexico.
• Sullivan, Brian T. 2011. Southern Pine Beetle Behavior and Semiochemistry.
• Sullivan, Brian; Dulusky, Mark; Mori, Kenji; Brownie, Cavell. 2011. Variable responses by southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, to the pheromone component endo-Brevicomin: influence of enantiomeric composition, release rate, and proximity to infestations.
• Pureswaran, Deepa S.; Hofstetter, Richard W.; Sullivan, Brian T. 2008. Attraction of the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, to pheromone components of the western pine beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), in an allopatric zone.
• Moreno, Benjamin; Macias, Jorge; Sullivan, Brian ; Clarke, Stephen. 2008. Field Response of Dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) to Synthetic Semiochemicals in Chiapas, Mexico. .
• Sullivan, Brian T.; Shepherd, William P.; Pureswarana, Deepa S.; Tashiro, Takuya; Mori, Kenji. 2007. Evidence that (+)-endo-Brevicomin is a male-produced component of the Southern Pine Beetle aggregation pheromone.
• Pureswaran, Deepa S.; Sullivan, Brian T.; Ayres, Matthew P. 2007. Evolutionary ecology of pheromone signaling in Dendroctonus frontalis.
• Sullivan, Brian T.; Dalusky, Mark J.; Wakarchuk, David; Berisford, C. Wayne. 2007. Field evaluations of potential aggregation inhibitors for the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).
• Sullivan, Brian T. 2005. Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of Dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to volatiles isolated from Conspecifics.
• Shepherd, William P.; Sullivan, Brian T.; Goyer, Richard A.; Klepzig, Kier D. 2005. Electrophysiological and olfactometer responses of two histerid predators to three pine bark beetle pheromones.
• Sullivan, Brian K.; Hamilton, Paul S.; Kwiatkowski, Matthew A. 2005. The Arizona striped whiptail: past and present.
• Sullivan, Brian T.; Berisford, C. Wayne. 2004. Semiochemicals From Fungal Associates of Bark Beetles May Mediate Host Location Behavior of Parasitoids.
• Asaro, Christopher; Sullivan, Brian T.; Dalusky, M.J.; Berisford, C. Wayne. 2004. Volatiles associated with preferred and nonpreferred hosts of the nantucket pine tip moth, Rhyacionia frustrana.
• Sullivan, Brian T.; Fettig, Christopher J.; Otrosina, William J.; Dalusky, Mark J.; Berisford, C. Wayne. 2003. Association between severity of prescribed burns and subsequent activity of conifer-infesting beetles in stands of longleaf pine.
• Sullivan, Brian T.; Dalusky, Mark J.; Berisford, C. Wayne. 2003. Interspecific Variation in Host-Finding Cues of Parasitoids of the Southern Pine Beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytidae).
• Sullivan, Brian T. 2002. Evidence For A Sex Pheromone in Bark Beetle Parasitoid Roptrocerus xylophagorum.
• Otrosina, William J.; Walkinshaw, Charles H.; Zarnoch, Stanley J.; Sung, Shi-Jean S.; Sullivan, Brian T. 2002. Root Disease, Longleaf Pine Mortality, and Prescribed Burning.
• Otrosina, William J.; Sung, Shi-Jean S.; Zarnoch, Stanley J.; Sullivan, Brian T.; Walkinshaw, Charles H. 2002. Root disease and other unforeseen variables that confound restoration efforts.
• Sullivan, Brian T.; Pettersson, Eva M.; Seltmann, Katja C.; Berisford, C. Wayne. 2000. Attraction of the bark beetle parasitoid Roptrocerus xylophagorum (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to host-associated olfactory cues.

Research Highlights

Forest Service Scientists and Their International Collaborators Describe a Dangerous New “Mesoamerican Pine Beetle” (2015)

A newly discovered species of tree killing bark beetle in Central America, Dendroctonus mesoamericanus, has been recently described by an international team of scientists, including Forest Service research entomologist Brian Sullivan. The team provided critical information needed to manage the insect, which may be responsible for catastrophic damage to Mexican and Central American pine forests. It represents a previously unrecognized invasive threat to forestry in the U.S.

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Lure Developed for Killer of Louisiana Baldcypress (2014)

The land surface of southern Louisiana is sinking as an unintended consequence of humans channeling water flow. Persistent and deeper flooding of baldcypress forests is stressing these magnificent trees, and it has triggered an outbreak of a previously undetected moth pest: the baldcypress leafroller. Forest Service scientists have identified and reproduced this moth's sex pheromone, which can be used as a lure in traps to detect new and growing populations. The pheromone might also be released within forests to divert mate-seeking male moths and provide an insecticide-free method for controlling this pest in a highly sensitive environment.

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