Staff Profile

Dr Max Suckling
Science Group Leader, Biosecurity
Bioprotection

More information about our Bioprotection research

Dr Max Suckling

Qualifications

BSc (Hons), Zoology, Massey University, New Zealand
Diploma, Biotechnology (Dist), Massey University, New Zealand
PhD, Entomology, Lincoln College, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Research Interests & Activities

Insect eradication; Insect chemical ecology; Host plant recognition and female moth attractants for leafrollers, codling moth and other species; Pheromones and other semiochemicals for monitoring pest or invasive insects and biocontrol agents.

International Collaboration

USDA Technical Working Group, light brown apple morth eradication, novel socially acceptable eradication technologies
Cooperative Research Centre on Plants Biosecurity Sterile Insect technique and other technologies, DAFWA, SARDI, DPI
International Atomic Energy Agency Working Group, Sterile Insect Technique for Lepidoptera
National Center for Ecological Application and Synthesis, Forest Insect Eradication Working Group
Cooperators at USDA ARS, USDA APHIS, DAFWA, DPI Victoria, SARDI, University of Queensland, Linneaus University. Councillor, Asia Pacific Association of Chemical Ecologists (2001-2009)
Scientific Programme Committee, International Congress of Entomology (Brisbane, 2004)
Convenor, Chemical and Physiological Ecology and Behaviour, Int. Cong. Entomology (Brisbane, 2004)
International Association for the Plant Protection Sciences (Governing Board, 2004-2007)

Honours & Awards

Fellow of the Royal Society of NZ
2006 OECD Fellowship (visit to USDA ARS, Hilo)
2003 HortResearch Chairman’s Award for Excellence (Painted Apple Moth Eradication)
2003 OECD Fellowship (with Kye Chung Park, Penn. State Univ.)
2003 Ernst & Young Executive Course
2002 ISAT Award
2000 MORST Institute of Directors Award
1999 Trimble Award
1999 Int. Plant Protection Congress Award
1998 British Crop Protection Council Senior Travel Bursary
1996 C. Alma Baker Fellowship
1996 Lincoln University Foundation Award
1995 Italian Fruitgrowers Award
1994 Swedish Travel Award
1990 C. Alma Baker Trust Award
1990 NZ Commemorative Medal for Excellence in Science

Key Publications

Suckling, D.M., C.H. Wearing, W.P. Thomas, D.R. Penman and R.B. Chapman. 1985. Pheromone use in insecticide resistance surveys of lightbrown apple moths (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 78: 204207.
Suckling, D.M. and J.R. Clearwater. 1990. Small scale trials of disruption of Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in New Zealand. Environ. Entomol. 19: 1702-1709.
Brun, L.O.; Suckling, D.M. Roush, R.T., Gaudichon, V. Preisler, H., Robertson, J.L. 1995: Genetics of endosulfan resistance in Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Implications for mode of sex determination. J. Econ. Entomol. 88: 470-474.
Suckling, D.M. and P.W. Shaw. 1995. Large scale trials of mating disruption of light brown apple moth. N.Z. J. Crop & Hort. Sci. 23: 127-137.
Suckling, D. M. and N.P.D. Angerilli. 1996. Pheromone point source distribution affects spike frequency and communication disruption of Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Environ. Entomol. 25: 101-108.
Suckling, D.M., G. Karg, and S.J. Bradley. 1996. Apple foliage enhances mating disruption of lightbrown apple moth. J. Chem. Ecol. 22: 325-341.
Suckling, D.M, S.R. Green, A. R. Gibb, and G. Karg. 1999. Atmospheric pheromone concentrations affect the behaviour of lightbrown apple moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in the orchard J. Chem. Ecol. 25: 2011-2025.
Suckling, D.M., R. Hill, H. Gourlay, P. Witzgall. 1999. Sex attractant-based monitoring of a biological control agent of gorse. Biocont. Sci. Tech.9: 99-104.
Suckling, D.M. and E.G. Brockerhoff. 1999. Control of lightbrown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) using an attracticide. J. Econ. Entomol. 92: 367-372.
Suckling, D.M., A.R. Gibb, G.M. Burnip, and N.C. Delury. 2002. Can parasitoid sex pheromones help in insect biocontrol? A case study of codling moth and its’ parasitoid. Environ. Entomol. 31: 947-952.
Suckling, D.M., J. Charles, D. Allan, A. Chaggan, A. Barrington, G. M. Burnip and A. M. El-Sayed. 2005. Performance of irradiated painted apple moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) in urban Auckland, New Zealand. J. Econ. Entomol. 98: 1531-1538.
Suckling, D.M., A. R. Gibb, P.R. Dentener, D.S. Seldon, G.K. Clare, L. Jamieson, A. M. El-Sayed, D. Baird, and D. Kriticos. 2005. Gum leaf skeletoniser Uraba lugens in New Zealand: pheromone trapping for delimitation and phenology. J. Econ. Entomol. 98: 1187–1192.
Suckling, D.M., E. B. Jang, Carvalho, L. A., Nagata, J. T., Schneider, E. L., and El-Sayed, A.M. 2007. Can ménage-à-trois be used for controlling insects ? J. Chem. Ecol. 33: 1494-1504.
Suckling, D.M., R.W. Peck, L.A. Manning, L. Stringer, J. Cappadonna and A.M. El-Sayed. 2008. Pheromone disruption of Argentine ant trail integrity. J. Chem. Ecol.  34:1602-1609. 
Jürgens A., El-Sayed A.M., Suckling D.M. 2009. Do carnivorous plants use volatiles for attracting prey insects? Functional Ecology  23: 875–887
Suckling D.M. and Brockerhoff, E.G. 2010. Invasion biology, ecology, and management of the light brown apple moth (Tortricidae). Ann. Rev. Entomol. 55: 285–306.
Suckling, D.M , Peck RW, Snook K, Stringer LD and Banko P. 2010. Pheromone disruption of Argentine ant trail formation and foraging. J. Chem. Ecol. 36: 122-128.
Suckling, D.M , Stringer LD, Bunn B, El-Sayed AM and vander Meer B. 2010. Trail pheromone disruption of red imported fire ant. J. Chem. Ecol. 36: 744-50.