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Area of expertise
Efficacy Testing
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Years of experience
25+
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Highest qualification
MSc
Debbie is a research scientist with over 25 years of experience in the field of efficacy evaluation. Expertise includes the evaluation of novel and alternative control measures of chemical (e.g. botanicals, insect growth regulators, novel active ingredients), physical (e.g. heat, freezing, controlled atmospheres, UVC) and biological (e.g. entomopathogenic fungi, predatory mites and bugs) control measures; against a range of agricultural (aphids, whitefly, spider mites, thrips), domestic (flies, cockroaches, clothes moths) and storage (beetles, moths, mites) pests; using a range of assessment bioassays (e.g. topical application, Potter tower, contact and residual tests).
Activities also include the generation of efficacy evaluation data for product registration dossiers, pesticide resistance tests and assessing the integrity of food packaging and product infestability.
More about crop health services
Fera offers a suite of crop health services, resources, testing facilities and expertise to help farmers, growers and the food industry to improve yields, reduce costs and develop sustainable solutions.
Read about Debbie's latest research project...
Malumphy, C., Reid, S., Down, R., Dunn., J. & Collins, D. (2018). Field Guide to Invasive Alien Plant Pests in the Caribbean UK Overseas Territories. Defra/Fera. 260 pp.
Dunn, J.A., Prickett, J.C., Collins, D.A., Weaver, R.J. (2016). Primary screen for potential sheep scab control agents. Veterinary Parasitology, 224: 68-76.
Cuthbertson, A.G.S. and Collins, D.A. (2015). Tri-Tek (Petroleum Horticultural Oil) and Beauveria bassiana: Use in Eradication Strategies for Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean Species in UK Glasshouses. Insects, 6: 133-140.
Brabbs, T., Collins, D., Hérard, F., Maspero, M. and Eyre, D. (2014). Prospects for the use of biological control agents against Anoplophora in Europe. Pest Management Science, doi: 10.1002/ps.3907.
Cuthbertson, A.G.S., Collins, D. A., Blackburn, Lisa F., Audsley, N. & Bell, H.A. (2014). Preliminary screening of potential control products against Drosophila suzukii. Insects, 5: 488-498.
Collins, D.A. (2012). A review on the factors affecting mite growth in stored grain commodities. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 56 (3): 191-208.
Collins, D. A. and Conyers, S. T. (2010). The effect of sub-zero temperatures on different lifestages of Lasioderma serricorne (F.) and Ephestia elutella (Hubner). Journal of Stored Products Research, 46(4): 234-241.
Events past and future
2016:SOFHT Conference & Exhibition. Pest Control or Management: The changing environment for pests. Bristol Golf Club, February 2019.
Debbie and their team work with customers to deliver the following services within Fera...
Insect Monitoring
Providing you with the information you need to make pest control decisions.
Soil Health Unit
Health tests, organism monitoring and metal detection for your soil, amongst other services
Grower support tools
Cutting edge software to help growers optimise their crop yield and health
Read about Debbie's latest research project...
Malumphy, C., Reid, S., Down, R., Dunn., J. & Collins, D. (2018). Field Guide to Invasive Alien Plant Pests in the Caribbean UK Overseas Territories. Defra/Fera. 260 pp.
Dunn, J.A., Prickett, J.C., Collins, D.A., Weaver, R.J. (2016). Primary screen for potential sheep scab control agents. Veterinary Parasitology, 224: 68-76.
Cuthbertson, A.G.S. and Collins, D.A. (2015). Tri-Tek (Petroleum Horticultural Oil) and Beauveria bassiana: Use in Eradication Strategies for Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean Species in UK Glasshouses. Insects, 6: 133-140.
Brabbs, T., Collins, D., Hérard, F., Maspero, M. and Eyre, D. (2014). Prospects for the use of biological control agents against Anoplophora in Europe. Pest Management Science, doi: 10.1002/ps.3907.
Cuthbertson, A.G.S., Collins, D. A., Blackburn, Lisa F., Audsley, N. & Bell, H.A. (2014). Preliminary screening of potential control products against Drosophila suzukii. Insects, 5: 488-498.
Collins, D.A. (2012). A review on the factors affecting mite growth in stored grain commodities. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 56 (3): 191-208.
Collins, D. A. and Conyers, S. T. (2010). The effect of sub-zero temperatures on different lifestages of Lasioderma serricorne (F.) and Ephestia elutella (Hubner). Journal of Stored Products Research, 46(4): 234-241.
Events past and future
2016:SOFHT Conference & Exhibition. Pest Control or Management: The changing environment for pests. Bristol Golf Club, February 2019.
Debbie and their team work with customers to deliver the following services within Fera...
Insect Monitoring
Providing you with the information you need to make pest control decisions.
Soil Health Unit
Health tests, organism monitoring and metal detection for your soil, amongst other services
Grower support tools
Cutting edge software to help growers optimise their crop yield and health