ALTON
N. SPARKS, JR. (STORMY)
Associate Professor and Extension Entomologist,
Department of Entomology Texas A&M University, Texas A&M Research
and Extension Center, 2401 East Highway 83, Weslaco, Texas 78596
Phone: 956-968-5581 FAX: 956-969-5639
Stormy Sparks received his B.S.A./Entomology at the University of Georgia in 1980. He completed his M.S./Entomology and Ph.D./Entomology at Louisiana State University in 1984 and 1986, respectively.
My primary emphasis is developing an effective integrated pest management program for vegetables and other crops and to transfer that technology to growers and industry through Extension educational efforts. Research activities include the study of production technologies to reduce crop loss from insect damage and the improvement of decision aids for commercial growers related to risk management. Vegetable IPM research has included work on the pests of cole crops, celery, pepper, carrot, onion and cucurbits including diamond back moth, aphids, sweet potato/silverleaf whitefly, spider mites, pepper weevils,onion and western flower thrips and leaf miners.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
- Experiences with Africanized Honey Bees in Texas. Sparks, A.N., Jr., Lockamy, T., and Graham, H. (in press). The realities of the Africanized Honey Bee. Eds. A.M. Collins, J. Thomas, and L. Conner.
- Evaluation of selected insecticides for control of onion thrips on onions. Sparks, A.N. Jr., and Riley, D.G. Arthropod Management Tests (in press). (1996).
- The pepper weevil and it's management. Riley, D.G. and Sparks, A.N., Jr. Texas Agricultural Extension Service Pub. No. L-5069. (1995).
- Efficacy of selected insecticides for control of leaf miners on melons. Sparks, A.N., Jr. Arthropod Management Tests: 19:81-82. (1994).
- Texas guide for controlling insects on commercial vegetable crops. Sparks, A.N., Jr. Texas Agricultural Extension Service Pub. No. B-1305. (1994).
- Management of sweet potato whitefly in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Riley, D.G., and Sparks, A.N., Jr. Texas agricultural Extension Service Pub. No,. B-5082. (1993).