Dr Claire Price: Hello,

Preparing to deliver an entomology session for school students visiting Harper Adams University in April 2024

About me

I come from France, where I completed a Master’s degree in Plant Production Management, during which I developed an interest in entomology and insect pests control. After graduating, I moved to the UK for my Ph.D. project. I am interested in entomology, arthropods conservation, and Integrated Pest Management. I particularly enjoy communicating research to fellow researchers, farmers, and members of the public through outreach activities. I have experience identifying to species level butterfly and moths, spiders, and ground beetles. I am currently an Associate Editor for Antenna, the magazine of the Royal Entomological Society.

Professional memberships: Royal Entomological Society, British Ecological Society, Butterfly Conservation.

Project overview

My research project focused on biopesticides to control the cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) in oilseed rape crops, funded by AHDB, Certis Belchim BV and the AgriFood Charities Partnership, and I collaborated with researchers from the University of Warwick. In particular, I tested the efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi, nematodes, bacteria, and of botanical insecticides, and physically acting insecticides. This project aims to evaluate the potential of these biopesticides as part of an Integrated Pest Management programme for CSFB, to reduce the impact of pest control practices on the environment and on non-target organisms such as pollinators. I was awarded in February 2024.

Find out more about my project

If you have any question, feel free to email me.

Your can also use my social media accounts in the navigation bar, or check the following links:

Project information on Harper Adams University website

What’s new?

15/04/2024: Find my presentation and a blog post by AFCP summarising my research findings on biopesticides to control CSFB

15/01/2024: AHDB article summarising my PhD project report ‘Novel approaches to control cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) (PhD)’

15/01/2024: AHDB article presenting my final results ‘Is there a biological solution to OSR’s CSFB woes?’

25/09/2023: Farming Future Food article about my latest findings ‘Biopesticides show promise as weapon against beetle which has hit UK oilseed rape farming’

05/2022: Crop Production Magazine article about AHDB research projects on cabbage stem flea beetle, including my lastest findings

11/02/2022: Article for the International Women and Girls in Science Day, on Harper Adams University website

07/12/2021: Recording of my talk at the ADHB Cereals and Oilseed Agronomists Conference in December 2021

Publications

Price, C. S. V., Campbell, H., and Pope, T., 2023. Assessing the potential of biopesticides to control cabbage stem flea beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala. Pest Management Science, 79(9). https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7746

Price, C., Campbell, H., and Pope, T., 2023. Potential of Entomopathogenic Nematodes to Control the Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle Psylliodes chrysocephala. Insects, 14, 665. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14070665

Hoarau, C., Campbell, H., Prince, G., Chandler, D., and Pope, T., 2022. New control methods against the cabbage stem flea beetle in oilseed rape crops. Outlooks on Pest Management, 33 (3) 101-109(9). https://doi.org/10.1564/v33_jun_05

Hoarau, C., Campbell, H., Prince, G., Chandler, D., and Pope, T., 2022. Biological control agents against the cabbage stem flea beetle in oilseed rape crops. Biological Control, 167, 104844. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2022.104844

Boutsi, S., Campbell, H., Fezza, E., George, R., Godfrey, C., Hoarau, C., Leandro, M., Pope, T., Roberts, J., Segar, S. and Shaw, J., 2021. Continuing Entomological Research During the Covid-19 Pandemic. Outlooks on Pest Management, 32(3), 114-119. https://doi.org/10.1564/v32_jun_05

Grants

2022: Conference Participation Fund to attend the International Congress of Entomology in Helsinki, Finland (£300), Royal Entomological Society.