Foottit, Robert, Ph.D.
Research Scientist, Insect taxonomy
Contact Information:
960 Carling Ave
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C6
Telephone: 613-759-1774
Fax: 613-759-1701
Email: robert.foottit@agr.gc.ca
Areas of Expertise:
- Biosystematic analysis of economically important pest insects with emphasis on aphids, thrips and plant bugs. A range of techniques are employed, including field collections and distributional analyses, morphological analysis of specimens, and DNA molecular approaches, including DNA microsatellites and DNA barcoding. These techniques are used to analyze for significant morphological and genetic variation in pest populations and to develop diagnostic characters for accurate and efficient identification of populations and species. Applications of this research include the provision of accurate identification systems for pest management programs, the monitoring of plant disease vectors, the detection of new pests and potentially invasive species, and the identification of species for biodiversity assessments in various habitats
Current Projects:
- Develop systematic knowledge of arthropod pests, beneficial arthropods, and environmentally sensitive arthropods
- Assess interactions and impacts between invasive alien species, agricultural practices and arthropod biodiversity
- Develop a national arthropod information system through the Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids & Nematodes, provision of expert identification, consultation & training
- Aphis gossypii glover
- Plum pox
Research publications
2017
- Foottit, R.G., Maw, H.E.L. (2018). Cryptic species in the aphid genus melaphis walsh (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Eriosomatinae), 150(1), 35-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.4039/tce.2017.57
- M. J. Skvarla, S. E. Halbert, R. G. Foottit, A. S. Jensen, E. Maw, G. L. Miller. 2017. An Update to the Adventive Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) of America North of Mexico, with Notes on Intercepted Species. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 119: 90-111
2016
- Acheampong, S., Zilahi-Balogh, G.M.G., Foottit, R.G., Judd, G.J.R. and DiMaria, T. 2016. Pacific Flatheaded Borer, Chrysobothris mali Horn (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), found attacking apple saplings in the Southern Interior of British Columbia. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia, 113: 71-73.
- Havill, N.P., Shiyake, S., Lamb Galloway, A., Foottit, R.G., Yu, G., Paradis, A., Elkinton, J., Montgomery, M.E., Sano, M., Caccone, A. (2016). Ancient and modern colonization of North America by hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), an invasive insect from East Asia, 25(9), 2065-2080. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mec.13589
- Robideau, G.P., Foottit, R.G., Humble, L.M., Noseworthy, M.K., Wu, T.-Y., and Bilodeau, G.J. (2016). "Real-time PCR identification of the ambrosia beetles, Trypodendron domesticum (L.) and Trypodendron lineatum (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae).", Journal of Applied Entomology, 140(4), pp. 299-307. doi : 10.1111/jen.12254
- Zilahi-Balogh, G. M. G., Humble, L. M., Foottit, R., Burleigh, J. and Stock, A. 2016. History of the balsam woolly adelgid, Adelges piceae (Ratzeburg), in British Columbia, with notes on a recent range expansion. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia, 113: 21-38.
2015
- Gwiazdowski, R.A., Foottit, R.G., Maw, H.E.L., Hebert, P.D.N. (2015). The Hemiptera (Insecta) of Canada: Constructing a reference library of DNA barcodes, 10(4), http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0125635
- Hales, D., Foottit, R.G., and Maw, H.E.L. (2015). "Sexual morphs of Aphis acaenovinae Eastop, 1961 (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Aphidinae).", The Australian Entomologist, 42(1), pp. 19-24.
- Hales, D.F., Foottit, R.G., Maw, E. (2015). Endemic aphids Aphis carverae sp. nov. and Casimira canberrae (Eastop, 1961) on Epilobium (Onagraceae) threatened by introduced Aphis oenotheraeOestlund, 1887 (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Aphidinae), 54(3), 278-285. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aen.12125
- Lowery, D.T., Vickers, P.M., Bittner, L.A., Stobbs, L.W., Foottit, R.G. (2015). Aphid transmission of the Ontario isolate of plum pox virus, 108(5), 2168-2173. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jee/tov172
2014
- Duay, J.A.M., Miller, R.H., Wall, G.C., Pike, K.S., Foottit, R.G. (2014). Pentalonia nigronervosa coquerel and pentalonia caladii van der goot (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and their relationship to banana bunchy top virus in Micronesia<sup>1</sup>, 68(3), 359-364. http://dx.doi.org/10.2984/68.3.5
- Foottit, R.G. and Maw, H.E.L. (2014). "Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) of the Prairie Ecozone of Canada.", in Cárcamo, H.A. and Giberson, D.J. (eds.) - Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands (Volume 3): Biodiversity and Systematics Part I., Biological Survey of Canada (BSC), pp. 347-369.
- Foottit, R.G., Maw, E., Hebert, P.D.N. (2014). DNA barcodes for nearctic auchenorrhyncha (Insecta: Hemiptera), 9(7), http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0101385
- Langor, D.W., Cameron, E.K., MacQuarrie, C.J.K., McBeath, A., McClay, A., Peter, B., Pybus, M., Ramsfield, T., Ryall, K.L., Scarr, T., Yemshanov, D., DeMerchant, I., Foottit, R.G., and Pohl, G.R. (2014). "Non-native species in Canada's boreal zone: Diversity, impacts, and risk.", Environmental Reviews, 22(4), pp. 372-418. doi : 10.1139/er-2013-0083
- Liu, P., Yang, Z.X., Chen, X.M., Foottit, R.G. (2014). The effect of the gall-forming aphid Schlechtendalia chinensis (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on leaf wing ontogenesis in Rhus chinensis (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae), 107(1), 242-250. http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/AN13118
- Miller, R.H., Duay, J.A., Pike, K.S., Maw, H.E.L., and Foottit, R.G. (2014). "Review and key to the aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Micronesia.", Pacific Science, 68(4), pp. 479-492. doi : 10.2984/68.4.3
- Naaum, A.M., Foottit, R.G., Maw, H.E.L., Hanner, R. (2014). Real-time PCR for identification of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura, 138(7), 485-489. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jen.12114
2013
- Jousselin, E., Cruaud, A., Genson, G., Chevenet, F., Foottit, R.G., and Coeur d’acier, A. (2013). "Is ecological speciation a major trend in aphids? Insights from a molecular phylogeny of the conifer-feeding genus Cinara.", Genome Announcements, 10(56), pp. 1-18.
- Nováková, E., Hypša, V., Klein, J., Foottit, R.G., von Dohlen, C.D., Moran, N.A. (2013). Reconstructing the phylogeny of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) using DNA of the obligate symbiont Buchnera aphidicola, 68(1), 42-54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2013.03.016
- Teulon, D.A.J., Stufkens, M.A.W., Drayton, G.M., Maw, H.E.L., Scott, I.A.W., Bulman, S.R., Carver, M., Von Dohlen, C.D., Eastop, V.F., Foottit, R.G. (2013). Native aphids of New Zealand-diversity and host associations, 3647(4), 201-217. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3647.4.1
2012
- Durante, M.P.M., Foottit, R., Dohlen, C.D.V., Ortego, J. (2012). First american records of aphis intybi (Hemiptera: Aphididae) with notes on two other related adventive species in Argentina, 95(4), 1154-1162. http://dx.doi.org/10.1653/024.095.0446
- Foottit, R.G., Maw, H.E.L., Pike, K.S., Messing, R.H. (2012). Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae and Adelgidae) of Hawai'i: Annotated list and key to species of an adventive fauna, 66(1), 1-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.2984/66.1.1
- Naaum, A.M., Foottit, R.G., Maw, H.E.L., Hanner, R. (2012). Differentiation between Aphis pomi and Aphis spiraecola using multiplex real-time PCR based on DNA barcode sequences, 136(9), 704-710. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0418.2012.01706.x
- Nakahara, S. and Foottit, R.G. (2012). "Review of Chirothrips and related genera (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) of the Americas, with descriptions of one new genus and four new species.", Zootaxa, 3251, pp. 1-29.
- Pelletier, Y., Nie, X., Giguère, M.A., Nanayakkara, U., Maw, E., Foottit, R. (2012). A new approach for the identification of aphid vectors (Hemiptera: Aphididae) of potato virus y, 105(6), 1909-1914. http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/EC12085
- Pike, K.S., Graf, G., Foottit, R.G., Maw, H.E.L., Von Dohlen, C., Harpel, J., Pantoja, A., Emmert, S., Hagerty, A.M. (2012). Eriosomatine aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Eriosomatinae) associated with moss and roots of conifer and willow in forests of the Pacific Northwest of North America, 144(4), 555-576. http://dx.doi.org/10.4039/tce.2012.49
2011
- Lee, W., Kim, H., Lim, J., Choi, H.R., Kim, Y., Kim, Y.S., Ji, J.Y., Foottit, R.G., Lee, S. (2011). Barcoding aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) of the Korean Peninsula: Updating the global data set, 11(1), 32-37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-0998.2010.02877.x
- Newton, J.S., Glasier, J., Maw, H.E.L., Proctor, H.C., Foottit, R.G. (2011). Ants and subterranean sternorrhyncha in a native grassland in east-central Alberta, Canada, 143(5), 518-523. http://dx.doi.org/10.4039/n11-034
- Park, D.S., Foottit, R., Maw, E., Hebert, P.D.N. (2011). Barcoding bugs: Dna-based identification of the true bugs (insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera), 6(4), http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0018749
2010
- Castalanelli, M.A., Severtson, D.L., Brumley, C.J., Szito, A., Foottit, R.G., Grimm, M., Munyard, K., Groth, D.M. (2010). A rapid non-destructive DNA extraction method for insects and other arthropods, 13(3), 243-248. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aspen.2010.04.003
- Foottit, R.G., Floate, K., Maw, E. (2010). Molecular evidence for sympatric taxa within pemphigus betae (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Eriosomatinae), 142(4), 344-353. http://dx.doi.org/10.4039/n10-028
- Foottit, R.G., Maw, H.E.L., and Pike, K.S. (2010). "The identity of Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel and P. caladii van der Goot (Hemiptera: Aphididae) based on molecular and morphometric analysis.", Zootaxa, 2358, pp. 25-38.
- Hales, D., Foottit, R.G., Maw, E. (2010). Morphometric studies of the genus Sitobion Mordvilko 1914 in Australia (Hemiptera: Aphididae), 49(4), 341-353. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-6055.2010.00770.x
- Pike, K.S., Graf, G., Foottit, R.G., Maw, H.E.L., Miller, G.L., Harpel, J., Pantoja, A., Hagerty, A., Emmert, S. (2010). Molecular and biometric assessment of Myzodium mimulicola (Hemiptera: Aphididae), with new synonymy and host and distributional data, 142(5), 448-457. http://dx.doi.org/10.4039/n10-034
- Smirle, M.J., Zurowski, C.L., Lowery, D.T., Foottit, R.G. (2010). Relationship of insecticide tolerance to esterase enzyme activity in Aphis pomi and Aphis spiraecola (Hemiptera: Aphididae), 103(2), 374-378. http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/EC09275
2009
- Foottit, R.G. and Adler, P.H. (Eds.) (2009). Insect Biodiversity: Science and Society., Canada: Wiley - Blackwell. (Book)
- Foottit, R.G., Lowery, D.T., Maw, H.E.L., Smirle, M.J., and Lushai, G. (2009). "Identification, distribution, and molecular characterization of the apple aphids Aphis pomi and Aphis spiraecola (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Aphidinae).", Canadian Entomologist, 141(5), pp. 478-495. doi : 10.4039/n09-037
- Foottit, R.G., Maw, H.E.L., Havill, N.P., Ahern, R.G., Montgomery, M.E. (2009). DNA barcodes to identify species and explore diversity in the Adelgidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphidoidea), 9(SUPPL. 1), 188-195. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02644.x
- Foottit, R.G., Maw, H.E.L., and Pike, K.S. (2009). "DNA barcodes to explore diversity in aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae and Adelgidae).", Redia, 92, pp. 87-91.
- Gillespie, D.R., Quiring, D.J.M., Foottit, R.G., Foster, S.P., Acheampong, S. (2009). Implications of phenotypic variation of myzus persicae (hemiptera: Aphididae) for biological control on greenhouse pepper plants, 133(7), 505-511. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0418.2008.01365.x
- Langor, D.W., DeHaas, L.J., Foottit, R.G. (2009). Diversity of non-native terrestrial arthropods on woody plants in Canada, 11(1), 5-19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9327-x
- Miller, G.L. and Foottit, R.G. (2009). "The taxonomy of crop pests: The aphids.", in Foottit, R.G. and Adler, P.H. (eds.) - Insect Biodiversity: Science and Society, Wiley - Blackwell, pp. 463-473.
- Pike, K.S., Graf, G., Foottit, R.G., Maw, H.E.L., Starý, P., Hammon, R., Miller, D.G. (2009). New species of braggia (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on buckwheat in Western North America, 141(6), 561-581. http://dx.doi.org/10.4039/n09-048
Other science related publications
2014
- Bouchard, P., Bilodeau, G.J., Abbott, C.L., Foottit, R.G., Rott, M., Lewis, C.T., Macklin, J.A., Neuspiel, M., Esber, P., Sharpe, A.G., Lévesque, A., and Lévesque, C.A. (2014). "Development of novel genomics tools for the rapid detection of quarantine and invasive species in Canada: A new inter-departmental approach to address a complex problem.", Global Summit on Regulatory Science (GSRS14), Montreal, Canada, August 21-22, 2014, Invited poster presentation. (Poster)
- Bouchard, P., Mullineux, S.-T., Lewis, C.T., Kandalaft, I., Maw, H.E.L., Humble, L.H., and Foottit, R.G. (2014). "Rapid detection of quarantine and invasive species using Next Generation Sequencing technologies.", Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Societies of Canada and Saskatchewan. Symposium: Arthropod “omics” – Impact on Management., Saskatoon, Canada, September 26-October 1, 2014, Oral presentation.
2012
- Duay, J.A., Miller, R.H., Pike, K.S., and Foottit, R.G. (2012). "Host switching of Pentalonia aphids on Guam.", Entomological Society of America (ESA) 60th Annual Meeting, Knoxville Convention Centre, Knoxville, TN, USA, November 11-14, 2012, D0519. (Poster)
2011
- Floate, K.D., Isabel, N., and Foottit, R.G. (2011). "Genetic typing of hosts and aphids provides new insights on galling arthropods of hybrid cottonwoods.", Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of Canada and Acadian Entomological Society, Westin Nova Scotian Hotel, Halifax, NS, Canada, November 6-9, 2011, pp. 58. (Presentation)
- Pelletier, Y., Nie, X., and Foottit, R.G. (2011). "Identification of potato virus Y vector from trap samples.", Entomological Society of America (ESA) 59th Annual Meeting, Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Reno, NV, USA, November 13-16, 2011. (Poster)
2010
- Isabel, N., Talbot, P., Lamothe, M., Bousquet, J., Schroeder, W.R., Floate, K.D., Foottit, R.G., Ruiz, P., Cunningham, S.M., McIntire, E.J.B., and Thompson, S. (2010). "Contemporary gene flow between poplars with exotic component and natural populations of native species across Canada.", 5th International Poplar Symposium - Poplars and willows: from research models to multipurpose trees for a biobased society, Orvieto TR, Italy, September 20-25, 2010.
- Isabel, N., Talbot, P., Lamothe, M., Bousquet, J., Schroeder, W.R., Floate, K.D., Foottit, R.G., Ruiz, P., Cunningham, S.M., McIntire, E.J.B., and Thompson, S. (2010). "Contemporary gene flow between poplars with exotic component and natural populations of native species across Canada.", 5th International Poplar Symposium - Poplars and willows: from research models to multipurpose trees for a biobased society, Orvieto TR, Italy, September 20-25, 2010.
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