Entomology-Faculty: Cameron Lait

Cameron Lait
Sr. Research Associate

The Pennsylvania State University
6A Chemical Ecology Lab
University Park, PA 16802

Phone: 814-863-1810
Email: cgl10@psu.edu

Education

B.Sc., University of Victoria, 1992
Ph. D., University of Alberta, 1998

Research

My current research program examines all aspects related to the biochemistry of fatty acid amide biosynthesis by caterpillars. When these fatty acid amides contact damaged leaf tissue, volatile chemical signals are released that, in turn, attract natural enemies of caterpillars.

Publications (refereed)

JH Tumlinson and CG Lait. 2005. Biosynthesis of fatty acid amide elicitors of plant volatiles by insect herbivores. Arch of Insect Biochem and Physiol 58: 54-68

CG Lait, HT Alborn, PEA Teal and JH Tumlinson III. 2003. Rapid biosynthesis of N-linolenoyl-L-glutamine, an elicitor of plant volatiles, by membrane associated enzyme(s) in Manduca sexta. Proc Natl Acad of Sci USA 100: 7027-7032

YJ Cardoza, CG Lait, EA Schmelz, J Huang and JH Tumlinson. 2003. Fungus-induced biochemical changes in peanut plants and their effect on development of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae. Environ Entomol 32: 220-228

CG Lait, DR Miller, and AR Kermode. 2003. Detecting damage to loblolly pine, Pinus taeda, seeds caused by Leptoglossus corculus feeding. J Entomol Sci 38: 644-653

SL Bates, CG Lait, JH Borden and AR Kermode. 2002. Measuring the impact of Leptoglossus occidentalis (Heteroptera: Coreidae) on seed production in lodgepole pine using an antibody-based assay. J Econ Entomol 95: 770-777

CG Lait, SL Bates, KK Morrissette, JH Borden, and AR Kermode. 2001. Biochemical assays for identifying seeds of lodgepole pine and other conifers, that were fed on by Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Hemiptera: Coreidae). Can J Bot 79: 1349-1357

CG Lait, SL Bates, JH Borden, and AR Kermode. 2001. Protein reserve hydrolysis in Douglas-fir seeds Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco following feeding by the western conifer seed bug. Seed Sci and Tech 29: 609-617

CG Lait, SL Bates, AR Kermode, KK Morrissette, and JH Borden. 2001. Specific biochemical marker-based techniques for the identification of damage to Douglas-fir seed resulting from feeding by the western confier seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Hemiptera: Coreidae). Insect Biochem and Mol Biol 31: 739-746

CG Lait and JJ Zwiazek. (2001). A calcium-binding protein with similarity to serum albumin localized to the ER-Golgi network and cell walls of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). Physiologia Plantarum 112: 460-469

SL Bates, CG Lait, JH Borden, and AR Kermode. (2001). The effect of feeding by the western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis, on the major storage reserves of developing seeds and on seedling vigour of Douglas-fir (Pinaceae). Tree Physiol 21: 481-487

CG Lait, S Saelim, JJ Zwiazek, and Y Zheng. (2001). Effect of basement sump pump effluent on the growth and physiology of urban black ash and green ash ornamental trees. J Arboric 27(2): 69-77

SL Bates, CG Lait, JH Borden, AR Kermode, A Savoie, SE Blatt, and RG Bennett. (2000). Impact of feeding by the western conifer seed bug Leptoglossus occidentalis (Hemiptera: Coreidae), on the major storage reserves of mature Douglas-fir (Pinaceae) seeds. The Can Entomol 132: 91-102

S Renault, C Lait, JJ Zwiazek, and M MacKinnon. (1998). Effect of high salinity tailings waters produced from gypsum treatment of oil sands tailings on plants of the boreal forest. Environ Poll 102: 177-184

Other (non-refereed)

Bates SL, JH Borden, AR Kermode, CG Lait, RG Bennett, and D Summers. 2000. Germination and seedling vigour of Douglas-fir grown from seeds damaged by the western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis. Seed and Seedling Extension Topics, BC Min. For. 12(1): 24-28

Bates SL, JH Borden, AR Kermode, CG Lait and RG Bennett. 1997. New impact of the western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis, on developing Douglas-fir seeds. Seed and Seedling Extension Topics, BC Min. For. 10(1,2): 24-26