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Rory Mc Donnell

Associate Professor
rory.mcdonnell [at] oregonstate.edu

Office: 541-737-6146

Crop Science Building

Crop Science Building 127

3050 SW Campus Way

3050 SW Campus Way
Corvallis, OR 97331

My research and Extension program is focused on 1) understanding the ecology of invasive slugs and snails in agriculture, horticulture, urban areas, the natural environment and at the interface of these systems, and 2) developing and implementing novel strategies for the management of these pests. We are currently investigating the potential for using plant extracts as novel biorational molluscicides, assessing the potential for using natural enemies as biological control agents, and identifying novel attractants for use in both trapping, and attract-and-kill strategies. For more information check out our lab website - https://mcdonnell-lab.weebly.com/ 

Our research is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Bill, Oregon Department of Agriculture, California Department of Agriculture, European Union, Christmas Tree Promotion Board, Oregon Seed Council, Oregon Association of Nurseries, and Agricultural Research Foundation.

We have active collaborations and projects in Oregon, Washington, California, Hawaii, Florida, Ecuador, and Ireland.  

Check out some of our recent work on parasitic nematodes of slugs and snails https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/slug-portal/new-control-strategies

 

Follow us on Twitter @RoryJMcDonnell

Want to learn more about pest slugs check out the Slug Portal and our article in Digger magazine (Growing Knowledge: Got Slime).

Some of our work and interests have been mentioned in National Geographic and the New Yorker