David Crowder

Dr. David Crowder is a Professor in the Department of Entomology at Washington State University (WSU), where he leads the Crowder Laboratory. His research bridges basic and applied ecology, focusing on arthropod community dynamics in agricultural systems, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable pest management strategies.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Entomology, University of Arizona (2008)
  • M.S., Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois (2004)
  • B.S., Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois (2003)

Research Interests center on understanding how landscape diversity, invasive species, and vector-borne pathogens shape insect communities. His work advances biological control, organic farming practices, and pollinator conservation, with applications for agroecosystem resilience. Google Scholar highlights his 2025 studies on:

• Biological control of vector-borne plant pathogens
• Ecological niche modeling for invasive pests
• Soil rhizobia-plant-insect interactions
• Bee community responses to farm management

Current projects include recruiting PhD students in Entomology and Molecular Plant Sciences, with fieldwork and lab experiments across the Pacific Northwest. Collaborations span plant-insect-pathogen dynamics, pollination networks, and insecticide resistance management.