Gary Felton

Dr. Gary Felton leads the Gary Felton Lab at Pennsylvania State University, focusing on plant-herbivore interactions and induced defenses. His research integrates chemical ecology, ecological applications, and entomology to understand how plants detect and respond to herbivore attacks. Central themes include trichome-mediated defenses, herbivore salivary proteins, and mechanisms by which herbivores evade plant detection.

Research projects include: (1) Trichome Project: Investigating glandular trichomes' role as sensors that trigger plant defenses upon herbivore disturbance, supported by USDA grants. (2) Saliva Project: Analyzing salivary proteins from Helicoverpa zea that elicit plant defenses, funded by USDA AFRI. (3) Herbivore Evasion: Comparing specialist vs. generalist herbivores' strategies to avoid plant defenses, supported by NSF and USDA AFRI.

Dr. Felton supervises graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, including Flor Acevedo, Loren Rivera-Vega, and Seung Ho Chung. His lab has received grants from USDA NRI, USDA AFRI, and NSF. Outreach efforts include educational exhibits like 'Beetle Bowling' at the Great Insect Fair, engaging thousands in understanding plant-insect dynamics.

Laboratory activities also explore microbial roles in herbivore-plant interactions, such as Colorado potato beetles using bacterial regurgitation to suppress plant defenses. Collaborations involve international partners like Gembloux University (Belgium).