# CAREER: Phenology, international trade, and the temporal aspects of intercontinental dispersal by insect herbivores

> **NSF 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, THE (OH) · $776,638

## Abstract

Human-aided movement of insects across and between continents has increased rapidly with globalization. This has resulted in the introduction of highly damaging, non-native insects that impact ecosystem health, natural resource management, and human well-being. Given the multifaceted and catastrophic effects of biological invasions, substantial efforts have been devoted to understanding the factors that enable a species to arrive and establish in a new location. Changes over time in the invasion patterns of bark and wood boring insects have been particularly well studied – this group of insects is closely associated with international trade due to their presence in wood packaging materials (e.g., crates, pallets, dunnage) and includes species capable of causing widespread forest mortality. It remains unclear, however, how the arrival of bark and wood boring insects at finer time scales (e.g., season to season) affects their ability to invade. The goals of this work are to determine the role that seasonality plays in shaping the arrival of bark and wood boring insects, evaluate how arrival timing influences their ability to establish, and, ultimately, strengthen biosecurity measures to protect agriculture, urban, and rural forests from insect damage. Broader impacts include the dissemination of educational materials to the public to broaden awareness of invasive species, increased participation in STEM via a high school internship, and new curriculum for enrollees in an online

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2542176
- **Awardee organization:** OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, THE (OH)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** DLWBSLWAJWR1
- **PI:** Samuel F Ward
- **Primary program:** 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** CAREER-Faculty Erly Career Dev, Biotechnology
- **Estimated total:** $776,638
- **Funds obligated:** $653,951
- **Transaction type:** Continuing Grant
- **Period:** 08/01/2026 → 07/31/2031

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2542176

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2542176, CAREER: Phenology, international trade, and the temporal aspects of intercontinental dispersal by insect herbivores. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2542176. Licensed CC0.

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