Dr. Paul Umina
Research & Extension Officer

Bio21 Institute
The University of Melbourne
Phone: 61 3 8344 2522
Fax: 61 3 8344 2279
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Paul Umina completed his undergraduate studies at La Trobe University where he was awarded a BSc(Hons) in 1999. He then obtained his PhD in Ecological Genetics and Biochemistry at La Trobe University under the guidance of Prof. Ary Hoffmann and Prof. Leann Tilley in 2003. Paul held a postdoctoral research position for a year at Monash University (with Dr. Steve McKechnie) and is now based within CESAR at The University of Melbourne.

Paul plays an active role in the Applied Program at CESAR, which aims to provide a more integrated approach to pest management in Australian agricultural ecosystems. To avoid costs associated with crop failure and increases in pesticide usage, potential pest species must be identified and their biology determined so effective control strategies can be devised. Continuing research will help improve IPM strategies that focus on all pests within agricultural systems and incorporate control options that minimize effects on key functional invertebrate groups, leading to an overall grower management program.

Paul is also involved in a Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) initiative focusing on improved pest entomological research and extension on a national level. Under the National Invertebrate Pest Initiative (NIPI) Paul is involved in developing a communication strategy that links in with fellow researchers, agri-consultants, grower groups and extension officers. The goal is to facilitate IPM communication and the dissemination of research results, as well as the development of sustainable, environmentally friendly and profitable farming systems.

Current Research: 

Extension, communication and research into invertebrate pests of grains (Funded by GRDC) 

Emerging mite pests in southern Australia - wehat curl mite (Funded by GRDC) 

Publications

Carew, M., Schiffer, M., Umina, P.A., Weeks, A. and Hoffmann, A. 2008. Molecular markers indicate that the wheat curl mite Aceria tosichella Keifer may represent a species complex in Australia. Bulletin of Entomological Research In press.

Roberts, J.M.K., Umina, P.A., Hoffmann, A.A. and Weeks, A.R. 2008. The susceptibility and tolerance of the lucerne flea, Sminthurus viridis, to currently registered pesticides in Australia. The Australian Journal of Entomology In press.

Micic, S., Hoffmann, A.A., Strickland, G., Weeks, A.R., Bellati, J. Henry, K., Nash, M. and Umina, P.A. 2008. Pests of germinating grain crops in southern Australia: an overview of their biology and management options. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48: 1560-1573.

Hoffmann, A.A., Weeks, A.R., Nash, M., Mangano, G.P. and Umina, P.A. 2008. The changing status of invertebrate pests and the future of pest management in the grains industry. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48: 1481-1493.

Ridsdill-Smith, J.R., Hoffmann, A.A., Mangano, P., Gower, J.M., Pavri, C.C. and Umina, P.A. 2008. Review of strategies for control of the redlegged earth mite in Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48: 1506-1513.

Arthur, A.L., Hoffmann, A.A., Umina, P.A. and Weeks, A.R. 2008. Tolerance of emerging pests of grains, Balaustium medicagoense and Bryobia spp., to currently registered pesticides. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48: 1126-1132.

Paoletti, M.G., Tsitsilas, A., Thomson, L.J., Taiti, S. and Umina, P.A. 2007. The flood bug, Australiodillo bifrons (Isopoda: Armadillidiidae): a potential pest of cereals in Australia? Applied Soil Ecology 39: 76-83.

Umina, P.A. 2007. Pyrethroid resistance discovered in a major agricultural pest in southern Australia: the redlegged earth mite Halotydeus destructor (Acari: Penthaleidae) Pest Management Science 63: 1185-1190.

Umina, P.A., Corrie, A.M., Herbert, K.S., White, V.L. Powell, K.S. and Hoffmann, A.A. 2007. The use of DNA markers for pest management: clonal lineages and population biology of grape phylloxera. Acta Horticulturae 733: 183-195.

Umina, P.A., Hoffmann, A.A., Weeks, A.R. and McKechnie, S.W. 2006. An independent non-linear latitudinal cline for the sn-glycerol-3-phosphate (a-Gpdh) polymorphism of Drosophila melanogaster from eastern Australia. Genetical Research 87: 13-21.

Umina, P.A., Weeks, A.R., Kearney, M.R., McKechnie, S.W. and Hoffmann, A.A. 2005.  A Rapid Shift in a Classic Clinal Pattern in Drosophila Reflecting Climate Change. Science 308: 691-693.

Umina, P.A. and Hoffmann, A.A. 2005.  Competitive Interactions Among Four Pest Species of Earth Mites (Acari: Penthaleidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 98: 307-316.

Anderson, A.R., Hoffmann, A.A., McKechnie, S.W., Umina, P.A. and Weeks, A.R. 2005.  The latitudinal cline in the In(3R)Payne inversion polymorphism has shifted in the last 20 years in Australian Drosophila melanogaster populations. Molecular Ecology 14: 851-858.

Umina, P.A., Hoffmann, A.A. and Weeks, A.R. 2004.  Biology, ecology and control of the Penthaleus species complex (Acari: Penthaleidae). Experimental and Applied Acarology 34: 211-237.

Umina, P.A. and Hoffmann, A.A. 2004.  Plant host associations of Penthaleus species and Halotydeus destructor (Acari: Penthaleidae) and implications for integrated pest management. Experimental and Applied Acarology 33: 1-20.

Umina, P.A. and Hoffmann, A.A. 2003.  Diapause and implications for control of Penthaleus species and Halotydeus destructor (Acari: Penthaleidae) in southeastern Australia. Experimental and Applied Acarology 31: 209-223.

Umina, P.A. and Hoffmann, A.A. 1999.  Tolerance of cryptic species of blue oat mites (Penthaleus spp.) and the redlegged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor) to pesticides. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 39: 621-628. 

Industry Publications

Roberts, J. and Umina, P.A. 2008. Controlling pests the beneficial way. Australian Farm Journal 17: 45-47 

Bellati, J., Umina, P.A., Wurst, M. and Henry, K. 2008. Crop Insects: the Ute Guide (Southern Grain Belt Edition). Publisher: Rural Solutions, Adelaide.

Tsitsilas, A. and Umina, P.A. 2007. A potential new pest of cereals: the ‘flood bug’. Australian Grain 17: 9-11. 

Umina, P.A. 2007. Resistance threatens to derail redlegged earth mite control. Farming Ahead 184: 47-49.

Umina, P.A. and Schiffer, M. 2007. Pest mite raises curly questions. Australian Farm Journal 16: 42-43.

Umina, P.A., Nash, M. and Arthur, A. 2006. Know your pest for better control. Farming Ahead 176: 123-125.

Umina, P.A. and Weeks, A.R. 2004. Integrated strategies could end earth mite plague. Farming Ahead 153: 58-59.

Umina, P.A., Weeks, A.R. and Hoffmann, A.A. 2003. Identify the mite to get the spray right. Farming Ahead 137: 46-48.

Umina, P.A., Robinson, M.T. and Hoffmann, A.A.  2001. Correct identification critical for mite control. Farming Ahead 116: 37-38.