William Kirk

Biography

I was appointed as a Lecturer at Keele University in 1987 and promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2005. I obtained a BA (Hons) in Applied Biology from Cambridge University in 1981 and then went on to complete my PhD on "The ecology of thrips in flowers" at Cambridge University in 1984.

The award of a Rothmans Fellowship allowed me to do post-doctoral research on thrips at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute (now Waite Campus), University of Adelaide, South Australia in 1985. Further post-doctoral research was supported by a Research Fellowship from Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

Research and scholarship

Research interests

My main research interests are the biology and ecology of thrips, with a view to exploiting this knowledge to develop novel means of managing thrips as pests in agriculture and horticulture. I also carry out research on the foraging behaviour of bees and have kept honeybees for many years. My latest book on "Plants for Bees" is a comprehensive guide to the plants that benefit the bees of the British Isles. I am currently a council member of the International Bee Research Association, a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, a Life Fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society and a Fellow of the Linnean Society.

Members of the Thrips Research Group

Dr Clare Sampson (Honary Research Fellow)

Dr Anca Covaci

Mr Lekia Kumbe

Current research projects

1. Improving integrated pest management of thrips in soft fruit. AHDB 2020-2022.

2. Improving food safety by reducing pesticide residues: developing a pheromone alternative to insecticides for control of thrips on legumes in Kenya (SAFARI). GCRF/BBSRC.

3. Novel delivery of phytochemicals for sustainable crop protection. Newton Fund BBSRC-FAPESP Joint Award 2019-2021.

4. Improving traps for thrips and whiteflies.

5. Identification and role of aggregation pheromones of thrips.

Further details (CAEP Homepage)

Teaching

LSC-10062 Biodiversity, Ecology and the Environment
LSC-20056 Research and Analytical Skills
LSC-30003 Applied Insect Ecology (Module Manager)
LSC-30045 Life Sciences Double Experimental Project
LSC-30048 Life Sciences Single Experimental Project
LSC-30050 Life Sciences Dissertation

Selected Publications

Kirk W. 2021. Is It Honey Bee or Honeybee? Bumble Bee or Bumblebee? Who Decides the Common Names of Bees?. Bee World. doi> link> full text>
Ali J, Covaci AD, Roberts JM, Sobhy IS, Kirk WDJ, Bruce TJA. 2021. Effects of cis-Jasmone Treatment of Brassicas on Interactions With Myzus persicae Aphids and Their Parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae. Front Plant Sci, 711896, vol. 12. link> doi> full text>
Kirk WDJ, de Kogel WJ, Koschier EH, Teulon DAJ. 2021. Semiochemicals for Thrips and Their Use in Pest Management. Annu Rev Entomol, 101-119, vol. 66. link> doi> full text>
Reitz SR, Gao Y, Kirk WDJ, Hoddle MS, Leiss KA, Funderburk JE. 2020. Invasion Biology, Ecology, and Management of Western Flower Thrips. Annu Rev Entomol, 17-37, vol. 65. link> doi> full text>
Sampson C, Covaci AD, Hamilton JGC, Hassan N, Al-Zaidi S, Kirk WDJ. 2018. Reduced translucency and the addition of black patterns increase the catch of the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, on yellow sticky traps. PLoS One, e0193064, vol. 13(2). link> doi> full text>

Full Publications Listshow

Books

Kirk WDJ. 2012. Plants for Bees. (1st ed.). International Bee Research Association.
Kirk WDJ. 2006. A Colour Guide to Pollen Loads of the Honey Bee. (2nd ed.). Cardiff: International Bee Research Association.
Kirk WDJ. 1996. Thrips. Slough: The Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd..
Kirk WDJ. 1994. A Colour Guide to Pollen Loads of the Honey Bee. (1st ed.). Cardiff: International Bee Research Association.
Kirk WDJ. 1992. Insects on Cabbages and Oilseed Rape. Slough: The Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd..

Journal Articles

da Silva DF, Bomfim JPA, Marchi RC, Amaral JC, Pinto LS, Carlos RM, Ferreira AG, Forim MR, Fernandes JB, da Silva MFGF, de Oliveira RC, Buss D, Kirk WDJ, Bruce TJA. 2022. Valorization of Hesperidin from Citrus Residues: Evaluation of Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Hesperidin-Mg Complex and Their Insecticidal Activity. JOURNAL OF THE BRAZILIAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, 772-782, vol. 33(7). link> doi> full text>
Kirk W. 2021. Is It Honey Bee or Honeybee? Bumble Bee or Bumblebee? Who Decides the Common Names of Bees?. Bee World. doi> link> full text>
Ali J, Covaci AD, Roberts JM, Sobhy IS, Kirk WDJ, Bruce TJA. 2021. Effects of cis-Jasmone Treatment of Brassicas on Interactions With Myzus persicae Aphids and Their Parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae. Front Plant Sci, 711896, vol. 12. link> doi> full text>
Akinyemi AO, Subramanian S, Mfuti DK, Pope TW, Tamiru A, Kirk WDJ. 2021. Mating behaviour, mate choice and female resistance in the bean flower thrips (Megalurothrips sjostedti). Sci Rep, 14504, vol. 11(1). link> doi> full text>
Mfuti DK, Tamiru A, Kirk WDJ, Akinyemi AO, Campbell H, O'Brien M, Drijfhout FP, Pope TW, Niassy S, Subramanian S. 2021. Exploiting Thrips Aggregation Pheromones to Develop a Lure-and-Kill Strategy for the Management of the Bean Flower Thrips. AGRONOMY-BASEL, Article ARTN 1269, vol. 11(7). link> doi> full text>
Kirk WDJ, de Kogel WJ, Koschier EH, Teulon DAJ. 2021. Semiochemicals for Thrips and Their Use in Pest Management. Annu Rev Entomol, 101-119, vol. 66. link> doi> full text>
Reitz SR, Gao Y, Kirk WDJ, Hoddle MS, Leiss KA, Funderburk JE. 2020. Invasion Biology, Ecology, and Management of Western Flower Thrips. Annu Rev Entomol, 17-37, vol. 65. link> doi> full text>
Akinyemi AO and Kirk WDJ. 2019. Experienced males recognise and avoid mating with non-virgin females in the western flower thrips. PLoS One, e0224115, vol. 14(10). link> doi> full text>
Sampson C, Bennison J, Kirk WDJ. 2021. Overwintering of the western flower thrips in outdoor strawberry crops. JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE, 143-152, vol. 94(1). link> doi> full text>
Niassy S, Tamiru A, Hamilton JGC, Kirk WDJ, Mumm R, Sims C, de Kogel WJ, Ekesi S, Maniania NK, Bandi K, Mitchell F, Subramanian S. 2019. Characterization of Male-Produced Aggregation Pheromone of the Bean Flower Thrips Megalurothrips sjostedti (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). J Chem Ecol, 348-355, vol. 45(4). link> doi> full text>
Kirk WDJ. 2018. The Colours of Pollen Available to Honey Bees through the Year. Bee World, vol. 95(3). doi> full text>
Sampson C, Covaci AD, Hamilton JGC, Hassan N, Al-Zaidi S, Kirk WDJ. 2018. Reduced translucency and the addition of black patterns increase the catch of the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, on yellow sticky traps. PLoS One, e0193064, vol. 13(2). link> doi> full text>
Kirk WDJ. 2017. The aggregation pheromones of thrips (Thysanoptera) and their potential for pest management. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TROPICAL INSECT SCIENCE, 41-49, vol. 37(2). link> doi> full text>
Kirk WDJ. Charles Darwin and the artificial comb. Bee World, 2-3, vol. 93(1). doi> link> full text>
Sampson C and Kirk WDJ. 2016. Predatory mites double the economic injury level of Frankliniella occidentalis in strawberry. Biocontrol (Dordr), 661-669, vol. 61(6). link> doi> full text>
Facey PD, Méric G, Hitchings MD, Pachebat JA, Hegarty MJ, Chen X, Morgan LVA, Hoeppner JE, Whitten MMA, Kirk WDJ, Dyson PJ, Sheppard SK, Del Sol R. 2015. Draft Genomes, Phylogenetic Reconstruction, and Comparative Genomics of Two Novel Cohabiting Bacterial Symbionts Isolated from Frankliniella occidentalis. Genome Biol Evol, 2188-2202, vol. 7(8). link> doi> full text>
KIRK WDJ. 1991. FORAGING BEHAVIOR OF BEES. BEE WORLD, 142, vol. 72(3). link> doi>
Kirk W. 2012. Get The Buzz Back Into Your Garden. Bee World, 60-61, vol. 89(3). doi>
Kirk W. 2012. IBRA Council—Who's Who. Bee World, 48, vol. 89(2). doi>
KIRK WDJ. 1994. RECORDING THE COLORS OF POLLEN LOADS. BEE WORLD, 169-180, vol. 75(4). link> doi>
Kirk W. 1996. Yellow loosestrife. BEE WORLD, 197-199, vol. 77(4). link> doi>
Bridgett RJ, Kirk WDJ, Drijfhout FP. 2014. The use of a within-hive replication bioassay method to investigate the phagostimulatory effects of pollen, bee bread and pollen extracts, on free-flying honey bee colonies. APIDOLOGIE, 315-325, vol. 46(3). link> doi> full text>
Akella SVS, Kirk WDJ, Lu Y-B, Murai T, Walters KFA, Hamilton JGC. 2014. Identification of the Aggregation Pheromone of the Melon Thrips, Thrips palmi. PLOS ONE, Article ARTN e103315, vol. 9(8). link> doi> full text>
Sampson C and Kirk WDJ. 2013. Can mass trapping reduce thrips damage and is it economically viable? Management of the Western flower thrips in strawberry. PLoS One, e80787, vol. 8(11). link> doi> full text>
Olaniran OA, Sudhakar AVS, Drijfhout FP, Dublon IAN, Hall DR, Hamilton JGC, Kirk WDJ. 2013. A Male-Predominant Cuticular Hydrocarbon, 7-Methyltricosane, is used as a Contact Pheromone in the Western Flower Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY, 559-568, vol. 39(4). link> doi>
Kirk WDJ and Olaniran OA. 2012. Fighting behaviour of male western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica, 125-132, vol. 47(1). doi>
Kirk WDJ and Sampson C. 2012. Flower stage and position affect population estimates of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), in Strawberry. Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica, 133-139, vol. 47(1). doi>
Holmes ND, Bennison JA, Maulden KA, Kirk WDJ. The pupation behaviour of the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica, 87-96. doi>
KIRK WDJ. 1985. FLORAL DISPLAY IN VICIA-FABA, AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF A FLOWER THRIPS, KAKOTHRIPS-PISIVORUS. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, 233-238, vol. 38(3). link> doi>
2011. 10.1023/A:1021189228840. CrossRef Listing of Deleted DOIs. doi>
Vierbergen G, Kucharczyk H, Kirk WDJ. 2010. A key to the second instar larvae of the Thripidae of the Western Palaearctic region (Thysanoptera). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, 99-160, vol. 153. doi>
KIRK WDJ. 1985. EGG-HATCHING IN THRIPS (INSECTA, THYSANOPTERA). JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, 181-190, vol. 207. doi>
KIRK WDJ. 1984. POLLEN-FEEDING IN THRIPS (INSECTA, THYSANOPTERA). JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, 107-117, vol. 204. doi>
Kirk WDJ. 1983. Tghe tracheation of the wings of adult Lepidoptera. Journal of Zoology, 385-393, vol. 199(3). doi>
KIRK WDJ. 1993. INTERSPECIFIC SIZE AND NUMBER VARIATION IN POLLEN GRAINS AND SEEDS. BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, 239-248, vol. 49(3). link> doi>
Dublon IAN, Hamilton JGC, Kirk WDJ. 2008. Quantification of the release rate of the aggregation pheromone of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), using solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica, 249-256, vol. 43(2). doi>
El-Ghariani IM and Kirk WDJ. 2008. The structure of the male sternal glands of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica, 257-266, vol. 43(2). doi>
Holmes ND and Kirk WDJ. 2007. Can diel activity patterns in the western flower thrips be exploited as part of an IPM strategy?. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE, vol. 7. link>
Dublon IAN, Hamilton JGC, Kirk WDJ. 2007. Development of a laboratory bioassay to test flight responses to semiochemicals in the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE, vol. 7. link>
Kirk WDJ. 2007. Do thunderstorms affect the flight behavior of thrips?. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE, vol. 7. link>
Kirk WDJ. 2007. The chemical language of thrips. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE, vol. 7. link>
Hamilton JGC, Hall DR, Kirk WDJ. 2005. Identification of a male-produced aggregation pheromone in the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis. J Chem Ecol, 1369-1379, vol. 31(6). link> doi>
Kirk WDJ. 2005. A new role for IBRA. BEE WORLD, 53, vol. 86(3). link> doi>
Kirk WDJ. 2005. Phacelia. BEE WORLD, 14-16, vol. 86(1). link> doi>
Whittaker MS and Kirk WDJ. 2004. The effect of photoperiod on walking, feeding, and oviposition in the western flower thrips. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, 209-214, vol. 111(3). link> doi>
O'Leary AT and Kirk WDJ. 2004. The effect of wavelength on take-off in the western flower thrips. Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica, 123-129, vol. 39(1-3). doi>
Whittaker MS and Kirk WDJ. 2004. The effects of sucrose and tannin on oviposition by the western flower thrips. Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica, 115-121, vol. 39(1-3). doi>
Kirk WDJ. 2004. The link between cereal thrips and thunderstorms. Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologia Hungarica, 131-136, vol. 39(1-3). doi>
Kirk WDJ, Hamilton JGC, Hamilton JGC. 2004. Evidence for a male-produced sex pheromone in the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis. Journal of chemical ecology, 167-174, vol. 30(1). doi> full text>
Kirk WDJ. 2004. Faba bean: Vicia faba. BEE WORLD, 60-62, vol. 85(3). link> doi>
MacDonald KM, Hamilton JGC, Hamilton JGC, Jacobson R, Kirk WDJ. 2003. Analysis of anal droplets of the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis. Journal of chemical ecology, 2385-2389, vol. 29(10). doi>
Kirk WDJ and Terry LI. 2003. The spread of the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 301-310, vol. 5(4). doi>
MacDonald KM, Hamilton JGC, Jacobson R, Kirk WDJ. 2002. Effects of alarm pheromone on landing and take-off by adult western flower thrips. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. doi>
Kirk WDJ. 2002. New information resources for bee research. Bee World, 61-68, vol. 83(2). doi>
Murchie AK, Burn DJ, Kirk WDJ, Williams IH. 2001. A novel mechanism for time-sorting insect catches, and its use to derive the diel flight periodicity of brassica pod midge Dasineura brassicae (Diptera:Cecidomyiidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research, 199-203, vol. 91(3).
Kirk WDJ. 2001. Protecting microscope slides in the post. Antenna. Bulletin of the Royal Entomological Society, 6-7, vol. 25(1).
Breadmore KN and Kirk WDJ. 1998. Factors affecting floral herbivory in a limestone grassland. ACTA OECOLOGICA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, 501-506, vol. 19(6). link> doi>
Kirk W. 1997. Summer spectrum. NEW SCIENTIST, U2, vol. 154(2081). link>
Kirk WDJ. 1996. Plants for Bees. Oilseed rape (swede rape). BEE WORLD, 138-140, vol. 77(3). doi>
Kirk WD, Ali M, Breadmore KN. 1995. The effects of pollen beetles on the foraging behaviour of honey bees. Journal of Apicultural Research, 15-22, vol. 34(1). doi>
SUTTON C, KEEGANS S, KIRK W, MORGAN E. 1992. Floral volatiles of Vicia faba. PHYTOCHEMISTRY, 3427-3428, vol. 31(10). doi>
KIRK WDJ. 1991. THE SIZE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INSECTS AND THEIR HOSTS. ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, 351-359, vol. 16(3). link> doi>
KIRK WDJ. 1987. EFFECTS OF TRAP SIZE AND SCENT ON CATCHES OF THRIPS-IMAGINIS BAGNALL (THYSANOPTERA, THRIPIDAE). JOURNAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 299-302, vol. 26. link> doi>
KIRK WDJ. 1987. HOW MUCH POLLEN CAN THRIPS DESTROY. ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, 31-40, vol. 12(1). link> doi>
KIRK WDJ. 1987. A KEY TO THE LARVAE OF SOME COMMON AUSTRALIAN FLOWER THRIPS (INSECTA, THYSANOPTERA), WITH A HOST-PLANT SURVEY. AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, 173-185, vol. 35(2). link> doi>
KIRK WDJ. 1985. AGGREGATION AND MATING OF THRIPS IN FLOWERS OF CALYSTEGIA-SEPIUM. ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, 433-440, vol. 10(4). link> doi>
KIRK WDJ. 1985. POLLEN-FEEDING AND THE HOST SPECIFICITY AND FECUNDITY OF FLOWER THRIPS (THYSANOPTERA). ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, 281-289, vol. 10(3). link> doi>
KIRK WDJ. 1985. EGG-HATCHING IN THRIPS (INSECTA, THYSANOPTERA). JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, 181-190, vol. 207(OCT). link>
Kirk WD. 1985. Effect of some floral scents on host finding by thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera). J Chem Ecol, 35-43, vol. 11(1). link> doi>
KIRK WDJ. 1984. ECOLOGICAL-STUDIES ON THRIPS-IMAGINIS BAGNALL (THYSANOPTERA) IN FLOWERS OF ECHIUM-PLANTAGINEUM L IN AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, 9-18, vol. 9(1). link> doi>
KIRK WDJ. 1984. ECOLOGICALLY SELECTIVE COLORED TRAPS. ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, 35-41, vol. 9(1). link> doi>
KIRK WDJ. 1984. POLLEN-FEEDING IN THRIPS (INSECTA, THYSANOPTERA). JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, 107-117, vol. 204(SEP). link>
KIRK WDJ. 1983. THE TRACHEATION OF THE WINGS OF ADULT LEPIDOPTERA. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, 385-393, vol. 199(MAR). link>

Chapters

Kirk WDJ. 2002. The pest and vector from the West: Frankliniella occidentalis. In Thrips and Tospoviruses:Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Thysanoptera. Mound LA and Marullo R (Eds.). Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra.
Kirk WDJ. 1997. Feeding. In Thrips as Crop Pests. Wallingford: CAB International.

Other

Kirk WDJ. 2004. Apitherapy. A selected bibliography from Apicultural Abstracts 1990-2004.
Kirk WDJ. 2004. Bee breeding. A selected bibliography from Apicultural Abstracts 1990-2004.
Kirk WDJ. 2004. Beekeeping. A selected bibliography from Apicultural Abstracts 1990-2004.
Kirk WDJ. 2004. Pollination. A selected bibliography from Apicultural Abstracts 1990-2004.
Kirk WDJ. 2004. Tropical beekeeping. A selected bibliography from Apicultural Abstracts 1990-2004.
Kirk WDJ. 2004. Varroa and diseases. A selected bibliography from Apicultural Abstracts 1990-2004.
Bennison JA, Broadbent AB, Kirk WDJ, Maulden KA, Shipp JL. 2004. Western flower thrips pupation behaviour on greenhouse chrysanthemums and implications for integrated control. Proceedings of the XXII International Congress of Entomology - Strength in Diversity.
Hamilton JGC and Kirk WDJ. 2003. Method of monitoring/controlling Thysanoptera.
Kirk WDJ. 2001. S204 Biology:Uniformity and Diversity (Pollination).
KIRK WDJ. 1995. Feeding behavior and nutritional requirements. THRIPS BIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT (pp. 21-29, vol. 276). link> doi>
KIRK WDJ. 1988. ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF FLOWER THRIPS. ACTA PHYTOPATHOLOGICA ET ENTOMOLOGICA HUNGARICA (pp. 295-300, vol. 23). link>
Kirk WDJ. Pollen Identification Cards.

School of Life Sciences,
Huxley Building,
Keele University,
Staffordshire,
ST5 5BG
Tel: +44 (0) 1782 734414

Enquiries:
Tel: +44 (0) 1782 734414
Email: lifesciences.office@keele.ac.uk

Follow the School of Life Sciences

Professor William Kirk