Key details
Professor Richard Hopkins
Head of Department, Agriculture, Health & Environment, Natural Resources Institute
Professor Richard Hopkins is the Head of Department for Agriculture, Health & Environment, Professor of Behavioural Entomology and Head of Pest Behaviour Research Group. He joined NRI in the spring of 2014, moving from the Ecology Department of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
Richard’s work on Crucifer-insect interactions has combined work on host plant selection by crop pests with work on induced changes that take place in plants following insect damage. Work on insect egg load dynamics challenged the accepted paradigm that insects reduce egg production in the absence of preferred host plants. His review of the insect-glucosinolate system produced together with Joop van Loon and Nicole van Damm is the accepted text for the subject area. He continues to work on root flies together with colleagues in Scotland.
Richard Hopkins leads research on habitat selection and egg laying site selection by mosquitoes. This work includes a string of collaborations with Prof Rickard Ignell at SLU Alnarp on the behaviour and oviposition site selection of malaria mosquitoes. In addition to this he has collaborations with The Swedish National Veterinary laboratories working on the distribution of mosquitoes in Sweden. Prof Hopkins leads a collaborative study with FIOCRUZ in Brazil on the oviposition behaviour of Aedes aegypti, the primary vector of several virus diseases including Dengue Fever and Zika.
A full staff profile can be seen on the Natural Resources Institute website.
Research / Scholarly interests
Richard Hopkins retains a broad interest in insect behaviour, and works over the different scales at which insects make decisions whilst finding their hosts, resting sites and egg laying sites. This work encompasses the selection of plants within and between patches for pests of field crops, through to the selection of water bodies for egg laying by mosquitoes.
Insects make decisions about egg laying sites over increasingly fine spatial scales, starting with the selection of habitats, and ending with the choice to lay eggs, and if so how many. Over these finer spatial scales, the insects make use of an array of sensory modalities, with odour and visual cues being more dominant at distance, and contact chemoreceptors only playing a part in the final stages. The relative impact of the different senses over the process of selecting an egg laying site provides a rich area of research into questions that are important for the health of crops, livestock and people. Work on insect behaviour contributes to developing IPM (Integrated Pest Management) and IVM (Integrated Vector Management) strategies where a holistic view of the lifecycle and behaviour of the insect can link to make a sustainable strategy.
Recent publications
Article
Archicinski, Piotr , Sikorski, Piotr, Hoppa, Adrian, Hopkins, Richard J. , Vitasovic-Kosic, Ivana , Sikorska, Daria (2024), Between paper and plan: contrasting data on urban habitats in literature with planning documents. Sciendo. In: , , , . Sciendo, Miscellanea Geographica ISSN: 0867-6046 (Print), 2084-6118 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgrsd-2023-0039).
Walsh, Conor , Renn, Mara, Klauser, Dominik, De Pinto, Alessandro , Haggar, Jeremy , Abdur, Rouf , Hopkins, Richard , Zamil, Farhad (2024), Translating theory into practice: a flexible decision-making tool to support the design and implementation of climate-smart agriculture projects. Elsevier Masson - Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier Masson - Elsevier, Agricultural Systems, 219: 104060 ISSN: 0308-521X (Print), 1873-2267 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104060).
Carnaghi, Manuela , Mandelli, Federico, Feugère, Lionel, Joiner, Jillian , Belmain, Steven R. , Hopkins, Richard J. , Hawkes, Frances M. (2024), Protocol for rearing and using mosquitoes for flight path tracking and behavioral characterization in wind tunnel bioassays. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, STAR Protocols, 5: 103180 (3) 2666-1667 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103180).
Vaux, AGC , Abbott, Anthony, Johnston, CJ, Hawkes, Frances , Hopkins, Richard , Cull, B , Gibson, Gabriella , Cheke, Robert , Callaghan, A , Medlock, JM (2024), An update on the ecology, seasonality and distribution of Culex modestus in England. Koninklijke Brill BV - Brill Academic Publishers. In: , , , . Koninklijke Brill BV - Brill Academic Publishers, Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association, 2023 . pp. 1-19 2054-930X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.52004/JEMCA20231003).
Debebe, Yared , Tekie, Habte, Dugassa, Sisay, Hopkins, Richard , Hill, Sharon , Ignell, Rickard (2024), Mosquito odour-baited mass trapping reduced malaria transmission intensity: a result from a controlled before-and-after intervention study. BioMed Central. In: , , , . BioMed Central, BMC Medicine, 22 (41) . pp. 1-10 1741-7015 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03255-9).
Carnaghi, Manuela , Mandelli, Federico, Feugère, Lionel, Joiner, Jillian , Young, Stephen , Belmain, Steven R. , Hopkins, Richard , Hawkes, Frances (2023), Visual and thermal stimuli modulate mosquito-host contact with implications for improving malaria vector control tools. Cell Press. In: , , , . Cell Press, iScience, 27: 108578 (1) . pp. 1-17 2589-0042 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.108578).
Land, Magnus , Bundschuh, Mirco, Hopkins, Richard, Poulin, Brigitte , McKie, Brendan (2023), Effects of mosquito control using the microbial agent Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems: a systematic review. Springer Nature. In: , , , . Springer Nature, Environmental Evidence, 12: 26 . pp. 1-27 2047-2382 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-023-00319-w).
David, Mariana R. , Maciel-de-Freitas, Rafael, Petersen, Martha T., Bray, Daniel , Hawkes, Frances , Fernandez-Grandon, G. Mandela , Young, Stephen , Gibson, Gabriella , Hopkins, Richard (2023), Aedes aegypti oviposition-sites choice under semi-field conditions. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. In: , , , . John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 2023 . pp. 1-10 ISSN: 0269-283X (Print), 1365-2915 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12670).
Hardy, Harrison , Harte, Steven, Hopkins, Richard, Mnyone, Ladslaus , Hawkes, Frances (2023), The influence of manure-based organic fertilisers on the oviposition behaviour of Anopheles arabiensis. Elsevier B.V.. In: , , , . Elsevier B.V., Acta Tropica, 244: 106954 . pp. 1-11 ISSN: 0001-706X (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106954).
Sikorska, Daria , Wojnowska-Heciak, Magdalena, Heciak, Jakub, Bukowska, Joanna , Łaszkiewicz, Edyta , Hopkins, Richard , Sikorski, Piotr (2023), Rethinking urban green spaces for urban resilience. Do green spaces need adaptation to meet public post-covid expectations?. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 80: 127838 ISSN: 1618-8667 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2023.127838).
Hardy, Harrison , Hopkins, Richard, Mnyone, Ladslaus, Hawkes, Frances (2022), Manure and mosquitoes: life history traits of two malaria vector species enhanced by larval exposure to cow dung, whilst chicken dung has a strong negative effect. BMC. In: , , , . BMC, Parasites and Vectors, 15 (472) . pp. 1-14 ISSN: 1756-3305 (Print), 1756-3305 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05601-3).
Carnaghi, Manuela , Belmain, Steven R., Hopkins, Richard J., Hawkes, Frances M. (2021), Multimodal synergisms in host stimuli drive landing response in malaria mosquitoes. Nature. In: , , , . Nature, Scientific Reports, 11: 7379 2045-2322 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-86772-4).
Teltscher, Fiona , Bouvaine, Sophie, Gibson, Gabriella, Dyer, Paul , Guest, Jennifer , Young, Stephen , Hopkins, Richard J. (2021), Understanding mosquito host choice behaviour: a new and cost-effective method of identifying the sex of human hosts in mosquito blood meals. BioMed Central. In: , , , . BioMed Central, Parasites & Vectors, 14: 75 1756-3305 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04577-w).
Debebe, Yared , Hill, Sharon Rose, Tekie, Habte, Dugassa, Sisay , Hopkins, Richard J. , Ignell, Rickard (2020), Malaria hotspots explained from the perspective of ecological theory underlying insect foraging. Nature Research. In: , , , . Nature Research, Scientific Reports, 10: 21449 2045-2322 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78021-x).
Yi, Si-Jia , Hopkins, Richard, Chen, Xu-Yang, Chen, Zhuang‐Mei , Wang, Xing , Huang, Guo-Hua (2020), Effects of temperature on the development and fecundity of Microplitis similis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Wiley. In: , , , . Wiley, Physiological Entomology, 45 (2-3) . pp. 95-102 ISSN: 0307-6962 (Print), 1365-3032 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/phen.12321).
Sikorska, Daria , Sikorski, Piotr, Archiciński, Piotr, Chormański, Jarosław , Hopkins, Richard (2019), You can’t see the woods for the trees: invasive acer negundo L. in urban riparian forests harms biodiversity and limits recreation activity. MDPI. In: , , , . MDPI, Sustainability, 11: 5838 (20) 2071-1050 (Online) (doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su11205838).
Land, Magnus , Bundschuh, Mirco, Hopkins, Richard J., Poulin, Brigitte , McKie, Brendan G. (2019), What are the effects of control of mosquitoes and other nematoceran Diptera using the microbial agent Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems? A systematic review protocol. BMC. In: , , , . BMC, Environmental Evidence, 8: 32 2047-2382 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-019-0175-1).
Sikorska, D. , Garnis, J., Dąbrowski, Z. T., Sikorski, P. , Gozdowski, D. , Hopkins, R. J. (2019), Thus far but no further: predatory mites do not migrate effectively into strawberry plantations. Springer International Publishing. In: , , , . Springer International Publishing, Experimental and Applied Acarology, 77 (3) . pp. 359-373 ISSN: 0168-8162 (Print), 1572-9702 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-019-00357-5).
Debebe, Yared , Hill, Sharon, Tekie, Habte, Ignell, Rickard , Hopkins, Richard J. (2018), Shady business: understanding the spatial ecology of exophilic Anopheles mosquitoes. BioMed Central. In: , , , . BioMed Central, Malaria Journal: 351 (17) 1475-2875 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-018-2499-7).
Ou-Yang, Yi Yi , Zhao, Yi Pei, Hopkins, Richard J., Chen, Xu Yang , Huang, Guo-Hua , Wang, Xing (2018), Parasitism of two Spodoptera spp. by Microplitis prodeniae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Entomological Society of America. In: , , , . Entomological Society of America, Journal of Economic Entomology, 111 (3) . pp. 1131-1136 ISSN: 0022-0493 (Print), 1938-291X (Online) (doi: ).
Asmare, Yelfwagash , Hopkins, Richard J., Tekie, Habte, Hill, Sharon R. , Ignell, Rickard (2017), Grass pollen affects survival and development of larval Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae). Oxford Academic. In: , , , . Oxford Academic, Journal of Insect Science, 17: 93 (5) 1536-2442 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iex067).
Tassew, Admasu , Hopkins, Richard, Deressa, Wakgari (2017), Factors influencing the ownership and utilization of long-lasting insecticidal nets for malaria prevention in Ethiopia. BioMed Central. In: , , , . BioMed Central, Malaria Journal, 16: 262 1475-2875 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-017-1907-8).
Sikorska, Daria , Papierowska, Ewa, Szatyłowicz, Jan, Sikorska, Piotr , Suprun, Katarzyna , Hopkins, Richard J. (2017), Variation in leaf surface hydrophobicity of wetland plants: the role of plant traits in water retention. Springer Netherlands. In: , , , . Springer Netherlands, Wetlands, 37 (5) . pp. 997-1002 ISSN: 0277-5212 (Print), 1943-6246 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-017-0924-2).
Chen, Xu-Yang , Hopkins, R. J., Zhao, Yi-Pei, Huang, Guo-Hua (2017), A place to grow? Host choice and larval performance of Microplitis similis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in the host Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Oxford University Press (OUP). In: , , , . Oxford University Press (OUP), Environmental Entomology, 46 (3) . pp. 642-648 ISSN: 0046-225X (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvx076).
Sikorska, Daria , Sikorski, Piotr, Hopkins, Richard (2017), High biodiversity of green infrastructure does not contribute to recreational ecosystem services. MDPI. In: , , , . MDPI, Sustainability, 9 (3) . pp. 334 ISSN: 2071-1050 (Print), 2071-1050 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su9030334).
Asmare, Yelfwagash , Hill, Sharon R., Hopkins, Richard J., Tekie, Habte , Ignell, Rickard (2017), The role of grass volatiles on oviposition site selection by Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles coluzzii. BioMed Central. In: , , , . BioMed Central, Malaria Journal, 16 (65) . pp. 1-9 1475-2875 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-017-1717-z).
Chagunda, Mizeck G. G. , Mwangwela, Agnes, Mumba, Chisoni, Dos Anjos, Filomena , Kawonga, Bettie S. , Hopkins, Richard , Chiwona-Kartun, Linley (2016), Assessing and managing intensification in smallholder dairy systems for food and nutrition security in Sub-Saharan Africa. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. In: , , , . Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Regional Environmental Change, 16 (8) . pp. 2257-2267 ISSN: 1436-3798 (Print), 1436-378X (Online) (doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10113-015-0829-7) NB Item availability restricted.
Hien, Domonbabele F. d. S. , Dabiré, Kounbobr R., Roche, Benjamin, Diabaté, Abdoulaye , Yerbanga, Rakiswende S. , Cohuet, Anna , Yameogo, Bienvenue K. , Gouagna, Louis-Clément , Hopkins, Richard J. , Ouedraogo, Georges A. (2016), Plant-mediated effects on mosquito capacity to transmit human malaria. In: , , , . , PLOS Pathogens, 12 (8) . pp. e1005773 ISSN: 1553-7374 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1005773).
Low, Matthew , Tsegaye, Admasu, Ignell, Rickard, Hill, Sharon , Elleby, Rasmus , Feltelius, Vilhelm , Hopkins, Richard (2016), The importance of accounting for larval detectability in mosquito habitat-association studies. BioMed Central. In: , , , . BioMed Central, Malaria Journal, 15: 253 ISSN: 1475-2875 (Print), 1475-2875 (Online) (doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12936-016-1308-4).
Li, Shun-Ji , Hopkins, Richard, Zhao, Yi-Pei, Zhang, Yun-Xuan , Hu, Jue , Chen, Xu-Yang , Xu, Zhi , Huang, Guo-Hua (2016), Imperfection works: Survival, transmission and persistence in the system of Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h (HvAV-3h), Microplitis similis and Spodoptera exigua. Nature Publishing Group. In: , , , . Nature Publishing Group, Scientific Reports, 6: 21296 ISSN: 2045-2322 (Print), 2045-2322 (Online) (doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep21296) NB Item availability restricted.
Buck, Moritz , Nilsson, Louise K.J., Brunius, Carl, Dabiré, Roch K. , Hopkins, Richard , Terenius, Olle (2016), Bacterial associations reveal spatial population dynamics in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. Nature Publishing Group. In: , , , . Nature Publishing Group, Scientific Reports, 6: 22806 ISSN: 2045-2322 (Print), 2045-2322 (Online) (doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep22806) NB Item availability restricted.
Book section
Hopkins, Richard and , (2022), Resource location in a complex sensory landscape. Wageningen Academic Publishers. In: , , In: R Ignell, CR Lazzari, MG Lorenzo, SR Hill (eds.), Sensory ecology of disease vectors. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen , 1 (1st) . pp. 17-27 . ISBN: 9789086863808; 9789086869329 (doi: https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-932-9_1).
Conference item
Ademola, Oluwaseyi , Ferrara, Bill T., Hopkins, Richard, Thompson, Elinor (2024), Crop biology agrivoltaics systems' skewed spectrum light. In: Horticultural Science: From Discovery to Application, 26th - 27th Mar, 2024, Reading , . , (doi: https://www.aab.org.uk/event/horticultural-science-from-discovery-to-application/) NB Item availability restricted.
Ademola, Oluwaseyi , Duvenage, Francois, Selim, Arwa, Ferrara, Bill T. , Hopkins, Richard , Thompson, Elinor (2023), Crop biology under agrivoltaics systems’ skewed spectrum light. In: SEB annual conference, 4th - 7th July 2023, Edinburgh , . , (doi: https://www.sebiology.org/events/seb-centenary-conference-2023.html).