Professor
gail.langellotto [at] oregonstate.edu

Office: 541-737-5175

The ecology of urban and suburban landscapes remains relatively unexplored - although such habitats have great potential to positively contribute to the conservation of pollinators, parasitoids and the ecosystem services that they confer.

I am helping to develop a better research-based understanding of how to design and sustainably manage urban greenspaces to maximize ecosystem services. I am particularly interested in urban biodiversity, and the ecosystem services of urban food production, pollination, and biological control. My outreach and science communication efforts are focused on communicating these and other research-backed management practices to gardeners, native plant professionals, landscapers, urban farmers, and others.

Visit the Garden Ecology Lab website, to learn more about our applied research in garden systems.

At OSU

Affiliated with:

Horticulture Extension

Headquarters:

OSU Main Campus

Career Links:

Department of Horticulture

Entomology Program

Master Gardener Program

Master Gardener Program Facebook

Garden Ecology Lab

Flickr Photostream

Lab Group:

Gail Langellotto

I accept graduate students for the Entomology Program

I accept graduate students for Horticulture

I can serve on graduate committees

Student(s):

Nicole Bell

Jen Hayes

Courses Taught:

I currently teach Introduction to Insect Pest Management (ENT 311) in the fall and summer Terms as ECampus classes. I teach ENT 311 in person, each spring term.

I teach Current Topics in Entomology (ENT 518) as an in-person class, every ODD year in the Spring Term. I teach Insect Agroecology (ENT/HORT 444/544) as an in-person class, every EVEN year in the Spring Term.

Beyond OSU

Personal Interests:

Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, jigsaw puzzles, hiking, comedy, and spending time with family and puppies.

Biography

I was born in Baltimore, MD, and spent the first 30 years of my life living within a 40 mile radius of where I was born. Although I did not have the opportunity to hike pristine habitats or to meaningfully explore natural areas, I fell in love with ecology (specifically, insect ecology) during my time as an undergraduate and graduate student.

Although my graduate and post-doctoral work was conducted in natural (e.g. forests, salt marshes, grasslands) or agricultural (e.g. cotton, papaya) areas - my first job was at a University in the south Bronx. Knowing that natural or agricultural field sites would be difficult to find - I quickly reconnected with my love for cities, and began to study the ecology of pollinators in urban community gardens.

Professional Accomplishments

Curriculum Vitae:

langellotto_cv_12222020.docx

Professional Affiliations:

American Society for Horticultural Science
Entomological Society of America
Pi Alpha Xi

Employment:

2018 - 2023. Professor and State Program Leader, Oregon Master Gardener Program. Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University.
2013 - 2018. Associate Professor and State Program Leader, Oregon Master Gardener Program. Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University.
2007-2013. Assistant Professor and State Program Leader, Oregon Master Gardener Program. Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University
2003-2007. Assistant Professor. Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University
2002-2003. Post-Doctoral Research Associate. Department of Entomology, University of California Davis (Supervisor: Dr. Jay Rosenheim)
2000-2001. Coordinator. University Teaching and Learning Program, Center for Teaching Excellence, University of Maryland
2001-2002. Gahan Fellow. Department of Entomology, University of Maryland
1994-2000. Graduate Teaching Assistant. University of Maryland

Education:

2002 Ph.D., Entomology, University of Maryland College Park (Advisor: Dr. Robert Denno)
1996 M.S., Entomology, University of Maryland College Park (Advisor: Dr. Robert Denno)
1993 B.S., Biology, University of Maryland Baltimore County

My Awards

Honors and Awards:

2020. Alberta B. Johnston Award for Extension Leadership.

2016. ASHS Consumer Horticulture / Extension Master Gardener Working Group Award for Outstanding Contributions.

2014. Achievement Award. National Association of County Agricultural Agents.

2013. OSU College of Agricultural Sciences Oldfield / Jackman Team Award (Team Drosophila members were Linda Brewer, Preston Brown, Flaxen Conway, Daniel Dalton, Joseph DeFrancesco, Amy Dreves, Dan Hilburn, Joe Kleiber, Gail Langellotto, Jana Lee, John McQueen, Betsey Miller, Jeffrey Miller, Tom Peerbolt, Peter Shearer, Bernadine Strik, Sam Tochen, Vaughn Walton, Wei Qiang Yang).

2013 (with Abha Gupta). American Society for Horticultural Science. Outstanding Education Publication award winner for papers published in 2012.

2010. OSU Extension Newer Faculty Award.

2009. First place (tied). Non-credit program (online Master Gardener course), Western US Region. University Continuing Education Association (UCEA).

2008. Vice Provost and Associate Provost's Award for Outstanding Achievement. Online Teaching Innovation - Non-Credit Course (online Master Gardener Course).

My Publications

Google Scholar

ResearchGate

Outreach and Extension

Extension Service Site Publications

(2022) Emerald Ash Borer - A New Invasive Pest A 10-Minute University guest presentation by Dr. Gail Langellotto, Professor of Horticulture at Oregon State University about Emerald Ash Borer.
(2022) Northern Giant Hornet: A Potential Threat to Honey Bee Colonies in Oregon The Northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), previously known as the Asian giant hornet, was detected in British Columbia and northwestern Washington. Its massive body and distinct coloration identify it. But it is often mistaken for a few wasps and sawfly species in Oregon.
(2022) Native Plant Picks for Bees Pollinator gardeners grow plants that help support struggling insect populations. OSU research identified 10 native species that can help attract more bees — and a more diverse community of bees — to gardens in Oregon. Learn about how Oregon sunshine, farewell-to spring and globe gilia can get your garden buzzing with activity.
(2022) Su Propio Cultivo Esta introducción a la jardinería en Oregon cubre todas las bases: selección de sitios, mejora de suelos, camas elevadas, riego, plantación, plagas, enfermedades de las plantas y malezas. Los consejos regionales cubren todas las áreas de Oregon.
(2022) Native Plant Picks for Bees
(2022) Seed to Supper Seed to Supper is a beginning garden course focused on reducing food insecurity in Oregon. Learn more about the program, and how to become an official Seed to Supper provider.
(2022) OSU Extension gives Master Gardeners tools to broaden understanding of biodiversity Gail Langellotto, OSU Extension statewide Master Gardener coordinator and professor of horticulture in the College of Agricultural Sciences, created an online course to teach volunteers how to identify plants and insects using the respected iNaturalist mobile app.
(2022) Growing Your Own This intro to gardening in Oregon covers all the bases: site selection, soil improvement, raised beds, planting, watering, pests, plant diseases and weeds. Regional tips cover every area of Oregon. Now available in English and Spanish in one publication!
(2021) How to help bees survive a heat wave Extreme summer heat can pose a danger to bees. Although bees have ways to keep cool, many gardeners put out shallow trays of water and pebbles to help them. Does that help? Here's what the science says.
(2021) Stopping the spread of jumping worms calls for vigilance The jumping worm, an invasive species new to Oregon, harms the soil by reducing it to granules, making it more porous and less able to retain water. Here's how to identify jumping worms and help stop their spread.
(2021) Should I wait to clean up the garden in order to help conserve insects? Addressing a current popular meme in social media encouraging waiting to clean up your garden until temperatures reach 50º F or higher, in order to help conserve insects. We address the claim that if you clean your garden too early you harm beneficial pollinators. Verdict? Mixed. It's not that simple, and there's a better solution.
(2021) Is there an effective DIY grasshopper trap?
(2020) Garden Ecology Lab shares research-based information for home and community gardens Launched in 2017, it’s the first lab in the United States wholly focused on socio-ecological research in home and community gardens.
(2022) Northern Giant Hornet: A Potential Threat to Honeybee Colonies in Oregon
(2020) Updates from the OSU Garden Ecology Lab (2020 edition!) In this webinar you will be updated on the very latest research coming out of the OSU Garden Ecology Lab.
(2020) Enhancing Urban and Suburban Landscapes to Protect Pollinators
(2019) Citizen Science (In the Garden!) This resource is for any gardener who is interested in learning more about science or possibly taking part in a citizen science project.
(2019) Pollinators Presentation The Importance of Gardens to Pollinators, Get to Know Your Pollinators, Plants for Pollinators Pesticides and Pollinators
(2019) Honey Bees & Pollinator Health A list of resources about honey bees, beekeeping, and pollinator health.
(2018) Bees in the Garden: Update from the OSU Garden Ecology Lab This webinar is part of the 2018 series of Advanced Training Webinars for Master Gardeners sponsored by Oregon State University Extension.
(2021) Extension Master Gardener Program rises to challenge during pandemic As gardening became a popular pastime during COVID-19, more people than ever were turning to Master Gardeners for help.
(2021) Japanese Beetles in Oregon
(2015) Ecological Design of Urban Landscapes: Economic, Social and Ecological Benefits
(2022) Growing Your Own
(2011) An Educator's Guide to Vegetable Gardening
(2014) An Introduction to Being a Master Gardener Volunteer
(2013) Which Phase of the Moon should I plant my Fall Garlic?
(2013) Can you help me master my garden?

My current work within extension focuses on developing solid, mutually-beneficial relationships between Oregon State University and (1) Master Gardeners volunteers, (2) home and community gardeners, and (3) landscape and nursery professionals within the state of Oregon.

Specifically, my work in extension recognizes that Oregon, like many other areas of the United States and the world, is becoming more urbanized. For example, the US Census Bureau estimates that the population of Oregon has increased 8.2% from 2000 to 2006, and 9.4% between 2010 and 2018. As previously rural or unmanaged lands become more developed, and as more individuals and households share land area, Oregon State University is well-situated to work with the Oregon Master Gardeners (and other organizations and individuals) to educate the public about sustainable land management practices, and to further research on the sustainable use of private lands.

I deliver classes (online and in person) that support sustainable gardening across the state and the region. My applied research group (the Garden Ecology Lab) works to discover information that informs outreach across Oregon's Extension Master Gardener program.

My Media

My News Articles:

OSU Extension Master Gardener Program increases diversity, equity and inclusivity

Full story

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Gail Langellotto

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Extension Service Site Publications

Top 10 OSU Extension stories of 2022 cover a wide range of topics

Top 10 OSU Extension stories of 2022 cover a wide range of topics

OSU Extension Master Gardener Program increases diversity, equity and inclusivity

OSU Extension Master Gardener Program increases diversity, equity and inclusivity

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