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:

Garden Ecology Lab

Lab Blog

Department of Horticulture

Entomology Program

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):

Jen Hayes

Nina Miller

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_march_2024.docx

Professional Affiliations:

American Society for Horticultural Science
Entomological Society of America

Employment:

2023 to Present. Professor, Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University.
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

Service:

2023 - 2024: Co-Chair, College of Agricultural Sciences Culture, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Task Force
2023 - Present: Subject Editor (Pollination), Environmental Entomology
2022-2023: Co-Chair, College of Agricultural Sciences Strategic Action Plan for Inclusive Excellence
2021 - Present: Faculty Advisor, Isang Basang Pilipino (Filipino-American Student Association)
At OSU, I have served on a total of 20 search committees: chairing 5, search advocate for 5, and member of 10.

My Awards

My Publications

Google Scholar

ResearchGate

Outreach and Extension

Extension Service Site Publications

(2023) EEAC Keynote: Gentle Pressure Relentlessly Applied for Diversity in Oregon's Master Gardener Program Dr. Gail Langellotto shares her journey from entomologist to Extension Master Gardener Program coordinator in Oregon, discussing her commitment to making the program accessible to all gardeners through focusing on meaningful actions that create positive change. She explains how she identified and addressed systemic barriers to participation and access, and the importance of gentle pressure relentlessly applied for culture change.
(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) Su Propio Cultivo ¡Growing Your Own ya está disponible como publicación bilingüe en español e inglés! Proporciona consejos básicos sobre una amplia gama de temas relacionados con la jardinería vegetal, incluyendo compostaje, jardines de contenedores, jardines de otoño/ invierno, fertilización, plagas de insectos, enfermedades de las plantas, directrices de plantación, camas elevadas, selección de sitios, babosas, mejora del suelo, labranza, cultivos de temporada cálida, riego y malezas. Incluye consejos regionales para varias partes de Oregon.
Si compra esta publicación en el Catálogo de OSU, recibirá un folleto en blanco y negro de 48 páginas con 24 páginas en inglés y 24 páginas en español por correo. Si presiona 'verlo ahora' verá una versión web de la publicación en el idioma que ha seleccionado (ya sea inglés o español) con la opción de descargar e imprimir un PDF gratuito de 24 páginas de la versión web. También puede consultar con su oficina de Extensión local para ver si tienen copias disponibles. ¡Ordene su copia hoy!
(2022) Native Plant Picks for Bees Pollinator gardeners grow more than flowers. Increasing numbers of gardeners are supporting struggling insect populations by growing plants attractive to bees. One of the best ways to attract bees native to your region is to select native plants. Here are 10 native plant species that can help attract a diverse and abundant community of bees to your garden.
(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) El Escarabajo Japones en Oregon l escarabajo japonés es originario de Japón, donde es considerado una plaga de poca importancia. Los JP adultos son generalistas lo que significa que pueden alimentarse de más de 300 especies de plantas, incluyendo cultivos de campo, frutales, vegetales y una amplia gama de plantas ornamentales incluyendo grases donde las larvas de JB se alimentan de raíces.
(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.
(2022) Northern Giant Hornet: A Potential Threat to Honeybee Colonies in Oregon The northern giant hornet was detected in British Columbia and Washington in 2019. This publication outlines the identification, life cycle, and predatory habits of the northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) for beekeepers. It also provides recommendations for reporting a suspected sighting in the Pacific Northwest.
(2020) Enhancing Urban and Suburban Landscapes to Protect Pollinators The way we garden can help promote the health of bees and other insects. This guide offers detailed plant lists, garden designs and advice on creating pollinator habitat.
(2019) Pollinators Presentation The Importance of Gardens to Pollinators, Get to Know Your Pollinators, Plants for Pollinators Pesticides and Pollinators
(2021) Japanese Beetles in Oregon Japanese beetle is a destructive insect moving its way west across the U.S. — including to sites in Oregon. Take part in early detection to prevent its spread. Learn to identify and scout for Japanese beetles at each cycle of life, and find out how to report a suspected sighting.
(2015) Ecological design of urban landscapes: Economic, social and ecological benefits An ecological approach to landscape design incorporates natural systems as an integral part of urban landscapes. Learn how to bring ecology and design together to form a sustainable urban landscape.
(2011) An Educator's Guide to Vegetable Gardening This publication is a primer on vegetable gardening written specifically for educators, including those who use gardens as part of a nutrition education curriculum. It outlines a full-circle approach to educational gardening, provides a basic introduction to growing produce in an outdoor garden, and includes information on recommended plants and a garden calendar.
(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!

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: