Entomology Staff

Dr Brian Thistleton

Principal Economic Enotmologist

Email Address: brian.thistleton@nt.gov.au

Brian is the Principal Economic Entomologist for the section.  Besides managing the section, Brian's main research is on the biology and control of the giant termite, Mastotermes darwiniensis. Brian also coordinates the extension and research of pests of vegetable crops, nurseries, ornamentals and cut flowers.

Deanna Chin

Extension Entomologist

Email Address: deanna.chin@nt.gov.au

Deanna coordinates the section's extension advisory service on insect/arthropod identification and pest management. Deanna is also involved in extension and research projects on integrated pest management of tropical tree crops.

Austin M^cLennan

Senior Entomologist

Email Address: austin.mclennan@nt.gov.au

Austin is based at Katherine Research Station, servicing the research and extension needs of the local industries.  Key crops that he works with are mangoes, melons, citrus, peanuts and maize. Prior to taking on this role in early 2008, Austin worked in Queensland and northern NSW on pest management in a wide variety of crops including grains, cotton, vegetables (onions, sweet corn and brassicas) and sugarcane.

Haidee Brown

Senior Extension Officer

Email Address: haidee.brown@nt.gov.au

Haidee is the manager and curator of the Northern Territory Economic Insect Reference Collection.  Haidee also assists with extension enquires and integrated pest manangement programs which includes preparation of extension materials for educational and promotional purposes.

Michael Neal

Senior Technical Officer

Email Address: michael.neal@nt.gov.au

Michael is involved with the biology and control of the giant termite, Mastotermes darwiniensis. Michael also provides an extension service for growers and householders on the control of Mastotermes and other termite pests.  In addition to his termite work, Michael is involved with research and extension of vegetable crops, nurseries, ornamentals and cut flowers.

Lanni Zhang

Senior Technical Officer

Email Address: lanni.zhang@nt.gov.au

Lanni provides an insect/arthropd identification service for general enquires and quarantine samples collected by NTQS.  Lanni has a special interest in the identification and preservation of mites collected from horticultural and agricultural crops.

Heather Wallace

Technical Officer

Email Address: heather.wallace@nt.gov.au

Heather provides technical assistance on entomological projects particularly on ornamentals and tree crops.  Heather also assists with the curation and data entry of specimens for the Northern Territory Economic Insect Reference Collection.  Heather is responsible for insect rearing for identification purposes and maintenance of laboratory insect cultures for life cycle studies.

Dr Lucy Tran-Nguyen

Molecular Diagnostician

Email Address: lucy.tran-nguyen@nt.gov.au

 Lucy shares her time between Entomology and Plant Pathology. Lucy is involved with developing molecular diagnostic tests using modern technology to identify and characterise plant pests based upon their DNA. Current research is focused on differentiating drywood termites.