what we do

The Tay Lab at the University of Hawaiʻi investigates the ecology and behavior of invasive insect pests and advances their management, with emphasis on species of urban, economic, and medical importance. Our basic and applied research drives effective, sustainable integrated pest management (IPM).

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new publication alerts

Tong & Tay (2025): Read more about shifting termite species composition on Oʻahu, documenting the island-wide expansion of Coptotermes gestroi and its implications for pest risk.

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Publication: shifting termite species composition on Oʻahu

Tong, Grace & Tay (2025, in press): Read more about illustrated diagnostic keys that reliably distinguish eight termite species in Hawaiʻi across the soldier and alate castes.

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Publication: push–pull strategy for spotted-wing drosophila

Movva et al. (2025): Read more about components of a push–pull strategy for spotted-wing drosophila as a behavioral management approach.

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Hartle et al. (2025): Read more about the discovery and genomic characterization of five actively replicating RNA viruses in the invasive big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala).

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people

Dr. Jia-Wei Tay
Principal Investigator

Dr. Reina Tong
Postdoctoral Researcher

Dr. Vijaya Movva
Postdoctoral Researcher

Nikku Bhetwal
PhD Student

Beenu Khadka
PhD Student

Aradhana Shrestha
MS Student

Brock Lathrop
Undergraduate Student

Ahmad Xallen
Undergraduate Student

Lab Alumni

Undergraduate

Justin Mew (2020)

Sarah Kim (2021)

Juliana Salehi (2022)

Ulelemaikalani Kwon (2023)

Karim Gharbi
(M.S 2022) Current position: Extension Agent, Colorado State University

John Mitchell Kirsch
(M.S 2022) Current position: Senior Entomologist, SC Johnson

John Adam Lawrence
(M.S. 2024) Current position: R&D Scientist, Koppert Biological Systems

people

Dr. Jia-Wei Tay
Principal Investigator

Dr. Reina Tong
Postdoctoral Researcher

Dr. Vijaya Movva
Postdoctoral Researcher

Nikku Bhetwal
PhD Student

Beenu Khadka
PhD Student

Aradhana Shrestha
MS Student

Brock Lathrop
Undergraduate Student

Ahmad Xallen
Undergraduate Student

Lab Alumni

Undergraduate

Justin Mew (2020)

Sarah Kim (2021)

Juliana Salehi (2022)

Ulelemaikalani Kwon (2023)

Karim Gharbi
(M.S 2022) Current position: Extension Agent, Colorado State University

John Mitchell Kirsch
(M.S 2022) Current position: Senior Entomologist, SC Johnson

John Adam Lawrence
(M.S. 2024) Current position: R&D Scientist, Koppert Biological Systems

Lab News

We are attending the PestWorld Convention in Orlando, FL (Oct 2025), Entomological Society of America in Portland (Nov 2025), Pacific Botanical Entomological Society in Waikiki (Dec 2025). We would love to connect with friends and potential collaborators!