Our research interests in malacology, nematology and entomology are reflected in our team's peer-reviewed publications:
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Malacology and Nematology
  1. Mc Donnell, R.J., Howe, D.K., and Denver, D.R.  (2023) First Report of the Gastropod-Killing Nematode, Phasmarhabditis californica, in Washington, U.S.A. Journal of Nematology 55: 202313.
  2. Patuwatha Withanage, D.B.M., Howe, D.K., Richart, C., Mc Donnell, R.J., Denver, D.  and Luong, L.T. (2023) Pestiferous slugs and their associated nematodes in agricultural fields, greenhouses, and nurseries in Alberta, Canada. Journal of Helminthology 97: e41, 1-9.
  3. Kunkel, B., Cissel, B., Tooker, J.F., Howe, D.K., Denver, D.R., Mc Donnell, R., and Hiltpold, I. (2023) Nematodes associated with terrestrial slugs in mid-Atlantic (Delaware, USA) soybean. Agronomy 13: 645.
  4. Dodge, C., Kaur, N., Frey, M., and Mc Donnell, R.J. (2022) First record of the invasive slug Boettgerilla pallens Simroth, 1912 (Boettgerillidae) in Washington, U.S.A. Bulletin of the American Malacological Society 39: 1-2.
  5. Mc Donnell, R J., Colton, A.J., Howe, D.K., and Denver, D.R. (2022) Susceptibility of Testacella haliotidea (Testacellidae: Mollusca) to a U.S. strain of Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita (Rhabditidae: Nematoda). Biocontrol Science and Technology 32: 262-266.
  6. Schurkman, J., Tandingan De Ley, I., Anesko, K., Paine, T., Mc Donnell, R., and Dillman, A. (2022) Distribution of Phasmarhabditis (Nematode: Rhabditidae) and their gastropod hosts in California plant nurseries and garden centers. Frontiers in Plant Science 13: 856863.
  7. Schurkman, J., Dodge, C., Mc Donnell, R., De Ley, I., and Dillman, A. (2022) Lethality of Phasmarhabditis nematode spp. (P. hermaphrodita, P. californica, and P. papillosa) to the Gray Field Slug Deroceras reticulatum on Canna Lilies in a Lath House. Agronomy 12: 20.
  8. Veasey, R.; Cordoba, M.; Colton, A.; Fujimoto, L.; Dodge, C.; Foley, I.; Adams, G.; Anderson, T.; Merenz, R.; Hara, A.; Roda, A., Millar, J. and Mc Donnell, R. (2021) Fermenting Bread Dough as a Cheap, Effective, Nontoxic, and Generic Attractant for Pest Snails and Slugs. Insects 12: 328.
  9. Mc Donnell, R.J., Colton, A.J., Howe, D.K., and Denver, D.R. (2020) Lethality of four species of Phasmarhabditis (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) to the invasive slug, Deroceras reticulatum (Gastropoda: Agriolimacidae) in laboratory infectivity trials. Biological Control 150: 104349.
  10. Ahn, S.J., Mc Donnell, R., Corcoran, J., Martin, R.C. and Choi, M.Y. (2020) Identification and functional characterization of the first molluscan neuromedin U receptor in the slug, Deroceras reticulatum. Scientific Reports 10: 22308.
  11. Brophy, T., Mc Donnell, R.J., Howe, D.K., Denver, D.R., Ross, J.L. and Luong, L.T. (2020) Nematodes associated with terrestrial slugs in Northern Alberta, Canada. Journal of Helminthology 94: e200.
  12. Howe, D.K., Ha, A.D., Colton, A.J., Tandingan De Ley, I., Rae, R.G., Ross, J., Wilson, M., Nermut, J., Zhao, Z., Mc Donnell, R.J., and Denver, D.R. (2020) Phylogenetic evidence for the invasion of a commercialized European Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita lineage into North America and New Zealand. PLoS ONE 15: e0237249.
  13. Barua, A., McDonald-Howard, K-L., Mc Donnell, R.J., Rae, R., and Williams, C.D. (2020) Toxicity of essential oils to slug parasitic and entomopathogenic nematodes. Journal of Pest Science 93: 1411–1419.
  14. Klein, M., Chastain, T., Garbacik, C. J., Qian, Y.P. and Mc Donnell, R.J. (2020) Acute toxicity of essential oils to Deroceras reticulatum in laboratory and greenhouse bioassays. Journal of Pest Science 93: 415-425.
  15. Cordoba, M., Millar, J., Foley, I., Anderson, T.O., Roda, A.L., Adams, G.D., and Mc Donnell, R.J. (2020) Fresh cucumber as an attractant for the invasive snail Xerolenta obvia. American Malacological Bulletin 37: 62-65.
  16. Roda, A.L., Millar, J., Jacobsen, C., Veasey, R., Fujimoto, L., Hara, A. and Mc Donnell, R.J. (2019) A new synthetic lure for management of the invasive giant African snail, Lissachatina fulica. PLoS One 14: e0224270.
  17. Vendetti, J., Burnett, E., Carlton, L., Curran, A., Cedric, L. Matsumoto, R., Mc Donnell, R., Reich, I., and Willadsen, O. (2019) The introduced terrestrial slugs Ambigolimax nyctelius (Bourguignat, 1861) and Ambigolimax valentianus (Férussac, 1821) (Gastropoda: Limacidae) in California, with a discussion of taxonomy, systematics, and discovery by citizen science. Journal of Natural History 53: 1607-1632.
  18. Rondon, S., Klein, M., Thompson, I., and Mc Donnell, R. (2019) First report of the presence of slugs in a commercial potato storage facility in the United States. American Journal of Potato Research 96: 414-418.
  19. Mc Donnell, R.J., Tandingan De Ley, I., and Paine, T. (2018) Susceptibility of neonate Lissachatina fulica (Achatinidae: Mollusca) to a US strain of the nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita (Rhabditidae: Nematoda). Biocontrol Science and Technology 28: 1091-1095.
  20. Cordoba, M., Millar, J. and Mc Donnell, R.J. (2018) Development of a high throughput laboratory bioassay for testing attractants for terrestrial snails and slugs. Journal of Economic Entomology 111: 637-644.
  21. Mc Donnell, R.J., Lutz, M.S., Howe, D.K., and Denver, D.R. (2018) First Report of the Gastropod-Killing Nematode, Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, in Oregon, U.S.A. Journal of Nematology 50: 77-78.
  22. Johnson, E. Kindermann, G., O’Callaghan, J., Burke, D., McLoughlin, C., Horgan, S., Reich, I., Mc Donnell, R.J., Williams, C., and Gormally, M.J. (2018) Mature exotic conifer stands have greater catches of the EU-protected Geomalacus maculosus than adjacent peatland or clear-felled stands—implications for forestry. Annals of Forest Science 75: 4-17.
  23. Carnaghi, M., Rae, R., Tandingan De Ley, I., Johnston, E., Kindermann, G., Mc Donnell, R., O’Hanlon, A., Reich, I., Sheahan, J., Williams C., and Gormally, M. (2017) Nematode associates and susceptibility of a protected slug Geomalacus maculosus to four biocontrol nematodes. Biocontrol Science and Technology 27: 294-299.
  24. Reich, I., Mc Donnell, R., McInerney, C., Callanan, S., and Gormally, M. (2017) EU-protected slug Geomalacus maculosus and the sympatric Lehmannia marginata in commercial forests: What can the mark-recapture method tell us about their population densities? Journal of Molluscan Studies 83: 27-35.
  25. Mc Donnell, R.J. (2017) Essential oils and their constituents as novel biorational molluscicides for terrestrial gastropod pests. In: Pesticides: Essential Oils for Pest Control (Eds. L.M. Nollet, and H.S. Rathore). Pages 479 – 486. Routledge Publishing.
  26. Tandingan De Ley, I., Mc Donnell, R.J., Paine, T. and De Ley, P. (2017) Phasmarhabditis: The Slug and Snail Parasitic Nematodes in North America. In: Biocontrol Agents: Entomopathogenic and Slug Parasitic Nematodes (Eds. M. M.M. Abd-Elgawad, T. Hassan Askary, and J. Coupland). Pages 560-578. CABI Publishing
  27. Mc Donnell, R.J., Yoo, J, Patel, K, Rios, L., Hollingsworth, R., Millar, J. and Paine, T. (2016) Can essential oils be used as novel drench treatments for the eggs and juveniles of the pest snail Cornu aspersum in potted plants? Journal of Pest Science 89: 549-555
  28. Mc Donnell, R.J., Santangelo, R., Paine, T. and Hoddle, M. (2016) The feeding behavior of Rumina decollata (Subulinidae: Gastropoda) raises questions about its efficacy as a biological control agent for Cornu aspersum (Helicidae: Gastropoda). Biocontrol Science and Technology 26: 331-336.
  29. Tandingan De Ley, I., Holovachov, O., Mc Donnell, R.J., Bert, W., Paine, T. and De Ley, P. (2016) Description of Phasmarhabditis californica new species and first report of P. papillosa (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) from invasive slugs in the United States. Nematology 18: 175-193.
  30. Reich, I., Gormally, M., Allcock, L., Mc Donnell, R.J., Castillejo, J., Iglesias, J., Quintero, J. and Smith, C. (2015) Protected Lusitanian slug Geomalacus maculosus (Pulmonata: Arionidae): genetic studies reveal close link between Irish and Northern Spanish specimens and long-term allopatric divergence of Iberian population. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 116: 156 – 168.
  31. Tandingan De Ley, I., Mc Donnell, R.J., Lopez, S., Paine, T. and De Ley, P. (2014) First record of Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita (Nematoda: Rhabditidae), a potential biocontrol agent isolated for the first time from invasive slugs in North America. Nematology 16: 1129 – 1138.
  32. Staunton, J.A., Mc Donnell, R.J., Gormally, M.J., Williams, C.D., Henry, T. and Morrison, L. (2014) Assessing metal contamination from construction and demolition (C&D) waste used to infill wetlands: using Deroceras reticulatum (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts 16: 2477 – 2487.
  33. Mc Donnell, R.J., Robinson, D.G., Barr, N., Tandingan DeLey, I., DeLey, P. and Paine, T.D. (2014) First report of the invasive slug Boettgerilla pallens Simroth, 1912 (Boettgerillidae) in the United States. American Malacological Bulletin 32: 209-210
  34. Mc Donnell, R.J., O’Meara, K., Nelson, B., Marnell, F. and Gormally, M.J. (2013) Revised distribution and habitat associations for the protected slug, Geomalacus maculosus (Stylommatophora: Arionidae), in Ireland. Basteria 77: 33-37
  35. Mc Donnell, R.J. and Gormally, M.J. (2011) A live trapping method for the protected European slug, Geomalacus maculosus Allman, 1843 (Arionidae). Journal of Conchology 40: 483-485.
  36. Mc Donnell, R.J., Rugman-Jones, P., Backeljau, T., Breugelmans, K., Jordaens, K., Stouthamer, R., Paine, T.D. and Gormally, M.J. (2011) Molecular identification of the exotic slug Arion subfuscus sensu lato (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) in California, with comments on the source location of introduced populations. Biological Invasions 13: 61-66.
  37. Thomas, A., Mc Donnell, R.J., Paine, T.D. and Harwood, J.D. (2010) A Field Guide to the Slugs of Kentucky. University of Kentucky Press.
  38. Mc Donnell, R.J., Paine, T.D. and Gormally, M.J. (2009) Slugs: A Guide to the Invasive and Native Fauna of California. University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources Publications.
  39. Mc Donnell, R.J., Paine, T.D., Stouthammer, R., Gormally, M.J. and Harwood, J.D. (2008) Molecular and morphological evidence for the occurrence of two new species of invasive slugs in Kentucky, Arion intermedius Normand, 1852, and Arion hortensis d’Audebard de Férussac, 1819 (Arionidae: Stylommatophora). Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science 69: 117–123.
  40. Mc Donnell, R.J., Hansen, A., Paine, T.D. and Gormally, M.J. (2008) A record of the invasive slug Veronicella cubensis (Pfeiffer, 1840) in California. The Veliger 50: 81-82.

Entomology
  1. Yonow, T., Kriticos, D.J., Zalucki, M.P., Mc Donnell, R.J. and Caron, V. (in press) Population modelling for pest management:  a case study using Cochlicella acuta and Sarcophaga villeneuveana in Australia. Ecological Modelling
  2. Williams, C.D., Mc Donnell, R.J., Moran, J. and Gormally, M. (2022) Conservation of Invertebrates in Agricultural Landscapes. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 10: 1115196. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1115196 
  3. Potapov, A., Beaulieu, F., Birkhofer, K., Bluhm, S., Degtyarev, M., Devetter, M., Goncharov, A., Gongalsky, K., Klarner, B., Korobushkin, D., Liebke, D., Maraun, M., Mc Donnell, R., Pollierer, M., Schaefer, I., Shrubovych, J., Semenyuk, I., Sendra, A., Tuma, J., Bryndova, M., Vassilieva, A., Chen, T-W., Geisen, S., Schmidt, O., Tiunov, A., and Scheu, S. (2022) Feeding habits and multifunctional classification of soil-associated consumers from protists to vertebrates. Biological Reviews 97: 1057-1117.
  4. Mc Donnell, R.J., Gormally, M.J., and McCormack, S. (2022) Snail-killing flies (Sciomyzidae) of Clare Island. In: New Survey of Clare Island (Eds. T.K. McCarthy). Pages 185-189. Royal Irish Academy.
  5. Reich, I., Jessie, C., Colton, A., Gormally, M. and Mc Donnell, R. (2021) Guide to ground beetles in grass seed crops grown in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Oregon State University Extension Service Publication No. EM 9301.
  6. Jessie, C., Reich, I., and Mc Donnell, R. (2020) First state record of Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Oregon tall fescue. Pan-Pacific Entomologist 96: 259–262.
  7. Reich, I., Jessie, C., Ahn, S.J., Choi, M.Y., Williams, C., Gormally, M. and Mc Donnell, R. (2020) Assessment of the biological control potential of common carabid species (Coleoptera: Carabidae) for autumn and winter active pests (Gastropoda, Lepidoptera, Diptera: Tipulidae) in Annual ryegrass in Western Oregon. Insects 11: 722.
  8. Coyle, D., Brosius, T., DeVries, Z., Schmidt-Jeffris, R., Gott, R.C., Loudon, C., Saguez, J., Simonsen, T., Van Den Berg, J., Mc Donnell, R., Ronai, I., Zhu, L., Siebert, M., Wessels, F., Hamm, R., Higgins, L., Thompson, S., Serikawa, R., Spomer, N., and Spencer, J.L. (2020) COVID-19: Reflections from Entomologists Who Rose to the Occasion. American Entomologist 66: 34–41.
  9. D’Ahmed, K.S., Stephens, C., Bistline-East, A., Williams, C.D., Mc Donnell, R.J., Carnaghi, M., Ó hUallacháin, D., and Gormally, M.J. (2019) Biological control of pestiferous slugs using Tetanocera elata (Fabricius) (Diptera: Sciomyzidae): Larval behavior and feeding on slugs exposed to Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita (Schneider, 1859). Biological Control 135: 1-8.
  10. Giordani, I., Hynes, T., Reich, I., Mc Donnell, R.J. and Gormally, M.J. (2014) Tetanocera elata (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) larvae feed on protected slug species Geomalacus maculosus (Gastropoda: Arionidae): first record of predation. Journal of Insect Behavior 27: 652-656.
  11. Staunton, J., Williams, C.D., Mc Donnell, R.J., Fleming, G.T., Henry, T. and Gormally, M.J. (2014) Challenges in assessing ecological impacts of construction and demolition waste on wetlands: A case study. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research 12: 457 – 479.
  12. Hynes, T., Mc Donnell, R.J., Kirsch, A., Dillon, R., O'Hora, R. and Gormally, M.J. (2014) Effect of temperature on the larval stage of Tetanocera elata (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) - potential biological control agent of pestiferous slugs. Biological Control 74: 45-51.
  13. Hynes, T., Giordani, I., Larkin, M., Mc Donnell, R.J. and Gormally, M.J. (2014) Larval feeding behaviour of Tetanocera elata (Diptera: Sciomyzidae): potential biocontrol agent of pestiferous slugs. Biocontrol Science & Technology 24: 1077-1082.
  14. Dillon, R., Hynes, T., Mc Donnell, R.J., Williams, C.D. and Gormally, M.J. (2014) Influence of snail mucus trails and first snail meal on the behaviour of malacophagous sciomyzid larvae. Biological Control 74: 6-12.
  15. Williams, C.D., Hayes, M., Mc Donnell, R.J., Anderson, R., Bleasdale, A. and Gormally, M.J. (2014) Factors affecting wetland ground beetles (Carabidae) assemblages: how important are habitats, conservation designations and management? Insect Conservation and Diversity 7: 206-222.
  16. Mc Donnell, R.J., Paine, T.D., Mulkeen, C.J. and M.J. Gormally (2014) Effects of temperature and prey availability on the malacophagous larval stage of Sepedon spinipes (Scopoli) (Diptera: Sciomyzidae): potential biocontrol for gastropod vectors of parasitic diseases. Biological Control 70: 42-47.
  17. Murphy, W.L., Knutson, L.V., Chapman, E.G., Mc Donnell, R.J., Williams, C.D., Foote, B.A and Vala, J.C. (2012) Key aspects of the biology of snail-killing Sciomyzidae flies. Annual Review of Entomology 57: 425 – 447.
  18. Lindsay, W., Mc Donnell, R.J., Williams, C.D., Knutson, L. and Gormally, M.J. (2011) Biology of the snail-killing fly, Ilione albiseta Scopoli (Diptera: Sciomyzidae). Studia dipterologica 16: 245-307.
  19. Mc Donnell, R.J., Williams, C.D., Shine, O., Knutson, L. and Gormally, M.J. (2010) Faunistics data for Sciomyzidae (Diptera) in the west of Ireland with distribution maps, species accounts and comments on community structure. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeography Society 34: 150-218.
  20. Williams, C.D., Moran, J., Doherty O., Mc Donnell, R.J., Gormally, M.J., Knutson, L.V. and Vala, J-C. (2009) Factors affecting Sciomyzidae (Diptera) across a transect at Skealoghan Turlough (Co. Mayo, Ireland). Aquatic Ecology 43: 117-133.
  21. Staunton, J., Williams, C.D., Mc Donnell, R.J., Maher, C., Knutson, L. and Gormally, M.J. (2008) Pherbellia (Oxytaenia) stackelbergi Elberg: a sciomyzid (Dip.: Sciomyzidae) new to the British Isles, with comments on generic and subgeneric placement. Entomologist’s Record and Journal of Variation 120: 173-177.
  22. Williams, C.D., Mc Donnell, R.J., Maher, C., Mulkeen, C.J. and M.J. Gormally (2007) Faunistic data for the genus Tetanocera (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) in the west of Ireland. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeography Society 31: 268-295.
  23. Mc Donnell, R.J., Paine, T.D. and Gormally, M.J. (2007) Trail-following behaviour in the malacophagous larvae of the aquatic sciomyzid flies Sepedon spinipes spinipes and Dictya montana. Journal of Insect Behavior 23: 367-376.
  24. Mc Donnell, R.J., Paine, T.D., Orth, R.E. and Gormally, M.J. (2007) Life history and biocontrol potential of Dictya montana Steyskal, 1954 (Sciomyzidae), a snail-killing fly. Pan-Pacific Entomologist 83: 101-109.
  25. Mc Donnell, R.J. and Gormally, M.J. (2007) Thermal effects on the egg stage of four sciomyzids with reference to phenology and biocontrol potential. Journal of Applied Entomology 131: 65-70.
  26. Mc Donnell, R.J., Mulkeen, C.J. and Gormally, M.J. (2005) Sexual dimorphism and the impact of temperature on the pupal and adult stages of Sepedon spinipes spinipes (Scopoli) (Diptera: Sciomyzidae), a potential biological control agent of liver fluke disease. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 115: 291-301.
  27. Mc Donnell, R.J., Knutson, L., Vala, J.C., Abercrombie, J., Henry, P.Y. and Gormally, M.J. (2005) Direct evidence of predation by aquatic, predatory Sciomyzidae (Diptera: Acalyptrata) on freshwater snails from natural populations. Entomologists Monthly Magazine 141: 49-56.
  28. Ryder, C., Moran, J., Mc Donnell, R.J. and Gormally, M.J. (2005) Conservation implications of grazing practices on the plant and dipteran communities of a turlough in Co. Mayo. Biodiversity and Conservation 14: 187-204.
  29. Mc Donnell, R.J., Gormally, M.J. and Knutson, L. (2003) A second record of Renocera stroblii Hendel (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) in Ireland with a key to the Irish species of the genus. Irish Naturalists Journal 27: 232 – 233.
  30. Mc Donnell, R.J., Gormally, M.J. and Knutson, L. (2003) Galba truncatula (Müller), the liver fluke snail: confirmed as alternate host of Pherbellia schoenherri schoenherri (Fallén) in the wild (Diptera: Sciomyzidae). Dipterists Digest 10: 69-71.
  31. Ryder, C., Mc Donnell, R.J., Gormally, M.J. and Knutson, L. (2003) Colobaea distincta (Meigen): a sciomyzid (Diptera) new to Ireland with a key to the Irish species of the genus. Irish Naturalists Journal 27: 184 – 186.
  32. Mc Donnell, R.J., Fahy, O.L. and Gormally, M.J. (2002) Ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and plant communities of Atlantic blanket bog in Connemara. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeography Society 26: 83 – 105.