Steve Frank
· Professor and Associate Department HeadVerifiedNorth Carolina State University · Plant Pathology
Active 1987–2025
About
Steve Frank is a Professor and Associate Department Head in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at NC State University. His research focuses on the ecology of tree pests and their impact on urban trees, aiming to develop recommendations for urban foresters, landscape architects, and others managing urban forests. He studies how to sustain biodiversity and ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, pollination, and decomposition in cities. His work also includes studying pest ecology in nursery and greenhouse production systems to reduce pesticide use by developing cultural practices that prevent pest outbreaks and optimize biological control. Additionally, Frank's extension program provides resources and guidance on managing arthropod pests of ornamental plants in greenhouses, nurseries, and urban landscapes, with an emphasis on improving pest management efficacy and sustainability. His efforts are directed toward protecting human health, the environment, and the economic interests of stakeholders involved in urban and nursery plant management.
Research topics
- Biology
- Ecology
- Economics
- Business
- Geography
- Natural resource economics
Selected publications
Urban heat and latitude: contrasting effects on ant diversity across cities
Urban Ecosystems · 2025-06-13 · 2 citations
articleOpen accessIncreasing urban temperatures due to the urban heat island effect are associated with widespread biodiversity declines. Because cities are distributed across diverse climatic zones, the effects of urban heat on biodiversity may vary geographically. Here, we examined how urban warming influences ant communities across four U.S. cities that span 6.6° of latitude and differ by 4.1 °C in average summer temperature. We sampled urban ants using baits placed at the base of a single common tree species along an urban temperature gradient within each city. When pooling results across all cities, ant species richness increased towards the equator, consistent with broader macroecological trends. Within cities, however, ant richness consistently declined with increasing urban temperatures, regardless of latitude. In addition to temperature, we observed that ant richness was positively correlated with humidity and negatively correlated with impervious surface cover. Our findings contrast with studies of other urban arthropods, where responses to urban heat vary by latitude. The consistent negative effect of urban warming on ant diversity suggests that urban heat stress may be a conserved factor affecting biodiversity across temperate latitudes, particularly within eastern North America. While we did not detect an increasing sensitivity to urban warming at lower latitudes, the greater overall biodiversity in low-latitude cities implies that urbanization could pose a significant threat to these species-rich communities. Given the rapid expansion of urban areas, especially in warm regions, understanding the combined impacts of urbanization and climate change on biodiversity remains critical for conservation efforts.
Urban heat and latitude: Contrasting effects on ant diversity across cities
Research Square · 2025-04-18
preprintOpen accessJournal of Integrated Pest Management · 2024-01-01 · 2 citations
articleOpen accessSenior authorAbstract Duponchelia fovealis (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is a pest native to Southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean that has become invasive in many other parts of the world including the United States. This polyphagous pest infests many ornamental plants, fruit and vegetable crops, cut flowers, and some aquatic plants. In the United States, it is mainly a pest in greenhouses and outdoor nurseries. Data on D. fovealis are limited, and there is no solid information on effective integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. A review of pest distribution and pest status, host plants, nature of pest injury, description of life stages, biology and ecology, and management options for D. fovealis is presented. We also highlight areas of research that will improve IPM.
Environmental Entomology · 2024-03-05
articleSenior authorDuponchelia fovealis (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is a polyphagous pest that feeds on a variety of ornamental and crop plants. At least 47 plant families have been identified as hosts for D. fovealis in literature based on empirical data and observations. This list is surely incomplete based on the broad feeding habits of D. fovealis. We sought to expand the list of known D. fovealis host plants and to identify species that may be less preferred or not fed upon by D. fovealis. We used laboratory feeding assays to measure D. fovealis consumption rate of leaf disks from 32 herbaceous plant species and 32 woody species grown outdoors throughout the Southeastern United States, and 24 tropical species typically grown as house plants. These plants were from 65 genera and 36 families. Between the 3 ornamental plant groups, we tested (herbaceous, woody, and tropical) that, after 24 h, plants in the tropical group were the least consumed by D. fovealis. After 24 h, the average proportion of leaf disks eaten by D. fovealis was 0.80 or higher for 5 herbaceous and 12 woody species. Proportions of leaf disks eaten varied at the family and genus level in many cases. Our research can improve integrated pest management of D. fovealis by informing growers that plants may be at more or less risk of infestation and damage by larvae.
Deciphering the Molecules behind the Lychee Aroma Note of <i>Vitis vinifera</i> L. 'Muscaris' Grapes
Lebensmittelchemie · 2024-09-01
articleCarabid specialists respond differently to nonnative plant invasion in urban forests
Urban Ecosystems · 2023-02-09 · 3 citations
articleSenior authorImpact of selected insecticides against European pepper moth larvae infesting begonia, 2022
Arthropod management tests · 2023-01-01
articleOpen accessSenior authorUrban forestry & urban greening · 2023-09-24 · 4 citations
articleSenior authorImpact of selected insecticides against European pepper moth larvae infesting poinsettia, 2022
Arthropod management tests · 2023-01-01
articleOpen accessSenior authorScale insects contribute to spider conservation in urban trees and shrubs
Journal of Insect Conservation · 2023-03-21 · 4 citations
articleSenior author
Recent grants
Frequent coauthors
- 22 shared
Robert R. Dunn
- 20 shared
Adam G. Dale
- 16 shared
Christopher M. Ranger
Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory
- 14 shared
Elsa Youngsteadt
North Carolina State University
- 11 shared
Kristi M. Backe
North Carolina State University
- 11 shared
Peter B. Schultz
Virginia Tech
- 10 shared
Michael E. Reding
Agricultural Research Service
- 9 shared
Michael G. Just
U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center
Labs
Education
- 1990
Ph.D., Entomology
North Carolina State University
- 1985
M.S., Entomology
North Carolina State University
- 1983
B.S., Entomology
University of Georgia
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