The Strange Loop Making Parasitic Insects Our Friends

Explore the fascinating intersection of ecology and functional programming in this 40-minute conference talk from Strange Loop. Dive into the history of ecological modeling, starting with the Fibonacci sequence and its connection to rabbit populations. Discover how the Nicholson-Bailey model, developed in 1935, revolutionized the understanding of parasitic wasp and host insect interactions through mutually recursive relationships. Learn about the open-source Python package "Generations," which utilizes functional programming principles to model biological control of invasive species. Gain insights into how these models are applied to real-world scenarios, such as using herbivorous parasites to manage invasive plants. Understand the potential of organic solutions in pest management and ecosystem preservation while minimizing pesticide use. Follow along as the speaker, an Entomology PhD student, shares her expertise in weed biological control, GIS, and programming, demonstrating how interdisciplinary approaches can lead to innovative solutions in environmental science.

Introduction
What are weevils
Invasive species
Bio bioengineering
Bio control agents
Release day
Asian lady beetle
Biological control agents
Parasitic insects
Bugs on bugs
Parasitism
Nicholson Bailey
Recursive
Host Population
Parasitics
Complex life history
Garlic mustard
Garlic mustard weevils
Garlic mustard larvae
Weevil state diagram
Python package Generations
biennial section
seed bank
representation
weevil function
bouquet
generations
insect populations
computer scientists
References
Is the goal to limit
How would this be changed
Whats the goal
Pathogens
Weevil attack rate
Releasing new insects
Developing resistance