Entomology and Biologicals Advisor
University of California Cooperative Extension
Surendra Dara, an Extension entomologist since January 2009, serves San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. In his role as the Entomology and Biologicals Advisor, Dara primarily looks after pest management along with different aspects of research with biostimulants, biopesticides, and other biological materials. As an IPM expert, he contributes to the IPM solutions of various crops grown in California. With his expertise in entomopathology, he serves as a resource person for microbial control of various pests in different parts of the state. He is currently serving on various committees at the University of California, the Society for Invertebrate Pathology, the Entomological Society of America, and the Association of Applied IPM Ecologists. Dara earned both his bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences and Master’s degree in entomology at the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, India. He earned a doctorate in entomology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va. in 1995. He also has a post-graduate diploma in Applied Information Technology from Canada.
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources connects the power of UC research in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition and youth development with local communities to improve the lives of all Californians. For over 100 years, its advisors, specialists, faculty and staff have been committed to connecting Californians to their University, leading the way to science-based solutions, providing information that is trustworthy and not biased, sharing research that is practical to use, addressing local concerns as part of the community, inviting the participation of concerned stakeholders, and facilitating problem-solving and outreach to address the state’s toughest challenges.
