I have been working with forest insects both in China, USA and France in chemical ecology and IPM development since 1985 while my research group was established in 2002 when I joined the Institute of Zoology. My current research interest mainly centers on multispecific interactions among host plants, herbivores, and their associated fungi and bacteria which are dominated by chemical signals that exert feedback amongst multiple trophic levels. This research emphasizes the context-specific nature of multiple-partner associations, and how these associations affect the ability of insects to counter pathogens, host defense, food and pheromone production, and contend with plant defensive chemicals. The work employs both chemical ecology and molecular methods. The overall scientific objective is to study the invasion biology (why invasive pest is so invasive?) by using two important forest invasive species as model, namely the red turpentine beetle and pine wood nematode, in China and the development of semiochemical-based monitoring and control technologies. I has authored over 160 peer-reviewed research papers including over 90 papers in international journals, e.g. Annual Review of Entomology, Current Biology, Eoclogy, New Phytologist, Cladistics, Animal Behaviour, Biology Letters, Biological Invasions, Journal of Chemical Ecology, Journal of Insect Physiology, etc... I serves as editor-in-chief for Acta Entomologia Sinica, and editor for Canadian Entomologist, Insect science, NeoBiota and Integrative Zoology, and is the holder of 12 national invention patents and one Forestry Technical Standard.

My current research focus is on understanding adaptation process between host tree and invasive forest insect pest through chemical ecology and molecular analysis, by which we are also studying invasion biology of forest invasive insect pest to address why invasive pest insects are so invasive in its new invaded habitat and developing monitoring and control technologies based on semiochemicals for those invasive species. Two primary models are used. One is the red turpentine beetle (RTB), Dendroctonus valens, and the other is pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Both are the top forest invasive pests in China. More specifically, we are interested in: 1) how associated fungi function between RTB and host pine or our “Symbiotic invasion” hypothesis, 2) testing hypothesis: What goes around and what comes around? and 3) RTB attack behavior and chemical communication during the whole process of colonization. For PWN, we are exploring the chemical communication between PWN, vector beetle (Monochamus alternatus), associated fungi, and their host pine, especially the mechanism (chemical signals) of inducing PWN out of the vector beetle spiracles into feeding wounds on healthy pines and transformation mechanism propagative form of PWN into dispersal form. In addition, we are also interested in developing new detection and management technologies based on those basic research results.

Specific Areas of Research:
1. Invasion biology and management of forest invasive species
2. Chemical ecology of forest insects, especially red turpentine beetle
3. IPM development of pine wood nematode and its vector-Monochamus alternatus

Personnel, students and postdoctoral fellows:
Research Associate (3): Dr. Zhudong Liu (2004-present), Dr. Lilin Zhao (2007-present), and Dr. Min Lu (2009-present).
Senior Technician (2): Yuling Fang (1991-present) and Dr. Wei Wei (2004-present).
Post-doc (2): Dr. Christian Salcedo (2011-2012) and Dr. Jiao Zhou (2013-present).
Ph. D Students (10): Li Li (2006-2009), Zhanghong Shi (2006-2010), Bo Wang (2007-2011), Hongtao Niu (2008-2012), Haifeng Chen (2009-2012), Shuai Zhang (2007-2013), Qiaozhe Lou (2011-2014), Chihang Cheng (2009-present), Letian Xu (2011-present), and Fangyuan Zhou (2013-present).
Master student (4): Bingbing Xu (2008-2011), Xuan Tang (2010-2013), Peijun Qin (2013-present), and Jie Meng (2014-present).

1. Lilin Zhao, Manual Mota,, Paulo Vieira, Rebecca A. Butcher* and Jianghua Sun*. 2014. Interspecific communication between pinewood nematode, its insect vector, and associated microbes. Trends in Parasitology 30(6): 299-308.
2. Kulhavy L. David, Di Wu, Daniel R. Unger. I-Kuai Huang and Jianghua Sun. Comparasion of tree condition and value for city parks and Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, U.S. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 40(3): 153-165.
3. Qiaozhe Lou, Min Lu and Jianghua Sun. 2014. Yeast diversity associated with invasive Dendroctonusvalens killing Pinustabuliformis in China using culturing and molecular methods. Microbial Ecology DOI10.1007/S00248-014-0413-6.
4. Bingbing Xu, Zhudong Liu and Jianghua Sun*. 2014. The effect of α-pinene on the feeding performance and pheromone production of Dendroctonus valens. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 150: 269-278.
5. Zhudong Liu, Bingbing Xu, and Jianghua Sun*. 2014. Instar Numbers, Development, Flight Period, and Fecundity of Dendroctonus valens (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in China. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 107(1): 152-157 
6. Stephen J. Taerum, Tuan A. Duong, Z. Wilhelm de Beer, Nancy Gillette, Jiang-Hua Sun, Donald R. Owen, Michael J. Wingfield. 2013.  Large shift in symbiont assemblage in the invasive red turpentine beetle. PLoS ONE 8(10) e78126
7. Lilin Zhao,Shuai Zhang, Wei Wei, HaijunHao, Bin Zhang, Rebecca A. Butcher, * and JianghuaSun*. 2013. Chemical Signals Synchronize the Life Cycles of a Plant-parasitic Nematodeand its Vector Beetle. Current Biology 23: 2038-2043.
8. Lilin Zhao, Min Lu, HongtaoNiu, Guofei Fang, Shuai Zhang, Jianghua Sun*. 2013. A native fungal symbiont facilitates the prevalence and development of an invasive pathogen-native vector symbiosis. Ecology 94(12): 2817-2826.
9. Shijun You, Jianfeng Liu, Dechao Huang, FushiKe, LietteVasseur, Geoff Gurr, Stephen R. Clarke, Jianghua Sun, Kongming Wu, and Minsheng You* 2013. Invasion, infestation, and management of the mealybug, Oracellaacuta, in China and its surrounding countries. Forest Ecology and Management 305: 96-102.
10. Zhudong Liu, Bingbing Xu, Zhanghong Shi, Bo Wang, Zhenwang Miao, Jianghua Sun* 2013. The pheromone frontalin and its dual function in the invasive bark beetle Dendroctonusvalens. Chemical Senses 38: 485-495.
11. Yanzhuo Zhang, James Hanula, Joe O'Brien, Scott Horn, Kris Braman and Jianghua Sun. 2013. Evaluation of the impacts of herbivory by lace bugs on Chinese privet (Ligustrumsinense) survival and physiology. Biology Control 64: 299-304.
12. Bo Wang, Min Lu, Chihang Cheng, Christian Salcedo and Jianghua Sun*. 2013. Saccharide mediated antagonistic effects of bark beetle associated fungi on larvae. Biological Letters 9: 20120787
13. HongtaoNiu. Lilin Zhao andJianghua Sun*. 2013. Phenotypic plasticity of reproductive traits in response to food availability in invasive and native species of nematode. Biological Invasions 15: 1407-1415.
14. Jianghua Sun, Min Lu, Nancy E. Gillette,* and Michael J. Wingfield. 2013. Red turpentine beetle: Innocuous native becomes invasive tree killer in China. Annual Review of Entomology 58: 293-311.
15. Haifeng Chen, Salcedo Christiana and Jianghua Sun*. 2012. Male mate choice by chemical cues leads to higher reproductive success in a bark beetle. Animal Behaviour 83:421-427.
16. Zhang-Hong Shi, Bo Wang, Stephen R. Clarke and Jiang-Hua Sun* 2012.Effect of associated fungi on the immunocompetence of red turpentine beetle larvae, DendroctonusvalensLeConte (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae). Insect Science 19:579-584.
17. B. Wang, C. SALCEDO, M. LU, J. SUN*. 2012. Mutual interactions between an invasive bark beetle and its associated fungi. Bulletin of Entomological Research 102:71-77.
18. Yuling Fang,Jianghua Sun,Zhangning Zhang. 2011. Response of Brontispalongissimato coconut palm (Cocosnucifera) leaf volatiles. Physiological Entomology 36:321-326.
19. Min Lu, Michael J. Wingfield, Nancy Gillette, Jiang-Hua Sun*. 2011. Do novel genotypes drive the success of an invasive bark beetle/fungus complex?...Implications for potential reinvasion. Ecology 92(11):2013-2019.
20. Yanzhuo Zhang, James L. Hanula, Scott Horn, S. Kristine Braman and Jianghua Sun. 2011. Biology of Leptoyphahospita (Hemioptera:Tingidae), a potential biological control agent of Chinese privet. Ann. Entomolo. Soc. Am. 104(6):1327-1333.
21. Liu Zhudong, Xu Bingbing, Li Li, Sun Jianghua*. 2011. Host-size mediated trade-off in a parasitoid Sclerodermusharmandi. PLoS ONE 6(8)e23260 1-9.
22. Zhudong Liu, Bo Wang, Bingbing Xu, Jianghua Sun*. 2011. Monoterpene variation mediated attack preference evolution of the bark beetle Dendroctonusvalens. PLoS ONE 6(7):e22005 1-7.
23. Li Li and Jianghua Sun. 2011. Host Suitability of a Gregarious Parasitoid on Beetle Hosts: a Trade-off between Fitness of Adult and Offspring. PLoS ONE 6(4): e18563 1-6.
24. Yan-Zhuo Zhang, James L. Hanula, and Jiang-Hua Sun. 2011. Herbivory effects of Argopistestsekooni, a chrysomelid beetle, on container grown Chinese privet, Ligustrumsinense. Insect Science 18(2): 203-208.
25. Long-Wa Zhang, Yu-Jun Liu, Jian Yao, Bin Wang , Bo Huang, Zeng-Zhi Li, Mei-Zhen Fan and Jiang-Hua Sun. 2011. Evaluation of Beauveriabassiana (Hyphomycetes) isolates as potential agents for control of Dendroctonusvalens. Insect Science 18(2): 209-216.
26. Qing-He Zhang, Jian-Hai Ma, Feng-Yu Zhao, Li-Wen Song, Jiang-Hua Sun and Anthony I. Cognato. 2010. Aggregation pheromone of the oriental spruce Pseudipsorientalis. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 13:67-75.
27. Jianting Fan, Daniel Miller, Longwa Zhang and Jianghua Sun*. 2010. Effects of bark beetle pheromones on the attraction of Monochamusalternatus to pine volatiles. Insect Science 17(6): 553-556.
28. Zhanghong Shi and Jianghua Sun*. 2010. Immunocompetence variations of red turpentine beetle, DendroctonusvalensLeConte (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae), between developmental stages and sexes in China. Journal of Insect Physiology 56: 1696-1701.
29. Min Lu1, Michael J. Wingfield2, Nancy E. Gillette3,Sylvia R. Mori3, Jiang-Hua Sun1* Complex interactions of the fungi vectored by an invasive bark beetle and hosts. New Phytologist 187: 859-866.
30. Li Li, Wei Wei, Zhudong Liu and Jianghua Sun. 2010. Host adaptation of a gregarious parasitoid Sclerodermusharmandi in artificial rearing. BioControl 55: 465-472.
31. Zhanghong Shi and Jianghua Sun*. 2010. Quantitative Variation and Biosynthesis of Hindgut Volatiles Associated with the Red Turpentine Beetle, DendroctonusvalensLeConte, at Different Attack Phases. Bulletin of Entomological Research 100: 273-277.
32. Stephen R. Clarke, Hai-Bin Yu, Mu-Rong Chen, Gary L. DeBarr, Jiang-Hua Sun.2010.Classical biological control program for the mealybugOracellaacuta in Guangdong Province, China. Insect Science 17(2): 129-139.
33. Robert A. Haack, Franck Hérard, Jianghua Sun and Jean J. Turgeon. 2010. Managing invasive populations of Asian longhorned beetle and citrus longhorned beetle: a worldwide perspecitive. Annual Review of Entomology 55: 521-546.
34. Qing-He Zhang*, Li-Wen Song, Jian-Hai Ma, Fu-Zhong Han, Jiang-Hua Sun. 2009. Aggregation pheromone of a newly described spruce bark beetle, IpsshangrilaCognato and Sun, from China. Chemoecology 19: 203-210.
35. Lilin Zhao, Ping Jiang, Leland M. Humble and Jianghua Sun*. 2009. Within-tree distribution and attractant sampling of propagative pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchusxylophilus: an early diagnosis approach. Forest Ecology and Management 258: 1932-1937.
36. Li Li, Daniel R. Miller, Jianghua Sun* 2009. The influence of prior experience on preference and performance of a cryptoparasitoid Scleroderma guani (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) on beetle hosts. Ecological Entomology 34: 725-734.
37. Min Lu, X.D. Zhou, Z.W.De Beer, M.J.Wingfield, and J.-H.Sun* 2009. Ophiostomatoid fungi associated with the invasive pine-infesting bark beetle, Dendroctonus valens, in China. Fungal Diversity38: 133-145.
38. Stephen R. Clarke ,Haibin Yu , Murong  Chen, Gary L. DeBarr and Jianghuaua Sun * 2010. Classical biological control program for the mealybug Oracellaacuta (Lobdell) in Guangdong province, China. Insect Science17: 129-139.
39. Yanzhuo Zhang, Jianghua Sun*, and James L. Hanula. 2009. Biology and life history of Argopistestsekooni Chen (Coleoptera :Chrysomelidae) in China, a promising biological control agent of Chinese privet. Annals of Entomological Society of America 102(3): 508-516.
40. Qinghe Zhang, Jianhai Ma, Fenyu Zhao, liwen Song, Jianghua Sun. 2009. Aggregation pheromone of the Qinghai Spruce Bark Beetle, Ipsnitidus Egger. Journal of Chemical Ecology 35:610-617.
41. Y.N.Wang, H.X. Wang, Z.J.Shen, L.L. Zhao, S.R. Clarke, J.H.Sun, Y.Y. Du and G.L.Shi.2009. Methyl palmitate an acaricidal compound occurring in green walnut husts. Journal of Economic Entomology 102:196-202.
42. Yanzhuo Zhang, JianghuaSuna* and James L. Hanula. 2009. Biology and life history of Argopistestsekooni (Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae) in China, a promising biological control agent of Chinese privet. Annals of Entomological Society of America 102(3):00-00.
43. ChristelleRobinet, Alain Roqures, Hongyang PAN, Guofei FANG, Jianren YE, Yanzhuo Zhang and Jianghua Sun*.2009. Role of human-mediated dispersal in the spread of the Pinewood Nematode in China. PLoS ONE 4(2):e4646. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0004646
44. Longwa Zhang, Stephen R. Clarke and Jianghua Sun*. 2009. Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of Dendroctonusvalens (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) to four bark beetle pheromones. Environmental Entomology 38(2):471-477.
45. Zhudong Liu, Peiyu Gong, David G. Heckel, Wei Wei, Jianghua Sun and Dianmo Li. 2009. Effects of larval host plants on overwintering physiological dynamics and survival of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpaarmigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Journal of Insect Physiology 55:1-9.