Dr. Malkie Spodek

Entomologist-Head Researcher

Personal Information
Work Address: Southern Arava R&D
Hevel Eilot 88820, Israel
Mobile phone: +972 58 664 4975
Fax: 972-8-6355730
Email: malkie@rd.ardomnet.co.il

Education
1995-1999 BSc in Biology, Honors, York University, Toronto, Canada
1996-1997 Study year abroad (bachelors degree), Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
(AIES), Kibbutz Ketura and Tel Aviv University, Israel
2002-2003 Post Graduate Certificate – Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote
Sensing. York University, Toronto, Canada
2005-2007 MSc in Entomology, Department of Entomology. Robert H. Smith Faculty of
Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem,
Rehovot, Israel

Supervisors: Dr. D. Nestel & Prof. Z. Mendel
2010-2014 PhD in Entomology, Department of Entomology, Robert H. Smith Faculty of
Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem,
Rehovot, Israel

Supervisors: Dr. Y. Ben-Dov, Prof. M. Ghanim & Prof. Z. Mendel

Research Interests
Management of the cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)
with an emphasis on greenhouse crops (sweet peppers, eggplant and tomato).

Professional Experience
2014-2015 Post-doctoral fellow at the Naturhistorisches Museum Basel, Switzerland
(with Prof. D. Burckhardt). Psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) of Israel, Systematics

Selected Publications

1. Spodek, M. & Evron, O. (2011) The phytosanitary risks of importing pineapple (Ananas comosus)
fruit to Israel. Meidaon. Publication of the Plant Protection and Inspection Services, Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development, Israel (In Hebrew).

2. Spodek M., Ben-Dov Y., Protasov A., Carvalho C.J., & Mendel Z. (2013) First record of Dactylopius
opuntiae (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Dactylopiidae) from Israel. Phytoparasitica.
42:377–379, doi:10.1007/s12600-0130373-2.

3. Spodek, M., Ben-Dov, Y. & Mendel, Z. (2013) The scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of oak trees
(Fagaceae: Quercus spp.) in Israel. Israel Journal of Entomology. 43: 71–100.

4. Spodek, M., Burckhardt, D., Protasov, A. & Mendel, Z. (2015) First record of two invasive eucalypt
psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) in Israel. Phytoparasitica. 43(3): 401–406,
doi: 10.1007/s12600-015-0465-2.

5. Burckhardt, D. & Spodek, M. (2015) Platyobria biemani (Hemiptera: Psylloidea:
Aphalaridae), a new introduction into Israel and a potential pest of eucalypts. Israel Journal
of Entomology. 44–45: 99–100.

6. Spodek, M., Watson, G.W. & Mendel, Z. (2016) The pink hibiscus mealybug,
Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae), a new threat
to Israel's agriculture and horticulture. EPPO Bulletin, 46(2): 311–312,
doi: 10.1111/epp.12288.

7. Mendel, Z., Watson, G.W., Protasov, A. & Spodek, M. (2016) First record of the papaya
mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus Williams & Granara de Willink (Hemiptera:
Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae), in the West Palearctic. EPPO Bulletin,
doi: 10.1111/epp.12321.

8. Mendel, Z., Protasov, A., Blumberg, D., Gross, S., Erel, E. & Spodek, M. (2016)
Mealybugs pests on fruit trees in Israel Alon Hanotea, May (5) (Hebrew with English
abstract).

9. Spodek, M., Burckhardt, D. & Freidberg, A. (2017) The Psylloidea (Hemiptera) of Israel.
Zootaxa. 4276 (3): 301–345, doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4276.3.1.

10. Spodek, M., Ben-Dov, Y., Mondaca, L., Protasov, A, & Mendel, Z. The cotton mealybug,
Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Israel: pest status, host
plants and natural enemies (in preparation).
Professional affiliations
The Entomological Society of Israel
The Entomological Society of America
Entomology Collections Network