Staff Directory - Professor Simon Leather

Research

My main interests centre around biological pest control, mainly of aphids and lepidopteran pests of agriculture, horticulture and forestry. My work has taken me around the world from Iceland to Africa! My main interest at the moment is examining the effect of organic crop production on tri-trophic systems in glasshouse systems, but I have, in collaboration with the Game Conservancy Trust examined the effect of agricultural practice on aerial predators of cereal pests. We were also involved in work with the Game Conservancy Trust looking at the interactions between cropping systems and game bird population dynamics. I have also been involved in research on biofuel production, in my case short rotation willow and poplar crops. I have worked with Rothamsted Research investigating the population dynamics of willow aphids on different clonal varieties of willow and poplar. My major interest with forestry is with pests of establishment forestry. I have been working on the large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis and the black pine beetle, Hylastes ater for more than 20 years, with a particular interest in their feeding behaviour and reproductive ecology, with the ultimate aim of introducing non-chemical control methods. I have also worked with the green spruce aphid, investigating the factors affecting its population dynamics. For over ten years I was involved with a project investigating the biodiversity of urban geen spaces in Bracknell. I collaborate closely with Paul Pearce-Kelly at London Zoo, latterly with Partula snails and more recently on a project investigating the vectors of avian malaria.

I am also part of a DEFRA funded project in conjunction with Dr Sandra Denman of Forest Research, Alice Holt, investigating the possible role of Agrilus biguttatus as a vector of the bacterium causing Acute Oak Decline.

Teaching

Course Leader MSc Entomology, MRes Entomology, MSc Conservation & Forest Protection, MSc Ecological Applications and MSc Integrated Pest Management

Professional Memberships

Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society
Member of the British Ecological Society
Member of the Association of Applied Biologists
Member of the Society of Biology

Academic Department: Crop and Environment Sciences

Tel: 01952 815488

Twitter: @Entoprof

Office: AY03 Ancellor Yard

Research profile: ORCID

Publications

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Other publications

Leather, S.R. (2019) Three years in: how is the five year plan going? Annals of Applied Biology 174: 1-2
Alharbi, J.S., Alawadhi, Q. & Leather, S.R. (2019) Monomorium ant is a carrier for pathogenic and potentially pathogenic bacteria. BMC Research Notes 12:230
Basset, Y., Miller, S.E., Gripenberg, S., Ctvretecka, R., Dahl, C., Leather, S.R. & Didham, R.K. (2019) An entomocentric view of the Janzen-Connell hypothesis Insect Conservation & Diversity 12; 1-8
Leather, S.R. & Pope, T.W. (2019) Botanical biopesticides - where to now? Outlooks on Pest Management 30: 75-77
Leather, S.R. (2018) “Ecological Armageddon” – more evidence for the drastic decline in insect numbers Annals of Applied Biology 172: 1-3
Rowley, C., Cherrill, A.J., Leather, S.R., Hall, D.R. & Pope, T.W. (2018) Factors affecting trap catch in pheromone-based monitoring of sadle gall midge Haplodiplosis marginata (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Pest Management Science 74: 406-412
Reed, K., Denman, S., Leather, S.R., Forster, J. & Inward, D (2018) The lifecycle of Agrilus biguttatus: the role of temperature in its development and distribution, and implications for Acute Oak Decline Agricultural & Forest Entomology 20: 334-346
McHugh, N.M., Prior, M., Leather, S.R. & Holland, J.M. (2018) Relationships between tree sparrow Passer montanus fledging success and the quantity and quality of agricultural habitats - A model comparison study. Ecological Informatics 47: 73-76
Atanasova, D. & Leather, S.R. (2018) Plant essential oils: the way forward for aphid control? Annals of Applied Biology 173: 175-179
Cherrill, A.J. & Leather, S.R. (2018) Predatory journals_a growing threat to scientific integrity?. In Practice 102:38-40
De Palma, A., Dennis, R.L.H., Brerton, T., Leather, S.R. & Oliver, T.H. (2017) Large reorganizations in butterfly communities during an extreme weather event Ecography 40: 577-585.
Rowley, C.R., Cherrill, A.J., Leaher, S.R., McCormack, A.W., Skarp, J.E. & Pope, T.W. (2017) PCR-based gut content analysis to identify arthropod predators of Haplodiplosis marginata Biological Control 115: 113-118
Didham, R.K., Leather, S.R. & Basset, Y. (2017) Don't be a zero-sum reviewer. Insect Conservation & Diversity 10: 1-4
Leather, S.R. (2017) Mind the gap: time to make sure that scientists and practitioners are on the same page. Annals of Applied Biology 170: 1-3
Ramsden, M., Menendez, R., Leather, S.R. & Wackers, F. (2017) Do natural enemies really make a difference? Field scale impacts of parasitoid wasps and hoverfly larvae on cereal aphid populations. Agricultural & Forest Entomology 19: 139-145
McHugh, N.M., Prior, M., Grice, P.V., Leather, S.R. & Holland, J.M. (2017) Agri-environmental measures and the breeding ecology of a declining farmland bird. Biological Conservation. 212: 230-239
Goodwin, C., Keep, B. & Leather, S.R. (2017) Habitat richness and tree species richness of roundabouts: effects on site selection and the prevalence of arboreal caterpillars Urban Ecosystems 20; 889-895
Leather, S.R. (2017) Another look at plant defences: plant parts that pretend to be insects. Agricultural & Forest Entomology 19:1-3.
Rowley, C., Pope, T.W., Cherrill, A., Leather, S.R., Fernandez-Grandon, G.M. & Hall, D.R. (2017) Development and optimisation of a sex pheromone lure for monitoring populations of saddle gall midge, Haplodiplosis marginata Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 163: 82-92
Rowley, C., Cherrill, A., Leather, S.R. & Pope, T.W. (2017) Degree-day based phenological forecasting model of saddle gall midge (Haplodiplosis marginata) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) emergence Crop Protection 102: 154-160
Leather, S.R. & Atansova, D. (2017) Without up-to-date pest thresholds sustainable agriculture is nothing but a pipe-dream. Agricultural & Forest Entomology 19: 341-343
Saunders, M.E., Duffy, M.A., Heard, S.B., Kosmala, M., Leather, S.R., McGlynn, T.P., Ollerton, J. & Parachnowitsch, A.L. (2017) Bringing ecology blogging into the scientific fold: measuring reach and impact of science community blogs Royal Society Open Science 4: 170957
Midthassel, A., Leather, S.R., Wright, D.J. & Baxter, I.H. (2016) Compatibility of Amblyseius swirskii with Beauveria bassiana: two potentially complimentray biocontrol agents BioControl 61: 437-447
Gethings, O.J., Sage, R.B., Morgan, E.R. & Leather. S.R. (2016) Body condition is negatively associated with infection with Syngamus trachea in the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus coclhicus) Veterinary Parasitology 228: 1-5
Leather, S.R. (2016) To name or not to name Biosphere 18: 19-20
Rowley, C., Cherrill, A., Leather, S., Nicholls, C., Ellis, S. & Pope, T. (2016) A review of the biology, ecology and control of saddle gall midge, Haplodiplosis marginata (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) with a focus on phenological forecasting. Annals of Applied Biology 169: 167-179
Midthassel,A., Leather,S. Wright,D.J.,Baxter,I.H., Farman,D.I. & Cork, A. (2016) An astigmatid defence volatile against a phytoseiid mite Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 158: 97-107
McHugh, N.M., Goodwin, C.E.D., Hughes, S., Leather, S.R., & Holland, J.M. (2016) Agri-environment scheme habitat preferences of Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella on English farmland. Acta Ornithologica 51: 199-209.
McHugh, N.M., Prior, M., Leather, S.R. & Holland, J.M. (2016) The diet of Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus nestling in relation to agri-environment scheme habitats. Bird Study 63: 279-283
Didham, R.K., Leather, S.R. & Basset, Y. (2016) Circle the bandwagons - challenges mount against the theoretical foundations of applied functional trait and ecosystem service research. Insect Conservation & Diversity 9: 1-3
Leather, S.R. (2016) A 5-year vision for Annals of Applied Biology. Annals of Applied Biology 168: 1
Gethings, O.J., Sage, R.B. & Leather, S.R. (2016) Density-dependent regulation of fecundity in Syngamus trachea infrapopulations in semi-naturally occurring ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) and wild Carrion Crows (Corvus corone) Parasitology 143: 716-722
Leather, S.R. (2016) Mee(a)ting issues with the British Ecological society - why I boycotted the 2015 annual meeting BES Bulletin 47: 71-72
Banfield-Zanin, J.A. & Leather, S.R. (2016) Prey-mediated effects of drought on the consumption rates of Coccinellid predators of Elatobium abietinum Insects 7:49
Leather, S.R. (2015) Why I joined the Twitterati: Blogs, tweets & talks - making entomology visible Antenna 39: 37-39
Banfield-Zanin, J.A. & Leather, S.R. (2015) Reproduction of an arboreal aphid pest, Elatobium abietinum, is altered under drought stress. Journal of Applied Entomology 139: 302-313
Benelli, M., Leather, S.R., Francati, S., Marchetti, E. & Dindo, M.L. (2015) Effect of two temperatures on biological traits and susceptibility to a pyrethroid insecticide in an exotic and native coccinellid species. Bulletin of Insectology 68: 23-29
Gethings, O.J., Sage, R.B. & Leather, S.R. (2015) Spatial distribution of infectious stages of the nematode Syngamus trachea within pheasant Phasianus colchicus) release pens on estates in the South West of England: potential density dependence? Veterinary Parasitology 212: 267-274
Banfield-Zanin, J.A. & Leather, S.R. (2015) Drought intensity and frequency have contrasting effects on development time and survival of the green spruce aphid Agricultural & Forest Entomology 17: 309-316
Aqueel, M.A., Abu-Bakar, M.R., Balal, R.M., Shahid, M.A., Mustfa, I., Javiad, M.M. & Leather, S.R. (2015) Tritrophic interactions between parasitoids and cereal aphids are mediated by nitrogen ferilizer. Insect Science 22: 818-820
Pastorino, G.G., Albertini, M., Carlsen, F., Cunningham, A.A., Daniel, B.A., Flach, E., Hofer, H., Junhold, J., Kock, R., Leather,S., Masters, N., Preziosi, R., Routh, A., Sainsbury, A.W., Sato, Y., Spencer, W. & Pearce-Kelly, P. (2015) Project MOSI:rationale and pilot-study results of an initiative to help protect zoo animals from mosquito-transmitted pathogens and contribute data on mosquito spatio-temporal distribution change. International Zoo Yearbook 49: 172-188
Leather, S.R. (2015) An entomological classic - the Pooter or insect aspirator British Journal of Entomology & Natural History 28: 2-54
Banfield-Zanin, J.A. & Leather, S.R. (2015) Season and drought stress mediate growth and weight of the green spruce aphid on Sitka spruce. Agricultural & Forest Entomology 17: 48-56
Leather, S.R., Basset, Y. & Didham, R.K. (2015) Expanding horizons and widening participation in Insect Conservation and Diversity. Insect Conservation & Diversity 8: 1-2
Leather, S.R. (2015) Onwards and upwards - aphid flight trends follow climate change Journal of Animal Ecology 84: 1-3
Gethings, O.J., Sage, R.B. & Leather, S.R. (2015) Spatio-temporal factors influencing the occurrence of Sygamus trachea within release pens in the South West of England. Veterinary Parasitology 207: 64-71
Leather, S.R. (2015) Influential entomology: a short review of the scientific, societal,economic and educational services provided by entomology. Ecological Entomology 40 (Suppl. 1), 36-44
Cooper, L.C., Desjonqueres, C. & Leather, S.R. (2014) Cannibalism in the pea aphid, Acythrosiphon pisum. Insect Science 21:750-758.
Fray, L.M., Leather, S.R., Powell, G., Slater, R., McIndoe, E. & Lind, R.J. (2014) Behavioural avoidance and enhanced dispersal in neonicotinoid-resistant Myzus persicae (Sulzer) Pest Management Science 70: 88-96
Leather, S.R. (2014) How prepared is the UK to combat current and future threats to forests? Commonwealth Forestry Association Newsletter 64: 10-11
Midthassel, A., Leather, S.R. Wright, D.J. & Baxter, I.H. (2014) The functional and numerical response of Typhlodromips swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to the factitious prey Suidasia medanensis (Acari: Suidasidae) in the context of a breeding sachet. Biocontrol Science & Technology 24: 361-374
Leather, S.R. (2014) What attracts aphids - Kennedy, Booth and Kershaw (1961): host finding by aphis in the field III. Visual attraction - a top 20 paper in the Annals of Applied Biology. Annals of Applied Biology 165: 1-2
Banfield-Zanin, J.A. & Leather, S.R. (2014) (2014) Frequency and intensity of drought stress alters the population size and dynamics of Elatobium abietinum on Sitka spruce. Annals of Applied Biology 165: 260-269
Ramsden, M.W., Menendez, R., Leather, S.R. & Wackers, F. (2014) Optimizing field margins for biocontrol services: The relative role of aphid abundance, annual floral resources, and overwinter habitat in enhancing aphid natural enemies. Agriculture Ecosytems & Environment 199: 94-104
Leather, S.R. (2014) Modifying glucosinolates in oilseed rape - Giamoustaris & Mithen (1995: a top-twenty paper in the Annals of Applied Biology Annals of Applied Biology 164:318-319
Jeffs, C.T. & Leather, S.R. (2014) Effects of extreme, fluctuating temperature events on life history traits of the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 150: 240-249
Azevedo, R.A., Lea, P.J., Leather, S.R., McNicol, J.W., Millman, C.A., Haslam, R.P. & Valkonen, J.P.T. (2014) The centenary of Annals of Applied Biology in 2014 Annals of Applied Biology 164: 1-7
Aqueel, M.A., Collins, C.M., Raza, A.M., Ahmad, S. Tariq, M. & Leather, S.R. (2014) Effect of plant nutrition on aphid size, prey consumption, and life history characteristics of green lacewing Insect Science 21: 74-82
Leather, S.R. (2014) Current and future threats to UK forestry Outlooks on Pest Management 25: 22-24
Leather, S.R. (2014) How Stephen Jay Gould wrote Macbeth - Not giving credit where it's due: lazy referencing and ignoring precedence Ideas in Ecology & Evolution 7: 38-40
Leather, S.R., Baumgart, E.A., Evans, H.F. & Quicke, D.L.J. (2014) Seeing the trees for the wood - beech (Fagus sylvatica) decay fungal volatiles influence the structure of saproxylic beetle communities. Insect Conservation & Diversity 7: 314-326
Leather, S.R. (2013) Institutional vertebratism hampers insect conservation generally; not just saproxylic beetle conservation Animal Conservation 16: 379-380
Didham, R.K., Edwards, O.R., Leather, S.R. & Basset, Y. (2013) Arthropod diversity and the future of all-taxa inventories Insect Conservation & Diversity 6: 1-4
Aqueel, M.A. & Leather, S.R. (2013) Virulence of Verticillium lecanii (Z.) against cereal aphids; does timing of infection affect the performance of parasitoids and predators? Pest Management Science 69: 493-498
Midthassel, A., Leather, S.R. & Baxter, I.H. (2013) Life table parameters and capture success ratio studies of Typhlodromips swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to the factitious prey Suidasia medanensis (Acari: Suidasidae) Experimental & Applied Acaralogy, 61: 71-78
Goodwin, C.G., McHigh, N., Holland, J.M. & Leather, S.R. (2013) The influence of Environmental Stewardship (ES) summer foraging habitat on the territory selection of yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella Aspects of Applied Biology 118, 277-282
Pringle, H.E.K., Leather, S.R. & Sage, R.B. (2013) Miscanthus as a nesting habitat for lapwings, Vanellus vanellus Aspects of Applied Biology 118, 265-270
McHugh, N.M., Hughes, S., Leather, S.R., Stilman, R. & Holland, J.M. (2013) Yellowhammer breeding distribution in relation to filed boundary habitat and summe foraging resources Aspects of Applied Biology 118, 297-302
Sconce, F.B., Leather, S.R. & Grove, I.G. (2013) Springing into action? Collembola in agroecosystems Aspects of Applied Biology 118, 307-308
Ramsden, M., Menendez, R., Leather, S.R. & Wackers, F. (2013) The enhancement of conservation biological control through targeted landscape management Aspects of Applied Biology 118, 119-126
Bishop, T.R., Botham, M.S., Fox, R., Leather, S.R., Chapman, D.S. & Oliver, T.H. (2013) The utility of distribution data in predicting phenology Methods in Ecology & Evolution 4: 1024-1032
Jones, E.L & Leather, S.R. (2012) Invertebrates in urban areas: a review European Journal of Entomology 109
Leather (2012) The natural home for agricultural entomologists? Annals of Applied Biology 161
Aqueel, M. A., & Leather, S. R. (2012) Nitrogen fertiliser affects the functional response and prey consumption of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinelldiae) feeding on cereal aphids. Annals of Applied Biology 160
Aradottir, G. I., Hanley, S. J., Collins, C. M., Dawson, K. J., Karp, A., Leather, S. R. & Harrington, R. (2012) Population genetics of Tuberolachnus salignus, an obligate parthenogenetic aphid. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 14
Banfield-Zanin, J. A., Rossiter, J. T., Wright, D. J., Leather, S. R., & Staley, J. T. (2012) Predator mortality depends on whether its prey feeds on organic or conventionally fertilised plants. Biological Control 63
Cameron, K. H., & Leather, S. R. (2012) How good are carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) as indicators of invertebrate abundance and order richness? Biodiversity and Conservation 21
Cameron, K. H., & Leather, S. R. (2012) Heathland management effects on carabid beetle communities: the relationship between bare ground patch size and carabid biodiversity. Journal of Insect Conservation 16
Helden, A.J., Stamp, G.C. & Leather, S.R. (2012) Urban biodiversity: comparison of insect assemblages on native and non-native trees. Urban Ecosystems 15
Oliver, T. H., Leather, S. R., & Cook, J. M. (2012) Ant larval demand reduces aphid colony growth rates in an ant-aphid interaction Insects 3
Pope, T. W., Girling, R. D., Staley, J. T., Trigodet, B., Wright, D. J., Leather, S. R., Poppy,G. M. (2012) Effects of organic and conventional fertilizer treatments on host selection by the aphid parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae. Journal of Applied Entomology 136
Shrewsbury, P. M., & Leather, S. R. (2012) Using biodiversity for pest suppression in urban landscapes. (G. M. Gurr, S. D. Wratten, W. E. Snyder & D. M. Y. Read (Eds.), Biodiversity and Insect Pests: key Issues for Sustainable Management (pp. 294-308). Oxford: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
Stafford, D.B., Tariq, M., Wright, D.J., Rossiter, J.T., Kazana, E., Leather, S.R. & Staley,J.T. (2012) Opposing effects of organic and conventional fertilzers on the performance of a generalist and a specialist aphid species. Agricultural & Forest Entomology 14
Wilson, M.R. & Leather, S.R. (2012) The effect of past natural enemey activity on host-plant preference of two aphid species. Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 144
Adu-Acheampong, R., Archer, S. & Leather, S.R. (2012) Resistance to dieback disease caused by Fusarium and Lasiodiplodia species in cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) genotypes Experimental Agriculture 48
Butler, J., Garratt, M.P.D. & Leather, S.R. (2012) Fertilisers and insect herbivores: a review. Annals of Applied Biology 161
Sharma, M.V., Collins, C.M. & Leather, S.R. (2012) Anthropogenic influences on wild nutmeg fruit crop in the Western Ghats of India Journal of Sustainable Forestry 31
Ramsden, M., Menendez, M., Leather, S. & Wackers, F. (2012) Effect of additional resources on aphidophagous parasitoid wasp activity on field margins in arable landscapes IOBC/WPRS Bulletin 75: 161-165
Leather, S.R., Didham, R.K., & Basset, Y. (2011) Insect Conservation and Diversity - making an impact. Insect Conservation & Diversity 4
Aqueel, M.A. & Leather, S.R. (2011) Effect of nitrogen fertilizer on the growth and survival of Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) and Sitobion avenae (F.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) on different wheat cultivars. Crop Protection 30
Garratt, M. P. D., Wright, D. J., & Leather, S. R. (2011) The effects of farming system and fertilisers on pests and natural enemeies: a synthesis of current research. Agriculture Ecossytems & Environment 141
Gouveia, A.R., Pearce-Kelly, P., Quicke, D.L.J. & Leather, S.R. (2011) Effects of different calcium concentrations supplelented on the diet of Partual gibba on their morphometric growth parameters, weight and reproduction success. Malacologia 54
Sharma, M. V., Shaanker, R. U., Leather, S. R., Vasudeva, R., & Shivanna, K. R. (2011) Floral resources, pollinators and fruiting in a thratened tropical deciduous tree. Journal of Plant Ecology, 4
Staley, J.T., Girling, R.D., Stewart-Jones, A., Poppy, G.M., Leather, S.R. & Wright, D.J. (2011) Organic and conventional fertilizer effects on a tri-trophic interaction: parasitism, performance and preference of Cotesia vestalis. Journal of Applied Entomology 135
Staley, J. T., Stafford, D. R., Green, E. R., Leather, S. R., Rossiter, J. T., Poppy, G. M., & Wright, D. J. (2011) Plant nutrient supply determines competition between phytophagous insects. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 278
Leather, S.R. (2010) Precise knowledge of plant growth stage enhances applied and pure research. Annals of Applied Biology 157
Didham, R.K., Basset, Y. & Leather, S.R. (2010) Research needs in insect conservation and diversity. Insect Conservation & Diversity 3
Garratt, M.P.D., Leather, S.R., & Wright, D.J. (2010) Tritrophic effects of organic and conventional fertilisers on a cereal aphid-parasitoid system. Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 134
Garratt, M.P.D., Wright, D.J. & Leather, S.R. (2010) The effects of organic and conventional fertilizers on cereal aphids and their natural enemies. Agricultural & Forest Entomology 12
Staley, J. T., Stewart-Jones, A., Pope, T. W., Wright, D. J., Leather, S. R., Hadley, P., Rositer, J.T., Van Emden, H.F.&. Poppy, G. M. (2010) Varying responses of insect herbivores to altered plant chemistry under organic and conventional treatments. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 277
Leather, S.R. & Quicke, D.J.L. (2010) Do shifting baselines in natural history knowledge threaten the environment? Environmentalist, 30
Leather, S.R. (2009) Taxonomic chauvinism threatens the future of entomology. Biologist 56
Leather, S.R. (2009) Institutional vertebratism threatens UK food security. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 24
Straw, N.A., Timms, J.E.L., & Leather, S.R. (2009) Variation in the abundance of invertebrate predators of the green spruce aphid Elatobium abietinum (Walker) (Homoptera: Aphididae) along an altitudinal transect Forest Ecology & Management 258
Archetti, M., Döring, T.F., Hagen, S.B., Hughes, N.M., Leather, S.R., Lee, D.W., Lev-Yadun, S., Manetas, Y., Ougham, H.J.,Schaberg, P.G., & Thomas, H (2009) Response to Sinkkonen: Ultraviolet reflectance in autumn leaves and the un-naming of colours Trends in Ecology & Evolution 24
Basset, Y., Hawkins, B.A. & Leather, S.R. (2009) Visions for insect conservation and diversity: spanning the gap between practice and theory Insect Conservation & Diversity 2
Oliver, T.H., Leather, S.R., & Cook, J.M. (2009) Tolerance traits and the stability of mutualism Oikos 118
Archetti, M., Döring, T.F., Hagen, S.B., Hughes, N.M., Leather, S.R., Lee, D.W., Lev-Yadun, S., Manetas, Y., Ougham, H.J.,Schaberg, P.G., & Thomas, H (2009) Unravelling the evolution of autumn colours: an interdisciplinary approach Trends in Ecology & Evolution 24
Aradotiir, G., Karp, A., Hanley, S., Shield, I., Woodcock, C., Dewhirst, S., Collins, M., Leather, S. & Harrington, R. (2009) Host selection of the giant willow aphid (Tuberolachnus salignus. Redia 92: 223-225
Timms, J.E.L., Oliver, T.H., Straw, N.A. & Leather, S.R. (2008) (2008) The effects of host plant on the coccinellid functional response: is the conifer specialist Aphidecta obliterata (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) better adapted to spruce than the generalist Adalia bipunctata (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)? Biological Control, 47: 273-281
Leather, S.R., Basset, Y. & Hawkins, B.A. (2008) Insect Conservation and Diversity - a new journal for the Royal Entomological Society. Insect Conservation & Diversity 1: 1
Leather, S.R., Basset, Y. & Hawkins, B.A. (2008) Insect conservation: finding the way forward Insect Conservation & Diversity 1: 67-69
Fuller, R.J., Oliver, T.H., & Leather, S.R. (2008) Forest management effects on carabid beetle communities in coniferous and broadleaved forests: implications for conservation Insect Conservation & Diversity 1: 242-252.
Hicks, B.J., Leather, S.R., & Watt, A.D. (2008) Changing dynamics of the pine beauty moth Panolis flammea) in Britain: the loss of enemy free space? Agricultural & Forest Entomology 10: 263-271.
Oliver, T.H., Leather, S.R. & Cook, J.M. (2008) Macroevolutionary patterns in the origin of mutualisms. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 21: 1597-1608
Oliver, T.H., Pettitt, T., Leather, S.R., & Cook, J.M. (2008) Numerical abundance of invasive ants and monopolisation of exudate-producing resources - a chicken and egg situation Insect Conservation & Diversity 1: 208-214.
Oliver, T.H., Jones, I., Cook, J.M., & Leather, S.R. (2008) Avoidance responses of an aphidophagous ladybird, Adalia bipunctata, to aphid-tending ants Ecological Entomology 33: 523-528.
Pigot, A.L. & Leather, S.R. (2008) Invertebrate predators drive distance-dependent patterns of seedling mortality in a temperate tree Acer pseudoplatanus Oikos 117: 521-530.
Rhainds, M., Leather, S.R. & Sadoff, C (2008) Polyphagy, flightlessness and reproductive output of females: a case study with bagworms (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) Ecological Entomology 33: 663-672
Timms, J.E.L. & Leather, S.R. (2008) How do consumption and development rates of the conifer specialist Aphidecta obliterata respond to temperature, and is it better adapted to limited prey than a generalist? Annals of Applied Biology 153: 63-71.
Döring T F, Hardie, J., Leather, S. Spaethe, J. & Chittka, L (2008) Can aphids play football? Antenna 32: 146-147
Hicks, B.J., Aegerter, J.N., Leather, S.R. & Watt, A.D. (2007) Differential rates of parasitism of the pine beauty moth (Panolis flammea) depends on host tree species Scottish Forestry 61: 5-10
Timms, J.E.L. & Leather, S.R. (2007) Ladybird egg cluster size: relationships between species, oviposition substrate and cannibalism. Bulletin of Entomological Research 97: 613-618
Oliver, T.H., Mashanova, A., Leather, S.R., Cook, J.M. & Janssen, V.A. (2007) Ant semiochemical limit apterous aphid dispersal. Proceedings of the Royal Society (B). 274: 3127-3131
Hicks, B.J., Aegerter, J.N., Leather, S.R. & Watt, A.D. (2007) Differential rates of parasitism of the pine beauty moth (Panolis flammea) depends on host tree species. Scottish Forestry 61: 5-10
Oliver, T.H., Cook, J.M., & Leather, S.R. (2007) When are ant-attractant devices a worthwhile investment? Vicia faba extrafloral nectaries and Lasius niger ants. Population Ecology 49: 265-273
Leahy, M.J.A., Oliver, T.H. & Leather, S.R. (2007) Feeding behaviour of the black pine beetle, Hylastes ater (Coleoptera:Scolytidae). Agricultural & Forest Entomology 9: 115-124
Day, K.R., Docherty, M., Leather, S.R., & Kidd, N.A.C. (2006) The role of generalist insect predators and pathogens in suppressing green spruce aphid populations through direct mortality and mediation of aphid dropping behaviour. Biological Control 38: 233-246
Nunes, L.F., Silva, I., Pité, M., Rego, F.C., Leather, S.R., & Serrano, A. (2006) Carabid (Coleoptera) community change following prescribed burning and the potential use of carabids as indicator species to evaluate the effects of fire management in Mediterranean regions. Silva Lusitania 14: 85-100.
Oliver, T.H., Timms, J.E.L., Taylor, A., & Leather, S.R. (2006) Oviposition responses to patch quality in the larch ladybird Aphidecta obliterata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): effects of aphid density, and con-and heterospecific tracks. Bulletin of Entomological Research 96: 25-34
Rose, D.R., Matthews, G.A., & Leather, S.R. (2006) Sub-lethal responses of the large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis, to the pyrethroid insecticide lambda-chhalothrin. Physiological Entomology, 31: 316-327.

Additional Information

I am a Senior Editor of Insect Conservation & Diversity, Editor-in-Chief and Senior Editor (Invertebrates and pests) of Annals of Applied Biology and serve on the editorial boards of Ecological Entomology and Agricultural & Forest Entomology.

I serve on the Publications Committee, The Wallace Award Committee and the Conservation Commitee of the Royal Entomological Society.

I am an external examiner for BSc Biosciences (Ecology & Zoology) at Cardiff University.

I am external examiner for MSc Biodiversity & Conservation at Leeds University

I am a trustee of the Scottish Forestry Trust.

I am part of the Tree Health & Plant Biosecurity Expert Taskforce

I am a member of the Steering Advisory Group for the Environmental Change Network.

I am an Assessor for the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Endeavour Fund

Research projects