Hillier Lab at Acadia

Hillier Lab at Acadia My research program extends to elements of ecology, agriculture, behaviour and neuroscience.

Central to most of these research topics is the sense of olfaction, including olfactory neuroethology and applied pest management solutions.

Signing and selling copies of Rebel Researcher at the Wolfville Farmer’s Market! Wolfville Farmer’s Market with Dr. Sore...
09/12/2026

Signing and selling copies of Rebel Researcher at the Wolfville Farmer’s Market! Wolfville Farmer’s Market with Dr. Soren Bondrup- Nielsen! Wolfville Farmers’ Market

Wonderful day yesterday with great news! A few highlights from the CTRIC funding announcement(s). Big congrats to Dr. Fa...
08/26/2026

Wonderful day yesterday with great news! A few highlights from the CTRIC funding announcement(s). Big congrats to Dr. Faraone and Dr. Ferguson! Now the real work begins…
More news here:
https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2026/08/25/province-supports-research-strengthen-response-tick-borne-diseases https://www2.acadiau.ca/about-acadia/newsroom/news-reader-page/what-makes-ticks-tick-acadia-researchers-awarded-funding-to-find-out.html https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/nova-scotia/article/nova-scotia-spending-12m-on-technologies-to-battle-tick-borne-diseases/ https://yourhalifaxnow.ca/research-nova-scotia-invests-1-2m-to-combat-tick-borne-diseases/

From the field to the lab! Now that all invertebrate samples have been collected, it is time to crush them up for pestic...
08/23/2026

From the field to the lab! Now that all invertebrate samples have been collected, it is time to crush them up for pesticide analysis. 🐜🧪

08/14/2026

A tiny predator with a clever disguise. 🔎🌲

While examining hemlock samples, we found this green lacewing larva (Chrysopidae) carrying the remains of its prey—including what appear to be hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA).

Often called “trash-carrying” lacewings, some species camouflage themselves by piling wax, debris, and the empty bodies of prey onto their backs. Beneath that disguise is a highly effective generalist predator that feeds on aphids, adelgids and other small, soft-bodied insects - effectively a ‘WOLF IN SHEEPS CLOTHING’!

Finds like this are an important reminder that managing HWA isn’t only about the predators we introduce through classical biological control. Native and already-established predators are also part of the forest food web and may have a future in suppressing HWA populations.

Understanding who is already eating HWA, when they attack it, and how their role complements introduced specialist predators can help us build a more complete—and resilient—biological control strategy.

Sometimes the evidence of predation is literally riding around on the predator’s back. 🐛🌲

🌿 The forest is full of connections. 🐝🦋From moths that depend on specific host plants to bees, butterflies and beetles m...
08/11/2026

🌿 The forest is full of connections. 🐝🦋

From moths that depend on specific host plants to bees, butterflies and beetles moving pollen from flower to flower, there’s a whole network hiding in plain sight.

Swipe through for a few of the plants and insects we’ve encountered in the field — including some surprisingly specialized relationships. 🔎 Here are a few of the plants and insects we’ve spotted in the field this summer. How many have you seen?

🌲 Bringing the forest into the greenhouse!These pine bark adelgid-infested white pine branches are being reared so we ca...
08/06/2026

🌲 Bringing the forest into the greenhouse!

These pine bark adelgid-infested white pine branches are being reared so we can study what predators are associated with the predating pest.

Our research focuses on Leucotaraxis, a native predatory fly whose larvae feed on adelgids. By collecting adult flies, we hope to better understand its interaction with pine bark adelgid and hemlock woolly adelgid.

Sorting through insect samples isn’t as simple as it may seem, and you really have to pay attention to the details. We’r...
08/04/2026

Sorting through insect samples isn’t as simple as it may seem, and you really have to pay attention to the details. We’re looking to sort out a bunch of different insects from trap collections, including moths, geotrupids, ants, and bees, to name a few.
See how you did:

1: IMPOSTER! This is a caddisfly, not a moth. It has long antennae and wings that are covered in tiny hairs instead of moth scales.
2: IMPOSTER! Just a little June bug, a geotrupid is more rounded.
3: REAL DEAL! It’s a flying ant, it just looks like a wasp.
4: IMPOSTER! Looks like a fuzzy little bumblebee, but it’s just a fly. A clear giveaway is that bees have 2 sets of wings, and flies only have one.

A look into a day in the life of one of our lab techs (Sophie!!) out in the field working on the biocontrol portion of t...
08/04/2026

A look into a day in the life of one of our lab techs (Sophie!!) out in the field working on the biocontrol portion of the HWA project.

REPOST: apparently some critical signs were cut off last time- so let’s try again: V2.0. Your zodiac sign = your Nova Sc...
08/04/2026

REPOST: apparently some critical signs were cut off last time- so let’s try again: V2.0. Your zodiac sign = your Nova Scotia invasive insect! Invasive insects are those brought into an area unintentionally, often causing severe ecological damage. Here at the Acadia bug lab, we focus on hemlock woolly adelgid. You can report invasive insects you see to the NS Invasive Species Council, or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Disclaimer: These traits are for entertainment purposes and are not scientifically proven.

Go check out the BYOB (Build Your Own Bouquet ;) ) event at Gaspereau Vineyards with the Gaspereau Flower Lady (acadiabu...
08/02/2026

Go check out the BYOB (Build Your Own Bouquet ;) ) event at Gaspereau Vineyards with the Gaspereau Flower Lady (acadiabuglabs own Wendy Hillier) .

Drink some w**e, share some beauty!

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Wolfville, NS

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