W. A. Priyanka P. De Silva, PhD Senior Lecturer, Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka depriyanka@pdn.ac.lk depriyanka@yahoo.com EDUCATION: PhD - Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Texas, USA (2014) Master of Philosophy - Zoological Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2006) Bachelor of Science - Special Degree in Zoology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (1999) PROFESSIONAL WORKS: Senior Student Counselor, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, since 2015 Secretary of the Zoology Departmental Committee, Sri Lanka, 2015 Center Coordinator of the National Biology Olympiad Examination conducted by the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka, 2015, 2016 Coordinator for the Foundation courses (Biology component), Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2016 Coordinator for the Science Education Program (Biology Component), Post Graduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, since 2015 Warden, Ramanathan Girls Hostel, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, since 2016 RESEARCH EXPERIENCE: Sensory Ecology of Frog-biting midges, Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, Indiana, USA (2014) Mating, Foraging and Sensory Ecology of Frog biting midges and Mosquitoes, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, USA (2009 to 2014) Field sampling and Behavioral analysis of Frog-biting midges, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Gamboa, Panama (June to August 2010 and June to August 2013) Insecticide Resistance Mechanisms of Mosquitoes, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK,2006 Insect Toxicology, University of Peradeniya, Postgraduate Institute of Science, Sri Lanka (1999-2004) Vermicomposting Using Earthworms, University of Peradeniya, Department of Zoology, Sri Lanka (1999) TEACHING EXPERIENCE: Senior Lecturer Grade II, Department of Zoology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2008 to present)
Part time Graduate Teaching Assistant, Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, USA (2009 to 2014) Part time Graduate Teaching Instructor, Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University USA (2011) Lecturer, Department of Zoology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2004 to 2008) Assistant Lecturer, Department of Zoology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2002 to 2004) SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS: Sensory ecology and mating behavior of frog- biting midges, Texas Tech University, Biological Sciences Department, Ecology Evolution and Behavior Brown Bag seminar series) 20th Nov 2013 Feeding ecology and reproduction of frog-biting midges, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Gamboa, Panama, 19th Aug 2013 PEER-REVIEVED PUBLICATIONS: 1. Aihara, Ikkyu, de Silva, P and Ximena E. Bernal (2016). "Acoustic Preference of Frog Biting Midges (Corethrella spp) Attacking Túngara Frogs in their Natural Habitat." Ethology 122.2: 105-113.) 2. de Silva, P., Miranda, R., & Bernal, X. E. (2015). First report of mite parasitization in frog-biting midges (Corethrella species). International Jornal of Acarology. 1-4. 3. de Silva, P. Nutter, B. & Bernal, X. E. (2015). Use of acoustic signals in mating in an eavesdropping frog-biting midge. Journal of Animal Behavior. 103: 45-51 4. Bernal, X.E. & de Silva. P. (2015). Cues used in host-seeking behavior by frog-biting midges (Corethrella spp Coquillet). Journal of Vector Ecology. 40 (1), 122-128 5. de Silva, P., Jaramillo, C., & Bernal, X. E. (2014). Feeding Site Selection by FrogBiting Midges (Diptera: Corethrellidae) on Anuran Hosts. Journal of Insect Behavior, 27(3), 302-316. 6. de Silva, P & Bernal, X. E. (2013). First report of the mating behavior of a species of frog-biting midge (Diptera: Corethrellidae). Journal of Florida Entomologist 96 (4): 1522-1529. 7. de Silva, P. & Bernal X. E. (2010). Evolution of blood-sucking insects. Encyclopedia of Earth (http://www.eoearth.org/article/51cbedc47896bb431f693c1a). 8. Charles, S.W., de Silva, P., Hemingway, J., Ranson, H, & Karunaratne, S. H. P. P. (2008). Characterization of knock-down resistance in DDT and pyrethroid resistant Culex quinquefasciatus populations from Sri Lanka. Tropical Medicine & International Health 13(4): 548-555. 9. de Silva, P., Karunaratne, S. H. P. P. & Manuweera, G. K. (2008) Insecticidal activity of Euphorbia antiquorum latex and its preliminary chemical analysis. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36 (1): 15-23.
CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS: 1. Chathuranga, W G D, Karunaratne, S H P P, De Silva W A P P (2017). A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON ORNITHOPHILIC MOSQUITOES (CULICIDAE: DIPTERA) OF SRI LANKA. Joint Symposium of advancement of Entomological Research, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. January 2017 2. Nugapola, N W N P De Silva, W A P P, Karunaratne S H P P (2017). IDENTIFICATION OF WOLBACHIA STRAINS IN WILD MOSQUITO POPULATIONS IN KANDY DISTRICT OF SRI LANKA. Joint Symposium of advancement of Entomological Research, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. January 2017 3. Nugapola NWNP, Karunaratne WAIP, Perera MDB, de Silva WAPP, Karunaratne SHPP (2016). EFFECT OF DENGUE INSECTICIDE FOGGING ON CASHEW POLLINATORS AND OTHER NON-TARGET INSECTS. Proceedings of the Peradeniya University International Research Sessions. November 2016 4. Wickramasinghe WMN, Aryaprema VS, de Silva WAPP, Abeysundara SP and Karunaratne SHPP (2016). POTENTIAL IMPACT OF WEATHER PATTERNS ON DENGUE DISEASE AND VECTOR DENSITIES. Proceedings of the Peradeniya University International Research Sessions. November 2016 5. Herath BP, Ekanayake C, Karunaratne SHPP, Bernal XE & de Silva WAPP (2016). HOST PREFERENCES OF FROG-BITING URANOTAENIA MOSQUITOES IN SRI LANKA (2016). Proceedings of the Peradeniya University International Research Sessions. November 2016 6. de Silva, P., Karunaratne S.H.P.P. Samarasinghe N. & Bernal X.E. (2015). PRELIMINARY STUDIES OF THE FROG-BITING MOSQUITOES IN SRI LANKA. International Peradeniya University Research Sessions. University of Peradeniya. Sri Lanka., November 2015 7. de Silva, P. & Bernal, X. E. (2014). USE OF ACOUSTIC MATING SIGNALS IN AN EAVESDROPPING FROG-BITING MIDGE, International Society of Behavioral Ecology (ISBE), New York, USA, August 2014 8. de Silva, P. & Bernal, X. E. (2014). SENSORY ECOLOGY OF THE MATING BEHAVIORS OF THE INFRAORDER CULICOMORPHA (DIPTERA), Texas Tech Biological Science Symposium, March 2014 9. de Silva, P. & Bernal X.E. (2013). FIRST REPORT OF THE MATING BEHAVIOR OF FROG-BITING MIDGES, Entomological Society of America, Austin, Texas, USA, November 2013 10. de Silva, P. & Bernal, X. E. (2013). ACOUSTIC COMMUNICATION IN MATING SWARMS OF FROG- BITING MIDGES, Texas Tech Biological Sciences Symposium, Lubbock, Texas, USA, March 2013 11. de Silva, P. & Bernal X.E. (2012). MATING BEHAVIOR OF FROG-BITING MIDGES, Texas Tech Biological Sciences Symposium, Lubbock, Texas, USA, March 2012 12. de Silva, P. & Bernal X.E. (2011). MATING AND SWARMING BEHAVIOR OF FROG-BITING MIDGES, Animal Behavior Society of America, New Mexico, USA. August 2011 13. de Silva, P, Jaramillo, C & Bernal, X.E. (2011), SELECTION OF BITING SITES ON ANURAN HOSTS BY FROG-BITING MIDGES (CORETHRELLA SPP.). Entomological Society of America, Reno, Nevada, U.S.A., November 2011 14. de Silva, P, Jaramillo, C & Bernal, X.E. (2010). SELECTION OF BITING SITES ON ANURAN HOSTS BY FROG-BITING MIDGES (CORETHRELLA SPP.), 7th International Congress of Dipterology, San José, Costa Rica, July 2010 15. Weeraratne, T.C., Perera, M.D.B., de Silva, P. and Karunaratne, S.H.P.P. (2009). EFFICACY OF INSECTICIDE BASED DENGUE VECTOR CONTROL METHODS USED IN SRI LANKA: SPACE SPRAYING OF
ADULTICIDES AND APPLICATION OF LARVICIDES. Proceedings of the Peradeniya University Research Sessions 16. Weeraratne, T.C., Wijerathna J.M.R.G., de Silva, P, Karunaratne, S.H.P.P. (2008). ABUNDANCE AND BREEDING PREFERENCES OF THE DENGUE VECTORS AEDES AEGYPTI AND AEDES ALBOPICTUS IN TWO LOCALITIES IN KANDY AND MATALE DISTRICTS DURING THREE MONTHS PERIOD. Annual Sessions, Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka 17. Karunaratne, S.H.P.P., de Silva, P., Perera, M.D.B. and Hemingway, J. (200 7). TARGET SITE MUTATIONS ARE FOUND IN PYRETHROIDS RESISTANT MOSQUITO POPULATIONS IN SRI LANKA. 2nd International Symposium on Infectious Diseases and Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka 18. Ekanayake, D.H., Weeraratne, T.C., de Silva, P. and Karunaratne, S.H.P.P., (2007). POTENTIAL OF SOME SELECTED LARVIVOROUS FISH SPECIES IN AEDES MOSQUITO CONTROL. Annual Research Session, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka 19. Weeraratne, T.C., Gunaratne, N.S., de Silva, P., Marukona, C.K., Karunaratne, S.H.P.P. (2006). PREVALANCE AND MALATHION RESISTANCE IN AEDES VECTOR MOSQUITOES IN KANDY, SRI LANKA, No: Annual Research Session, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka 20. de Silva, P., Karunaratne, S.H.P.P., Manuweera, G.K.. (2005) INSECTICIDAL ACTIVITY OF EUPHORBIA ANTIQUORUM LATEX AGAINST AGRICULTURALLY IMPORTANT INSECT PESTS AND THEIR NATURAL ENEMIES, Annual Research Session, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka 21. de Silva, P., Manuweera, G.K., Karunaratne, S.H.P.P. (2001). INSECTICIDAL ACTIVITY OF LATEX OF EUPHORBIA ANTIQUORUM ON AGRICULTURAL INSECT PESTS, Annual Research Session Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka AWARDS RECEIVED: Summer Dissertation Award, Texas Tech University, USA (2014) President s Awards for Scientific Publication, Sri Lanka (2008) Outstanding Teaching assistant, Texas Tech University, USA (2010) Best poster presentation, Biological Science Symposium, Texas Tech University, USA (2011) PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: Animal Behavior Society (2012- present) Entomological Society of America (2012 to present) Florida Entomologists (2012-2014) Society for the Study of Evolution (2012-2014) West Texas Women in Science (2012-2014) Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (Life Member) University of Peradeniya Science Alumni Association UPSAA (Life Member) Texas Tech University, Alumni association (Life Member)
GRANTS RECEIVED: Nagao Environment Foundation, Japan 2015-2016: Species diversity, abundance and distribution of frog-biting mosquitoes in Wet and Dry zones of Sri Lanka (Japanese yen 460,500) National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka- EB 05 (2016 to 2018): Host specificity and vector potential of Uranotaenia mosquitoes in Sri Lanka (Rs: 1, 420,62.00) National Research Council, Sri Lanka 16-059 (2016-2018): Species diversity and vector status of Ornithophilic mosquitoes in Sri Lanka (Rs 1,524,600.00) UNIVERSITY GRANT -51/ S (2016-2017) : Abundance, distribution and special preferences of bird biting mosquitoes of Sri Lanka (Rs 943,000.00)