Lawrence M. Hanks: An Influential Entomologist at the University of Illinois
Lawrence M. Hanks, known professionally as Larry Hanks, has been a prominent figure in entomology, especially at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where he has served as a professor since 1996. His work primarily focuses on insect-plant interactions, invasive species management, and conservation biological control, with a particular emphasis on the chemical ecology of cerambycid beetles.
Education and Early Career
A. Hanks received his B.S. from the University of California, Davis in 1978, his M.S. from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1982, and his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1991. Hanks earned a B.S. in Entomology from the University of California, Davis in 1978, an M.S. in Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1982. He pursued graduate studies at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he received an M.S. in Biology in 1982 under the advisement of R.W. Hanks completed his Ph.D. in Entomology at the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1991, with Robert F. Denno as his advisor. His Ph.D. supervisor was Robert Denno. His dissertation, titled The white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti) (Homoptera: Diaspididae): life history in Maryland and factors influencing its abundance in urban landscapes, examined the ecology and population regulation of this armored scale insect, emphasizing the roles of natural enemies, host plant relations, and environmental factors in urban settings. Following his doctorate, he conducted postdoctoral research from 1989 to 1993 at the University of California, Riverside, supervised by Timothy D. Paine and Jocelyn G.
Research Focus and Contributions
Lawrence M. Hanks has made significant contributions to the fields of chemical ecology, conservation biological control, and insect-plant interactions, primarily through studies on insect behavior and pest management strategies. Based in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, since 1996, Hanks keeps a low profile outside his academic responsibilities, with limited public details available on personal activities beyond his professional engagements. Hanks directs the Hanks Lab at UIUC, which remains operational and centered on chemical ecology and conservation biological control, including studies of longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae).
Chemical Ecology of Cerambycid Beetles
A central focus of Hanks' research is the chemical communication in cerambycid beetles (longhorned beetles), where he has demonstrated that volatile sex and aggregation-sex pheromones are highly conserved across sympatric and allopatric species, often sharing identical or similar components that facilitate species-specific attraction despite potential for cross-attraction. This conservation allows for the development of multi-species pheromone blends that simultaneously attract diverse cerambycid taxa, enhancing monitoring and control efforts for wood-boring pests that damage forests and urban trees. Hanks has also investigated dose-responses to sex attractants and flight phenology in click beetle species (Elateridae) native to eastern North America, revealing optimal pheromone release rates for trapping males of species like those in the genera Agriotes and Limonius, which are important agricultural pests. These studies, conducted through field experiments in Illinois, show that attraction peaks at intermediate doses (e.g., 100-500 μg), with phenology varying by species-such as peak flights in late spring for some-to inform timed deployment of traps for integrated pest management. As a graduate student, he became curious as to why trees in woodland settings were almost free of a pest that was infecting numerous trees in urban landscapes.
Conservation Biological Control
In conservation biological control, Hanks has explored urban pest dynamics, particularly manipulating floral resources to boost natural enemy populations in woodlands and ornamental landscapes, leading to suppressed outbreaks of pests like armored scale insects on trees. His experiments highlight how understory plants providing nectar and pollen enhance parasitoid and predator abundance, thereby stabilizing pest populations in human-modified environments.
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Recognition and Awards
Lawrence M. Hanks has received several prestigious awards and honors recognizing his contributions to entomology, particularly in urban pest management and chemical ecology. Hanks' research programs in chemical ecology and pest management have been cited for excellence in official reports, including President Richard Atkinson's 1996 Report to the Board of Regents at the University of California, which highlighted his work on biological control, and the USDA's 2001 Science and Impact Report, which cited his biological control program. In 2014, he received the Arnold O.
Publications and Influence
Hanks has authored or co-authored approximately 200 peer-reviewed publications, including influential works on cerambycid chemical ecology, such as the 2017 book chapter "Chemical Ecology of Cerambycids" co-authored with J. G. Millar.
Family and Personal Life
Lawrence M. Hanks, born on January 26, 1953, is the eldest son and second oldest child in a family of four siblings to parents Janet Marylyn Frager, of Portuguese descent, a hospital worker, and Amos Mefford Hanks, an itinerant cook. His older sister, Sandra Hanks Benoiton (born July 31, 1951), works as a writer and has held various roles including production coordinator on films such as The 'Burbs and Forrest Gump, as well as radio host and counselor. The youngest siblings are Thomas J. "Tom" Hanks (born July 9, 1956), an acclaimed actor, and James M. As the eldest brother, Larry maintained a close, supportive relationship with Tom, sharing early interests that hinted at Tom's future career in entertainment. Larry's extended family includes notable nephews from Tom's children: Colin Hanks (born November 24, 1977), an actor and director; Chester "Chet" Hanks (born April 4, 1990), a musician and actor; and Truman Theodore Hanks (born December 6, 1995), an emerging actor. Larry Hanks has received public attention primarily through his familial connection to actor Tom Hanks, with media coverage focusing on their contrasting careers rather than Larry's independent endeavors. This dynamic resurfaced in 2017 when Tom Hanks appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to promote his film The Circle. He discusses his brother beginning at 3:00 "Tom Hanks interview". The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. CBS. April 29, 2017. The anecdote gained further traction in a contemporary Chicago Tribune article, where Tom recounted feeling "rattled" upon approaching UIUC students who prioritized recognition of Larry's professorial status over his own celebrity, responding to his self-introduction with, "Yeah, and your brother is Dr. Lawrence Michael Hanks,
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