Research Program


Dr. Kaufman’s area of specialization is veterinary entomology. Specifically, he works on integrated pest management in livestock systems, with particular interest in beneficial arthropod ecology, biological control of muscoid flies, and pesticide resistance. Currently, an emphasis has been placed on external parasites and flies affecting livestock and horses.  This research drives development of new pest management tools that can be applied by Florida’s livestock producers and horse owners to increase animal health and profitability.      

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the strategy of utilizing multiple tactics to combat a pest population.  Tactics include monitoring/surveillance (scouting for and tracking a pest population), biological control (application of an organism that is a parasitoid, pathogen or predator of the pest), chemical control (application of pesticides or repellents), and cultural control (making physical amendments to or causing some physical disruption of the problem site, such as tillage, waste removal, sanitation, or trapping).

Current research projects –

Integrated Pest Management Systems for Florida Livestock and Horse Operations

Flies Impacting Livestock, Poultry and Food Safety

Evaluation of Mosquito Sentinel Traps

Survey of Cattle Dung-Inhabiting Scarab Beetles

Selection of Active Ingredients for Control of Medically Important Diptera

 

Highlights of some of these research projects are illustrated below:

sentinel pouch

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF FILTH FLIES. Surveillance of parasitoid wasps can be conducted at livestock facilities by placing "sentinel" pouches containing fly pupae in areas where reproducing filth flies are concentrated. Field populations of wasps sting the pupae for a predetermined sampling period. Pouches are retrieved from the field and returned to the lab where pupae are individually gel capped and observed for emergence of wasps.

E.intermedius

DUNG BEETLES. Diversity and abundance of dung beetles are being monitored in several north central Florida cattle pastures. Species of special concern include several introduced beetles. Experiments on the reproduction, development and survival of beetles fed manure from cattle that had received parasiticide treatment are being conducted to investigate the impact of producer practices on populations of dung beetles. More information.

Bb on house flies

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL USING A PATHOGEN. Studies were conducted to determine the efficacacy of three strains of Beauveria bassiana, an entomopathogenic fungus, against house flies of four age classes. This information is useful for developing a formulation that can be used as a premise treatment. A mixture of male and female house flies of the four age classes were treated as a group. Model paint was used to distinguish the gender and ages.

Jar bioassay

FILTH FLY RESISTANCE. Field strains of house flies and stable flies are being tested against commercially-available insecticidal products to determine levels of insecticide resistance. In addition, investigations of filth fly management practices, such as use of toxic baits, will help farmers choose the best fly control tactics.

sand fly

MEDICALLY IMPORTANT DIPTERA. The identification and development of new insecticides for protection against blood feeding insects and filth flies will provide the military with new and effective technologies to reduce exposure risk to military personnel. Target insects include house flies, mosquitoes, and sand flies. All of the compounds being examined are principally extracts of plants. Not only should this expedite registration, but also limit the likelihood of cross-resistance or non-target exposure to these novel chemistries.

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