
Carl C. Childers
ccc@crec.ifas.ufl.edu
(85% Research, 10% Extension, 5% Teaching)
Education
- B.S., University of Missouri (Agriculture), 1966
- M.S., University of Missouri (Entomology), 1968
- Ph.D., University of Missouri (Entomology), 1974
Employment
- Professor (1993-present), University of Florida
- Associate Professor (1983-1993), University of Florida
- Assistant Professor (1977-1983), University of Florida
- Research Associate (1975-1977), North Carolina State University
- Research Entomologist (l968-1970), Velsicol Chemical
Research
- Develop pest management strategies including chemical and biological control
methods that will prevent injurious insects and mites of citrus from reaching population densities
that result in economic loss.
Extension
- Assist agricultural producers to identify pest problems in citrus production and
recommend environmentally sound, sustainable solutions. Close association with the industry in
the field also affords me the opportunity to identify and respond to research needs in my areas of
expertise.
Accomplishments
- I served as guest editor for one special issue of Experimental and Applied Acarology
dealing with Brevipalpus mites and the rhabdoviruses they vector.
- I have published 25 refereed and 43 non-refereed papers on the biology and control of
several insect and mite species that are pests on Florida citrus including Frankliniella
bispinosa, F. kelliae, Chaetanaphothrips orchidii, Heliothrips
heamorrhoidalis, and the acarine pests including Phyllocoptruta oleivora,
Aculops pelekassi (Eriophyidae), Eutetranychus banksi (Tetranychidae),
Brevipalpus californicus, B. lewisi, B. obovatus, B. phoenicis
(Tenuipalpidae), and the comparative biologies of various acarine predators including
Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae, Ascidae, and Macrochelidae.
- Sampling parameters, effects of tank-mixes, and comparative control of mites and insects
with various oils and pesticides have been pursued.
Selected Publications
- Childers, C.C. 1994. Biological control of phytophagous mites on Florida citrus
utilizing predatory arthropods. In D. Rosen, F. Bennett, and J. Capinera (Eds.), Biological
Control and IPM: The Florida Experience. Intercept, Andover, United Kingdom.
- Childers, C.C., and D.S. Achor. 1995. Thrips feeding and oviposition injuries to economic
plants, subsequent damage and host responses to infestation. In B.L. Parker, T. Lewis,
and M. Skinner (Eds.), Towards Understanding Thrips Management. Plenum, London, United
Kingdom.
- Childers, C.C., M.A. Easterbrook, and M.G. Solomon. 1996. Chemical control of
eriophyoid mites. In E.E. Lindquist, M.W. Sabelis, and W. Helle (Eds.), Spider Mites.
World Crop Pests. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Childers, C.C. 1996. Toxicological test methods for eriophyoid mites. In E.E.
Lindquist, M.A. Sabelis, and W. Helle (Eds.), Eriophyoid Mites. World Crop Pests. Elsevier,
Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Childers, C.C. 1997. The nature and extent of feeding and oviposition injuries to plants by
thrips, pp. 505-537. In T. Lewis (Ed.), Thrips as Crop Pests. CAB International,
Wallingford, United Kingdom.
- Childers, C.C., S. Nakahara, and R.J. Beshear. 1998. Thysanoptera collected during bloom
on white and colored disposable sticky cards in Florida citrus groves. J. Entomol. Sci. 33(1):49-
71.
- Childers, C.C. 1999. Flower thrips: Frankliniella bispinosa (Morgan), F.
kelliae Sakimura (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and postbloom fruit drop disease are economic
pests on Florida citrus. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 112:88-95.
- Childers, C.C., and M.M. Abou-Setta. 1999. Yield reduction in "Tahiti" lime from
Panonychus citri feeding injury following different pesticide treatment regimes and
impact on the associated predacious mites. Exp. & Appl. Acarol. 23(10):771-783.
- Childers, C.C., and D.S. Achor. 1999. The eriophyoid mite complex on Florida citrus
(Acari: Eriophyidae and Diptilomiopidae). Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 112:79-87.
- Childers, C.C., and R.C. Bullock. 1999. Controlling Frankliniella bispinosa
(Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on Florida citrus during bloom and increased fruit set on navel and
'Valencia' oranges. Fla. Entomol. 82(3):410-424.
- Childers, C.C. 2000. Integrated mite control on Florida citrus. 9th Intl. Citrus Congress,
Orlando, Florida 2:740-750.
- Achor, D., R. Ochoa, E.F. Erbe, H. Aguilar, W.P. Wergin, and C.C. Childers. 2001.
Relative advantages of low temperature versus ambient temperature scanning electron
microscopy in the study of mite morphology. Intl. J. Acarol. 27(1):3-12.
- Childers, C.C., H. Aguilar, R. Villanueva, and M.M. Abou-Setta. 2001. Comparative
residual toxicities of pesticides to the predator Euseius mesembrinus (Acari:
Phytoseiidae) on citrus in Florida. Fla. Entomol. 84(3):391-401.
- Childers, C.C., R. Villanueva, H. Aguilar, R. Chewning, and J.P. Michaud. 2001.
Comparative residual toxicities of pesticides to the predator Agistemus industani (Acari:
Stigmaeidae) on citrus in Florida. Exp. & Appl. Acarol. 25(6):461-474.
- Childers, C.C. 2002. Practical use of horticultural mineral oils integrated pest and disease
management programs and their impact on natural enemies, pp. 332-348. 10a. Integrated pest and
disease management. In G.A.C. Beattie, D.M. Watson, M.L. Stevens, D.J. Rae, and R.N.
Spooner-Hart (Eds.), Spray Oils Beyond 2000–Sustainable Pest and Disease Management Proc.
Conf. 25-29 October 1999, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- Childers, C.C., and K.S. Derrick. 2003. Brevipalpus mites as vectors of unassigned
rhabdoviruses in various crops. Exp. & Appl. Acarol. 30(1-3):1-3.
- Childers, C.C., J.V. French, and C.V. Rodrigues. 2003. Brevipalpus californicus,
B. obovatus, B. phoenicis, and B. lewisi (Acari: Tenuipalpidae): a review
of their biology, feeding injury and economic importance. Exp. & Appl. Acarol. 30(1-3):5-
28.
- Childers, C.C., J.C.V. Rodrigues, and W.C. Welbourn. 2003. Host plants of Brevipalpus
californicus, B. obovatus, and B. phoenicis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) and their
potential involvement in the spread of viral diseases vectored by these mites. Exp. & Appl.
Acarol. 30(1-3):29-105.
- Childers, C.C., J.C.V. Rodrigues, K.S. Derrick, D.S. Achor, J.V. French, W.C. Welbourn,
R. Ochoa, and E.W. Kitajima. 2003. Citrus leprosis and its status in Florida and Texas: past and
present. Exp. & Appl. Acarol. 30(1-3):181-202.
- Rodrigues, J.C.V., E.W. Kitajima, C.C. Childers, and C.M. Chagas. 2003. Citrus leprosis
virus vectored by Brevipalpus phoenicis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) on citrus in Brazil. Exp.
& Appl. Acarol. 30(1-3):161-179.
- Childers, C.C., and K.S. Derrick. (Guest Editors). 2003. Special Issue – Brevipalpus
mites as vectors of unassigned rhabdoviruses in various crops. Exp. & Appl. Acarol.
30(1-3):1-231.