ccc@crec.ifas.ufl.edu

(85% Research, 10% Extension, 5% Teaching)

• B.S., University of Missouri (Agriculture), 1966
• M.S., University of Missouri (Entomology), 1968
• Ph.D., University of Missouri (Entomology), 1974

• 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.