Liburd
Contact:

Steinmetz Hall
1881 Natural Area Dr.
Gainesville, FL 32611

(352) 273-3941
wtcr@ufl.edu

Oscar E. Liburd
Professor

Education

(60% Research, 25% Extension, 15% Teaching)

  • PhD, 1997, Entomology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
  • MS, 1993, Entomology, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL
  • BS, 1991, Entomology, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL

Relevant Employment History

  • 2011-Present, Professor, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
  • 2005-2011, Associate Professor, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
  • 2001-2005, Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
  • 1999-2001, Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
  • 1998-1999, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Program Overview

Program Leader: Small Fruits and Vegetable IPM Laboratory, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. The laboratory is developing environmentally sound insect pest management programs in fruit and vegetable systems for Florida and southeastern US. Applied and basic research is performed in organic and conventional systems including blueberries, strawberries grapes, blackberries, cucurbits and cole crops. Areas of expertise include management of thrips, midges, mites, whiteflies, aphids, scale insects, flea beetles, mealybugs, lepidopteran pests and fruit flies. Dissemination of research- based information to state and county extension faculty, commodity groups, growers, various levels of government, and private-industries occurs through innovative educational programs comprised of grower meetings, workshops, in-service training sessions, newsletters, and via the internet. The laboratory also develops and updates educational materials, and pest management recommendations targeting growers, agribusiness, and crop consultants. My international research and extension activities are focused on pesticide safety, resistance management and implementation of bio- rational strategies in Africa and the Caribbean region.

Honors and Awards (2005-2010)

  • 2008 Excellence in Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Southeastern Branch, Entomological Society of America
  • 2008 Entomologist of the Year: Annual meeting of the Florida Entomological Society, July 13-16. Jupiter, Florida
  • 2008 Jim App Team Extension Award: University of Florida, IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL
  • 2007 Achievement Award for Research: Annual Meeting of the Florida Entomological Society, July 16-19. Sarasota, Florida.
  • 2006 Leadership Enhancement and Administrative Development (LEAD): Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida, Haines City, Florida

Editor of Scholarly Journals

  • Associate Editor, Florida Entomologist
  • Associate Editor, International Journal of Fruit Science

Professional Affiliations

  • Member, (2009-Present) Educational committee, Southeastern Branch, ESA
  • President (2008-2009), Florida Entomological Society
  • Vice President (2007-2008), Florida Entomological Society
  • Vice President (2006-2007), National Association Black Entomologists

USDA Grant Review Panel

  • 2010-11 Panel Manager: USDA-NIFA Pest Management Alternative Program (PMAP)
  • 2011 Panelist: USDA-NIFA Organismal Insects and Nematodes Program
  • 2009 Panelist: USDA-NIFA Pest Management Alternative Program (PMAP)
  • 2007 Panelist: USDA-NIFA Integrated Organic Program (IOP)
  • 2006 Panelist: USDA-NIFA Pest Management Alternative Program (PMAP)

Grants recieved as Principal or co-Principal Investigator Total Funding $3,481,428

Teaching and Advising

  • Courses taught include; PMA 6228, Field Techniques in IPM (graduate level) & PMA 4570 Field Techniques in IPM (undergraduate level).
  • Several independent studies including; ENY6943 Entomology Internship and ENY 6932
  • Sustainable Agricultural Pest Management, ENY 4905 Special Problem in Entomology
  • Chair or co-chaired graduate 30 students (Ph.D., MS & DPM)

Publications (2005-Present)

Book Chapters

Schellhorn, N.A., T.W. Nyoike, and O.E. Liburd. 2009. IPM programs in vegetable crops in Australia and USA: Current status and emerging trends. Pp. 571-591 in R. Peshin and A. K. Dhawan (Eds.), Integrated Pest Management: Innovation Development Process. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

Liburd, O.E., T.W. Nyoike, and C.A. Scott. 2008. Cover, border and trap crops for pest and disease management. Pp. 1095-1100 in J.L Capinera (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Entomology, 2nd Ed. Vol. 1. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

Liburd O.E., and D.L. Frank. 2007. A review of synthetic and living mulches for control of homopteran pests (aphids and silverleaf whiteflies) and diseases in vegetables. In G. Saxena and K.G. Mukerji (Eds.), Management of Nematode and Insect Borne Diseases. The Haworth Press, Inc., New York, New York. 22 pp.

Liburd O.E., and H.A. Arevalo. 2005. Insects and mites in blueberries. In N.F. Childers (Ed.), Blueberry Culture: A Book for Growers. University of Florida Horticultural Publication. Gainesville, Florida.

Research Refereed Journals

EDIS-Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS articles are peer reviewed)

Nyoike, T. W., T. Mekete, R. McSorley, E. Weibezahl-Kakarigi, O. E. Liburd. 2012. Confirmation of Meloidogyne hapla on strawberry in Florida using molecular and morphological techniques. Nematropica. 42: 253- 259.

Mcneill, C. A. O. E. Liburd, C. A. Chase. 2012. Effect of cover crops on aphids, whiteflies and their associated natural enemies in organic squash. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture. 36:382-403.

Garima, K, D. R. Seal, P. A. Stansly O. E. Liburd and V. Kumar. 2012. Abundance of Frankliniella schultzei (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in flowers on major vegetable crops of south Florida. Florida Entomologist 95: 468-475.

Francis, A. W., K. K. Moses, A. L. Roda, O. E. Liburd and P. Polar. 2012. The passionvine mealybug, Planococcus minor (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), and its natural enemies in the cocoa agroecosystem in Trinidad. Biological Control.60:290- 296.

Rhodes, E. M., O. E. Liburd, and G. K. England. 2012. Effects of southern highbush blueberry variety and treatment threshold on flower thrips populations. Journal of Economic Entomology 105: 480-489.

Li Jian, D. R. Seal, G. L. Leibee, and O. E. Liburd. 2012. Seasonal abundance and spatial distribution of the leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae), and its parasitoid, Opius dissitus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), on bean in southern Florida. Florida Entomologist 95: 128-135.

Tertuliano, M., G. Krewer, J. E. Smith, K. Plattner, J. Clark, J. Jacobs, E. Andrews, D. Stanaland, P. Andersen, O. Liburd, E. G. Fonsah, and H. Scherm. 2012. Growing organic rabbiteye blueberries in Georgia, USA: Results of two multi-year field studies. International Journal of Fruit Science. 12: 205-215.

Rhodes, E. A., O. E. Liburd, and S. Grunwald. 2011. Examining the spatial distribution of flower thrips in southern highbush blueberries utilizing geostatistical methods. Environmental. Entomology 40:893-903.

Li Jian, D. R. Seal, G. L. Leibee, and O. E. Liburd. 2011. Diel density Patterns of leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae), and two parasitoids, Opius dissitus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Diglyphus spp. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 124:144-149.

Sanders W. R., O. E. Liburd, R. W. Mankin, W. L. Meyer, L. L. Stelinski. 2011. Applications and mechanisms of wax-based semiochemical dispenser technology for disruption of grape root borer mating. Journal of Economic Entomology 104: 939-946.

Rhodes, E. A. and O. E. Liburd. 2011. Flower thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) dispersal from alternate hosts into southern highbush blueberry (Ericales: Ericaceae) plantings. Florida Entomologist 94:311-320.

Sanders W. R., R. W. Mankin, O. E. Liburd, L. L. Stelinski. 2011. Acoustic detection of arthropod infestation of grape roots: scouting for grape root borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae). Florida Entomologist 94: 296-302.

Hanspetersen, H. N., R. McSorley, and O. E. Liburd. 2010. The impact of intercropping squash with non-crop vegetation borders on the above-ground arthropod community. Florida Entomologist. 93: 590-608.

Rodriguez-Saona, C. R., S. Polavarapu, J. D. Barry, D. Polk, R. Jornsten, P.V. Oudemans and O. E. Liburd. 2010. Color preference, seasonality, spatial distribution and species composition of thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in northern highbush blueberries. Crop Protection. 29: 1331-1340.

Roubos, C.R., and O. E. Liburd. 2010. Evaluation of emergence traps for monitoring blueberry gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) adults and within field distribution of midge infestation. Journal of Economic Entomology. 103: 1258-1267.

Nyoike, T.W., and O. E. Liburd. 2010. Effect of living (buckwheat) and UV reflective mulches with and without imidacloprid on whiteflies, aphids and marketable yields of zucchini squash. International Journal of Pest Management 56: 31-39.

Roubos, C.R., and O. E. Liburd. 2010. Pupation and emergence of blueberry gall midge, Dasineura oxycoccana (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), under varying temperature conditions. Florida Entomologist 93: 283-290.

Liburd, O. E., and C. R. Roubos. 2010. Blueberry Gall Midge: A Key Pest of Rabbiteye Blueberries. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society. 123: 23-25.

Weibelzahl, E., and O. E. Liburd. 2009. Epizootic of Acalitus vaccinii (Acari: Eriophyidea) caused by Hirsutella thompsonii on southern highbush blueberry in north- central Florida. Florida Entomologist 92: 601-607.

Liburd, O. E. 2009. Fostering collaboration and linkages with our Latin American and Caribbean neighbors. Florida Entomologist 92: 689-690.

Fraulo, A.B., M. Cohen, and O. E. Liburd. 2009. Visible/near infrared reflectance (VNIR) spectroscopy for detecting twospotted spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) damage in strawberries. Environmental Entomology 38: 137-142.

Arèvalo, H.A., A.B. Fraulo, and O. E. Liburd. 2009. Management of flower thrips in blueberries in Florida. Florida Entomologist 92: 14-17.

Liburd, O. E., E.M. Sarzynski, H. A. Arèvalo, and K. MacKenzie. 2009. Monitoring and emergence of flower thrips species in rabbiteye and southern highbush blueberries. Acta Horticulturae 810: 251-258.

Krewer, G., M. Tertuliano, P. Andersen, O. E. Liburd, G. Fonsah, H. Serri, and B. Mullinix. 2009. Effect of mulches on the establishment of organically grown blueberries in Georgia. Acta Horticulturae 810: 483-488.

Roubos, C.R., and O. E. Liburd. 2008. Effect of trap color on captures of grape root borer(Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) males and non-target insects. Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology 25: 99-109.

Nyoike, T. W., O. E. Liburd, and S. E. Webb. 2008. Suppression of whiteflies, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and incidence of Cucurbit leaf crumble virus, a whitefly-transmitted virus of zucchini squash new to Florida, with mulches and imidacloprid. Florida Entomologist 91: 460-465.

Fraulo, A. B., and O. E. Liburd. 2008. Effect of the biological control agent Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Physeiidae) on arthropod community structure in north Florida strawberry fields. Florida Entomologist 91: 436-445.

Akad, F., S. Webb, T. W. Nyoike, O. E. Liburd, W. Turechek, S. Adkins, and J.E. Polston. 2008. Detection of Cucurbit leaf crumple virus in Florida. Plant Disease 92: 648.

Liburd, O. E., and T. W. Nyoike. 2008. Monitoring and phenology of thrips in southern highbush blueberries. Proceedings of Florida State Horticulture Society 121: 30-32.

Plattner, K, E. G. Fonsah, C. Escalente, G. Krewer, H. Scherm, P. C. Andersen, O. E. Liburd, and M. Tertuliano. 2008. Economics of organic blueberry establishment in Georgia. Journal of Food Distribution Research. 39: 111-115.

Fraulo, A.B., and O. E. Liburd. 2007. Biological control of twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, with predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus, in strawberries. Experimental and Applied Acarology 43: 109-119.

Arèvalo, H. A., and O. E. Liburd. 2007. Horizontal and vertical distribution of flower thrips in southern highbush and rabbiteye blueberry fields, with notes on a new sampling method for thrips inside the flowers. Journal of Economic Entomology 100: 1622-1632.

Weihman, S. W., and O. E. Liburd. 2007. Seasonal distribution and evaluation of two trap types for monitoring grape root borer Vitacea polistiformis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) in Florida vineyards. Florida Entomologist 90: 480-487.

Liburd, O. E., J.C. White, E. M. Rhodes, and A. A. Browdy. 2007. The residual and direct effects of reduced-risk and conventional miticides on twospotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) and predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Florida Entomologist 90: 249-257.

Arèvalo, H.A., and O. E. Liburd. 2007. Flower thrips, oviposition and dispersion behavior in early season blueberries. In: D. Ullman, J. Moyer, R. Goldbach, G. Moritz (Eds.). 2007. VIII International Symposium on Thysanoptera and Tospoviruses, September 11-15, 2005. Asilomar, Pacific Grove, CA. 49 pp. Journal of Insect Science 7: 28-30.

Rhodes, E. M., and O. E. Liburd. 2006. Evaluation of predatory mites and acramite for control of twospotted spider mites in strawberries in north-central Florida. Journal of Economic Entomology 99: 1291-1298.

Rhodes, E. M., O. E. Liburd, C. Kelts, A. I. Rondon, and R. R. Francis. 2006. Comparison of single and combination treatments of Phytoseiulus persimilis, Neoseiulus californicus, and Acramite (bifenazate) for control of twospotted spider mites in strawberries. Experimental and Applied Acarology 39: 213-225.

Weihman, S.W., and O. E. Liburd. 2006. Mating disruption and attract-and-kill as reduced-risk strategies for control of grape root borer, Vitacea polistiformis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) in Florida vineyards. Florida Entomologist 89: 245-250.

Myers, L., O. E. Liburd, and H. A. Arèvalo. 2006. Survival of Geocoris punctipes Say (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) following exposure to selected reduced-risk insecticides. Journal of Entomological Science 41: 57-64.

Stelinski, L. L., K. S. Pelz-Stelinski, O. E. Liburd, and L. J. Gut. 2006. Control strategies for Rhagoletis mendax disrupt host finding and ovipositional capability of its parasitic wasp, Diachasma alloeum. Biological Control 36: 91-99.

Sampson, J. B., T. A. Rinehart, O. E. Liburd, S. J. Stringer, and J. M. Spiers. 2006. Ecology of endoparasitoids (Hymenoptera) attacking cranberry and blueberry tipworms

Dasineura oxycoccana Johnson and Prodiplosis vaccinii (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 99: 113-120.

Liburd, O. E., T. C. Holler, J. C. Turner, and A. L. Moses. 2006. Toxicity of insecticide- treated spheres to Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa and Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). Proceedings of the Florida State Horticulture Society 118: 275-278.

Frank, D. L., and O. E. Liburd. 2005. Effects of living and synthetic mulch on the population dynamics of whiteflies and aphids, their associated natural enemies and insect-transmitted plant diseases in zucchini. Environmental Entomology 34: 857-865.

Pelz-Stelinski, K. S., L.J. Gut, L. L. Stelinski, O. E. Liburd, and R. Isaacs. 2005. Captures of Rhagoletis mendax and R. cingulata (Diptera: Tephritidae) on sticky traps are influenced by adjacent host fruit and fruit juice concentrates. Environmental Entomology 34: 1013-1018.

Dernisky, A. K., R. C. Evans, O. E. Liburd, and K. Mackenzie. 2005. Characterization of early floral damage by cranberry tipworm (Dasineura oxycoccana Johnson) as a precursor to reduced fruit set in rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade). International Journal of Pest Management 51: 143-148.

White, J. C., and O. E. Liburd. 2005. Effects of soil moisture and temperature on reproduction and development of twospotted spider mites Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) in strawberries. Journal of Economic Entomology 98: 154-158.

Stelinski, L. L., and O. E. Liburd. 2005. Behavioral evidence for host fidelity among populations of the parasitic wasp Diachasma alloeum: parasitoids tracking the sympatric speciation of their Rhagoletis fly hosts. Naturwissenshaften 92: 65-68.

Extension Publications

Price, J., O. E. Liburd, C. R. Roubos, and C. A. Nagle. 2012. Spotted wing drosophila in Florida berry culture. Publication # ENY861/IN839. IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

Liburd, O. E. 2012. Be on the lookout for Chilli thrips this summer. The Blueberry News. Spring (edition).1 (3) 30 (not peer-reviewed)

Webb, S. E, D. J. Schuster, P. A. Stansly, J. E. Polston, S. Adkins, C. Baker, P. Roberts, O. E. Liburd, T. Nyoike, E. McAvoy, and A. Whidden. 2011. Recommendations for management of whiteflies, whitefly-transmitted viruses, and insecticide resistance for production of cucurbit crops in Florida. Publication # ENY478/IN8871. IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

Weibelzahl, E., and O. E. Liburd. 2010. Blueberry bud mite, Acalitus vaccinii (Keifer) on southern highbush blueberry in Florida. EDIS-ENY858/IN844. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in844

Liburd, O. E., E. M. Sarzynski, B. J. Sampson, and G. Krewer. 2010. Blueberry gall midge: A major insect pest of blueberries in the Southeastern United States. EDIS- ENY825/IN458. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN45800.pdf

Williamson, J. G., P. F. Harmon, and O. E. Liburd. 2009. Florida blueberry integrated pest management guide. EDIS-HS1156. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs380

Arèvalo, H. A., A. B. Fraulo, and O. E. Liburd. 2009. Key to the most common species of thrips found in early-season blueberry fields in Florida and southern Georgia. EDIS- ENY836/IN679. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in679

England, G. K., E. M Rhodes, O. E. Liburd. 2008. Thrips monitoring in Florida blueberries. EDIS-ENY839/IN692. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in692

Liburd, O. E., and T. W. Nyoike. 2008a. Biology and management of whiteflies in sustainable field production of cucurbits. EDIS ENY-848/IN762. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN76200.pdf

Liburd, O. E., and T. W. Nyoike. 2008b. Biology and management of aphids in sustainable field production of cucurbits. EDIS ENY-847/IN761. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in761

Turner, J. C., and O. E. Liburd. 2007. Insect management in blueberries in the eastern United States. EDIS-ENY411(IG070). UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig070

Webb, S. E., F. Akad, T. W. Nyoike, O. E. Liburd, and J. E. Polston. 2007. Whitefly- transmitted cucurbit leaf crumple virus in Florida. EDIS-ENY477/IN716. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in716

Rhodes, E. M., and O. E. Liburd. 2006. Predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Arachnida: Acari: Phytoseiidae) EDIS-ENY359/IN639. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in639

Weihman, S. W., and O. E. Liburd. 2005. Grape root borer pest management in Florida vineyards. EDIS-ENY831/IG165. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig165

Liburd, O.E., and H.A. Arèvalo. 2005. Integrated strategies for controlling flower thrips in southern highbush blueberries. EDIS-IPM140/IN637. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN63700.pdf

Refereed Abstracts

Bhan, M., C.A. Chase, R. McSorley, O.E. Liburd, D.D. Treadwell, and W.P. Cropper, Jr. 2008. Cropping system biodiversity for managing weeds in organic vegetable production. Proceedings of the Southern Weed Science Society 61: 130.

Bhan, M., C.A. Chase, R. McSorley, O.E. Liburd, D.D. Treadwell, and W.P. Cropper. 2007. Weed population response to crop diversification complexity in organic vegetable production. Proceedings of the Southern Weed Science Society 60: 144.

Bhan, M., C.A. Chase, R. McSorley, O. E. Liburd, D. D. Treadwell, and W.P. Cropper. 2007. Weed population response to summer cover crops in fall squash and broccoli production. Proceedings of the Florida Weed Science Society, p. 10. http://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/FWSS/Abstracts%202007.pdf