Susan E. Webb

sewe@ufl.edu

Associate Professor of Entomology and Nematology
(70% extension, 25% research, 5% teaching)

Education

• B.S., Rutgers University (Biology), 1981
• Ph.D., Cornell University (Entomology), 1988

Employment

• Associate Professor (1999-present), University of Florida, Entomology and Nematology Department, IFAS
• Associate Professor (1995-1999), University of Florida, Central Florida Research and Education Center, Leesburg, IFAS
• Assistant Professor (1988-1995), University of Florida, CFREC-Leesburg, IFAS

Research Responsibilities

My research program focuses mainly on insect vectors of plant viruses and the ecology of insect-vectored plant viruses in vegetable crops, primarily cucurbits. I conduct research on managing insect pests of vegetables with multiple tactics, including cultural and biological controls, host plant resistance, and pesticides. I am interested in organic and sustainable vegetable pest management and plan to expand my program in this area.

Extension Responsibilities

I extend the results of my research and that of others in the areas of vegetable pest management and insect-vectored plant viruses through publications and presentations in support of county extension faculty. For example, I was a coauthor of a 3-CD set of vegetable pest photographs provided to county faculty and offered for sale to others. I work jointly with county faculty on projects aimed at providing practical information to growers and respond to requests for information from county faculty, homeowners, and colleagues. I am responsible for annually updating pesticide recommendations and alternative management strategies for vegetable pests.

Teaching Responsibilities

I have no formal teaching responsibilities but periodically offer a seminar course, "Insect Vectors of Plant Pathogens."

Recent Representative Publications

• Webb, S., J. Tsai, and F. Mitchell. 1998. Bionomics of Frankliniella bispinosa and its transmission of tomato spotted wilt virus. p. 67 in D. Peters and R. Goldbach (Eds.), Recent Progress in Tospovirus and Thrips Research, Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Tospoviruses and Thrips in Floral and Vegetable Crops, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
• Cardoza, Yasmin J., H.J. McAuslane, and S.E. Webb. 2000. Effect of leaf age and silverleaf symptoms on oviposition site selection and development of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on zucchini. Environmental Entomology 29: 220-225.
• Webb, S.E., D.G. Riley, and G.E. Brust. 2001. Insect and mite pests. pp. 131-149 in D.N. Maynard (Ed.), Watermelons. Characteristics, Production, and Marketing. ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA.
• Webb, S.E., E. Hiebert, and T.A. Kucharek. 2003. Identity and distribution of viruses infecting cucurbits in Florida. Phytopathology 93: S89.
• Chen, J., H.J. McAuslane, R.B. Carle, and S.E. Webb. 2004. Effects of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) infestation and squash silverleaf disorder on zucchini yield and quality. Journal of Economic Entomology 97: 2083-2094.
• Webb, S.E. 2007. IPM case studies: cucurbits. pp. 639-650 in H.F. Van Emden (Ed.), Aphids as Crop Pests, CAB International.
• Adkins, S., S.E. Webb, D. Achor, P.D. Roberts, and C.A. Baker. 2007. Identification and characterization of a novel whitefly-transmitted member of the family Potyviridae isolated from cucurbits in Florida. Phytopathology 97: 145-154.
• Akad, F., S.E. Webb, T.W. Nyoike, O.E. Liburd, W.W. Turechek, S. Adkins, and J.E. Polston. 2008. Detection of cucurbit leaf crumple virus in Florida cucurbits. Plant Disease 92: 648.
• Manjunath, K.L., S.E. Halbert, C. Ramadugu, S.E. Webb, and R.F. Lee. 2008. Detection of 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' in Diaphorina citri and its importance in the management of citrus huanglongbing in Florida. Phytopathology 98: 387-396.
• Adkins, S., S.E. Webb, C.A. Baker, and C.S. Kousik. 2008. Squash vein yellowing virus detection using nested polymerase chain reaction demonstrates that the cucurbit weed Momordica charantia is a reservoir host. Plant Disease 92: 1119-1123.
• Li, W., M.E. Hilf, S.E. Webb, C.A. Baker, and S. Adkins. 2008. Presence of P1b and absence of HC-Pro in squash vein yellowing virus suggests a general feature of the genus Ipomovirus in the family Potyviridae. Virus Research 135: 213-219.

Revised August 2008