May 2005

Faculty News

Dr. Clayton W. McCoy, entomologist at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred, is the first recipient of CREC's Distinguished Professorship in Research and Education. The professorship is an honorary distinction that recognizes excellence and outstanding career achievements.

McCoy, who retires May 31, was honored at a luncheon at CREC attended by over 140 colleagues and friends, including former postdoctoral scientists and students. During a 33-year career, he focused on integrated pest management and biological control of citrus pests. For the past several years, his research on the Diaprepes root weevil included work on detection methods, chemical treatments, cultural practices and biological control. He also served as scientific coordinator of the Diaprepes Task Force for several years. Much of his work serves as the basis of Diaprepes management practices in citrus today. Dr. McCoy was active in several professional societies, including the Florida Entomological Society, serving as president in 1984. In 2000, he received a USDA Honor Award for outstanding contributions to agriculture.

To honor Dr. McCoy's contributions to UF/IFAS and the citrus industry, a fund was established to support student education and training in entomology. Contributions should be sent payable to the CRE Foundation, 700 Experiment Station Rd., Lake Alfred, FL 33850. For more information, contact Dr. Harold Browning, CREC Director, at (863) 956-1151 or hwbr@crec.ifas.ufl.edu. - Monica Lewandowski

Dr. Chris Tipping, of the UF/IFAS North Florida REC at Quincy, won first place in the Georgia Entomological Society photo salon in the category of "Biological Series." His photographs showed the moulting sequence of the leafhopper Oncometopia nigricans. Chris received a certificate and a check for fifty dollars. You can view some of these photographs in the Featured Creatures sharpshooters publication Chris wrote at http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/fruit/sharpshooters/sharpshooters.htm. Dr. Tipping is a post-doctoral researcher with Dr. Russell Mizell, studying leafhopper biology and ecology. He also received his Ph.D. from the department.

In April, NBC Nightly News ran a story about the damage that the parasitic Varroa mite is causing to the beekeeping industry, specifically the impact on orchard and crop pollination. Dr. Glenn Hall gave a brief statement about his work with bees that are able to resist the mite. The story is on the MSNBC Web site at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7656383.

Dr. Phil Kaufman joined the Gainesville faculty as an Assistant Professor specializing in Veterinary Entomology. His appointment is 50% research, 40% teaching and 10% extension. Phil will teach a dual listed medical and veterinary entomology course each fall. He will also develop a forensic entomology course. Research and extension interests include the development of cost-effective, integrated pest management systems for both confined and pastured cattle and horses. Phil received his B.S. from the University of Illinois, his M.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his Ph.D. from the University of Wyoming. He most recently was a Research Associate at Cornell University where he worked on the development of management strategies against pests of livestock and poultry.

Student News

Dr. Don Hall, graduate coordinator, reports that the department received three fellowships for new graduate students. One was a Presidential Fellowship awarded to Sheri Anderson. She will be working with Dr. Walter Tabachnick at Vero Beach. The two Alumni Fellowships were awarded to Kyle Beucke, working with Dr. Marc Branham; and John (Court) Whelan, who is working with Drs. Jackie Miller and Jaret Daniels, of the McGuire Center.

Jennifer Steil Meyer completed her M.S. degree. She worked on "Transformation of Drosophila melanogaster with the yeast metallothionein gene CUP1."

Kathryn Barbara received her Ph.D on 29 April, and was also commissioned a Lieutenant in the United States Navy. Dr. Barbara starts Officer Indoctrination School in Newport, Rhode Island on 23 May. She will then report to the Disease Vector and Ecology Control Center, NAS Jacksonville, on 25 June to serve as an entomologist.

James Dunford received the 2005 North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Graduate Student Teacher Award for his teaching services in the Entomology and Nematology Department. This award recognizes outstanding graduate teaching and selects winners from students nominated nationally.

Staff News

Lois Wood joined the Veterinary Entomology program working with Dr. Kaufman as a Senior Biological Scientist. Lois, as many of you know, has been with the department since 1982 where she worked in fire ant and landscape pest management areas. Kaufman says that the addition of Lois' experience and skills to the Veterinary Entomology program is most welcome.

Alumni

Dr. Mirian M. Hay-Roe, a postdoc at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, participated as an invited speaker at the First Meeting on Neotropical Lepidoptera held on 17-22 April 2005 at the State University of Campinas, Brazil. She presented a talk titled "Advances in the Chemical Ecology of Heliconius Butterflies", which constituted part of her dissertation research. She is also selected for inclusion in the upcoming 2006 Edition of Who's Who in the World and the 25th Silver Anniversary Edition of Who's Who of American Women.

Publications

Ernst JA, Ascunce MS, Clark AM, Nigg HN. Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci for Diaprepes Root Weevil (Diaprepes abbreviatus L.). Molecular Ecology Notes.

Futch SH, McCoy CW, Graham JH, Duncan LW, Nigg HN. Field Diagnosis of Citrus Root Weevil Damage. Citrus Industry Magazine.

Nigg HN, Schumann RA, Etxeberria E, Fraser S. Consumption of Sugars by Anastrepha suspensa Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae). Journal of Economic Entomology.

Childers CC, Ochoa R, Rodrigues JCV, Lenis FE, Welbourn WC. Pest Mite Species on Ornamental Plants from Central America Imported for Propagation, Important Viral Diseases they Vector, and the Inherent Potential Risks of Exotic Pest Introductions. Florida Entomologist.

Rogers ME. Insecticide and Miticide Resistance Management. Citrus Industry Magazine.

Hall DG, Burns RE, Jenkins CC, Hibbard KL, Harris DL, Sivinski JM, Nigg HN. A Field Comparison of Chemical Attractants and Traps for Caribbean Fruit Fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Florida Citrus. Journal of Economic Entomology.

Childers CC, Beshear RJ, Frantz G, Nelms M. A Review of Thrips Species Biting Man Including Records in Florida and Georgia Between 1986-1997. Florida Entomologist

Howard FW. (March 2005). El taladrador de la uva del mar, Hexeris enhydris Grote. UF/IFAS Featured Creatures. EENY-347. http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/trees/moths/seagrape_borer_spanish.htm

Vazquez, RJ, Porter SD. 2005. Re-confirming Host Specificity of the Fire Ant Decapitating Fly Pseudacteon curvatus (Diptera: Phoridae) after Field Release in Florida. Florida Entomologist 88: 107-110.

Grants

Dr. Jim Maruniak received a T-Star grant of $90,741 to define mosquito vector-vertebrate host relationships of non-indigenous and recently introduced arboviruses in Florida.

Meeting and Presentations

Organizers of the 9th Symposium on Biological Control in Recife, Brazil, 15-19 May, invited Dr. Jim Maruniak to give a symposium presentation on "Advances in Molecular Biology of the Baculovirus AgMNPV."

EMBRAPA - CENARGEN, Brasilia, Brazil, asked Dr. Jim Maruniak to be a consultant in molecular biology of baculoviruses during 11-14 May.

Drs. James P. Cuda and Lance Osborne co-organized the UF/IFAS Extension Invasives Summit held at the Osceola County Extension Office, Kissimmee, FL, 25-26 April. The goal of this two day summit was to initiate strategic planning for crosscutting issues related to invasive species in Florida. Cuda also served as a facilitator for one of the breakout sessions on leadership, coordination and cooperation.

Dr. James P. Cuda attended and participated as an invited speaker at the Annual Meeting of the Technical Advisory Group for Biological Control Agents of Weeds held at the Ft. Lauderdale REC, 12-14 April. Cuda gave a presentation entitled, "Arrhenotoky in the Brazilian Peppertree Sawfly Heteroperreyia hubrichi: Can We Take Advantage of this Reproductive Strategy for a Field Risk Assessment Study?"

Drs. James P. Cuda and Bill Overholt were co-authors of a presentation entitled, "Molecular Markers Reveal the Introduction History of Brazilian Peppertree in Florida". The paper was presented by Dean Williams, University of Miami, at the Annual Meeting of the Plant Biologists of South Florida, held at the UF/IFAS TREC, Homestead, 16 April.

Book of Insect Records

The University of Florida Book of Insect Records, at http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/walker/ufbir/, is edited by Dr. Tom Walker, names insect champions and documents their achievements. Most of the chapters have been researched and written by UF graduate students, but anyone interested in researching an insect record is invited to submit a new chapter or a revision of an existing one.

The newest chapter addresses the question of what insects produce the largest eggs. Written by an Italian researcher, Salvatore Vicidomini, the chapter concludes that the biggest insect eggs are produced by ___. Don't know the answer? Here is a hint: the record holder is in the order Hymenoptera. For details, see the new chapter at http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/walker/ufbir/Chap40.htm. - Tom Walker

For Shutter Bugs

We have recently made some improvements to our Auto-Montage system. This digital photography system can be used for taking pictures of all sizes of specimens, as it includes a dissecting scope, a compound scope for slide-mounted specimens, and a macro stand for larger specimens.

I also want to remind everyone about our extensive photo collection of 35mm slides and digital images. These pictures are available for use by members of our department, and faculty at the RECs and County Extension Offices. A list of species (but not thumbnail images) represented in our slide collection can be found on our department's web site at http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/publicat.htm. The link is on the right side of the page.

These photographic resources are available for use in your research, extension, and teaching projects. Just talk to me if you'd like to use them. All slides must stay in the Photography Lab, but I can provide scans. - Lyle Buss

For Book Worms

Tara Tobin Cataldo, Marston Science Library Biological/Life Sciences Coordinator, reports that the newest entomology books available at the Library are listed at http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/msl/subjects/tc/newbooksbio.html#entomology.

Bug Quote

"Both the cockroach and the bird would get along very well without us, although the cockroach would miss us most." - Joseph Wood Krutch

Newsletter Minutia

Thomas Fasulo is the newsletter editor. Send submissions to him at fasulo@ufl.edu. Issues are published the middle of each month. Submit items for an issue by the 7th of that month.

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May 2005.