October 2008
Faculty News
"Dear Colleagues of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, I retired from the University of Florida on September 30th. I have immensely appreciated the opportunity of being a member of the UF community. The intelligence, knowledge, and competence of my colleagues in the Department of Entomology and Nematology faculty have been a constant source of inspiration. Just as importantly, I have enjoyed the congeniality and cooperative spirit of the faculty and staff. I wish everyone, particularly my colleagues at the Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, continued success in carrying out the missions of this prestigious institution." - Dr. Bill Howard
Dr. Carl Barfield received the Mort Wolfson Faculty Service Award at the UF Division of Student Affairs Fall Kick-Off. This award is given annually by the Vice President for Student Affairs to a faculty member who exemplifies commitment and service to students through advising and teaching. See http://www.ufsa.ufl.edu/honawr/mwfs/mwfs.shtml for details.
Student News
Graduate student Valerie McManus received a $2,500 scholarship from the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, for her work on the eastern pygmy blue (Brephidium pseudofea) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).
Graduate student Peter Obenauer was selected to present a paper in the student symposium at the 40th Annual Society for Vector Ecology meeting held 28 September - 2 October 2008, in Fort Collins, Colorado. Pete's presentation "Do tigers prefer mixed forests?" was co-authored by Dr. Phil Kaufman and Dr. Sandy Allan.
Alumni News
Dr. Amit Sethi ('07) received the Southeastern Branch ESA John Henry Comstock Award for 2008. The award consists of an all-expenses-paid trip to the meeting, a $100 cash prize, and a certificate. Expenses paid include reimbursed airfare, free hotel arrangements, free meeting registration, and a per diem allowance. Award recipients receive an inscribed plaque at the ESA meeting, held this year in Reno, Nevada on 16-19 November.
After completing his Ph.D. with Dr. Heather McAuslane, Dr. Sethi moved to Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge and began work as a Postdoctoral Researcher with Dr. Claudia Husseneder at the Department of Entomology. He is working on genetic studies of the Formosan subterranean termite and its gut microbes, and genetic manipulation of gut microbes (paratransgenesis) for termite control.
Publications
Meyer JM, Hoy MA, Boucias DG. 2008. Isolation and characterization of an Isaria fumosorosea isolate infecting the Asian citrus psyllid in Florida. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 99: 96-102.
Meyer JM, Hoy MA. 2008. Molecular survey of endosymbionts in Florida populations of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) and its parasitoids Tamarixia radiata (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Florida Entomologist 91: 294-304.
Zaspel JM>, Hoy MA. 2008. Comparison of short-term preservation and assay methods for the molecular detection of Wolbachia in the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella. Florida Entomologist 91: 494-497.
Palmateer AJ, Perez JM, Cating RA, Ploetz RC, Hoy MA. 2008. First report of tar spot on orange Geiger, Cordia sebestena, caused by Diatractium cordianum in the U.S. Plant Disease 92: 1250.
Gill RH, Capinera JL, McSorley R. (2008). Lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Zeller). Featured Creatures. EENY-155. http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/field/lesser_cornstalk_borer.htm
Onagbola EO, Meyer WL, Boina DR, Stelinski LL. 2008. Morphological characterization of the antennal sensilla of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), with reference to their probable functions. Micron 39: 1184-1191.
Mercader RJ, Stelinski LL, Scriber JM. 2008. Differential antennal sensitivities of the generalist butterflies Papilio glaucus and P. canadensis to host plant and non-host plant extracts. Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society 62: 84-88.
Baldwin RW. (2008). Perceptions of pesticides. PestWorld. http://npmapestworld.org/pdfs/newspdfs/PW%20sept-oct08%20webfinal.pdf
Baldwin RW, Oi FM, Hernandez O. (2008). General household pests: a consumer's guide to identification. UF/IFAS Extension Solutions for Your Life. http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/families_and_consumers/housing/pest_control.html
Baldwin RW, Oi FM, Hernandez O. (2008). General household pests: a consumer's guide to IPM. UF/IFAS Extension Solutions for Your Life. http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/families_and_consumers/housing/pest_control.html
Baldwin RW, Oi FM, Hernandez O. (2008). General household pests: a consumer's guide to IPM (Spanish). UF/IFAS Extension Solutions for Your Life. http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/families_and_consumers/housing/pest_control.html
Daniels JC. 2008. Florida Butterfly Encounters. A series of four publications: 50 Common Butterflies of Florida, Butterfly Watching Basics, Florida Butterfly Gardening, Checklist of Florida Butterflies. UF/IFAS. Booklets.
Kaufman PE, Wood LA, Goldberg JI, Long SJ, Rutz DA. 2008. Host age and pathogen exposure level as factors in the susceptibility of Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) to Beauveria bassiana. Biocontrol Science and Technology 18: 841-847.
Sourakov A. (2008). Monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus Linnaeus. Featured Creatures. EENY-442. http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/monarch.htm
Cuda JP. 2008. Biological control of weeds. 7 pp. In Capinera JL (editor). Encyclopedia of Entomology, 2nd Edition. Kluwer Academic Publishers. Dordrecht, Netherlands.
Legaspi JC, Gardner C, Queeley G, Leppla N, Cuda JP, Legaspi Jr BC. 2007. Effect of organic and chemical fertilizers on growth and yield of hot pepper, and insect pests and their natural enemies. Subtropical Plant Science 59: 74-84.
Zaspel JM, Branham MA. 2008. World checklist of tribe Calpini (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Calpinae). Insecta Mundi 47: 1-15.
Sethi A, McAuslane HJ, Alborn HT, Nagata RT, Nuessly GS. 2008. Romaine lettuce latex deters feeding of banded cucumber beetle: a vehicle for deployment of biochemical defenses. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 128: 410-420.
Meetings and Presentations
Dr. Jaret C. Daniels attended the 2008 Association of Zoos and Aquariums Annual Meeting held in Milwaukee, WI, 12-18 September. Dr. Daniels gave the presentation "Paving the road to recovery in south Florida: A cooperative conservation model for imperiled butterflies."
Dr. James P. Cuda was an invited speaker for a workshop on Identification and Management of Exotic and Invasive Plants sponsored by Charlotte County Extension, 23 September. Cuda gave the presentation "Update: biocontrol of Brazilian peppertree."
Dr. James P. Cuda participated in the Treasure Coast Invasive Plant Management Short Course held at the Indian River REC, Ft. Pierce, FL, on 24 September. Cuda was invited to give a presentation on Brazilian peppertree IPM.
Seminar Series – Fall 2008
This semester, graduate students Craig Roubos, Heidi Hanspetersen, Tricia Toth, Corraine Scott and Rosie Gill serve on the Seminar Committee. Seminars are held on Thursday afternoons in room 1031. Refreshments are served at 3:45 pm, and the seminar begins at 4:00 pm. A listing of seminars is available online in the September 2008 issue.
McGuire Center Seminars
The remaining McGuire Center lunchtime seminars for this semester are:
10/21 - Dr. Stephen Reppert - "Navigation strategies of migrating monarch butterflies."
11/4 - Dr. John Heppner - "Images of Taiwan butterflies."
11/18 - Dr. Man-Yeon Choi, USDA - "Chemical communication of Insects: Sex pheromones and biosynthesis in moths."
12/2 - Dr. Tom Emmel & Ian Segebarth - "Lepidoptera and natural history of Madagascar."
If you are willing to give a presentation, please contact Charlie Covell at ccovell@flmnh.ufl.edu.
Grants
Dr. Jaret C. Daniels (PI) and Dr. Betty Dunckel (Museum of Natural History) received a $365,229.00 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in support of the project: "Imperiled Butterfly Conservation and Management."
Dr. Jaret C. Daniels received a $1,245.41 grant from the Brevard Zoo Conservation Fund to help support the Florida Butterfly Monitoring Network.
Drs. William A. Overholt and James P. Cuda received $50,000 from the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station’s 2008 Research Innovation Grant Program to investigate genotype matching for selecting the most effective biological control agents of Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolius.
Training Programs
The UF/IFAS Termite Training Facility located at the Mid-Florida REC in Apopka, FL scheduled two new classes in October. Wood Destroying Organism Inspections was held 2-3 October, and Master of Termite Management will be held 15-17 October. The instructors are Dr. Faith Oi (UF), Dr. Rebecca Baldwin (UF), Paul Mitola (FL-DACS), Pam Mattis (UF), Mark Ruff (Alvarez, Sambol, Winthrop & Madson, P.A), and Vern Morris (Capital Risk Underwriters).
A Project Wild workshop for pre-service teachers is taking place this month (6, 8, and 13 October) from 11:45-1:45. Pre-service teachers must attend all sections to receive the free curriculum from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. During the workshop, participants have a chance to demonstrate how energy flows through an ecosystem by experimenting with the "Energy Pipeline":
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October 2008.