September 2011
Faculty News
A recent article co-authored by Dr. Andrei Sourakov on DNA barcoding and the radiation of the endemic Caribbean butterfly genus Calisto was featured on two science Web sites: Science Daily and Physorg.com.
Dr. Jeffrey Bloomquist will lead one of four projects awarded a share of a $6 million grant program for malaria control research. The grant was awarded by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health.
A recent UF/IFAS news release reported how our entomologists are using acoustic equipment "... to listen in as insects gnaw on grapevine roots, making it much easier for vineyard owners to know where to focus their [cultural control] efforts against the pest called the grape root borer."
Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Second Edition, a book by Dr. James Nation, is now available in a Kindle edition, as is The Toxicology and Biochemistry of Insecticides by Dr. Simon Yu.
The Gulf Citrus Growers Association presented its "special service" award to Dr. Phillip A. Stansly. Dr. Stansly is based at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee, where he has been actively engaged in teaching and research for over 23 years.
Dr. James P. Cuda and his research program on biological control of Brazilian peppertree were highlighted on the Featured Discoveries section of the UF/IFAS Dean of Research Web site.
Phoenix Environmental Care was issued a license from the UF Office of Technology Licensing to develop a methionine-based nematode control product for turf and ornamental use. This technology was patented by Drs. Bruce Stevens (College of Medicine), James P. Cuda and Scotty Long. Dr. Billy Crow was instrumental in providing the field efficacy data for the license.
A recent UF/IFAS news release featured Dr. Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman and the opening of a UF nature trail project that enables smartphone users to hear insect sounds.
Student News
During the week of 18 July, Dr. James Cuda and his laboratory staff hosted Mr. Ather Moasodi, a Ph.D. student from Kashmir, India. Mr. Moasodi also presented a seminar on his dissertation research "Ecology and Management of Aquatic Weeds in Kashmir," at the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants.
Justin Bricker, an undergraduate Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) student in Dr. James Cuda’s laboratory, was featured in an article published in the 2011 UF-HHMI Science for Life Viewbook.
Ms. Alissa Berro, a new Ph.D. student in our department, joined Dr. James Cuda’s lboratory in August 2011.
On 6 August, Drs. Ameya Gondhalekar and Abhishek Mukherjee was awarded their Ph.D. degrees during the Summer 2011 Advanced Degree Ceremony. Dr. James Cuda escorted both candidates.
Publications
Capinera JL. (August 2011). Grasshopper nematode, Mermis nigrescens Dujardin. Featured Creatures. EENY-500. http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/misc/mermis_nigrescens.htm
Frank JH, Ahn K-J. 2011. Coastal Staphylinidae (Coleoptera): A worldwide checklist, biogeography and natural history. ZooKeys 107: 1–98
Núñez Bustos E, Favre P, Bertolini MP, Turner JD, Sourakov A. 2011. Mariposas diurnas (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea y Hesperioidea) de la reserva privada Osununu-Parque Provincial Teyu Cuare y alrededores de San Ignacio, Provincia de Misiones, Argentina. Tropical Lepidoptera Research 21: 34-42.
Sourakov A. 2011. Faster than a flash: the fastest visual startle reflex response is found in a long-legged fly, Condylostylus sp. (Dolichopodidae). Florida Entomologist 94: 367-369.
Sourakov A, Zakharov EV. (2011). "Darwin’s butterflies"? DNA barcoding and the radiation of the endemic Caribbean butterfly genus Calisto (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Satyrinae). Comparative Cytogenetics 5(3): 191-210. http://www.pensoft.net/journals/compcytogen/article/1730/ (30 August 2011).
Li J, Seal D, Leibee G. (August 2011). Leafminer parasitoid, Opius dissitus Muesebeck. Featured Creatures. EENY-501. http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/wasps/opius_dissitus.htm
Gill HK, McSorley R. (July 2011). Cover crops for managing root-knot nematodes. EDIS. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in892
Bricker JT, Cuda JP, Donahue DA. 2011. Mathematical and computational modeling of the exotic weevil Apocnemidophorus pipitzi on the invasive Schinus terebinthifolius. p. 11, In 2011 Viewbook: The Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science for Life Program at the University of Florida.
Cuda J, Gillett-Kaufman J. 2011. New hydrilla project: RAMP UP! Aquatics 33: 9.
Tiwari S, Mann RS, Rogers ME, Stelinski LL. 2011. Insecticide resistance in field populations of Asian citrus psyllid in Florida. Pest Management Science. 67: 1258-1268.
Fall Semester 2011 Entomology Seminars
The department's entomology seminars take place on Thursday afternoon in Room 1031, unless indicated otherwise. The talks start at 4:00 pm. with refreshments served at 3:50 pm. Other details, as well as a listing of this semester's talks, are available on the seminar site.
Meetings and Presentations
During 7-10 August, Dr. Phil Koehler, Dr. Roberto Pereira, and Stephanie Larrick attended the International Conference on Urban Pest in Ouro Preto, Brazil. Each presented a paper.
On 17 August, Dr. Phil Stansly spoke on "Area wide IPM: Integrated strategies for managing pests and diseases" during the 20th Anniversary of the Citrus Expo at North Ft. Myers, Florida.
On 30 August, Dr. James Cuda was an invited speaker for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Pesticide Review Council Meeting in Tallahassee. Cuda gave a presentation on current biological control and alternate pest control strategies.
Drs. James Cuda, William Overholt, Rodrigo Diaz, and Veronica Manrique were co-authors on a poster presented at the 94th Annual Meeting of the Florida Entomological Society. Their title was, "Calophya latiforceps, a new species of jumping plant lice (Hemiptera: Calophyidae) associated with Schinus terebinthifolius (Anacardiaceae) in Brazil."
On 25 August, Drs. James Cuda and Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman were co-authors on an oral presentation at the Annual Meeting of the South Florida Aquatic Plant Management Society, in Delray Beach. Their presentation was "Implementing an educational campaign: new IPM Strategies for hydrilla management."
On 16 August, Dr. James Cuda attended the annual CALS Teaching Enhancement Symposium at the UF Hilton Conference Center.
On 25 August, Drs. James Cuda, Norm Leppla, Phil Koehler, Howard Frank and Phil Kaufman participated in the Livestock and Pasture IPM Field Day held at the Allison Brothers Farm in Columbia County. The agenda included an overview of IPM and demonstrations for tropical soda apple, fire ant, mole cricket and livestock fly management.
The following presentations were given at the recent annual meeting of the Extension Professionals Association of Florida, in Orlando, Florida.
Drs. Jaret Daniels and Delano Lewis received a $110,000 grant from the Florida Department of Transportation to assess the role of various roadside vegetation management practices (mowing frequency, wildflower augmentation) for enhancing habitat and floral resources for native insect pollinators.
Dr. Jaret Daniels received a $24,882 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct work on the occurrence, distribution, and ecological studies for the endangered Schaus swallowtail butterfly, Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus Schaus.
Outreach
Lots of bugs got into the Barron Library (LaBelle, Florida) on 19 July, and about 100 children and their parents were there to see them. On that day, University of Florida/IFAS researchers from the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee spoke about insects. Pan traps were set outside the library overnight, and that morning kids were invited to inspect what was caught, and hear more about Florida insects. The speakers included Dr. Moneen Jones (pan trap help for ages 7–9); and storytelling and coloring book activity for 3–6 year olds by Dr. Cesar Monzo, who also designed the coloring book. All the children who participated received Entomology Rules rulers, plastic magnifying glasses, and "I Love Bugs" stickers. Entomology staff Robert Riefer and Zach Lahey assisted in the presentations.
Thank you to those members and friends of the department who participated in our August and early September outreach activities:
The department has several vans available for general use. Personnel are reminded that when returning vans after the administrative office has closed, the vans should be locked and the keys deposited in the "mail slot" on the office door. This ensures that people who reserved the vans for the next day have immediate access to the keys. Placing the keys under the driver's seat in an unlocked van is not an acceptable substitute. The worst case scenario in this case is a stolen van to which no one has access. Keeping the keys in your pocket, lab or office until you remember to turn them in is also discourteous to others as it might affect their work schedule. Some additional guidelines are:
The Reading Room Committee reminds us that no one is allowed to take materials out of the reading room, and no one is allowed to take food or drink in. You are also reminded that Reading Room users are monitored on closed-circuit TV. In addition, the Department just spent $450,000 to install one of the latest scanners that allows us to see what is hidden under your clothing. (Just kidding!) The committee requests that you tidy up after yourself before leaving the room. Those who wish to use the in-room copier should visit the stock room and obtain a PIN from Nick Hostettler.
Newsletter Minutiae
Thomas Fasulo is the newsletter editor. Departmental faculty, staff, students and alumni can submit news anytime to fasulo@ufl.edu. Issues usually are published by early mid-month. Submit items for an issue by the 7th of that month.
UF-Bugnews-L listserv subscribers receive notices when issues are posted on the newsletter Web site at http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/news, which has instructions for subscribing and unsubscribing. Pam Howell and Nancy Sanders review the newsletter for errors. Thomas Fasulo does the HTML coding.
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September 2011.