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ABOVE: Kay Weigel did a great job on the new posters for the light boxes in the administration building. Stop by and have a look.
The legislative session was good for IFAS (with two notable exceptions), with the award of about $5.5 million in workload increase. Through the leadership of Dr. John Capinera and Dr. Nick Comerford (NFREC Center Director), who developed an IPM cluster hire proposal, we have permission to hire seven new faculty members whose tenure department will be Entomology & Nematology. In addition, three other entomology positions have been released because they were identified as a unit/REC's priority hire.
Gainesville campus
- Row crops nematologist focusing on N/NW FL - 70R/30E
- Insect pathology/symbiosis – 90R/10T
Research & Education Centers
- Entomologist - row crops - 70R/30E - NFREC
- Entomologist - row crop/horticultural crops - 70R/30T – WFREC
- Nematologist – small fruit and vegetable – 70R/30E – GCREC
- Entomologist – landscape IPM – 60R/40E – MFREC
- Entomologist – horticultural pest IPM – 70R/30E – IRREC
- Entomologist – mosquito vector entomologist – 80R/20E - FMEL
- Entomologist – IPM of horticultural and agronomic pests – 70R/30E – EREC
- Entomologist – ornamental plant vector entomologist – 70R/30E - FLREC
Submitted by Interim Chair Dr. Heather J. McAuslane
Vote Today!
Two of our faculty are in the running to be the next Vice President of the Florida Entomological Society. Cast your vote today for Dr. Catharine Mannion or Dr. Hugh Smith. Click here for a ballot and email your vote to Dr. Nan-Yao Su.
Dr. Nan-Yao Su has been awarded the title of Distinguished Professor, as of July 1st!
Dr. Marc Branham and Daniel Dye consulted with UK based Ammonite Films to document the first bioluminescent emissions by a female phengodid beetle ever filmed. This footage will be included in the documentary film titled Attenborough’s Light on Earth to be released in late 2016. Dr. Marc Branham was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times about the discovery of a new firefly species in California.
Mr. Brendan Bennett, a high school student from Ft. Walton Beach, joined the laboratory of Dr. James P. Cuda on June 7th as part of UF’s 57th Summer Student Science Training Program. The SSTP is sponsored by the UF Center for Precollegiate Education and Training Program.
ABOVE: Mr. Pedro Toledo is an undergraduate student from Brazil, he is majoring in Agronomy at the University Federal of Viçosa. He received a scholarship from the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program (BSMP) that has funded a summer internship in the Department. He is working on an olive research project with Dr. Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman. Mr. Toledo has been helping with several olive research projects that include processing and identifying insect samples collected from olive groves. He is also working with the Florida Olive Council to establish new olive research plots.
Need to name that bug? A host of experts are available to help Floridians identify any insect or related arthropod. If a mystery creature has six or more legs, the UF Insect ID Lab is the place to call.
Lyle Buss is the Insect ID Lab manager.
Think it might be a nematode problem? The Nematode Assay Laboratory serves Florida and other states by providing nematode assays and expert advice regarding nematode management.
For more information on the Nematode Assay Laboratory, please contact the lab manager Dr. Tesfa Mengistu.
Aristizábal LF, Jiménez M, Bustillo AE, Trujillo HI, Arthurs SP. 2015. Monitoring coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), populations with alcohol baited funnel traps in coffee farms in Colombia. Florida Entomologist 98: 381-383.
Burkett-Cadena ND, Blosser EM, Young RM, Toé LD, Unnasch TR. 2015. Carbon dioxide generated from carbonates and acids for sampling blood-feeding arthropods. Acta Tropica 149: 254-261. Read the news release.
Burkett-Cadena ND, Bingham AM, Hunt B, Morse G, Unnasch TR. 2015. Ecology of Culiseta melanura and other mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from Walton County, FL, during winter period 2013-2014. Journal of Medical Entomology 1-9. DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjv087
Chong JH, Aristizábal LF, Arthurs SP. 2015. Biology and management of Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on ornamental plants. Journal of Integrated Pest Management 6: 5. DOI: 10.1093/jipm/pmv004
Dickey AM, Kumar V, Morgan JK, Jara-Cavieres A, Shatters RG, McKenzie CL, Osborne LS. 2015. A novel mitochondrial genome architecture in thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera): Extreme size asymmetry among chromosomes and possible recent control region duplication. BMC Genomics 16: 439. DOI:10.1186/s12864-015-1672-4
Martin GJ, Lord NP, Branham MA, Bybee SM. 2015. Review of the firefly
visual system (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) and evolution of the genes underlying color vision (opsins). Organisms, Diversity and Evolution. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13127-015-0212-z
Martini X, Hoffmann M, Coy MR, Stelinski LL, Pelz-Stelinski KS. 2015. Infection of an insect vector with a bacterial plant pathogen increases its propensity for dispersal. PloS ONE 10(6): e0129373. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0129373. This publication was featured on the BBC World Service program Science in Action. The story starts at minute 18:25.
Lapointe SL, Keathley CP, Stelinski LL, Urrutia WH, Mafra-Neto A. 2015. Disruption of the leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) in citrus: Effect of blend and placement height, longevity of disruption and emission profile of a new dispenser. Florida Entomologist 98: 743-748.
Li C, Kaufman PE, Xue RD, Zhao M, Wang G, Yan T, Guo X, Zhang Y, Dong Y, Zing D, Zhang H, Zhao T. 2015. Relationship between insecticide resistance and kdr mutations in the dengue vector Aedes aegypti in southern China. Parasites & Vectors 8: 325 DOI:10.1186/s13071-015-0933-z
Hamel JA, Nease SA, Miller CW. 2015. Male mate choice and female receptivity lead to reproductive interference. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 69: 951-956. This publication was featured on the Inkfish Blog of Discover Magazine.
New on Featured Creatures:
Asian horntail, Eriotremex formosanus (Matsumura). Authors: You Li, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Jiri Hulcr, School of Forest Resources and Conservation and Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida.
an ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus affinis Eichhoff. Authors: Lanette Sobel, Doctor of Plant Medicine Program, Andrea Lucky, Entomology and Nematology Department, Jiri Hulcr, Entomology and Nematology Department and School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida.
Do you have a favorite creature? Learn how to make it into a Featured Creatures!
Dr. Marc Branham gave the following invited presentations about his research on fireflies and bioluminescent signaling:
“Bioluminescence and Courtship in Fireflies.” Evenings at Whitney Public Lectures, Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL. Monthly presentations on current science topics by experts in their fields. Lectures are open to the public and include questions from the audience and discussion.
“Bioluminescent Signaling and Species Diversity in Fireflies.” Highlands Hammock State Park, Sebring, FL. Included as a training module for Park Rangers, Staff and Park Volunteers.
“Bioluminescence and Courtship Communication in Fireflies.” Science Café Series, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL. (Blue Gill Café)
Dr. James P. Cuda was an invited speaker at the joint 26th Annual Meeting of the Florida Lake Management Society and the 24th Annual Conference of the North American Lake Management Society held in Naples, FL, 8-11 June. Cuda gave a presentation titled “Testing a New IPM Approach for Hydrilla Management: An Update.” The presentation was co-authored by Dr. Emma Weeks and former undergraduate student Ms. Julie Baniszewski.
Dr. James P. Cuda was invited to present webinar as part of the Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area Monthly online meeting. Cuda gave a presentation titled “Brazilian Peppertree Management Plan: Overview of Biological Control Component.” The webinar was hosted by the Florida Invasive Species Partnership.
Florida Pest Management Association Summer 2015 Conference
Last month, some of the students from the Urban Entomology Lab had the special privilege of attending the FPMA Summer Conference in Key Largo, Florida. The annual conference was held this year at the stately Ocean Reef Club resort. The students had the opportunity to assist Dr. Phil Koehler and Dr. Roberto Pereira with their CEU activities, allowing them the chance to meet and talk with industry folks from all across the state. Some of the undergraduates even presented their research topics, as well as provided demonstrations, during these educational units. This conference is critical in allowing the students to develop their communication skills, network with people and companies that may one day become a potential career path, and learn more about the very industry their field of study heavily influences.
ABOVE: Students and staff from the Urban Entomology Lab had the special privilege of attending the FPMA meeting, and grabbing this picture with one of our favorite UF football heroes (from left) Johnalyn Gordon, Liz Pereira, Kristen Donovan, Tim Tebow, Brittany Campbell, and Som T.
From the Outreach Coordinator
A big thank you to the students and faculty who volunteered at our June outreach events.
June Outreach:
- 9 June- High Springs Library- Dr. Rebecca Baldwin
- 16 June- Finley Elementary- Erin Powell
- 18 June- GPD Camp Department Visit- Erin Powell
- 22-26 June- InStar Wars BUG CAMP
- 30 June- Chiles Elementary- Matt Moore and Erin Powell
Upcoming events:
- 16 July- CPET teacher training
- 27 July- Junior Chinese student department tour
The live critters are always a hit with children and adults alike. The critters are available for you to check out should you be leading an outreach event. We have doubles of our most popular critters, as well as various native insect species depending on the time of year. We have large wood and Plexiglas cages for viewing our native orb weaving spiders. There is one travel cage and one larger static cage. Please be sure to contact us and review the protocol on transporting and handling the critters if you are not already familiar with it. If you lead an outreach, be sure to fill out a documentation form so your event can be included in the newsletter and we can log all outreach events.
If you have any questions please email me.
Thank you — Erin Powell, Outreach Coordinator.
If you would like to schedule an event or have any outreach questions, go to the Outreach pages on our Bug Club Website and contact us.
Getting social!
We have several social media sites for the Entomology & Nematology Department. To make them easily searchable, all three (YouTube, Facebook and Twitter) have the same page name: UFEntomology. Please share these links with past students or colleagues who may have an interest in departmental activities.
ABOVE: Giant Ants!!! The University of Florida welcomed two new large-scale ant sculptures to campus. Funded through UF’s Creative B initiative, Standing Ants “X” and “O” (each standing at 6’9” x 10’ x 6’8”) by American artist Susan P. Cochran were installed on July 7th, 2015 outside of the Florida Museum of Natural History. Cochran has received international acclaim for her large-scale cast bronze sculptures of ants, earwigs and warriors as well as her life-size interpretation of flora and fauna. To learn more, visit arts.ufl.edu.
Virni Mattson, our grants specialist, reports that from June 1st to June 30th, 2015, we have had nine new grants or contracts awarded for a total of $303,270.64 in external funding for all Entomology & Nematology faculty (in Gainesville and at RECs).
Position Announcement
Assistant Professor of Turf and Ornamental Entomology Position number 00012988, requisition number 0908533 GatorJobs posting: http://jobs.ufl.edu/postings/66549
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Special thanks to Glinda Burnett and Morgan Byron, who reviewed the newsletter for errors, and to Jane Medley and Don Wasik, who built the web page design.
PO Box 110620, 970 Natural Area Drive, Steinmetz Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611
Phone: 352-273-3901, Fax: 352-392-0190
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