September 2004

Faculty News Student News

On behalf of the search committee, Dr. Phil The department welcomed 20 new graduate Koehler reported that the Veterinary students this semester, bringing our total to an Entomology position announcement drew 22 even 100. (This may be subject to change as applicants, with one later withdrawing. This some are talking about transferring to position is 40% teaching, 50% research, and universities in states that never see 10% extension. The committee chose two hurricanes.) Students are listed by: name, applicants to bring to Gainesville for two days (degree sought) - major advisor: each to interview and present research and teaching seminars. Gino Nearns (MS), Jennifer Zaspel (PhD) - Branham; Jason Froeba (MS) - Capinera; September 30 - October 1: Jeffery K. Pauric McGroary - Crow; Joey Orajay Tomberlin is currently Assistant Professor (PhD), Jason Stanley (MS) - Dickson; and Extension Specialist, Department of Delano Lewis (MS) - Emmel; Scott Portman Entomology, Texas A&M University located (MS) - Frank; Kendra Pesko (PhD) - Hoy; in Dallas. He received his Ph.D. in Melissa Doyle (MS), Aaron Lloyd (MS) - Entomology from the University of Georgia, Kline; Ryan Welch (MS) - Koehler; Kevin M.S. in Entomology from Clemson Kobylinski (MS), Sean McCann (MS), Julie University, and B.S. in Biological Sciences Maglio (MS) - Lord; Robyn Raban (MS) - from the University of Georgia. Lounibos; Thomas Chouvenc (PhD), Hou- Feng Li (MS), Carl Swienton (MS) - Su; October 4-5: Phillip E. Kaufman is currently John Leavengood (MS) - Thomas. Research Associate, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Emily Heffernan is also continuing on to a He received his Ph.D. in Livestock Ph.D. with Dr. Emmel. Entomology at the University of Wyoming, M.S. in Vegetable Pest Management at the Staff News University of Wisconsin, and B.S. in Science at the University of Illinois. On August 26th, the following members of our staff received service pins representing their IFAS is not releasing other positions at this years of continuous service: Debra Boyd - 30 time. yrs; Steve Lasley - 25 yrs; Jane Medley - 20 yrs; Sam Nguyen - 20 yrs; Reginald Wilcox

1 - 20 yrs; Nick Hostettler - 15 yrs; Pat Hope - McCoy CW, Castle WS, Graham JH, 10 yrs; Oscar Hernandez - 5 yrs; and Mike Syvertsen JP, Schumann AW, Stuart RJ. Miller - 5 yrs. Pesticides suppress Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and promote Myrna Litchfield wishes to thank the differential growth and survival of 'Hamlin' following members of the Social Committee orange trees budded to five rootstocks in a for helping to make the combined staff and Phytophthora infested grove. Proceedings of new student "Thank You and Welcome the Florida State Horticultural Society. Celebration" such a success: Debbie Hall, Jim Cuda and his helper Judy Gillmore, El-Borai FE, Duncan LW, Preston JF. Norm Leppla, Heather McAuslane, Faith Bionomics of a phoretic association between Oi, Jane Medley, and John Capinera. She a putative Paenibacillus sp. and the also thanks all the volunteers for helping to entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema clean up and all those who attended and made diaprepesi. Journal of Nematology. it such a great success. Futch SH. Duncan LW, Zekri M. Awards Validation of an area-wide extension program to estimate the seasonal abundance of adult Roi Levin, M.S. student in Nematology with citrus root weevils with un-baited pyramidal Dr. Crow, won third place in the graduate traps. Proceedings of the Florida State student competition at the Soil and Crop Horticultural Society. Science Society of Florida annual meeting in Tallahassee. Roi's paper was “Susceptibility Persad AB, Jeyaprakash A, Hoy MA. 2004. of several perennial ornamentals to four High-fidelity PCR assay discriminates species of root-knot nematodes" between immature Lipolexus oregmae and Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Hymenoptera: Publications Aphidiidae) within their aphid hosts. Florida Entomologist 87:18-24. Heffernan EV. (August 2004). An acrobat Jeyaprakash A, Hoy MA. 2004. Multiple ant, Crematogaster ashmeadi Emery. displacement amplification in combination UF/IFAS Featured Creatures. EENY-333. with high-fidelity PCR improves detection of http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/ants/acrobat bacteria from single females or eggs of _ant.htm Metaseiulus occidentalis (Nesbitt) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Journal of Invertebrate Mead FW. (July 2004). Cotton stainer, Pathology 86:111-116. Dysdercus suturellus (Herrich-Schaeffer). UF/IFAS Featured Creatures. EENY-330. Hoy MA, Jessey C. 2004. Ageniaspis http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/field/bugs/cotton_ citricola (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) stainer.htm established in Bermuda. Florida Entomologist 87:229-230. Futch SH, Noling JW. Rootstock/Weeds Screen Saver. Software. Persad A, Hoy MA. 2004. Predation by Solenopsis invicta and Blattella asahinai on

2 Toxoptera citricida parasitized by Fall Entomology Seminars Lysiphlebus testaceipes and Lipolexis oregmae on citrus in Florida. Biological Coordinators for this semester are graduate Control 30:531-537. students Veronica Manrique, Rodrigo Diaz and Karla Addesso. Denmark, HA, Fasulo TR, Funderburk JE. (August 2004). Cuban laurel thrips, 09/16 - Dr. Robert Wiedenmann (Center for Gynaikothrips ficorum (Marchal). UF/IFAS Ecological Entomology, Illinois Natural Featured Creatures. EENY-324. History Survey, University of Illinois). http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/thrips/cuban_l "Ecological and physiological factors aurel_thrips.htm determining suitability of Cotesia flavipes- complex parasitoids." CANCELLED Harris DL, Hemenway Jr RC, Whitcomb WH. (July 2004). A ground , Calleida 09/23 - Dr. Arshad Ali (UF/IFAS). decora (Fabricius) UF/IFAS Featured "Chironomidae (Diptera) problems: Research Creatures. EENY-331. http://creatures.ifas. approach and field application." ufl.edu/beneficial/beetles/calleida_decora.htm 09/30 - Dr. Mark Hunter (Institute of Cuda JP, Brammer AS, Pereira RM, Broza Ecology, University of Georgia). " M. 2004. Interference of natural regulation of population ecology and ecosystem processes." the aquatic weed mosquito fern (Azolla caroliniana) by the red imported fire ant. 10/07 - Dr. Ronald Cave (UF/IFAS). "New Aquatics 26: 20-26. efforts in biological control of pest in Florida." Reading Room 10/14 - Dr. Jane Polston (UF/IFAS). Speaking of publications... There are plenty of "Interactions of tomato plants, begomo- them available in the department’s reading viruses, and the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci." room, and that is where they are suppose to stay. The Reading Room committee once 10/21 - Dr. Baldwyn Torto (UF/IFAS). again reminds us that no one is allowed to "Chemical ecology of the small hive beetle: take materials out of the reading room, and An alarming development for honeybees." no one is allowed to take food or drink in. You are also reminded that Reading Room 10/28 - Dr. Charles Cowell (University of users are monitored on closed-circuit TV, so Louisville, Kentucky). "A summary of forty wave and say hi. In addition, the committee years of Lepidoptera and mosquito research at asks that you to tidy up after yourself before the University of Louisville, Kentucky.” leaving the room. Those who wish to use the in-room copier should visit the stock room to 11/04 - Dr. Catharine Mannion (UF/IFAS). get a PIN from Nick Hostettler. "Nursery production and exotic insect pests."

11/18 - Dr. Stephen M. Ferkovich (ARS- USDA, Gainesville). "Improvement of

3 artificial diets for beneficial insects with host- Meetings and Presentations derived factors and insect cell lines." Dr. Marc Branham presented two invited 12/02 - Dr. Dave Carlson (ARS-USDA talks in Japan in August. His first presentation Gainesville). "Chemotaxonomy of insects entitled “Flashers, Glowers, and Sniffers: using surface hydrocarbons." Sexual Selection and Signal Evolution in Fireflies” was a keynote lecture at the 13th Grants International Symposium on Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence. This year’s Dr. William Crow received a grant for conference was held in Yokohama. Marc’s $21,000 from the Environmental Institute for second talk, “The Evolution of Sexual Golf and The Florida Golf Course Communication in Fireflies” was presented at Superintendent's Association to study The National Institute of Advanced Industrial "Timing of nematicide applications on turf Science and Technology, located in Osaka. based on soil temperatures, nematode activity, and root development". Dr. Marjorie A. Hoy will speak on regulatory issues regarding transgenic insects Drs. James P. Cuda and William Overholt at the upcoming workshop, Biotech Bugs, 20- received a $25,000 grant from the Florida 21 September at the George Washington Department of Environmental Protection to University Conference Center, Washington, conduct surveys for new natural enemies of DC. The meeting is sponsored by the Pew Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolius, Initiative on Food and Biotechnology to in Paraguay and the surrounding area. explore the science, ethics and public policy Paraguay is considered part of the native of genetically modified insects. range of Brazilian peppertree, but has not been adequately surveyed for potential Dr. James P. Cuda was invited to participate biological control agents of this highly in a joint USDA-ARS and UF/IFAS Invasive invasive weed. Species and Agro-Ecosystems Research Partnership Workshop held at the USDA Alumni News Horticultural Research Laboratory, Ft. Pierce, FL, 17 August. The purpose of this one-day Eric Luc, a former M.S. student of Dr. Crow workshop was to develop a joint strategy for received a Dow Agrosciences travel award for strengthening agriculture's role in the $500 to attend the annual meeting of the restoration of the South Florida Ecosystem. Society of Nematologists in Colorado. Eric Cuda served as Co-Chair of the Biological presented some of his research conducted Control of Invasive Plants Working Group, while at UF. His paper was titled "Effects of and delivered a PowerPoint presentation Belonolaimus longicaudatus on nitrate highlighting the key research issues relating leaching in turfgrass lysimeters". to biological weed control in South Florida and the role that UF/IFAS is playing in addressing these issues. Drs. Norm Leppla, Bill Overholt and Ron Cave also attended the workshop.

4 Dr. James P. Cuda participated in the 5th year he is the meeting organizer and session Annual CALS Teaching Enhancement moderator. For more information, please Symposium held at the University of Florida contact Major Dhillon at (909) 340-9792. Hilton Hotel and Conference Center, Information will be posted on the Web site Gainesville, 18 August. (www.sove.org) as it becomes available.

Dr. James Maruniak attended the Society Distance Education Degrees for Invertebrate Pathology (SIP) meeting in Helsinki, Finland from July 31 to August 5. The department now offers two Master of While there he presented a poster entitled Science degrees (non-thesis) via distance “Neodiprion lecontei and Neodiprion sertifer education: M.S. in Entomology and M.S. in nucleopolyhedroviruses: Comparative Pest Management. Links to several Web Genomics and Evolution” by Hilary Lauzon, pages describing the requirements are Paolo Zanotto, Alejandra Garcia- available from the UF/IFAS Pest Alert site at Maruniak, Basil Arif and James http://extlab7.entnem.ufl.edu/PestAlert/. See Maruniak. Dr. Maruniak also started his two- the entry for 08/30/04. year period as Chair of the Virology Division for SIP. Reaching Out

Dr. James Maruniak will participate in a Curious about outreach events the department roundtable as an invited speaker for the Viral held this summer? Here is a summary: Society of Brazil (SBV), scheduled for São Pedro, Brazil, 26-29 September. His City Parks & Recreation Summer Camp presentation will be “Complete genome Program totaled approximately 400 of sequence of a Hymenopteran baculovirus, Gainesville’s elementary and middle Neodiprion sertifer nucleopolyhedrovirus schoolers: June 8: Westwood Middle School; (NeseNPV)” June 10: Howard Bishop Middle School; July 12: Eastside Community Center; and July 19: The 36th Annual Society for Vector Ecology Northeast Community Center. (SOVE) Conference is scheduled for 26-29 September in Boston, MA. Two of the 12 Tours of the department for interested invited student speakers are from our families with children: June 3 and 11. department. Sandra Garrett’s title is “Identifying Possible Mosquito Vectors of Other events and presentations included the West Nile Virus in Florida Alligator Farms.” following groups: June 16: Anchor Center Aissa Doumbouya’s title is “Artificial Summer School Program; June 17: Medieval membrane feeding of Culex sp. and the effect Bug Faire at Turlington Plaza for Dr. of host type on fecundity.” The student Barfield’s Bugs and People class; June 19: symposium was co-organized by Leslie Rios Alachua Branch Library; June 23: Apopka and consists of invited student giving 10- Research Center Science Camp for Middle minute presentations on their graduate work. Schoolers; June 29 and July 14: Insect Drs. Jonathan Day and Roxanne Rutledge Discovery Camp at the Florida Museum of also will be presenting at the meeting. Dr. Natural History; July 13: College Reach-Out Day is the Vice-president of SOVE, and this Program for Minority Students; July 16: A

5 Child’s Place; July 26: Brownie Troop 93 of contributors to Pest Alert are the Florida Alachua, FL; July 29: 4-H Congress; July 30: Department of Agriculture and Consumer Discovery Camp of Ocala, FL; August 4: Services, and its agricultural regulatory unit, Incalf Montessori School; and August 18: the Division of Plant Industry; and the Girls’ Club of Alachua County Florida Department of Health with its arbovirus summaries and reports. The Pest As of late August, Erika Andersen turned Alert site is located at http://extlab7.entnem. over outreach coordinator responsibilities to ufl.edu/PestAlert/. Join a moderated (only Justin Harbison. He can be reached at 392- information on postings is sent to the list; no 1901 x 205 or [email protected]. subscriber messages) listserv that includes over 500 subscribers worldwide, as many of Frances our problems (and solutions) have impact in many other countries. While members of the department, on the Gainesville campus, suffered varying degrees Due to the expected surge of mosquito of damage and inconvenience due to populations resulting from the recent Hurricane Frances (loss of power, downed hurricanes that impacted Florida and other trees, etc.) at their homes, our building on states, the Pest Alert Web site - Arbovirus campus weathered it well. Two large pines Summary page - now includes a section came down, with one barely missing the listing files added over the last three years outside emergency generator and another that contain information on mosquito narrowly missing a state vehicle. Please park repellents, traps and their use, as well as other state vehicles in the concrete parking garage relevant information. near the museum during future emergencies. However, the Pesticide Storage Shed flooded Faculty Senate Report again and Dr. John Capinera said that if anyone has anything stored there they should President Machen spoke to the Faculty Senate forget about it for now until EH&S pumps it and discussed goals for the Fall, which out. IFAS may relocate the storage because it includes help in responding to issues raised in has proven to be a bad site. the recent Faculty Survey. One of his main points was that faculty and staff deserve Bug Quote improved salary and benefits. He is so concerned about personnel issues identified in "In South Florida, we have industrial the Survey that he will hire a new Vice cockroaches that have to be equipped with President for Personnel Matters that would loud warning beepers so you can get out of deal with both faculty and staff issues. He their way when they back up." - Dave Barry also announced that he is initiating a new "President's Challenge" in an effort to obtain Pest Alert $150 million in private support to give faculty the necessary tools to enhance classroom Pest Alert is a means by which UF/IFAS instruction and conduct world-class research. delivers timely information on new and Funds donated will be matched by State reoccurring pest problems. Other important matching funds and he has pledged to add to each gift of $1 million or more, $250,000

6 from a special discretionary fund established New text and/or photographs were added to with private donations specifically for the diaprepes root weevil, green peach aphid, Faculty Challenge until the fund is exhausted. cyclamen mite, lesser cornstalk borer, thorn Dr. Machen indicated the Faculty Survey will bug, hover fly, deer tick, varroa mite, melon be repeated during 2005 and 2006 to see if fly (major revision), Florida SLE mosquito, progress is being made. Dr. Machen noted sap , gladiolus thrips, redbanded thrips that the undergraduate class size is the same (major revision), melon thrips, and for 2004-2005, but the quality is greater than greenhouse thrips (major revision). it has ever been. The number of graduate students has increased somewhat. Dr. Machen Newsletter Minutia noted that new faculty are needed to help carry the work load of our current enrollment. Thomas Fasulo is the newsletter editor. See the Faculty Senate website: http://www. Please send submissions to him at senate.ufl.edu/04_05_senate_meetings.htm. - [email protected]. Issues are published about Dr. Marjorie Hoy, Faculty Senator the middle of each month. Items for each month’s issue should be sent no later than the Featured Creatures 7th of that month.

This popular UF/IFAS Department of Printed copies are distributed only within Entomology and Nematology and FDACS Building 970. A notice is sent to all those on Division of Plant Industry Web site is the UF-Bugnews-l listserv when HTML and available at http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/. PDF copies are posted on the newsletter Web New files are added every month and older site at http://entnews.ifas.ufl.edu/, which files are updated as information becomes contains instructions for subscribing and available. Looking for some exposure for you unsubscribing to the listserv. Andy Koehler and your favorite creature? During the last 12 does the coding for the HTML version. months, the Featured Creatures Web site recorded 1,405,696 distinct visitors and During the last twelve months, the newsletter 2,682,717 page views. Web site recorded 35,987 distinct visitors and 60,267 page views. The newsletter listserv has 236 subscribers.

7