Bureau of Methods Development &
Biological Control
Bureau Chief: Dr. Trevor Smith, Trevor.Smith@freshfromflorida.com
Assistant Bureau Chief: Abbie Jo Fox, Abbie.Fox@freshfromflorida.com
Other Bureau Programs
Biological Administrator: Abbie Jo Fox Abbie.Fox@freshfromflorida.com
Biological Scientists: José Diaz Jose.Diaz@freshfromflorida.com
Ken Hibbard Kenneth.Hibbard@freshfromflorida.com
Project Staff |
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Medfly Eclosion/Release |
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Sterile pupae were imported from Guatemala and allowed to eclose as adults in boxes at the MacDill facility in preparation for aerial release. Releases of sterile flies continued through December 1997.
In April 1998 additional wild medflies were detected in Miami and subsequently in Lake, Manatee and Highlands Counties, triggering another eradication program. Chemical control treatments were again followed by a sterile release program. This sterile release program eventually became a Preventative Release Program (PRP) over parts of Dade, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota Counties. The program continued to be operated out of MacDill AFB but after the 9-11-01 tragedy, complications with air space and access to the base forced the program to move a new facility. The PRP moved to to a new facility in Sarasota in early 2002. SIT facility booklet ~ pdf After about a three month delay, limited releases resumed in February 2002, reaching near the target release goal in June 2002 of 150,000 flies/acre/week over a 488 square mile area. Weekly releases continue in Dade, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota Counties.
Oriental Fruit Fly Eradication Program |
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Spray Equipment Testing
In cooperation with USDA, APHIS and CPHST, testing of several types of spray equipment continues for possible use by growers in the Caribfly Protocol Program or during emergency programs to treat fruit fly infested groves by ground application.
Training and Compliance Fumigation |
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Fruit Fly Trap Lines
The bureau maintains continuous fruit fly trap lines in portions of St. Lucie, Indian River and Martin counties. These traps are serviced weekly and the results are tabulated for later reference concerning the variation in the seasonal Caribbean fruit fly population. This data is useful in assisting the Caribbean Fruit Fly Protocol or when conducting tests that involve the use of biological control agents or other means to suppress this pest.
Caribbean Fruit Fly Field Studies
The bureau is collaborating with the USDA-ARS to determine whether a segment of the Florida wild Caribbean fruit fly population has developed a preference for citrus fruit as a host, since its discovery in the state in 1931. Flies from various locations in Florida and the Caribbean are compared at the DNA level.
Another ongoing study focuses on collecting and incubating as many species of fruit from many different locations to determine if there are new, unrecorded hosts of Caribbean fruit fly. To date none have been found. New hosts have been found for other insects and discoveries of exotic insects and insects new to science have been side benefits of this project. In the summer of 2005, a new drosopholid, Zaprionis indianus (Gupta) was discovered in longan collected from a Florida location. (See DPI Pest Alerts for more information.)
Mole Crickets
The bureau also provides technical assistance in the rearing and maintenance of a mole cricket colony located at UF-IFAS in Gainesville. This colony is a source of healthy specimens necessary for various research projects conducted throughout Florida
Monitoring/Security
The bureau provides monitoring/security of the Doyle Conner Building/ Facilities in Gainesville, Florida.
Photo credits: Jeffrey Lotz-DPI, Suzanne Fraser-DPI; Joe Stewart-USDA; DPI Archives
