A strong research program in biological control has operated at Florida A&M University (FAMU) since 1976, led by Dr. Charles O'Brien. The program is internationally known for taxonomic research on weevils in support of biological control efforts against exotic weeds. Biological control of mosquitoes and biting flies is carried out at the FAMU Public Health Entomology Research and Education Centerin Panama City, FL.

In 1999, USDA-APHIS and USDA-ARS provided funds to establish the FAMU Center for Biological Control. Two Research Entomologists in the Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE) Behavior and Biocontrol Research Unit , Stuart Reitzand Jesusa Legaspi, are faculty in the Center for Biological Control. This relationship continues a long tradition of cooperative relationships between FAMU and CMAVE students and researchers. FAMU students who have worked with CMAVE researchers include Cornelius Dunmore, Moeb Lanh, Aliska Akers, and most recently Christy Copeland and Felicia Haynes.

James Thomas and Richard Mankin, EEO Committee members at CMAVE, participated in the FAMU CESTA Career Forum in Tallahassee, FL, February 27, 2001. Discussions were held about future research and recruitment activities with Manuel Pescador, Michael Hubbard, and Jan Peters in the Department of Entomology and Structural Pest Control, and Charlie O’Brien, Stuart Reitz, and Jesusa Legaspi in the FAMU Center for Biological Control. The Behavior and Biocontrol; Chemistry; Imported Fire and Household Insect; and Postharvest and Bioregulation Research Units at CMAVE prepared posters about ongoing projects that were combined into a display to recruit summer interns (picture above). Everett Foreman, Denise Johanowicz, Eric Kaufmann, and Betty Weaver contributed to preparation of the graphics.