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News and Events for 2009

• CMAVE approves contract to save energy
  On April 22, the ARS research center in Gainesville, FL, entered into an Energy Savings Performance Contract with Chevron Energy Solutions to implement an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC).  This ESPC is part of a Federal Energy Management Program managed by the Department of Energy to help federal agencies meet energy efficiency and water conservation goals.  Through this program, Chevron Energy Solutions has guaranteed the ARS center savings in energy and water cost in excess of $100,000 per year.  This project will reduce overall energy use at the center by at least ~ 18 percent.  This includes an 11 percent reduction in electricity use and 35 percent reduction in natural gas use.  The project, which includes a number of other improvements at the facility, will cost approximately $2 million and will be funded by a combination of agency funds, a local utility rebate, and guaranteed energy cost savings.

News and Events for 2008

• ARS officials participate in meeting of university advisory committee on entomology, nematology
  On April 29, Daniel Strickman, ARS national program leader for medical and veterinary entomology, Beltsville, MD, and Kenneth Linthicum, director, ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE), Gainesville, FL, participated as members of the Advisory Council to the Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville. Among the outcomes was a clear appreciation of the extensive interactions between ARS and the university.

News and Events for 2007

• CMAVE scientists initiate disease reduction projects in Kenya:
  On February 21-March 3, Kenneth Linthicum, director, ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE), Gainesville, FL, entomologists Daniel Kline and Jerome Hogsette, and chemist Ulrich Bernier of the CMAVE Mosquito and Fly Research Unit (MFRU) were in Nairobi and Kisumu, Kenya, to initiate projects aimed at reducing disease transmission of Rift Valley fever and malaria through improved surveillance, monitoring, and novel control measures. A second group of CMAVE personnel, entomologists James Becnel and Sandra Allan and research leader Gary Clark of the MFRU, will depart on March 10 to continue CMAVE activities in Kenya.

News and Events for 2006

• IFAHI Scientists Host Chinese and Taiwanese Scientists:
  On March 23-24, scientists in the Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Unit, ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, hosted one scientist from China and four from Taiwan. Fire ants have now invaded Taiwan and China, causing significant problems there. The ARS scientists discussed research and exchanged information that would be useful to the visitors in addressing their invasive fire ant problems.
  
  
• Ant-Control Symposium:
  On February 23-24, Robert Vander Meer, chemist, ARS Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Unit, Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, led a symposium on controlling sugar-feeding ants, which pose serious problems to many crops, including citrus fruits and grapes. Held in Visalia, CA, the symposium was organized by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and hosted in part by the Citrus Research Board, the California Table Grape Commission, and the California Association of Wine Grape Growers. An action plan was developed for identifying research needs and active-ingredient registration requirements and issues.
  
  
• Discussions on Microbial Control of Arthropod Pests:
  On February 12-13, entomologists David Oi, Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Unit, and James Becnel and Roberto Pereira, Mosquito and Fly Research Unit, ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, participated in a meeting of the S-1024 Multistate Research Project: Discovery of Entomopathogens and Their Integration and Safety in Pest Management Systems, in Savannah, GA. The ARS scientists participated in discussions on the microbial control of fire ants, mosquitoes, flies, and other pests in urban, agricultural, and natural landscape systems.
  
  
• Florida State Fair:
  

  Several CMAVE research units provided an exhibit and fielded questions from spectators at the Florida State Fair in Tampa, February 9-22.

News and Events for 2005

• Meeting of the Southeastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America
  Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Entomologist and Geneticist To Participate in Entomology Meeting: On March 6-9, Robert Meagher, entomologist, and Rodney Nagoshi, insect geneticist, ARS Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, will attend the annual meeting of the Southeastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America, in Tunica, MS.  Meagher will present ARS research on lepidopterous pests in pasture grasses in Florida.  Nagoshi will discuss ARS research on genetics of fall armyworm host s trains in Florida.
  
  
• Department of Defense (DoD) meeting at the Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE)
  On March 1-3, CMAVE will host the DoD Annual Review of Pest Management Research.  See the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB) for more information.
  
  
• Ground Breaking Ceremony
  The USDA/ARS-Center for Medical, Agricultural & Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE) in Gainesville, Florida will hold a ground breaking for their new facility on March 1.  They have chosen the date to coincide with an annual review of DOD and USDA Pest Management Research in Gainesville by the Armed Forces Pest Management Board.  The work in Gainesville is part of a long history of collaboration with DOD to produce products to control disease-carrying insects.  Currently, the USDA, ARS and CMAVE are participating in a Department of Defense (DOD) initiative called the Deployed War Fighter Protection Research Program (DWFP).
  
  
• Florida State Fair in Tampa
  CMAVE research units provided exhibits and fielded questions from spectators at the Florida State Fair in Tampa, February 10-21 (fire ant exhibit, stored products exhibit).

News and Events from 2004

• Dr. Kenneth Linthicum is the new Center Director for the Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology (October 18, 2004):
  Dr. Linthicum has been serving as Supervisory Public Health Biologist, Vector-Borne Disease Section, California Department of Health Services, since June 2001.  He served as Associate Director, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC from June 1999 to May 2001; Deputy Director and Chief Department of Entomology with the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand (1992-1998); held various positions with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, (1985-1992); and Chief, Arbovirus Section, at the U.S. Medical Research Unit, Nairobi, Kenya (1982-1985).  He received his Ph.D. in Biology (1978), M.A. in Biology (1974) and B.A. in Zoology (1972) all from the University of California, Los Angeles, CA.  From 1978-1980, he was the National Research Council Post Doctoral Fellow, Department of Entomology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC.
  
  Dr. Linthicum has an impressive research record in the areas of vector-borne arbo-viral disease surveillance (malaria, scrub typhus, tick typhus, plague, hantavirus, Lyme disease and relapsing fever), vector competence, and biosystematics.  He has considerable experience in the use of cutting edge research tools, including use of satellite remotely sensed data, spatial analysis, Geographic Information System in additional to biochemistry and molecular methods (ELISA, PCR).  Dr. Linthicum has served as consultant and collaborated with many national and international organizations, such as WHO, FAO, USAID, USDA, NASA, and organization of African Unity.  During his tenure with the U.S. Army, he has won several honors and awards.
  
  
• Dr. Robert Vander Meer is the new Research Leader for the Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research Unit (October 18, 2004)
  Dr. Vander Meer came to the USDA, Imported Fire Ant Unit, in November 1977 from a postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell University.  Prior to that he received his Ph.D. degree in Chemistry from The Pennsylvania State University and spent four years in the Peace Corps.  During the past 22 years with the USDA Dr. Vander Meer has distinguished himself in the area of chemical ecology, especially as related to fire ants.  He has co-edited three books; the latest, "Pheromone Communication in Social Insects", was published in 1998.  Dr. Vander Meer has over 140 publications and is a co-inventor on seven patents, one of which is a major source of revenue for the Office of Technology Transfer.  He currently has a USDA National Research Initiative Grant and an Israel - United States National Science Foundation Grant.  He served on detail as Acting National Program Leader and is currently serving on the FAMU Science Center Steering Committee. 
  
  
• IFAHI Hosts Hosts Meeting on Areawide Control of Fire Ants
  On November 30, the ARS Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research Unit (IFAHI) hosted, in Gainesville, FL, the semiannual meeting of the Areawide Fire Ant Suppression project.   Attendees included Ron Rosenberg, ARS National program leader for medical and veterinary entomology, Beltsville, MD; Ken Linthicum, director, ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville; Steve Edney, administrative officer representing Darrell Cole, area director, ARS South Atlantic Area, Athens, GA; IFAHI scientist cooperators from Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Florida; farmer/rancher cooperators; and stakeholders and other invited guests.  Bob Faust, ARS national program leader for field and horticultural crop entomology (in charge of areawide research projects), Beltsville, participated by conference call and Internet-based presentations.  During the meeting, participants were updated on the status of the areawide demonstration sites, educational and research efforts, and environmental and economic assessments.   Changes in protocol and technology transfer were major topics of discussion.
  
  
• Grape and Biocontrol Field Day
  On August 27, the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research and the ARS Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research Unit (IBBRU), Tallahassee, FL, co-hosted this year's Grape and Biocontrol Field Day.  The field day included a grape-stomping competition, grape tasting, muscadine juice tasting, and highlights of research programs at the two research centers.  The public toured the 30-acre facility. Jesusa Legaspi, IBBRU entomologist, and FAMU personnel coordinated the event.
  
  
• Fire Ant Workshop in Australia
  On August 23-24, Robert Vander Meer, chemist, ARS Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, attended the 2004 Imported Fire Ant Workshop in Brisbane, Australia.  His presentation, called "Finishing the Job: The Final Stages of an Eradication Program," covered fire ant pheromone research and use of attractants in eradication and control of the Brisbane fire ant infestation.
  
  
• International Entomology Conference
  On August 12-21, several ARS scientists presented research at the XXII International Congress of Entomology--Strength in Diversity, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.  Michael T. Smith, entomologist, ARS Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit, Newark, DE, presented research findings on detecting Asian longhorned beetle infestations with new ARS acoustic detection technology developed in cooperation with Richard Mankin, entomologist, ARS Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, and others.
  
  
• Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Entomologist Participates in Tomato Disease Workshop
  On June 20-24, Stuart Reitz, entomologist, ARS Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research Unit, Tallahassee, FL, is attending the 1st International Symposium on Tomato Diseases and 19th Annual Tomato Disease Workshop, in Orlando, FL.  Reitz is giving presentations detailing attributes of thrips that contribute to their pest status as vectors of tomato spotted wilt virus, and on new IPM (integrated pest management) programs to control whiteflies and whitefly-vectored diseases in tomatoes.
  
  
• Scientists Judge Annual Florida State Science and Engineering Fair
  On April 15, scientists from the ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, served as judges at the 49th Annual State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida, in Jacksonville. A judging team consisting of Ulrich Bernier, chemist; Chris Geden, entomologist; and Genie White, microbiologist, ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit (MFRU), as well as Everett Foreman, engineering technician, and Rob Meagher and Jeff Shapiro, entomologists, ARS Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research Unit, awarded USDA Certificates and a 1-year subscription to Agricultural Research magazine to the top three projects in each of 13 junior and senior sections. Also, Dennis Shuman, electrical engineer, MFRU, served as a category judge of the Senior Engineering Section.  The fair is administered by the Florida Foundation of Future Scientists, an organization that promotes excellence in science and engineering education.
  
  
• National Restaurant Association Meeting
  On April 15, Jerome Hogsette, entomologist, ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, presented a lecture about the biology and management of flies as a public health concern, at the annual meeting of the National Restaurant Association’s Quality Assurance Study Group, in Chandler, AZ.  This gave ARS an opportunity to interact with members of an important customer group, to enlighten them on ARS research on fly management in the urban environment, and to learn about their research needs in the area of fly control.
  
  
• IFAHI Confirms Establishment of Second Phorid Fly in Florida
  On March 31, Sanford Porter, entomologist, ARS Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, confirmed that a second phorid fly (Pseudacteon curvatus) has become established by overwintering and is growing in numbers.  The flies were collected by Porter and Juan Briano, director, ARS South American Biological Control Laboratory, Hurlingham, Argentina, in October 2001.  P. curvatus was field-released near Gainesville in March 2003, as part of an ARS areawide fire ant control program.  It is the smallest of the phorid flies collected and is thus able to parasitize the smallest fire ant workers.  The workers are the most abundant inhabitants of a fire ant colony.
  
  
• Fire Ant Research Conference
  On March 21-23, Sanford Porter, David Oi, Steve Valles, and Roberto Pereira, entomologists, ARS Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research Unit (IFAHI), Gainesville, FL, attended the 2004 Fire Ant Research Conference in Baton Rouge, LA.  They presented information on the discovery of new fire ant viruses, the first infection of red imported fire ants in quarantine with the Argentine fire ant pathogen Vairimorpha invictae, and three new decapitating flies that are being evaluated for release as fire ant biocontrol agents.  Prior to the conference, IFAHI scientists and collaborators from Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Florida, and South Carolina held the semiannual technical committee meeting of the Areawide Suppression of Fire Ant Populations in Pastures project.  State cooperators reported on demonstration site activities, and ARS scientists discussed plans for biological control agent releases.
  
  
• Air Curtain Demonstration
  On March 9, acting research leader Bob Vander Meer, chemist Dave Carlson, and entomologists Chris Geden, Jerry Hogsette, and Dan Kline, ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, participated in an ARS research demonstration optimizing use of air curtains to exclude flying insects from aircraft.  Funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the demonstration was performed at Miami International Airport in cooperation with American Airlines, which hosted the event and provided a Boeing 777 aircraft.  The results show that air curtains can be effective in excluding flying insects from aircraft and can offer an alternative to the use of insecticides.  Attendees included officials from airlines, airline-related unions and associations, and officials from countries that require airlines to ensure that planes are insect-free before passengers disembark.
  
  
• Department of Defense (DoD) meeting at the Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE)
  On February 5th and 6th, CMAVE hosted the DoD Annual Review of Pest Management Research. See the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB) for more information.
  
  

News and Events from 2003

• Mosquito and Fly Unit, DOT, EPA and private industry meet to discuss aircraft disinsectization
  On November 18-19, Robert K. Vander Meer, acting research leader, ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, and unit chemist Dave Carlson and entomologists Jerry Hogsette, Dan Kline, and Chris Geden met with representatives of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT); U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Berner International, New Castle, PA, an air curtain manufacturer; and airline representatives.  They discussed ARS progress in, and future plans for, evaluating the effectiveness of air curtains in excluding disease vectors such as mosquitoes and flies from aircraft.  The study, jointly sponsored by DOT and EPA, is aimed at finding alternatives to the insecticidal methods of aircraft disinsectization currently in use.
  
  
• Symposium for the Entomological Society of America
  On October 27-30, Dennis Shuman, electrical engineer, Mosquito and Fly Research Unit (MFRU), Gainesville, FL, and James Throne, research leader, Biological Research Unit (BRU), Manhattan, KS, co-organized a symposium on Insector, the USDA/ARS patented and newly licensed automated stored-product insect monitoring technology.
  
  
• Symposium for the Entomological Society of America
  On October 25-28, Jerry Hogsette, entomologist, ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, attended the national meeting of the Entomological Society of America, in Cincinnati, OH.  Hogsette and Carl J. Jones, chair and professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, co-organized a symposium entitled, "The Fly Menace: Human and Animal Health Implications."  Speakers’ presentations increased awareness in the entomological community of the fly's resurgence as a carrier and vector of harmful pathogens.
  
  
• Meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency
  On October 20-24, Peter Teal, acting center director, ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, attended a meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria, as a consultant.  Teal lectured on "Improving sterile male performance in fruit fly sterile insect technique (SIT) programs."  This meeting was to review the current status on efforts to develop hormonal, kairomonal, and nutritional therapies in fruit fly mass-rearing to improve sterile male performance in SIT programs.
  
  
• FDA Food Safety Seminar
  On October 20-23, Jerry Hogsette, entomologist, ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, attended the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Southeast Region Retail Food Safety Seminar in St. Augustine, FL.  He made a presentation on the biology and control of house flies and other nuisance flies.
  
  
• Florida A&M University (FAMU) Small Farm Field Day
  On September 18, scientists from the ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, stationed at the Institute for Biological Control, Tallahassee, participated in the Small Farm Field Day at the FAMU research farm in Quincy.  The public toured research plots demonstrating new integrated pest management practices for vegetable crops.  This collaborative research with FAMU Cooperative Extension Service and University of Florida scientists is funded, in part, through a grant from the Center for Cooperative Agricultural Programs, titled "Demonstrating Emerging Pest Management Technologies to Resource-Limited Producers."
  
  
• CMAVE Hosts Fire Ant Meeting
  On September 9, researchers involved in ARS' Areawide Suppression of Fire Ants in Pastures Program met at the ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE), Gainesville, FL, for a semiannual discussion on the project's progress and new directions.  Those attending included research and Extension personnel from Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Florida.  In addition, several farmers, Extension agents, state regulatory, and military personnel involved in the program gave their input on the impact of fire ants on their operations and activities, research needs, and the future of areawide demonstration projects.  The outcome of this open discussion between ARS researchers, cooperators, customers, and stakeholders will assist in focusing the research in ARS' Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Unit at Gainesville.
  
  
• Lepidoptera Workshop in Crete
  On August 25-30, Paul Shirk, physiologist, ARS Postharvest and Bioregulation Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, will be attending the sixth International Workshop on Molecular Biology and Genetics of the Lepidoptera, at the Orthodox Academy of Crete, Kolympari, Crete.  Shirk will present information on the improvement of gene transfer vectors for insects and will serve as moderator of a session on transgenesis of Lepidoptera.
  
  
• International Pathology Colloquium
  On July 26-30, James J. Becnel, entomologist, and Alexandra Shapiro, research associate, ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, presented new research information at the 36th annual meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology, Burlington, VT.  Becnel and Shapiro made presentations on new viral pathogens of mosquitoes that are important vectors of West Nile virus.  Conference attendees were industry and research scientists working in insect pathology and biological control of important pests worldwide.  This meeting promotes the development of microbial control agents as alternatives to chemical pesticides for managing disease-vectoring insects.
  
  
• Biotech Risk Assessment Workshop
  ARS geneticist Alfred Handler, Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, recently (June 2003) led a panel discussion on fish, shellfish, and insects at a stakeholders' workshop on Future Directions and Research Priorities for the USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program (BRARGP), in Washington, DC. This meeting reviews ongoing BRARGP research and obtains feedback from stakeholders and Federal regulatory agencies overseeing transgenic animals, plants, and microorganisms in order to prioritize research needs.
  
  
• Gottingen Neurobiology Conference
  On June 12, Peter Teal, acting director, ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, will present a seminar on juvenile hormone regulation of reproductive maturity and sexual signaling in Tephritid fruit flies, at the 29th Gottingen Neurobiology Conference in Gottingen, Germany.
  
  
• Biotech Risk Assessment Workshop
  On June 9-10, Alfred Handler, geneticist, ARS Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, will lead a panel discussion on Fish, shellfish, and insects at a stakeholders' workshop on Future Directions and Research Priorities for the USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program (BRARGP), in Washington, DC. This meeting reviews ongoing BRARGP research and obtains feedback from stakeholders and Federal regulatory agencies overseeing transgenic animals, plants, and microorganisms in order to prioritize research needs.
  
  
• ARS Research Center Welcomes Fruit Fly Control Partners
  On June 2, the ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE), Gainesville, FL, welcomed Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service methods partners Timothy C. Holler and Amy Moses.  Holler, an expert on tephritid fruit flies, chairs the National Fruit Fly Trapping Committee.  He and Moses are engaged in numerous collaborative studies with CMAVE scientists.  Their move into CMAVE facilities will enhance collaborative development of trapping, monitoring, and control strategies for Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Mexican fruit flies.
  
  
• Fly Control Meeting
  On April 22-24, Terry Arbogast, entomologist, ARS Postharvest and Bioregulation Research Unit, and Jerome Hogsette, entomologist, ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, attended a technical meeting for pest control operator (PCO) training held by Acurid, Orkin Pest Control's Commercial Services Division. The scientists, who attended at Acurid's request, presented information on the biology, ecology, and management of nuisance flies in rural and urban areas. The meeting, sponsored by Publix Supermarkets and held in Atlanta, GA, was attended by Publix corporate officials, Orkin corporate officials, PCOs, and other scientists.
  
  
• Parasiticides Meeting
  On April 22-23, Jerome Hogsette, entomologist, ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, met with personnel from ELANCO Animal Health to participate in its Parasiticide Resistance and Scientific Meeting. Held in St. Louis, MO, the meeting was attended by 30 scientists and industry representatives who discussed the role and future of parasiticides in the animal pest management arena.
  
  
• Fire Ant Repellents Used to Protect Endangered Birds
  On April 17, Robert Vander Meer, chemist, ARS Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, along with research partner BioGuard R&D and U.S. Army personnel, conducted an experiment at Ft. Hood, TX, with controlled-release fire ant repellents. The black-capped vireo, an endangered bird species, nests close to the ground, and its nestlings are attacked by fire ants. The slow-release fire ant repellent formulations will be used under the nesting site to keep the ants at bay until the young birds can fend for themselves.
  
  
• Congressman Visits CMAVE
  On March 3 and 4 (2003), Congressman Boyd (FL) toured the CMAVE location and met with ARS scientists and customer groups to discuss research programs.
  
  
• Fourth National Conference on West Nile Virus
  In February, ARS research entomologists Sandra Allan, Ulrich Bernier and Daniel Kline from the ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit (MFRU), Gainesville, FL, participated in the Fourth National Conference on West Nile Virus in the United States at New Orleans, LA. The topics included surveillance and epidemiology; biology and ecology; and prevention, control, communication, and behavior. A joint meeting between MFRU scientists and the Centers for Disease Control's experts was also held to discuss strategies and areas of collaboration.
  
  
• Training for Pest Control Operators
  On March 4, Terry Arbogast, entomologist, ARS Postharvest and Bioregulation Research Unit, and Jerry Hogsette, entomologist, ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, are to address pest control technicians on the biology and management of stored product insects and of house flies, respectively, in supermarkets and food service facilities. At this technical training meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Arbogast and Hogsette are to consult with the meeting sponsor, Acurid Commercial Services by Orkin, their managers, and pest control technicians about current pest management techniques.
  
  
• Southern Research Project Meeting
  On February 23-24, James Becnel, entomologist, ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, attended the annual meeting of the Southern Research Project S-301, "Development, Evaluation, and Safety of Entomopathogens for Control of Arthropod Pests," in Charleston, SC. The focus of the meeting was research activities and collaborative projects utilizing pathogens to control important pests in the United States. It was attended by approximately 35 ARS and university researchers. Becnel is co-chair of the subproject, "Development, Evaluation, and Safety of Entomopathogens for Veterinary and Structural Arthropod Pests."
  
  
• Collaborative Research With Ecuadorian University
  On February 16-23, John Sivinski, entomologist, ARS Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, visited with entomologists from Catholic University in Quito, Ecuador, to discuss collaborative research on the biological control of invasive fruit fly pests. During his visit, he also presented four lectures on fruit fly behavior and natural enemies.
  
  
• National Fire Ant and Termite Research Program Review
  Participants reviewed progress in the control of fire ants and subterranean termites, two invasive species that cost southern growers more than $4 billion annually. Stakeholder comments and needs provided guidance in developing the next 5-year research plan, scheduled to begin in 2004. The meeting was February 11-12 in New Orleans, LA.
  
  
• West Nile Virus National Conference
  On February 9-11, Sandra Allan, Ulrich Bernier, and Daniel Kline, research entomologists, ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit (MFRU), Gainesville, FL, participated in the Fourth National Conference on West Nile Virus in the United States in New Orleans, LA. The topics included surveillance and epidemiology; biology and ecology; and prevention, control, communication, and behavior. A joint meeting between MFRU scientists and the Centers for Disease Control's Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases was held to discuss strategies and areas of collaboration.
  
  
• Mosquito Control Association Short Course
  On January 27-29, Ulrich Bernier and Daniel Kline, research entomologists, ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, participated in the Dodd Short Courses in Gainesville. This program, sponsored by the Florida Mosquito Control Association, provides courses of interest to mosquito control professionals.
  
  
• Annual Review of Pest Management Research
  On January 28-30, Jerry Hogsette and James Becnel, research entomologists, ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, participated at the Department of Defense-, Department of Agriculture-, and Centers for Disease Control-sponsored Annual Review of Pest Management Research in Ft. Collins, CO. A summary of 2002 research activities was presented. Hogsette and Becnel also participated in a joint meeting of the Armed Forces Pest Management Board-USDA Working Group.
  
  
• Department of Defense (DOD) Research Review
  On January 28-30, at the National Wildlife Research Center, Ft. Collins, CO, members of the ARS National Program Staff and ARS scientists from Texas, Florida, Wyoming, and Maryland presented research on invasive species and prevention of arthropod-borne diseases to the Armed Forces Pest Management Board. The cooperative relationship between ARS and DOD began during World War II and has resulted in notable achievements, such as the invention of DEET, the current standard mosquito repellent. The annual review provides a forum for discussing DOD research needs for protecting U.S. armed forces and how ARS can contribute.
  
  
• Fruit Fly Parasitoids Released in Guatemala
  On January 12-17, John Sivinski, research entomologist, ARS Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, traveled to Guatemala. There, he and colleagues with USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service oversaw the first of a series of aerial parasitoid releases designed to suppress Mediterranean fruit flies in areas where it is difficult to apply pesticides. The releases took place near Lake Atitlan National Park, an area famous for its biodiversity.