Small Fruits and Tobacco SpecialistExtension | Research | Teaching

• Surveyed and identified mite pest species new to infest highbush blueberries in Florida.• Designed protocols and conducted efficacy trials to evaluate various miticides for mite management in blueberries.• Designed and executed management programs against insect and mite pests in blueberry, grape, and squash crops.• Conducted surveys to determine grower awareness about mite infestations on blueberry plantings.• Analyzed and interpreted data collected from multiple research trials using statistical software.

• Established and maintained insect and mite colonies (e.g., whiteflies, aphids, spider mites, predatory mites) using multiple rearing methods.• Trained personnel on scouting and monitoring pests and beneficial arthropods on vegetable, fruit, and ornamental crops.• Developed and implemented an integrated pest and disease management program in squash crops by incorporating ornamental flowering plants and biological control.• Assessed plant samples for infection with viral diseases using various field and laboratory methods.• Evaluated the compatibility of predatory mites with low-risk pesticides used in cucurbit production. • Developed spatial-temporal distribution maps for predatory mites and their prey using geostatistical techniques.• Cultivated, maintained, and harvested vegetable crops in open-field and under protected structures.

• Trained personnel on scouting and monitoring pests and beneficial arthropods on ornamental and sweet peppers.• Designed and implemented a biological control program for management of mite and insect pests in sweet and ornamental peppers.• Established and maintained pest and predatory mite colonies using multiple rearing methods.

• Assistant curator in Immature Entomology.• Curated the immature insect collection at the Entomology Department.• Graded student’s insect collections and provided tutoring on immature insect identification as a teaching assistant in the course Immature Insect Taxonomy Class (15 students).