Overview:

Welcome to Dr. Hugh Smith's lab! The vegetable entomology extension program at GCREC provides training in identifying pest and beneficial arthropods, methods for scouting and managing arthropod pests, and information on managing the development of insecticide resistance among pests of horticultural crops. 

We focus on conducting basic and applied research on pests affecting vegetable production in Florida.

What We Do:

Hugh Smith specializes in integrated pest management with an emphasis on vegetable pests. His research focuses on management of:

• Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)
• Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella)
• Thrips (Thysanoptera)
• Spider Mites (Tetranychidae)

Our lab works on integrated management of key pests of Florida’s horticultural crops including tomato, watermelon, brassicas and snap beans.

Impact:

Dr. Smith’s program evaluates insecticide resistance and efficacy for key pests of horticultural crops, and incorporates biological control, biopesticides and host plant resistance to promote sustainable pest management solutions for Florida’s specialty crop growers. With Spanish and English resources, Dr. Smith's team looks to reach audiences across the globe.

• Lab Team

  Lab Phone Number: 813-419-6587
  Staff Member	Contact Information
  Felipe Barreto da Silva, PostDoc	barretodasilva@ufl.edu
  Ryan Batts, OPS Tech	r.batts@ufl.edu
  Amanda Furuya, Grad Student	amandafuruya@ufl.edu
  Megan Hennessey, BioScientist II and Lab Manager	meganhen@ufl.edu
  Cleveland Ivey, Post Doc	civey@ufl.edu
  Mariana Monteiro, MS Student	mariana.monteiro@ufl.edu