Development of Biological Control and IPM Technology for Exotic Insect Pests
Dr. McKenzie joined the staff at USHRL, Subtropical Insects Unit in 1998. Her research program is directed at developing ecologically sound methods to manage pests and diseases of vegetables and ornamentals in the subtropics. Research is conducted to examine biological control, integrated pest management (IPM), and host-plant interactions of insect pests. Applied and basic aspects of entomology are explored to develop IPM strategies targeted at whiteflies to reduce crop injury and transmission of plant viruses. Applied research is conducted on existing and emerging technologies for current production systems and includes strategic research in biological control, host plant resistance, rational pesticide use, cultural control methods, and greenhouse and on-farm experimentation. Emerging areas of technological innovation for application to specific problems are examined with growers and production specialists to refine IPM systems and determine feasibility in terms of cost/benefit factors.
Current Research Projects:
Examination of induced responses in tomato plants caused by whitefly feeding and geminivirus infection.
Use of whitefly cell tissue cultures to elucidate the effect of geminivirus on the growth of whitefly cells over time and to study geminivirus transmission and replication.
Determine the effect of geminiviruses on whitefly fecundity, longevity and survivorship.
Determine pathenogenicity, infectivity, and transmissibility of insect viral pathogens to whitefly.
Investigate whitefly and geminivirus transmission via molecular techniques.
Evaluate Kaolin, sucrose octanoate and other biopesticides for efficacy against whitefly and other exotic pests associated with vegetable production in the subtropics.
In collaboration with CIAT, extensive surveys of whitefly populations on different host plants covering vast geographic regions from Florida and Latin America to determine what whitefly species and/or biotypes are present in the tropics and subtropics.
silver leaf whitefly adult
Squash sliver leaf caused by whitefly vectored geminivirus.
geminivirus particles
Selected Publications
McKenzie, C.L., Robert G. Shatters, Jr., and Richard T. Mayer. Effect of Geminivirus and Bemisia infestation on induction of pathogenesis-related proteins in tomato. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. (In review).
McKenzie, C.L., Stephen L. Lapointe, Larry W. Duncan. Landscape fabric as a physical barrier to neonate Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Florida Entomol. (In review).
Erickson, E.H., B.R. Tickes, C.L. McKenzie and A.H. Atmowidjojo. 1998. Efficacy of permethrin as a honeybee foraging deterrent. Apiacta XXXIII: 112-117.
Kerns, D.L., Stewart, S.D., and McKenzie, C.L. Sublethal effects of insecticides on cotton aphid reproduction. Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf., 51st Cotton Ins. Res. Contr. Conf. 2:1067-1073. 1998.
McKenzie, C.L., Toscano, N.C., and Beehler, L. Field and greenhouse performance of Mustang 1.5 EW and Capture 2 EC on immature and adult whitefly. Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf., 49th Cotton Ins. Res. Contr. Conf. 2:810-816. 1996.
McKenzie, C.L., Slosser, J.E., Pinchak, W.E., and Cartwright, B. Effects of nitrogen on cotton aphid susceptibility to different classes of insecticides. Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf., 48th Cotton Ins. Res. Contr. Conf. 2:1003-1006. 1995.
Knabke, J.J., McKenzie, C.L., and Staetz, C.A. Field and bioassay results of Capture, Thiodan and other insecticides on cotton aphid in California. Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf., 48th Cotton Ins. Res. Contr. Conf. 2:1007-1009. 1995.
McKenzie, C.L. and B. Cartwright. 1994. Susceptibility of Aphis gossypii (Glover) to insecticides as affected by host plant using a rapid bioassay. J. Entomol. Science. 29(3): 289-301.
McKenzie, C.L., B. Cartwirght, M. Miller, and J.V. Edelson. 1994. Injury to onions by Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and its role in the development of purple blotch. Environ. Entomol. 22(6): 1266-1277.
Cartwright, B., C.L. McKenzie, M. Miller, P. Perkins-Veazie, and J.V. Edelson. 1994. Enhancement of purple blotch disease of onion by thrips injury. pp. 203-208. In: B.L. Parker, M. Skinner, and T. Lewis (eds.), Towards Understanding Thrips Management. Plenum Press, N.Y.
Printable Version
E-mail this page
