Subtropical Insects Research : People & Places

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Stephen L. Lapointe

Research Entomologist

Stephen L. Lapointe, Ph.D.
Research Entomologist

U. S. Horticultural Research Laboratory
2001 South Rock Road
Fort Pierce, FL 34945
Telephone: (772) 462-5914
Fax: (772) 462-5986
Email: Stephen.Lapointe@ars.usda.gov

Current Research Projects

Research focuses on development of environmentally appropriate control strategies for the Diaprepes root weevil (Diaprepes abbreviatus), an introduced pest of citrus, ornamentals, and horticultural crops in Florida and the Caribbean. Research is conducted on aspects of the weevil's basic biology and on a range of novel approaches to integrated control. These include traditional host plant resistance, the use of particle films to deter oviposition, viral pathogens, biological control (egg parasitoids), and physical barriers. Cooperative research has been established on Puerto Rico with the University of Puerto Rico, and in collaboration with the University of Florida and Florida A&M University.

Effort is also dedicated to pro-active classical biological control of the pink hibiscus mealybug (PHM), Maconellicoccus hirsutus, in the Caribbean. Collaborations with USDA-APHIS and USDA-ARS in Beltsville, MD are attempting to elucidate the sex pheromones employed by PHM and to develop a trap for monitoring and detection. Basic research into rearing methods has improved the production of parasitoid wasps for release throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and the southern United States when necessary in an attempt to forestall introduction of PHM into Florida, and to quickly implement biological control in the event of its arrival.

Diaprepes root weevil adult

Diaprepes root weevil larva feeding on citrus roots.

pink hibiscus mealybug (PHM)

Selected Publications

Lapointe, S. L., W. B. Hunter, and C. J. Funk. (2000). Infection of the Diaprepes root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), by an Iridovirus.

Zhang, A., D. Amalin, S. Shirali, M. S. Serrano, R. A. Franqui, J. E. Oliver, J. A. Klun, J. R. Aldrich, D. E. Meyerdirk, and S. L. Lapointe. 2004. Sex pheromone of the pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, contains an unusual cyclobutanoid monoterpene. PNAS 101: 9601-9606.

Bowman, K. D., J. Shapiro, and S. L. Lapointe. 2001. Sources of resistance to Diaprepes abbreviatus in subfamily Aurantiodeae, Rutaceae. HortScience 36: 332-336.

Delalibera, Jr., I., G. J. de Moraes, S. L. Lapointe, C. A. D. da Silva and M. A. Tamai. 2000. Temporal variability and progression of Neozygites sp. (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales) in populations of Mononychellus tanajoa (Bondar) (Acari: Tetranychidae). An. Soc. Entomol. Brasil 29: 523-535.

Hall, D.G., J. Peña, R. Franqui, R. Nguyen, P. Stansly, C. McCoy, S. L. Lapointe, R. C. Adair and B. Bullock. 2001. Status of biological control by egg parasitoids of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in citrus in Florida and Puerto Rico. BioControl 46: 61-70.

Lapointe, S. L. 2001. Effect of temperature on egg development of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Fla. Entomol. 84: 298-299.

Lapointe, S. L. and R. M. Sonoda. 2001. The Effect of Arthropods, Diseases, and Nematodes on Tropical Pastures. pp. 201-218 (Ch. 12) In Sotomayor-Rios, A. and W. D. Pitman (eds.), "Tropical forage plants: development and use". CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.

Mankin, R. W., S. L. Lapointe,and R. A. Franqui. 2001. Acoustic surveying of subterranean insect populations in citrus groves. J. Econ. Entomol. (in press)

McKenzie, C., and S. L. Lapointe. 2001. Landscape fabric as a physical barrier to neonate Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Fla. Entomol. (in press).

Serrano, M. S., S. L. Lapointe and D. E. Meyerdirk. 2001. Attraction of Male Pink Hibiscus Mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) by Virgin Females. Environmental Entomology 30: 339-345.

Hunter, W. B. and S. L. Lapointe. 2000. Primary cell culture from the root weevil [Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.)]. J. Invert. Pathol. (in press).

Lapointe, S. L. 2000. A particle film deters oviposition by Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 93: 1459-1463.

Lapointe, S. L. 2000. Thermal requirements for development of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Environ. Entomol. 29:150-156.

Mankin, R., J. Brandhorst-Hubbard, K. L. Flanders, M. Zhang, R. L. Crocker, S. L. Lapointe, C. W. McCoy, J. R. Fisher, and D. K. Weaver. 2000. Eavesdropping on insects hidden in soil and interior structures of plants. J. Econ. Entomol. 93 (4): 1173-1182.

Shapiro, J. P., K. D. Bowman, and S. L. Lapointe. 2000. Dehydrothalebanin, a source of resistance from Glycosmis pentaphylla against the citrus root weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus. J. Agric. Food Chem. 48: 4404-4409.

Bellotti, A. C., S. L. Lapointe, L. Smith. 1999. Recent advances in cassava pest management. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 44:343-370.

Bento, J.M.S., G.J. de Moraes, A.C. Bellotti, J.A. Castillo, J.F. Warumby, S.L. Lapointe. 1999. Introduction of parasitoids for the control of the cassava mealybug Phenacoccus herreni (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in north-eastern Brazil. Bull. Entomol. Res. 89: 403-410.

Lapointe, S. L., and J. P. Shapiro. 1999. Effect of soil moisture on development of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Florida Entomol. 82: 291-299.

Lapointe, S. L., J. P. Shapiro, and K. D. Bowman. 1999. Identification of sources of plant resistance to Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 92: 999-1004.

Tang, Y. Q., S. L. Lapointe, L. C. Brown, and W. B. Hunter. 1999. Effects of host plant and temperature on the biology of Toxoptera citricida (Homoptera: Aphididae). Environ. Entomol. 28: 895-900.

Lapointe, S. L., M. S. Serrano, and P. G. Jones. 1998. Microgeographic and vertical distribution of Acromyrmex landolti (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) nests in a Neotropical savanna. Environ. Entomol. 27: 636-641.

Lapointe, S. L., M. S. Serrano, I. I. Corrales. 1996. Resistance to leafcutter ants and inhibition of their fungal symbiont by tropical forage grasses. J. Econ. Entomol. 89: 757 - 765.

Miles, J. W., S. L. Lapointe, M. L. Escandón & G. Sotelo. 1995. Inheritance of resistance to spittlebug (Homoptera: Cercopidae) in interspecific Brachiaria spp. hybrids. J. Econ. Entomol. 88: 1477 - 1481.

Lapointe, S. L., Laura K. Sirot, Jane Brockmann. June 2007. Male postcopulatory reproductive success in the beetle Diaprepes abbreviatus. Animal Behaviour, 2007, 74: 143-152

Last Modified: 07/18/2008

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