Solving Pest Problems with a Holistic Approach.

LAKE ALFRED, FLA (Sept. 2006) – Dr. Juan Manuel Alvarez, Assistant Professor of Entomology at the University of Idaho, Research and Extension Center, is the second of three candidates applying for the Citrus Research and Education Center’s Entomology faculty position. Alvarez will be presenting his seminar entitled “Solving Pest Problems with a Holistic Approach.” The seminar will be held on Monday, Sept. 25, 2006 at the University of Florida/IFAS, Citrus Research Center, Ben Hill Griffin Hall, located at 700 Experiment Station Road, Lake Alfred, Fla. in Room 2, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Dr. Alvarez received his B.S. in agronomy in 1991 from Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. He continued his education, majoring in entomology, and received his M.S. in 1996 from the University of Massachusetts and earned his Ph.D. in entomology in 2000 from the University of Florida. To date, the main areas of his research have been the evaluation of vectors of plant viruses and their interactions with potential inoculum sources, management of subterranean insect pests in potatoes, evaluation of potato germplasm for resistance to insect and pathogen pests, implementation of biological control as part of an IPM program in potato and small grain, effects of insecticides on potato and cereal pests, and optimization of insecticide applications to reduce virus transmission in the field.

In the past 5 years, Alvarez has published 6 book chapters, 18 refereed journal papers, 11 peer reviewed extension publications, 8 articles for Potato Press, and 6 papers for international publications/proceedings. Alvarez has also co-organized several scientific conferences both nationally and internationally. During his 5 years with the University of Idaho, Alvarez has been invited to present information to growers and industry groups and has presented a combination of over 85 extension seminars and workshops to a total audience of approximately 4,800 people.