Our team of scientists evaluate mosquito control methods and partner with U.S. federal agencies and national and international universities and academic institutions

AMCD has a team of scientists who evaluate the efficacy of existing and new mosquito control methods that will allow us to be good environmental stewards and reduce our District’s operational costs all while promoting and protecting public health. Our goal is for AMCD to become a state, national, and global leader in mosquito control. We are equipped with three insectaries, four laboratories, two greenhouses, three screened enclosures, multiple larval pools, a wind tunnel, an olfactometer, and a laser laboratory to aid us in this endeavor.

AMCD partners with the United States Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Goods, the University of Florida, the University of Miami, the University of North Florida, and other academic institutions both nationally and internationally.

Research Areas

Behavioral ecology and management of mosquitoes
Evaluation of new control methods, tools, and equipment
Evaluation of surveillance methods and tools for vector and nuisance mosquito populations
Insecticide resistance surveillance
Efficacy of larvicides and adulticides for mosquito control

Lab Facilities

IMG 0601

IMG 0599

IMG 0582

IMG 0581

IMG 0580

IMG 0578

IMG 0577

IMG 0575

IMG 0573

IMG 0570

Applied Research Team

Dr. Rui-De Xue
Executive Director

Education:

Ph.D. Medical Entomology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China

M.S. Medical Entomology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China

B.S. Entomology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China

B.S. Medicine, Shanxi Medical University

Areas of Expertise:

Vector biology and behavioral ecology of mosquitoes, personal protection/repellent development and evaluation, operational control, and administration.

Research and Publications

xueamcd@gmail.com

(904) 484-7330

Dr. Whitney A. Qualls
Scientific Manager/Entomologist

Education:

Ph.D. Medical Entomology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

M.S. Medical Entomology, Auburn University

B.A. Biology, University of Cumberlands

Areas of Expertise:

Vector biology, ecology, evaluation of repellents, pesticides, and new control methods, and administration.

Research and Publications

wqualls@amcdfl.org

(904) 484-7337

Dr. Steve Peper
Molecular Entomologist/Biologist

Education:

Ph.D. Environmental Toxicology, Texas Tech University

M.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Biology, Frostburg State University

B.S. Ecology, Wildlife, and Fisheries, Brigham Young University – Idaho

Areas of Expertise:

Disease pathogen detection for wildlife and animal, the molecular identification of arboviruses, and public health ramifications of vector-borne diseases.

Research and Publications

speper@amcdfl.org

(904) 484-7336

Dr. Muhammad Farooq
Mosquito Control Engineer

Education:

Ph.D. Agricultural Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Canada

M.Sc. Agricultural Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Canada

M. Eng. Agricultural Engineering, Asian Institute of Technology, Pakistan

B. Sc. Agricultural Engineering, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan

Areas of Expertise:

Evaluation of pesticides and technologies, droplet size spectrum analysis, calibration of a variety of pesticide application equipment, evaluation of repellents and repellent systems.

Research and Publications

mfarooqamcd@gmail.com

(904) 484-7340

Dr. Vindhya Subhashinie Aryaprema
FT Grant Funded Biologist

Education:

Ph.D. Medical Entomology, University of Liverpool, UK

B.S., Zoology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Areas of Expertise:

Vector ecology and behavior, operational vector control, action thresholds and insecticide resistance.

varyaprema@amcdfl.org

(904) 484-7335

Mr. Kai Blore
Laboratory Manager / Ph.D. Student

Education:

Masters of Public Health, University of Miami, Miami, FL

B.S. Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

Areas of Expertise:

Experimental design, product efficacy evaluation, and insectary management.

Mr. Steven Smoleroff
Biological technician

Education:

Masters of Public Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL

B.S. Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

Area of expertise:

Operational mosquito control, mosquito identification and mosquito surveillance

Mr. Connor Kuppe
Biological technician

Education:

B.S. Biology, University of South Florida

Area of expertise:

Mosquito trapping and surveillance, Florida habitat identification, insect identification

Ms. Taylor Ballantyne

Education Specialist

Education

Masters of Public Health, Epidemiology University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida

BSH Public Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida

Exertise

Mosquito trapping, Greenhouse management, Outreach

tballantyne@amcdfl.org

(904) 484-7332

Ms. Olivia Sypes
FT Grant Funded Biological Technician

Education

B.S. Biology, Georgia Southwestern University

Areas of Expertise:

Mosquito trapping, mosquito identification, and application of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT).

Mr. Edward Zeszutko
Biological Technician

Education:

B.S. Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville

Area of expertise:

Florida habitat identification, Florida flora and fauna identification, arbovirus surveillance, mosquito trapping and surveillance, mosquito identification, public outreach