Biography

Stuart Reitz has been a Research Entomologist in ARS since 1999.  He has extensive experience in insect behavior and ecology, and applying that knowledge to pest management programs for a variety of agricultural systems.  Dr. Reitz has incorporated both basic and applied studies into his research program on multitrophic interactions and IPM.

His graduate studies with Peter Adler at Clemson University addressed the behavior and host interactions of tachinid parasitoids.  He then did a post-doc with John Trumble at the University of California, Riverside.  There he did a variety of studies, including examination of interspecific and intraspecific variation in Liriomyza leafminer flies, and the development and implementation of IPM programs for fresh market vegetables.  Since joining ARS, he has been interested in the ecology and management of thrips.  His lab has done extensive work on the population dynamics of thrips in and outside of crop fields to understand what biotic factors affect thrips populations.  He and his collaborators are also comparing the ability of different species of Frankliniella flower thrips to acquire and transmit Tospoviruses under field and laboratory conditions.  Along with collaborators, he is developing biologically-based IPM programs to manage thrips in field-grown vegetables.  As co-director of the Center for Biological Control (Florida A&M University), he has been instrumental in the training of students at a historically black 1890 land grant institution.

Collaborators

Education

Professional Experience

Research Goals

Our current research focuses insect behavior and ecology, with an emphasis on plant-herbivore-natural enemy interactions, and the application of that information to integrated pest management (IPM) programs. We are especially interested in thrips and thrips-transmitted viruses. Our goal is to develop environmentally and economically sound methods for management of these insect pests and the pathogens they transmit in vegetable crops. The latest guidelines on thrips management are available through IPM Florida.

Current Research Projects

• Biologically-based management strategies for thrips and Tospoviruses in vegetable crops.
• Differential acquisition and transmission of Tospoviruses by thrips.
• Predator-prey interactions between insect predators and thrips.
• Reproductive biology, dispersal and interplant movement of thrips.

Publications

Fanigliulo, A., Comes, S., Pacella, R., Crescenzi, A., Momol, M.T., Olson, S.M. and Reitz, S.  2009.  Integrated management of viral diseases in field-grown tomatoes in southern Italy.  Acta Horticulturae 808:387-392.  

Reitz, S. R.  2009.  Biology and ecology of the western flower thrips.  The making of a pest.  Florida Entomologist.  92: 7-13.  

Shapiro, J. P., P. Shirk, S. Reitz, and R. Koenig.  2009.  Sympatry of Orius insidiosus and O. pumilio (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) in north central Florida.  Florida Entomologist 92: 362-366.  

Shapiro, J. P., S. R. Reitz, & P. D. Shirk.  2009.  Nutritional Manipulation of Adult Female Orius pumilio (Hemiptera:Anthocoridae) Enhances Initial Preda60; Journal of Economic Entomology 102: 500-506.  

Sims, K. R., J. E. Funderburk, S. R. Reitz, and D. G. Boucias.  2009.  The impact of a parasitic nematode, Thripinema fuscum, on the feeding behavior and vector competence of Frankliniella fusca.  Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 132: 200-208.  

Hix, R. L., M. T. Kairo, and S. Reitz. 2008. Does secondary plant metabolism provide a mechanism for plant defenses in the tropical soda apple Solanum viarum (Solanales: Solanaceae) against Spodoptera exigua and S. eridania (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)? Florida Entomologist 91: 566-569.  

Reitz, S. R. 2008. Comparative bionomics of Frankliniella occidentalis and Frankliniella tritici. Florida Entomologist 91: 474-476.  

Northfield, T., Paini, D. R., Funderburk, J.E. and Reitz, S. R. 2008. Cycles of thrips abundance on north Florida uncultivated reproductive hosts: Predicting possible sources of pest outbreaks. Ann. Entomol. Soc. America. 101: 769-778.  

Reitz, S. R. 2008. Comparative bionomics of Frankliniella occidentalis and Frankliniella tritici. Florida Entomol. 91: 474-476.  

Herrick, N. J., S. R. Reitz, J. E. Carpenter, and C. W. O'Brien. 2008. Predation by Podisus maculiventris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) larvae parasitized by Cotesia plutellae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and its impact on cabbage. Biological Control 45: 386-395.  

Reitz, S. R., G. Maiorino, L. Ritchie, S. Olson, R. Sprenkel, A. Crescenzi, and M.T. Momol. 2008. The effects of plant essential oils and particle films on tomato spotted wilt and thrips in tomatoes. Plant Disease. 92: 878-886.  

Paini, D. R., J. E. Funderburk, and S. R. Reitz. 2008. Competitive exclusion of a worldwide invasive pest by a native. Quantifying competition between two phytophagous insects on two host plant species. J. Anim. Ecol. 77: 184-190.   

Reitz, S. R. 2007. Invasion of the whiteflies. Science. 318: 1733-1734.  

Paini, D. R., J. E. Funderburk, C. T. Jackson, and S. R. Reitz. 2007. Reproduction of four thrips species (Frankliniella spp.) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on uncultivated hosts. J. Entomol. Sci. 42: 610-615.  

Adkins, S., M. T. Momol, H. Dankers, S. Reitz, and S. Olson. 2006. First report of Tomato spotted wilt virus in tomatillo in Florida. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2006-0607-03-BR.  

Avila, Y., J. Stavisky, S. Hague, J. Funderburk, S. Reitz, and M. T. Momol. 2006. Evaluation of Frankliniella bispinosa (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) as a vector of the Tomato spotted wilt virus in pepper. Florida Entomol. 89: 204-207.  

Reitz, S. R., J. E. Funderburk and S. M. Waring. 2006. Differential predation by the generalist predator Orius insidiosus on congeneric species of thrips that vary in size and behavior. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 119: 179-188.  

de Assis Filho, F.M., J. Stavisky, S.R. Reitz, C.M. Deom, and J.L. Sherwood. 2005. Vector incompetence of Frankliniella tritici is not associated with Tomato spotted wilt virus midgut infection barrier. J. Appl. Entomol. 129: 548-550.   

Milla, K. and S. R. Reitz. 2005. Spatial/temporal model for survivability of pea leafminer (Liriomyza huidobrensis) in warm climates: a case study in south Florida, USA. Eur. J. Sci. Res. 7: 65-73.   

Kovarik, P. W. and S. R. Reitz. 2005. Oestrophasia sabroskyi (Diptera: Tachinidae), a parasitoid of Artipus floridanus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. America. 98: 245-251.  

Reitz, S. R. 2005. Biology and ecology of flower thrips in relation to Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus. Acta Horticulturae. 695: 75-84.  

Herrick, N. J. and S. R. Reitz. 2004. Temporal occurrence of Podisus maculiventris (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in North Florida. Florida Entomol. 87: 587-590.  

Baez, I., S. R. Reitz, and J. E. Funderburk. 2004. Prey preference of Orius insidiosus (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) for species of Frankliniella flower thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in pepper flowers. Environ. Entomol. 33: 662-670.  

Joseph-Jno. Baptiste, S., K. Bloem, S. Reitz, and R. Mizell. 2003. Use of radiation to sterilize two-spotted spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) eggs used as a food source for predatory mites. Florida Entomol. 86: 389-394.  

Hansen, E. A., J. E. Funderburk, S. R. Reitz, J. Eger, S. Ramachandran, and H. McAuslane. 2003. Within-plant distribution of Frankliniella species and Orius insidiosus in field pepper. Environ. Entomol. 32: 1035-1044.  

Reitz, S. R., E. L. Yearby, J. E. Funderburk, J. Stavisky, M. T. Momol, and S. M. Olson. 2003. Integrated management tactics for Frankliniella thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in field-grown pepper. J. Econ. Entomol. 96: 1201-1214.  

Reitz, S.R., J. E. Funderburk, E. A. Hansen, I. Baez, S. Waring, and S. Ramachandran. 2002. Interspecific variation in behavior and its role in thrips ecology, pp. 133-140. In: R. Marullo & L. A. Mound [eds.], Thrips and Tospoviruses: Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Thysanoptera. Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra.  

Reitz, S. R. 2002. Seasonal and within plant distribution of Frankliniella species in North Florida tomatoes. Florida Entomologist. 85: 431-439.  

Reitz, S.R. and J. T. Trumble. 2002. Interspecific and intraspecific variation in Liriomyza leafminers in California. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 102: 101-113.  

Reitz, S. R. and J. T. Trumble. 2002. Competitive displacement among insects and arachnids. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 47: 435-465.  

Morgan, D. J. W., S. R. Reitz, P. W. Atkinson, and J. T. Trumble. 2000. The resolution of Californian populations of Liriomyza huidobrensis and Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) using PCR. Heredity 85: 53-61.  

Reitz, S. R., G. S. Kund, W. G. Carson, P. A. Phillips, and J. T. Trumble. 1999. Economics of reducing insecticide use on celery through low-input pest management strategies. Agric. Ecosystems and Environ. 73: 185-197.  

Berdegué, M., S. R. Reitz, and J. T. Trumble. 1998. Host plant selection and development in Spodoptera exigua: do mother and offspring know best? Entomol. Exp. Appl. 89: 57-64.  

Reitz, S. R. and J. T. Trumble. 1998. Potential impact of larval behavior on use of transgenic crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis toxins. IOBC/WPRS Bulletin 21: 229 - 233.   

Reitz, S. R. and J. T. Trumble. 1997. Effects of linear furanocoumarins on the herbivore Spodoptera exigua and the parasitoid Archytas marmoratus: host quality and parasitoid success. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 84: 9-16.  

Reitz, S. R., D. N. Karowe, M. M. Diawara, and J. T. Trumble. 1997. Effects of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide on the growth and linear furanocoumarin content of celery. J. Agric. Food Chem. 45: 3642-3646.  

Adler, P.H., S. R. Reitz, and C. N. Watson. 1997. Distribution and abundance of Eulonchus marialiciae (Diptera: Acroceridae). Entomol. News. 108: 190-192.  

Reitz S.R. and J. T. Trumble. 1996. Tritrophic interactions among linear furanocoumarins, the herbivore Trichoplusia ni (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and the polyembryonic parasitoid Copidosoma floridanum (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Environ. Entomol. 25: 1391-1397.  

Reitz, S. R. 1996. Development of Eucelatoria bryani and Eucelatoria rubentis (Diptera: Tachinidae) in different instars of Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 89: 81-87.   

Reitz, S. R. 1996. Interspecific competition between two parasitoids of Helicoverpa zea: Eucelatoria bryani and Eucelatoria rubentis. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 79: 227-234.  

Reitz, S. R. and J. T. Trumble. 1996. Cytokinin-containing seaweed extract does not reduce damage by an insect herbivore. HortScience. 31: 102-105.  

Reitz, S. R. and J. T. Trumble. 1996. Effects of a cytokinin-containing seaweed extract on growth of Phaseolus lunatus: influences of nutrient availability and apex removal. Botanica Marina. 39: 33-38.  

Reitz, S. R. and P. H. Adler. 1996. Morphological and biological comparison of Eucelatoria bryani and Eucelatoria rubentis. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Washington. 98: 624-629.  

Reitz, S. R. 1995. Superparasitism and intraspecific competition by the solitary larval-pupal parasitoid Archytas marmoratus. Florida Entomol. 78: 578-585.  

Reitz, S. R. and P. H. Adler. 1995. Fecundity and oviposition of Eucelatoria bryani (Diptera: Tachinidae), a gregarious larval parasitoid of Helicoverpa zea and Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Entomol. Exp. Appl. 75: 175-181.  

Reitz, S. R. and W. C. Nettles, Jr. 1994. Regulation of Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larval behavior by the parasitoid Eucelatoria bryani (Diptera: Tachinidae). Entomol. Exp. Appl. 71: 33-39.  

Reitz, S. R. and P. H. Adler. 1991. Courtship and mating behavior of Eucelatoria bryani (Diptera: Tachinidae), a larval parasitoid of Heliothis zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. America. 84: 111-118.  

Current Grants and Extramural Agreements

Field and Laboratory Trials for the Management of Thrips and Tomato spotted wilt in Tomatoes 2008-2009. Agraquest, Inc

Integrating plant essential oils and kaolin for the sustainable management of thrips and tomato spotted wilt on tomato. Reitz, S. R. (PI), Momol, M. T., Olson, S. M, 2007-2010. U.S.D.A, Southern Region SARE Program.

Professional Activities

Professional Memberships

• Entomological Society of America
• American Phytopathological Society
• Florida Entomological Society