LAKE ALFRED, Fla. — The Governing Board of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) has elected UF/IFAS entomologist Lukasz Stelinksi one of six new Fellows of the Society for 2023. Election as a Fellow of ESA acknowledges outstanding contributions to entomology via research, teaching, Extension, administration, military service or public engagement and science policy.
Stelinski, a professor of entomology and nematology at the University of Florida/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, is well known to Florida’s citrus growers for his many contributions.
A consistent area of his research focus has been the practical applications of semiochemicals for pest management, particularly in the area of mating disruption. His research has contributed to the development of a theoretical framework for understanding mating disruption mechanisms in insects.
Stelinski helped evaluate and refine practical technologies for releasing semiochemicals in crops, leading to the development of now widely available tools. In recognition of his contributions to applications of chemical ecology for pest control, he was elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2022.
Currently, Stelinski is investigating the interactions between phytopathogens and their vectors, aiming to develop sustainable management systems for crop production in response to disease invasions. His work on citrus greening disease has involved managing vector populations and addressing issues such as insecticide resistance.
For example, his lab unraveled the mechanisms conferring insecticide resistance in citrus psyllid populations and developed appropriate remediation strategies. Grower adoption of revised insecticide application schedules eliminated the problem of neonicotinoid and pyrethroid resistance among psyllid populations in Florida citrus almost entirely.
Stelinski’s research on plant-insect interactions has revealed the impact of citrus psyllid feeding on plant immunity and growth. Through his studies, he has determined that suppressing vector populations can lead to measurable yield gains, particularly when disease is widespread. In this case, his findings have revealed the utility of incorporating threshold-based management strategies for vectors, reducing unnecessary insecticide sprays while maintaining yield and increasing grower profit.
Stelinski’s research has also influenced cultural control methods for disease management in citrus. His team demonstrated the effectiveness of establishing living windbreaks and replacing individual diseased trees, instead of replanting entire orchards. Additionally, his research on psyllid vector movement has contributed to the reduction of abandoned orchards in Florida, which serves as a source of disease inoculum.
With nearly 240 peer-reviewed journal articles and over $16 million in grant support, Stelinski has greatly benefited from wide-ranging collaborations with many colleagues across the globe. He has worked with many brilliant students and postdocs, all of whom have greatly contributed to his lab’s success. Those students and postdocs are now active in academia, industry and the U.S. government.
Stelinski helps teach courses and seminars on pest management, chemical ecology and professional development in entomology, and he actively promotes the implementation of biorational solutions to pest management through his Extension program.
Stelinski joins other esteemed entomologists from across the nation who were named 2023 Fellows of the Entomological Society of America including:
- Cassandra Extavour, Harvard University
- James Hagler, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service
- Alvin M. Simmons, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service
- Edward L. Vargo, Texas A&M University
- Douglas B. Walsh, Washington State University
This year’s honorees will be recognized during Entomology 2023, November 5-8, in National Harbor, Maryland.
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The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
ABOUT: ESA is the largest organization in the world serving the professional and scientific needs of entomologists and people in related disciplines. Founded in 1889, ESA today has more than 7,000 members affiliated with educational institutions, health agencies, private industry, and government. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, the Society stands ready as a non-partisan scientific and educational resource for all insect-related topics. For more information, visit www.entsoc.org.
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