Behind every fresh head of lettuce and pepper on your plate, there’s a team of scientists working tirelessly to protect crops and farmers’ harvests from pests and plant diseases.
De-Fen Mou, an assistant professor of entomology at the UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center (EREC) in Belle Glade, is one of the key researchers on the front lines, safeguarding Florida’s food supply and supporting the farmers who grow the produce we buy at grocery stores and markets.
Born and raised in South Korea in a Taiwanese family, Mou’s journey to entomology was fueled by an early passion for biology. At 18, she moved to Taiwan, where she lived until 2017 before coming to the United States to pursue a doctoral degree in entomology and nematology at the University of Florida. Her interest in insects was sparked when she interned at a research lab while pursuing a master’s degree from National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan.
“There, I learned how to design experiments to answer research questions,” she said. “I was particularly fascinated by the incredible variety of insects, their morphology, feeding styles, life cycles and host ranges.”
Now as the lead scientist in EREC’s Agricultural Vector Entomology Lab, Mou specializes in two types of tiny but impactful insects, hemipteran and thysanopteran pests, which can damage crops directly and can also transmit harmful plant viruses.
Photo by Juan Sebastian Angel-Salazar / UFIFAS
“My research helps growers maintain resilience and productivity, ensuring a stable supply of fresh produce for consumers,” said Mou. “Palm Beach County is known as the ‘winter vegetable capital of the United States,’ so it’s critical that we stay ahead of emerging pest threats.”
Hemipterans include aphids, leafhoppers, planthoppers and whiteflies, all of which have long, straw-like mouthparts they use to drink plant sap. If a plant is infected with a virus, these insects can get sick when feeding and potentially transmit the virus to other plants.
Thysanopterans, more commonly known as thrips, differ in that they scrape the plant surface first and then suck out the plant cell contents, depleting them of nutrients and limiting the harvest. Some species of thrips can also transmit plant viruses.
“Because these groups of insects are often very small, they are difficult to observe with the naked eye, yet they can feed on and cause severe damage to a wide range of crops, including lettuce, pepper, sugarcane and rice,” said Mou.
One of Mou’s current projects specific to thrips is protecting vegetable crops from the invasive Thrips parvispinus. This pest has caused significant damage to crops like peppers, cucumbers and squash, leading to millions of dollars in losses. Mou and a team of scientists are studying how these insects choose their host plants and are testing different management practices to find the most effective way to control them. She’s tracking how these pests spread, how they affect the plants and whether certain types of peppers are more resistant to them.
Photo courtesy Anna Meszaros, UF/IFAS Extension Palm Beach County commercial vegetable production agent.
“By understanding the pest’s behavior and finding the best treatments, we aim to help farmers protect their crops and reduce economic losses,” she said.
Mou closely collaborates with growers, UF/IFAS researchers and extension agents to provide real-time, research-based solutions.
“When Thrips parvispinus emerged as a major pest, our team responded immediately by monitoring its host range, assessing population levels and evaluating insecticide efficacy,” she explained. “Through this collaborative approach, we provide growers with timely, research-based management strategies to combat this pest effectively.”
For Mou, research is not just about scientific discovery, it’s about solving real-world agricultural challenges.
“When a new pest arrives, we don’t wait, we act,” she said. “Through collaboration and research, we’re protecting Florida’s food supply and supporting the growers who feed the nation.”
To showcase this dedication to the agricultural community, growers and reporters are invited to join Mou and the EREC faculty and students for an interactive field day themed “Growing Together Toward Sustainability.” Registration is required for the day’s events at 3200 East Canal St. South in Belle Glade that will include facility tours and highlights of current research project throughout the grounds.
“Dr. De-Fen Mou has been conducting impactful research and extension programs in South Florida to protect important economic crops from damaging pests,” said Samira Daroub, EREC’s director. “Her research supports the vital agricultural industry and local growers in Florida to ensure our nation’s food security.”
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By Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
ABOUT UF/IFAS
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.
WHY FOOD IS OUR MIDDLE NAME
Feeding a hungry world takes effort. Nearly everything we do comes back to food: from growing it and getting it to consumers, to conserving natural resources and supporting agricultural efforts. Explore all the reasons why at ifas.ufl.edu/food or follow #FoodIsOurMiddleName.
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