Center for Biological Control

The Center for Biological Control is made up of a unique partnership between FAMU, the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Established in 1999, the Center has continued to successfully deliver on its mission to generate, apply, and transfer innovative, ecologically based solutions to pest problems affecting agriculture, natural resources, and human health while developing the human capacity for continued future innovation.

Faculty members of the Center have developed a biologically-based control strategy for the two major pests of honey bees, the Varroa mite and the small hive beetle. Research outcome from the Center plays a key role in offshore mitigation of destructive invasive species such the red palm weevil in the Caribbean (a high risk threat to US Agriculture).

Within this multidisciplinary center are distinguished faculty with expertise in biosecurity, biological control of insects and weeds, integrated pest management, insect molecular genetics, digital insect identification, and insect pathology and physiology. Strong linkages also exist with private stakeholder groups and other state agencies and universities, including with the University of Florida.

The Center conducts research in the areas of: