ccc@crec.ifas.ufl.edu

• B.S., University of Missouri (Agriculture), 1966
• M.S., University of Missouri (Entomology), 1968
• Ph.D., University of Missouri (Entomology), 1974

• Emeritus Professor of Entomology (2005 to present), University of Florida
• Invited Lecturer (1996-2005), Ohio State University, Summer Acarology Program
• Acarologist and Professor of Entomology (1993-2005), University of Florida
• Acarologist and Associate Professor (1983-1993), University of Florida
• Acarologist and Assistant Professor (1977-1983), University of Florida
• Research Associate (1975-1977), North Carolina State University
• Research Entomologist (1968-1970), Velsicol Chemical

• Develop pest management strategies including chemical and biological control methods that will prevent injurious insects and mites of citrus from reaching population densities that result in economic loss. Identifying Brevipalpus mite species, their host plants, involvement as vectors of citrus leprosis and developing control approaches. Identifying exotic mite pests of potential economic importance to the U.S. economy.

• Assist agricultural producers to identify pest problems in citrus production and recommend environmentally sound, sustainable solutions. Close association with the industry in the field also affords me the opportunity to identify and respond to research needs in my areas of expertise.

• Served as project leader to develop a list and ranking criteria for exotic Tetranychoidea, Eriophyoidea, Penthaleidae, and Tarsonemidae pests of potential economic importance to the United States.
• Supervised 6 graduate students, 7 postdoctoral scientists, and 6 trainees.
• I served as guest editor for one special issue of Experimental and Applied Acarology dealing with Brevipalpus mites and the rhabdoviruses they vector.
• Published over 260 refereed, non-refereed, and extension publications on the biology and control of several insect and mite species that are pests on Florida citrus including Frankliniella bispinosa, F. kelliae, Chaetanaphothrips orchidii, Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis, and the acarine pests including Phyllocoptruta oleivora, Aculops pelekassi (Eriophyidae), Eutetranychus banksi (Tetranychidae), Brevipalpus californicus, B. lewisi, B. obovatus, B. phoenicis (Tenuipalpidae), and comparative biologies of various acarine predators including Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae, Ascidae, and Macrochelidae.
• Developed sampling parameters, effects of tank-mixes, and efficacy of various oils and pesticides to control mites and insects on various tree fruit crops.
• Served as President of the Acarological Society of America.
• Served as a consultant/advisor in various projects in the United States, Panama, Venezuela, Egypt, Morocco, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, China, and Australia.

• Villanueva, R.T., and C.C. Childers. 2007. Comparative development of Iphiseoides quadripilis (Banks) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on various natural diets and predation on Aculops pelekassi (Keifer) (Acari: Eriophyidae) in the laboratory. Environ. Entomol. 36: 9-14.
• Childers, C.C., and S. Nakahara. 2006. Thysanoptera (thrips) within citrus orchards in Florida: species distribution, relative and seasonal abundance within trees and on vines and ground cover plants. J. Insect Sci. 6: 45.
• Leon, G.A., C.E. Realpe, P.A. Garzon, J.A. Rodriguez, M.G. Moreno, C.C. Childers, D. Achor, J. Freitas-Astua, R. Antonioli-Luizon, N.C. Cobo M., and E.W. Kitajima. 2006. Occurrence of citrus leprosis in Llanos Orientales, Colômbia. Plant Dis. 90 (5): 682.
• Rodriguez, J.C.V., J.A. Zuniga Reyes, D.S. Achor, C.C. Childers, and E.W. Kitajima. 2006. Occurrence and distribution of citrus leprosis virus (CiLV-C) in Honduras, Central America. New Dis. Rep. British Soc. Plant Pathol. http://www.bspp.org.uk/ndr/july2006/2006-45.asp.
• Villanueva, R.T., and C.C. Childers. 2006. Evidence for host plant preference in the phytoseiid Iphiseoides quadripilis. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 39: 243-246.
• Villanueva, R.T., R. Gagne, and C.C. Childers. 2006. Identification and behavior of two predacious cecidomyids of eriophyid mites on Florida citrus. Florida Entomol. 89 (2): 161-167.
• Childers, C.C., and J.C.V. Rodriguez. 2005. Potential pest mite species collected from ornamental plants from Central America at port of entry to the United States. Florida Entomol. 88 (4): 408-414.
• Childers, C.C., and M.E. Rogers. 2005. Chemical control and management approaches of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Homoptera: Psyllidae) on Florida citrus. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 118: 49-53.
• Hall, D.G., C.C. Childers, and J.E. Eger. 2005. Effect of sample size on accuracy of citrus rust mite (Acari: Eriophyidae) density estimates on citrus fruit. J. Econ. Entomol. 98 (3): 1048-1057.
• Villanueva, R.T., and C.C. Childers. 2005. Diurnal and spatial patterns of Phytoseiidae in the citrus canopy. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 35: 269-280.
• Villanueva, R.T., J.C.V. Rodriguez, and C.C. Childers. 2005. Larval Cryptothelea gloverii, an arthropod predator and herbivore on Florida citrus. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 36: 83-92.
• Rodriguez, J.C.V., M. Gallo-Meagher, B.J. Adams, R. Ochoa, and C.C. Childers. 2004. Mitochondrial DNA and RAPD polymorphisms in the haploid mite Brevipalpus phoenicis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae). Exp. Appl. Acarol. 34 (3-4): 275-290.
• Childers, C.C., and K.S. Derrick (Guest Editors). 2003. Special Issue – Brevipalpus mites as vectors of unassigned rhabdoviruses in various crops. Exp. & Appl. Acarol. 30 (1-3): 1-231.
• Childers, C.C., and K.S. Derrick. 2003. Brevipalpus mites as vectors of unassigned rhabdoviruses in various crops. Exp. & Appl. Acarol. 30 (1-3): 1-3.
• Childers, C.C., J.C.V. Rodriguez, and W.C. Welbourn. 2003. Host plants of Brevipalpus californicus, B. obovatus, and B. phoenicis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) and their potential involvement in the spread of viral diseases vectored by these mites. Exp. & Appl. Acarol. 30 (1-3): 29-105.
• Childers, C.C., J.C.V. Rodriguez, K.S. Derrick, D.S. Achor, J.V. French, W.C. Welbourn, R. Ochoa, and E.W. Kitajima. 2003. Citrus leprosis and its status in Florida and Texas: past and present. Exp. & Appl. Acarol. 30 (1-3): 181-202.
• Childers, C.C., J.V. French, and C.V. Rodriguez. 2003. Brevipalpus californicus, B. obovatus, B. phoenicis, and B. lewisi (Acari: Tenuipalpidae): a review of their biology, feeding injury and economic importance. Exp. & Appl. Acarol. 30 (1-3): 5-28.
• Rodriguez, J.C.V., E.W. Kitajima, C.C. Childers, and C.M. Chagas. 2003. Citrus leprosis virus vectored by Brevipalpus phoenicis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) on citrus in Brazil. Exp. & Appl. Acarol. 30 (1-3): 161-179.
• Childers, C.C. 2002. Practical use of horticultural mineral oils integrated pest and disease management programs and their impact on natural enemies, pp. 332-348. 10a. Integrated pest and disease management. In G.A.C. Beattie, D.M. Watson, M.L. Stevens, D.J. Rae, and R.N. Spooner-Hart (Eds.), Spray Oils Beyond 2000–Sustainable Pest and Disease Management Proc. Conf. 25-29 October 1999, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
• Childers, C.C., H. Aguilar, R. Villanueva, and M.M. Abou-Setta. 2001. Comparative residual toxicities of pesticides to the predator Euseius mesembrinus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on citrus in Florida. Fla. Entomol. 84 (3): 391-401.
• Childers, C.C., R. Villanueva, H. Aguilar, R. Chewning, and J.P. Michaud. 2001. Comparative residual toxicities of pesticides to the predator Agistemus industani (Acari: Stigmaeidae) on citrus in Florida. Exp. & Appl. Acarol. 25 (6): 461-474.
• Childers, C.C. 2000. Integrated mite control on Florida citrus. 9th Intl. Citrus Congress, Orlando, Florida 2: 740-750.
• Childers, C.C., and R.C. Bullock. 1999. Controlling Frankliniella bispinosa (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on Florida citrus during bloom and increased fruit set on navel and 'Valencia' oranges. Fla. Entomol. 82 (3): 410-424.
• Childers, C.C., and M.M. Abou-Setta. 1999. Yield reduction in 'Tahiti' lime from Panonychus citri feeding injury following different pesticide treatment regimes and impact on the associated predacious mites. Exp. & Appl. Acarol. 23 (10): 771-783.
• Childers, C.C., and D.S. Achor. 1999. The eriophyoid mite complex on Florida citrus (Acari: Eriophyidae and Diptilomiopidae). Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 112: 79-87.
• Childers, C.C. 1999. Flower thrips: Frankliniella bispinosa (Morgan), F. kelliae Sakimura (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and postbloom fruit drop disease are economic pests on Florida citrus. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 112: 88-95.
• Childers, C.C., S. Nakahara, and R.J. Beshear. 1998. Thysanoptera collected during bloom on white and colored disposable sticky cards in Florida citrus groves. J. Entomol. Sci. 33 (1): 49-71.
• Childers, C.C. 1997. The nature and extent of feeding and oviposition injuries to plants by thrips, pp. 505-537. In T. Lewis (Ed.), Thrips as Crop Pests. CAB International, Wallingford, United Kingdom.
• Childers, C.C., M.A. Easterbrook, and M.G. Solomon. 1996. Chemical control of eriophyoid mites. In E.E. Lindquist, M.W. Sabelis, and W. Helle (Eds.), Spider Mites. World Crop Pests. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
• Childers, C.C. 1996. Toxicological test methods for eriophyoid mites. In E.E. Lindquist, M.A. Sabelis, and W. Helle (Eds.), Eriophyoid Mites. World Crop Pests. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
• Childers, C.C., and D.S. Achor. 1995. Thrips feeding and oviposition injuries to economic plants, subsequent damage and host responses to infestation. In B.L. Parker, T. Lewis, and M. Skinner (Eds.), Towards Understanding Thrips Management. Plenum, London, United Kingdom.
• Childers, C.C. 1994. Biological control of phytophagous mites on Florida citrus utilizing predatory arthropods. In D. Rosen, F. Bennett, and J. Capinera (Eds.), Biological Control and IPM: The Florida Experience. Intercept, Andover, United Kingdom.