George F. O'Meara

gfo@ifas.ufl.edu

(100 % Research)

Education

• B.S., University of Notre Dame (Biology), 1964
• M.S., University of Notre Dame (Biology), 1967
• Ph. D., University of Notre Dame (Biology), 1969

Employment

• Project Leader (1969-1983), Florida Medical Entomology Lab (FMEL)
• Acting Director (1977-1978), (1998-1999) FMEL
• Professor (1983-present), University of   Florida , FMEL  
• Associate Director FMEL (2002-present)

Responsibilities

Research goals for this position are:

• to develop a pertinent data base covering mosquito populations in wastewater and other water retention areas for designing aquatic systems with built-in mosquito abatement components based on the natural regulation of mosquito numbers and
• to conduct research on the biology and control of tideland and exotic container-inhabiting mosquitoes, particularly to investigate variation in gonotrophic interactions in these mosquitoes.
• Primary extension duties are to provide information and other types of support to the various mosquito control districts (MCD) in Florida . Short courses are developed and offered to meet the needs of the staff of MCD and undergraduate and graduate students.

Accomplishments

Results of both field and laboratory studies have improved our knowledge on:

• the genetics, physiology and ecology of gonotrophic variations within and among mosquito populations,
• the factors regulating the spread of exotic species, and
• water management schemes for controlling mosquitoes.
• Fact sheets and Technical Bulletins on various aspects of mosquito biology and control have been prepared and distributed to local mosquito control districts.
• Several short courses have been successfully developed and offered to entomologists/biologists working in mosquito control or graduate students in entomology and related fields.
• Served on several committees of professional societies and editorial boards.

Grants and Contracts (over the last 5 years)  

• PI or Co-PI on 7   Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services contracts
• Co-investigator on 2 NIH grants

Honors and Awards

• 1999 Joseph Y. Porter Distinguished Achievement Award from the Florida Mosquito Control Association
• 2000 Research Team Award for achievements involving the invasion biology of Aedes albopictus from the Florida Entomological Society
• 2004 Distinguished Achievement Award for outstanding leadership in Medical Entomology from the Society for Vector Ecology

Career Publications

• Refereed papers: 46
• Chapters in books: 4
• Misc. papers: 17

Selected Publications

• Juliano, S. A., L. P. Lounibos and G. F. O'Meara. 2004. A field test for competitive effects of Aedes albopictus on Aedes aegypti in south Florida : differences between sites of coexistence and exclusion? Oecologia 139: 583-593.
• Knight, R. L., W. E. Walton, G, O'Meara, W. K. Reisen and R. Wass. 2003. Strategies for effective mosquito control in constructed treatment wetlands. Ecological Engineering 21: 211-232.
• Lounibos, L. P., G. F. O'Meara, N. Nishimura and R. L. Escher. 2003. Interactions with native mosquito larvae regulate the production of Aedes albopictus from bromeliads. Ecol. Ent. 28: 551-558.
• O'Meara, G. F., M. M. Cutwa and L. F. Evans, Jr. 2003. Bromeliad-inhabiting mosquitoes in south Florida : native and exotic plants differ in species composition. J. Vector Ecol. 28(1): 37-46.
• Juliano, S. A., G. F. O'Meara, J. R. Morrill and M. M. Cutwa. 2002. Desiccation and thermal tolerance of eggs and the coexistence of competing mosquitoes. Oecologia 130: 458-469.
• Lounibos, L. P., G. F. O'Meara, R. L. Escher, N. Nishimura, M. Cutwa, T. Nelson, R. E. Campos and S. A. Juliano. 2001. Testing predictions of displacement of native Aedes by the invasive Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus in Florida , USA . Biol. Invasions 3: 151-166.
• Zavortink, T. J. and G. F. O'Meara. 1999. Culex ( Micraedes ) biscaynensis n. sp. from Florida . J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. 15: 263-270.
• O'Meara, G. F. and L. F. Evans, Jr. 1997. Discovery of a bromeliad-inhabiting Culex ( Micraedes ) sp. in south Florida . J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. 13: 208-210.
• O'Meara, G. F., L. F. Evans, Jr., A. D. Gettman and J. P. Cuda. 1995. Spread of Aedes albopictus and decline of Ae . aegypti in Florida . J. Med. Ent. 32: 554-562.
• O'Meara, G. F., L. F. Evans, Jr., A. D. Gettman and A. W. Patteson. 1995. Exotic tank bromeliads harboring immature Aedes albopictus and Aedes bahamensis (Diptera: Culicidae) in Florida . J. Vector Ecol. 20: 216-224.
• O'Meara, G. F., V. L. Larson and D. H. Mook. 1993. Blood feeding and autogeny in the peridomestic mosquito, Aedes bahamensis (Diptera: Culicidae). J. Med. Ent. 30: 378-383.
• O'Meara, G. F., A. D. Gettman, L. F. Evans, Jr. and F. D. Scheel. 1992. Invasions of cemeteries in Florida by Aedes albopictus . J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. 8: 1-10.
• O'Meara, G. F. and D. H. Mook. 1990. Facultative blood-feeding in the crabhole mosquito, Deinocerites cancer . Med. Vet. Ent. 4: 117-123.
• O'Meara, G. F., V. L. Larson, D. H. Mook and M. D. Latham. 1989. Aedes bahamensis : Its invasion of south Florida and association with Aedes aegypti . J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. 5: 1-5.
• O'Meara, G. F., F. E. Vose and D. B. Carlson. 1989. Environmental factors influencing oviposition by Culex ( Culex ) (Diptera: Culicidae) in two types of traps. J. Med. Ent. 26: 528-534.
• O'Meara, G. F. 1987. Nutritional ecology of blood-feeding Diptera. pp. 741-764. In: The Nutritional Ecology of Insects, Mites, Spiders, and Related Invertebrates , eds., F. Slansky, Jr. and J. G. Rodriguez. John Wiley and Sons, New York .
• O'Meara, G. F. 1985. Ecology of autogeny in mosquitoes. pp. 459-471. In: Ecology of Mosquitoes: Proceedings of a Workshop . eds. L. P. Lounibos, J. R. Rey and J. H. Frank. Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Vero Beach , Florida .
• O'Meara, G. F. and J. L. Petersen. 1985. Effects of mating and sugar feeding on the expression of autogeny in the crabhole mosquitoes of the genus Deinocerites (Diptera: Culicidae). J. Med. Ent. 22: 485-490.
• O'Meara, G. F. 1985. Gonotrophic interactions in mosquitoes: Kicking the blood-feeding habit. Florida Ent. 68: 122-133.
• Frank, J. H. and G. F. O'Meara. 1984. The bromeliad Catopsis berteroniana traps terrestrial arthropods but harbors Wyeomyia larvae (Diptera: Culicidae). Florida Ent. 67: 418-424.
• O'Meara, G. F. and F. D. S. Evans. 1983. Seasonal patterns of abundance among three species of Culex mosquitoes in a south Florida wastewater lagoon. Ann. Ent. Soc. Am. 76: 130-133.
• O'Meara, G. F. and L. P.   Lounibos. 1981. Reproductive maturation in the pitcher-plant mosquito, Wyeomyia smithii . Physiol. Ent. 6: 437-443.
• O'Meara, G. F., L. P. Lounibos and R. A. Brust. 1981. Repeated egg clutches without blood in the pitcher-plant mosquito. Ann. Ent. Soc. Am. 74: 68-72.
• O'Meara, G. F. 1979. Variable expressions of autogeny in three mosquito species. Int. J. Invertebr. Reprod. 1: 253-261.
• O'Meara, G. F. and D. G. Evans. 1977. Autogeny in saltmarsh mosquitoes induced by a substance from the male accessory gland. Nature 267: 342-344.
• O'Meara, G. F. 1976. Saltmarsh mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). pp 303-333. In Marine Insects , ed, L. Cheng. North-Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam .
• O'Meara, G. F. and J. D. Edman. 1975. Autogenous egg production in the salt-marsh mosquito, Aedes taeniorhynchus . Biol. Bull. 149: 384-396.
• O'Meara, G. F. 1975. Lethal traits associated with the bleached-eye color mutant of Aedes taeniorhynchus . Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 68: 157-162.
• O'Meara, G. F. and D. G. Evans. 1973. Blood-feeding requirements of the mosquito: geographical variation in Aedes taeniorhynchus . Science 180: 1291-1293.
• O'Meara, G, F. and G. J. Krasnick. 1970. Dietary and genetic control of the expression of autogenous reproduction in Aedes atropalpus (Coq.) (Diptera: Culicidae) J. Med. Ent. 7: 328-334.