Internationally respected mosquito- and vector-borne disease expert Yvonne-Marie Linton has been chosen as the new director for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (FMEL).  Linton, most recently a Research Entomologist and Curator of Diptera at the Smithsonian Institution, has had a career focused on bringing entomology expertise to the global stage to prevent and fight vector-borne diseases. [&#8230;]

Internationally respected mosquito- and vector-borne disease expert Yvonne-Marie Linton has been chosen as the new director for the <a href="https://fmel.ifas.ufl.edu/">University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (FMEL).</a> 
Linton, most recently a Research Entomologist and Curator of Diptera at the Smithsonian Institution, has had a career focused on bringing entomology expertise to the global stage to prevent and fight vector-borne diseases.
<figure id="attachment_65609" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65609" style="width: 225px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-65609 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="225" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2026/07/Yvonne-Marie-Linton-headshot-225x300.jpeg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-65609" class="wp-caption-text">Portrait of Yvonne-Marie Linton. Photo credit: Courtesy Linton</figcaption></figure>
Her experience spans 25 years of biomedical research and public outreach across more than 30 countries and four continents. 
She will lead the team at FMEL, located in Vero Beach, Florida, as they conduct research and provide public stakeholder input on topics related to known and emerging mosquito- and other vector-borne disease threats, such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, West Nile, Oropouche virus and more. 
Robert Gilbert, UF/IFAS dean for research and executive director for academic affairs, said Linton will bring an international viewpoint to vector-borne disease research and prevention. 
“She will be able to build on our strong programs at FMEL and bring them into their next era as a global leader in mosquito- and vector-borne disease research, prevention and eradication,” he said. “We are fortunate to gain the expertise she brings from the Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. Army.” 
Linton said her mission will be to champion cutting-edge biomedical research solutions to detect, mitigate and solve emerging and persistent vector-borne diseases by providing solution-driven services to the center’s stakeholders. 
“I am truly honored to join the Gator Nation. UF/IFAS is one of the nation’s premier educational institutions, globally respected for its top-tier academic prowess, cutting-edge research outputs and One Health data-driven stakeholder solutions to ensure sustainable environmental, human and animal health and food security, shaping a better future for us all,” she said. 
During her time as research director of the U.S. Army’s Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit housed within the Smithsonian Institution, she led the first One Health Branch in the U.S. military, expanding it to focus on cutting-edge surveillance of disease-spreading insects, new ways of characterizing pathogens and AI-based biting insect identification systems. 
Her vision for FMEL is to strengthen it as a world-class research and public education center, addressing the ongoing threat of emerging, persistent and unforeseen vector-borne diseases to the residents of Florida and beyond. 
She aims to advance the laboratory through a One Health approach – which is a healthcare approach that balances the health of people, animals and ecosystems – by expanding stakeholder collaborations and global partnerships. 
“As incoming Center Director for FMEL, my goal is to expand the local, national and global footprint of FMEL as a sustainable, world-renowned educational and research center of excellence,” she said. “Key to this strategic plan is nurturing and expanding faculty strengths, embracing the latest cutting-edge genomic and AI technologies and integrated pest management advances and developing strategic collaborative partnerships with local stakeholders, academia and industry.” 
### 
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.  
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>

Internationally respected mosquito- and vector-borne disease expert Yvonne-Marie Linton has been chosen as the new director for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (FMEL). 
Linton, most recently a Research Entomologist and Curator of Diptera at the Smithsonian Institution, has had a career focused on bringing entomology expertise to the global stage to prevent and fight vector-borne diseases.
Portrait of Yvonne-Marie Linton. Photo credit: Courtesy Linton
Her experience spans 25 years of biomedical research and public outreach across more than 30 countries and four continents. 
She will lead the team at FMEL, located in Vero Beach, Florida, as they conduct research and provide public stakeholder input on topics related to known and emerging mosquito- and other vector-borne disease threats, such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, West Nile, Oropouche virus and more. 
Robert Gilbert, UF/IFAS dean for research and executive director for academic affairs, said Linton will bring an international viewpoint to vector-borne disease research and prevention. 
“She will be able to build on our strong programs at FMEL and bring them into their next era as a global leader in mosquito- and vector-borne disease research, prevention and eradication,” he said. “We are fortunate to gain the expertise she brings from the Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. Army.” 
Linton said her mission will be to champion cutting-edge biomedical research solutions to detect, mitigate and solve emerging and persistent vector-borne diseases by providing solution-driven services to the center’s stakeholders. 
“I am truly honored to join the Gator Nation. UF/IFAS is one of the nation’s premier educational institutions, globally respected for its top-tier academic prowess, cutting-edge research outputs and One Health data-driven stakeholder solutions to ensure sustainable environmental, human and animal health and food security, shaping a better future for us all,” she said. 
During her time as research director of the U.S. Army’s Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit housed within the Smithsonian Institution, she led the first One Health Branch in the U.S. military, expanding it to focus on cutting-edge surveillance of disease-spreading insects, new ways of characterizing pathogens and AI-based biting insect identification systems. 
Her vision for FMEL is to strengthen it as a world-class research and public education center, addressing the ongoing threat of emerging, persistent and unforeseen vector-borne diseases to the residents of Florida and beyond. 
She aims to advance the laboratory through a One Health approach – which is a healthcare approach that balances the health of people, animals and ecosystems – by expanding stakeholder collaborations and global partnerships. 
“As incoming Center Director for FMEL, my goal is to expand the local, national and global footprint of FMEL as a sustainable, world-renowned educational and research center of excellence,” she said. “Key to this strategic plan is nurturing and expanding faculty strengths, embracing the latest cutting-edge genomic and AI technologies and integrated pest management advances and developing strategic collaborative partnerships with local stakeholders, academia and industry.” 
### 
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.  
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS

Internationally respected mosquito- and vector-borne disease expert Yvonne-Marie Linton has been chosen as the new director for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (FMEL).  Linton, most recently a Research Entomologist and Curator of Diptera at the Smithsonian Institution, has had a career focused on bringing entomology expertise to the global stage to prevent and fight vector-borne diseases. […]

Yvonne‑Marie Linton Named Director of UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory 

Storms bring more than wind and rain during the Atlantic hurricane season. Unwanted pests crawl into our lives. With electricity outages, standing water and damaged structures, urban pests find ample opportunity to invade homes, businesses and schools. “The summer months of May through November are prime time for both storm activity and pests in Florida.” [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_47763" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47763" style="width: 492px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-47763" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/09/Gordon_At-the-FLREC-termite-lab-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="492" height="369" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47763" class="wp-caption-text">Johnalyn Gordon at the FLREC termite lab.</figcaption></figure>
Storms bring more than wind and rain during the Atlantic hurricane season. Unwanted pests crawl into our lives. With electricity outages, standing water and damaged structures, urban pests find ample opportunity to invade homes, businesses and schools.
“The summer months of May through November are prime time for both storm activity and pests in Florida.” said <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=6AyZ6D4AAAAJ&amp;hl=en&amp;oi=sra">Johnalyn Gordon</a>, a postdoctoral associate in urban entomology at the <a href="https://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/">UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center</a>.
Gordon, who specializes in urban pests, is also an instructor at Pest Management University, a cooperative training program between the pest management industry, UF IFAS, and the Florida Department of Agricultural Consumer Sciences. She emphasizes that while storm damage is a primary concern, understanding how to manage pest-related issues can prevent headaches and potential infestations later.
Here are Gordon’s go-to insights on what to look out for and how to manage pests after a storm:
Rainfall can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes
Several species of mosquitoes in Florida will breed in small containers of standing water. This includes the mosquito species that are vectors for the pathogens that cause dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses. They don’t need much water, so these can include spare tires, plant pots and saucers, bird baths and garbage cans.
Tip: Before the storm, survey your property for anything that might collect rain, and dump water out following rain from potential sources can interrupt mosquitoes’  life cycle and prevent them from using those containers to breed.
 
<figure id="attachment_47765" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47765" style="width: 263px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-47765 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="263" height="351" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/09/Gordon-holding-bed-bug-specimens-225x300.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47765" class="wp-caption-text">Johnalyn Gordon at University of Kentucky where she worked on bed bug research as a graduate research assistant.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_47783" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47783" style="width: 419px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-47783" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/09/Gordon_roach-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="419" height="279" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47783" class="wp-caption-text">Johnalyn Gordon demonstrates a Madagascar hissing cockroach.</figcaption></figure>
Flooding promotes pests on the move
Heavy rains create flooding, signaling insects and vertebrate pests to seek higher and drier grounds. Precipitation drives pests like cockroaches, spiders, and rodents indoors in search of a safe space. Floods also cause red imported fire ants to form floating “rafts,” which can pose a painful hazard for anyone cleaning up after the storm.
The red imported fire ant is a prominent pest ant in Florida, most recognizable for its nasty sting, but takes a unique approach to dealing with flooding. These ants, which live in colonies of tens of thousands of individuals, nest in the ground, and when flooding occurs, will form “rafts” by interlocking their bodies and floating on the surface of the water until they find higher ground. People can encounter these fire ant rafts when cleaning up flooded areas or when rafts come in contact with a structure.
Vertebrate pests like rodents and wildlife can also be displaced by flooding, which can make them more likely to enter a structure.
Tip: Ensure doors, windows and any storm-damaged areas are well sealed to block pests from entering your home or business. Be cautious when dealing with fire ant rafts in flooded areas. After the storm passes, cover any potential entry points caused by damage to prevent pests from coming inside and infesting a structure.
 
Don’t maintain moisture
Flooding can also lead to moisture problems in a structure, which can lead to pest problems later down the road, Gordon said.
In many cases, moisture and pests go hand in hand. One of the primary examples of this is subterranean termites, which will readily target and feed on water-damaged wood.
Being aware of potential moisture issues following storms and prioritizing moisture control in the structure is critical to help prevent subterranean termite infestations. If termites are discovered, the best course of action would be to reach out to a professional pest control company as soon as possible.
 
<figure id="attachment_47771" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47771" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-47771" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/09/Gordon_at-micoscope-analyzing-termite-specimens-260x300.jpeg" alt="" width="310" height="358" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-47771" class="wp-caption-text">Johnalyn Gordon at a microscope analyzing and identifying termite specimens.</figcaption></figure>
Trash buildup can be a fly magnet
In the aftermath of a storm, accumulations of garbage due to service impacts in waste management and often large amounts of spoiled food due to power outages can attract several different fly species, including house flies, phorid flies, and fruit flies, which will readily feed on refuse and decaying material.
Tip: To prevent a buildup of flies, place organic waste such as spoiled food in a bag and secure tightly. Then, place in a trash topped with a tightly fitting lid until trash can be disposed of or picked up.
 
Prevention is the key
When it comes to dealing with pest issues following a major storm or hurricane, prevention as well as quick action following the storm can go a long way to preventing or reducing associated pest problems.
“It’s important that great care is taken if pesticides are applied and that all label directions are followed, particularly as they relate to applications near water or to rain-soaked areas,” said Gordon.
###
&nbsp;
<a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2024/09/25/experta-de-uf-ifas-ofrece-consejos-para-el-control-de-plagas-durante-la-temporada-de-huracanes/">Para accesar a este contenido en español, por favor utilice este enlace.</a>
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. 
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>

Johnalyn Gordon at the FLREC termite lab.
Storms bring more than wind and rain during the Atlantic hurricane season. Unwanted pests crawl into our lives. With electricity outages, standing water and damaged structures, urban pests find ample opportunity to invade homes, businesses and schools.
“The summer months of May through November are prime time for both storm activity and pests in Florida.” said Johnalyn Gordon, a postdoctoral associate in urban entomology at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.
Gordon, who specializes in urban pests, is also an instructor at Pest Management University, a cooperative training program between the pest management industry, UF IFAS, and the Florida Department of Agricultural Consumer Sciences. She emphasizes that while storm damage is a primary concern, understanding how to manage pest-related issues can prevent headaches and potential infestations later.
Here are Gordon’s go-to insights on what to look out for and how to manage pests after a storm:
Rainfall can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes
Several species of mosquitoes in Florida will breed in small containers of standing water. This includes the mosquito species that are vectors for the pathogens that cause dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses. They don’t need much water, so these can include spare tires, plant pots and saucers, bird baths and garbage cans.
Tip: Before the storm, survey your property for anything that might collect rain, and dump water out following rain from potential sources can interrupt mosquitoes’  life cycle and prevent them from using those containers to breed.
 
Johnalyn Gordon at University of Kentucky where she worked on bed bug research as a graduate research assistant.
Johnalyn Gordon demonstrates a Madagascar hissing cockroach.
Flooding promotes pests on the move
Heavy rains create flooding, signaling insects and vertebrate pests to seek higher and drier grounds. Precipitation drives pests like cockroaches, spiders, and rodents indoors in search of a safe space. Floods also cause red imported fire ants to form floating “rafts,” which can pose a painful hazard for anyone cleaning up after the storm.
The red imported fire ant is a prominent pest ant in Florida, most recognizable for its nasty sting, but takes a unique approach to dealing with flooding. These ants, which live in colonies of tens of thousands of individuals, nest in the ground, and when flooding occurs, will form “rafts” by interlocking their bodies and floating on the surface of the water until they find higher ground. People can encounter these fire ant rafts when cleaning up flooded areas or when rafts come in contact with a structure.
Vertebrate pests like rodents and wildlife can also be displaced by flooding, which can make them more likely to enter a structure.
Tip: Ensure doors, windows and any storm-damaged areas are well sealed to block pests from entering your home or business. Be cautious when dealing with fire ant rafts in flooded areas. After the storm passes, cover any potential entry points caused by damage to prevent pests from coming inside and infesting a structure.
 
Don’t maintain moisture
Flooding can also lead to moisture problems in a structure, which can lead to pest problems later down the road, Gordon said.
In many cases, moisture and pests go hand in hand. One of the primary examples of this is subterranean termites, which will readily target and feed on water-damaged wood.
Being aware of potential moisture issues following storms and prioritizing moisture control in the structure is critical to help prevent subterranean termite infestations. If termites are discovered, the best course of action would be to reach out to a professional pest control company as soon as possible.
 
Johnalyn Gordon at a microscope analyzing and identifying termite specimens.
Trash buildup can be a fly magnet
In the aftermath of a storm, accumulations of garbage due to service impacts in waste management and often large amounts of spoiled food due to power outages can attract several different fly species, including house flies, phorid flies, and fruit flies, which will readily feed on refuse and decaying material.
Tip: To prevent a buildup of flies, place organic waste such as spoiled food in a bag and secure tightly. Then, place in a trash topped with a tightly fitting lid until trash can be disposed of or picked up.
 
Prevention is the key
When it comes to dealing with pest issues following a major storm or hurricane, prevention as well as quick action following the storm can go a long way to preventing or reducing associated pest problems.
“It’s important that great care is taken if pesticides are applied and that all label directions are followed, particularly as they relate to applications near water or to rain-soaked areas,” said Gordon.
###
 
Para accesar a este contenido en español, por favor utilice este enlace.
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. 
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS

Storms bring more than wind and rain during the Atlantic hurricane season. Unwanted pests crawl into our lives. With electricity outages, standing water and damaged structures, urban pests find ample opportunity to invade homes, businesses and schools. “The summer months of May through November are prime time for both storm activity and pests in Florida.” […]

UF/IFAS expert shares pest control tips for hurricane season

Disease Vectors: Invertebrates or non-human vertebrates which transmit infective organisms from one host to another.

Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases

Vectores y enfermedades transmitidas por vectores

Chikungunya (CHIKV) is a virus that can be transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. The resulting illness is also called chikungunya. Chikungunya outbreaks have been reported from India, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Travel and globalization increase the possibility of epidemic outbreaks in other regions around the globe, wherever the mosquitoes capable of transmitting CHIKV are found. The mosquito species Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus are good vectors and well-established in Florida. In the event of an outbreak, mosquito control and public health agencies in Florida need knowledge of populations, where they are produced, and hot spots with large populations that could be easily targeted for control.&nbsp;
<h2>UF/IFAS Resources</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://mosquito.ifas.ufl.edu/Index.htm">Florida Medical Entomology Lab website</a></li>
</ul>

&nbsp;
El chikungunya (CHIKV) es un virus que puede ser transmitido a los humanos por los mosquitos. La enfermedad resultante tambi&eacute;n se llama chikungunya. Se ha informado sobre brotes de chikungunya en India, &Aacute;frica y el sudeste asi&aacute;tico. Los viajes y la globalizaci&oacute;n aumentan la posibilidad de brotes epid&eacute;micos en otras regiones del mundo dondequiera que se encuentren los mosquitos capaces de transmitir el CHIKV. La especie de mosquito Ae. aegypti y Ae. albopictus son buenos vectores y est&aacute;n bien establecidos en Florida. En el caso de un brote, las agencias de control de mosquitos y de salud p&uacute;blica en Florida necesitan conocer las poblaciones, d&oacute;nde se producen y los puntos cr&iacute;ticos con grandes poblaciones que podr&iacute;an ser f&aacute;cilmente objetivo de control. Buenas fuentes de informaci&oacute;n sobre la enfermedad en humanos son&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/">CDC</a>, y&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/chikungunya.html">Medline Plus</a>.
<h2>UF/IFAS Resources</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://mosquito.ifas.ufl.edu/Index.htm">Florida Medical Entomology Lab website</a></li>
</ul>

Chikungunya Fever

UF/IFAS Resources

Publications

Chikungunya

Yvonne‑Marie Linton Named Director of UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory

UF/IFAS expert shares pest control tips for hurricane season