Erika Machtinger

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Graduate Students

Hannah Tiffin (Ph.D. student, Entomology)

Jessica Brown (Ph.D. student, Ecology)

Alexandra Pagac (MS.c. student, Entomology)

Lab Staff

Karen Poh, Ph.D. (Post-doctoral Scholar)

Taylor Miller (Research Technologist)

Jesse Evans (Research Associate)

Kylie Green (Research Associate)

Montana Riggs (Research Associate)

Research

The mission of the Veterinary Entomology Laboratory is to investigate the ecological relationships between vertebrates and their ectoparasites and other arthropod pests to facilitate development of control methods and integrated pest management strategies. We don't study a specific taxa or phenomenon but rather problems associated with non-human vertebrates. Of particular interest are filth flies affecting livestock, poultry, and equids and ticks and tick-borne disease ecology.

Publications:

Refereed Research Publications

Jones, A. M., M. T. Van de Wyngaerde, E. T. Machtinger, E. G. Rajotte. Choice of laboratory tissue homogenizers matters when recovering nucleic acid from medically important ticks. Journal of Medical Entomology. Accepted

Fedele, K., K. Poh, J. E. Brown, A. Jones, L. Durden, H. Tifton, A. Pagac, A. Li, and E. T. Machtinger. Host distribution and pathogen infection of fleas (Siphonaptera) recovered from small mammals in Pennsylvania. Journal of Vector Ecology. Accepted

Machtinger, E. T., and A. Y. Li. 2019. Tick control bait box use by Peromyscus spp. influenced by habitat placement but raises questions on disease ecology. Ecosphere https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2972

Tuorinsky, E. V., and E. T. Machtinger. 2019. Behavioral inhibition of the house fly, Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae), when exposed to commercial equine fly repellents. Journal of Economic Entomology https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz243

Machtinger, E.T., A.Y. Li, and Yifen Liu. 2019. Tick bite risk and tick-borne disease perceptions of schools in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Journal of School Health 89: 959-968. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12835

Skvarla, M.X., E.T. Machtinger. 2019. Deer keds (Diptera: Hippoboscidae: Lipoptena and Neolipoptena) in the United States and Canada: New state and county records, pathogen records, and an illustrated key to species. Journal of Medical Entomology 56:744-760. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjy238

Ryan-Reynolds, P, G. Hummel, E.T. Machtinger, and A.Y. Li. 2018. Development of nontarget wildlife exclusion devices for small mammal trap protection. Wildlife Society Bulletin 42 doi.org/10.1002/wsb.905

Machtinger, E.T., and A.Y. Li. 2018. Repellencies and toxicities of five ant-derived defensive compounds against the lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (Acari:Ixodidae). Applied Entomology and Zoology 53: 307-313 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-018-0559-7

Machtinger, E.T., and A. Y. Li. 2017. Evaluation of the toxicity and repellency of four commercial natural products to Amblyomma americanum. Experimental and Applied Acarology 73: 451-460. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-017-0185-z

Weeks, E N.I., E.T. Machtinger, S.A. Gezman, P.E. Kaufman, and C. J. Geden. 2017. Effect of four commercial fungal formulations on mortality and sporulation of house flies (Musca domestica) and stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans). Medical and Veterinary Entomology 31: https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12201

Taylor, C., E.T. Machtinger, and C.J. Geden. 2016. Manure preferences and postemergence learning of two of common filth fly parasitoids, Spalangia cameroni and Muscidifurax raptor (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). PLoS One http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0167893

Machtinger, E.T., E.N.I. Weeks, C. J. Geden, and P.E. Kaufman. 2016. House fly (Musca domestica) (Diptera: Muscidae) mortality after exposure to commercial fungal formulations in a sugar bait. Biocontrol Science and Technology 26: 1444-1450.

Machtinger, E.T., E. N. I. Weeks, C.J. Geden. 2016. Oviposition deterrence and immature survival of filth flies (Diptera:Muscidae) when exposed to commercial fungal products. Journal of Insect Science http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iew032. Featured in “Entomology Today" https://entomologytoday.org/tag/erika-machtinger/

Machtinger, E.T., N.C. Leppla, J.A. Hogsette. 2016. An assessment of the seasonal abundance and species composition of filth flies and their parasitoids on Florida equine farms to improve biological control. Neotropical Entomology 45: 433-440.

Machtinger, E.T., C.J. Geden, E.D. LoVullo, and P.D. Shirk. 2016. Impacts of extended laboratory rearing on female fitness in the parasitoid Spalangia cameroni (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) with an analysis of Wolbachia strains in Florida colonies. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 109: 176-182.

Machtinger, E.T., and C.J. Geden. 2015. Comparison of the olfactory preferences of four filth fly pupal parasitoid species (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) for hosts in equine and bovine manure. Environmental Entomology 44:1417-1424.

Machtinger, E.T., C.J. Geden, and N.C. Leppla. 2015. The effect of linear distance on the parasitism of house fly (Diptera: Muscidae) hosts by Spalangia cameroni (Hymenoptera: Pteromalida). PLoS One https://10.1371/journal.pone.0129105.

Machtinger, E.T., C.J. Geden, P.E. Teal, N.C. Leppla. 2015. Comparison of host-seeking strategies used by the filth fly pupal parasitoids Spalangia cameroni and Muscidifurax raptor (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). Environmental Entomology 44: 330-337.

Machtinger, E.T., C.J. Geden, N.C. Leppla, J.A. Hogsette. 2014. Oviposition preference and development of house flies and stable flies in six common substrates found in equine facilities. Journal of Medical Entomology 51: 1144 – 1150.

Machtinger, E.T., and C.J. Geden. 2013. Host location by Spalangia cameroni in equine associated substrates. Biological Control 65: 130-134.

Refereed Teaching and Extension Publications

Machtinger, E.T., C.J. Geden, P.E. Kaufman, and A. M. House. 2015. Use of pupal parasitoids as biological control agents of filth flies on equine facilities. Journal of Integrated Pest Management. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmv015. Featured in “Entomology Today" https://entomologytoday.org/tag/erika-machtinger/

Machtinger, E.T. 2014. Using a combined approach of guided-inquiry and direct instruction to explore how physiology affects behavior. American Biology Teacher. 76: 595 – 600.

Machtinger, E.T., N.C. Leppla and C. Saunders. 2013. Pest management and perceptions for equine farms in North and Central Florida. EDIS. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

Machtinger, E.T. 2011. Eye Gnats, Liohippelates spp. EDIS publication EENY-485. http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/livestock/flies/liohippelates.htm

Machtinger, E.T. 2007. Wildlife-Friendly Wind Energy. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Wildlife Habitat Council Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet, Number 48.

Machtinger, E.T. 2007. Wetlands (Temporarily Flooded). USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Wildlife Habitat Council Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet, Number 47.

Machtinger, E.T. 2007. Native Freshwater Mussels. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Wildlife Habitat Council Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet, Number 46.

Machtinger, E.T. 2007. Riparian Systems. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Wildlife Habitat Council Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet, Number 45.

Machtinger, E.T. 2007. Cutthroat Trout. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Wildlife Habitat Council Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet, Number 43.

Smith, E.T. 2007. Scrub-Shrub Birds. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Wildlife Habitat Council Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet, Number 42.

Smith, E.T. 2007. Early Successional Habitat. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Wildlife Habitat Council Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet, Number 41.

Smith, E.T. 2006. Bog Turtle. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Wildlife Habitat Council Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet, Number 44.

Book Chapters

Talley, J, and E. T. Machtinger. Livestock Pests. In J.K. Tomberlin and M.E. Benbow (eds), Forensic Entomology: International Dimensions and Frontiers. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA In press

Weeks, E.N.I., E.T. Machtinger, D. Leeomon, C. J. Geden. 2018. Biological Control of Livestock Pests: Entomopathogens. Parasitoids. In C. Garros and J. Bouyer (eds), Ecology and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases, Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, Gelderland, The Netherlands.

Machtinger, E.T., and C.J. Geden. 2018. Biological control of livestock pests: Parasitoids. In C. Garros and J. Bouyer (eds), Ecology and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases, Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, Gelderland, The Netherlands.