Mission
The mission of the Subtropical Exotic Pest Insect Research Unit
(STEPIRU) is to develop effective, environmentally-safe methods
to diminish the risk of introduction of pest insects from the
Caribbean, Central and South America into the US through Florida.
The establishment of the USDA exotic insect pest Unit in Miami
represents an innovative change from a reactionary to a pro-active
approach in protecting our agriculture.
History
In April 1965, larvae and adults of the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha
suspensa, were found near the Miami International Airport. As
a result in 1968 the Subtropical Horticulture Research Station
at Chapman field was selected as a location for work developing
methods of control for this pest. Initial studies were concerned
with mass rearing and sterile release programs. Further work was
initiated on commodity treatments for potentially infested fruits
and vegetables. A number of successful treatments have resulted
from work at the Miami laboratory. Additional work on other insects
of quarantine importance and the Caribbean fruit fly is underway.
The Caribbean fruit fly colony was started from flies collected
from various Florida subtropical fruits in 1965. The first larval
diet was developed at the USDA lab. set up near Opa Locka airport
in 1965. In 1966, the colony was turned over to the Florida Department
of Agriculture in Homestead under R. M. Baranowski. In 1968, the
ARS laboratory at Miami took over rearing and an agar based diet
was developed. The same strain has been perpetuated, with a few
changes in the diet and a few additions of wild flies, to the
present.
