Jawwad Qureshi

Friends of IPM Awards

The mission of the Southern IPM Center is to champion the development and adoption of integrated pest management (IPM), the science of managing pests while protecting people, the environment and economy. Each Regional Center engages broadly with stakeholders to identify and address regional pest priorities in agriculture, communities and natural areas.

Since 2003, the Southern IPM Center (SIPMC) has worked with USDA, Land Grant universities, Extension, and many other partners in promoting and facilitating the development and implementation of IPM in many settings across the region.

Many of these partners have contributed to the region’s well-being for years or even decades.

Hall of Fame

The Southern IPM Hall of Fame award recognizes individuals who have contributed to any important aspect of Southern IPM over many years with documented history of career achievements in IPM.

Along with authorship of educational materials, research papers, manuals, books, and presentations of IPM material, Hall of Fame award candidates have greatly impacted IPM in the Southern region over the lifetime of their career.

Dr. Jawwad Qureshi

Dr. Jawwad Qureshi, University of Florida
Dr. Jawwad Qureshi is an Associate Professor of Entomology at the University of Florida. He specializes in IPM of citrus crops, specifically management of the invasive Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), a phloem-feeding insect that vectors huanglongbing (HLB), which is also known as green citrus disease.

For the past 19 years, Jawwad has worked at the University of Florida to develop integrated, sustainable, biologically based management tactics for pests of citrus crops grown in the southern region. Jawwad’s innovative monitoring, biological control, and chemical control research has greatly impacted Asian citrus psyllid suppression and IPM in citrus crops.

In response to the advent of huanglongbing in Florida, Jawwad developed the “tap sampling” method, an accurate, user-friendly monitoring tool to inform rational pest control decision-making. Using this technique, growers tap a selected branch onto a beat sheet to detect Asian citrus psyllids in citrus crops. An invaluable technique for researchers, growers, and regulatory agencies, tap sampling immediately became the industry standard across the United States. Jawwad’s management tactic has been used in more than 200 research investigations, and over 30,000 tap sampling kits have been distributed to clientele at workshops and trainings.

Jawwad also created a novel IPM tool to protect citrus crops from insect pests, the citrus under protective screen (CUPS). These enclosed screens physically impede psyllid establishment and disease transmission in citrus crops, increasing the proportion of marketable citrus fruit. Due to the efficacy of Jawwad’s protective screens, farmers and growers have rapidly implemented CUPS to reduce pest damage in citrus orchards across the southern region.

Jawwad’s inventive IPM management tools and strategies have significantly transformed the IPM of citrus crop pests in the southern region.

Jawwad has greatly influenced the IPM of citrus crops through an impressive publication record. Over the course of his career, He has published 142 Extension documents and 74 research articles about the IPM of citrus crop pests, including the Asian citrus psyllid.

Notably, Jawwad authored the first book on the Asian citrus psyllid-huanglongbing disease complex. His book, Asian Citrus Psyllid, which discusses psyllid anatomy and huanglongbing epidemiology, among other topics, is an exceptionally beneficial resource for researchers, extension agents, and students worldwide.

Despite having no formal teaching appointment, Jawwad has mentored many undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Florida. He has trained 33 graduate students and postdocs, many of whom have won prestigious awards from the Entomological Society of America and other organizations.

One recurring theme that encapsulates Jawwad’s contributions to IPM is service: service to industry professionals, students, and citrus farmers across the southern region. Jawwad has served his community through instrumental IPM research, mentorship, and informative publications that promote IPM principles.

Through outstanding scientific achievements that significantly impact the integrated management of citrus pests, Jawwad has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in IPM and illustrated that he belongs in the IPM Hall of Fame.

2024 Professional Awardees

IPM Hall of Fame: Dr. Gene Reagan* (posthumous award), LSU AgCenter
IPM Hall of Fame: Dr. Phillip Kaufman, Texas A&M
IPM Hall of Fame: Dr. Brian T. Forschler, University of Georgia
IPM Hall of Fame: Dr. Jawwad Qureshi, University of Florida
Pulling Together: Emerging Viruses in Cucurbits Working Group
- Led by Dr. Rebecca Melanson, Mississippi State & William (Bill) M Wintermantel, USDA-ARS
IPM Communicator: Mr. Elmer W. Gray, University of Georgia
IPM Educator: Dr. Cameron Jack, University of Florida
IPM Implementer: Mr. Dan Killingsworth, Environmental Security Pest Control
Future Leader: Dr. Tommy Butts, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture