Connecticut State The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

Kirby C. Stafford III

.Image of Kirby C. Stafford

Department of Entomology
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
123 Huntington Street
P.O. Box 1106
New Haven, CT 06504-1106
Voice: (203) 974-8485 Fax: (203) 974-8502
E-mail: Kirby.Stafford@ct.gov

Expertise:Dr. Stafford is a medical-veterinary entomologist whose research focuses on the ecology and control of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, that transmits the agents of Lyme disease, human babesiosis, and human ehrlichiosis. He also has expertise in the biological control of fly pests of livestock and poultry pest management.

Education:B.S. in Entomology, Colorado State University 1976
M.S. in Veterinary Entomology, Kansas State University 1979
Ph.D. in Medical/Veterinary Entomology, Texas A&M University 1985

Station career:Assistant Scientist 1987-1992
Associate Scientist 1992-1997
Chief Scientist 1997-2004
Vice Director/Chief Scientist/State Entomologist 2004-2013
Chief Scientist/State Entomologist 2013-present

Past research:
Research in our laboratory and in the field focuses on the ecology and control of the black-legged tick Ixodes scapularis, the tick that transmits the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi and the causal agents of human babesiosis and human anaplasmosis. We have investigated the use of landscape methods, least-toxic pesticides, and a parasitic wasp for tick control, the impact of deer exclusion and reduction on tick abundance, and the application of small amounts of pesticide to white-tailed deer or reservoir hosts like white-footed mice and chipmunks for tick control. He has also assisted with evaluations of canine tick control products.

Current research:
Current research focuses on the use of entomopathogenic fungi and a fipronil-based rodent bait box in an integrated tick management study for the control of the blacklegged tick and examining overwinter survival of the tick under different conditions. In addition, a new project is underway to evaluate the residential efficacy of new reservoir-targeted Lyme disease oral bait vaccine. This approach is anticipated to reduce the prevalence of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi in ticks feeding on the rodent hosts (i.e., white-footed mice and chipmunks), and thereby reduce the infection rate in the tick population and the risk of Lyme disease.

Selected publications available from author, Kirby.Stafford@ct.gov, on-line or in books.

Recent Publications:

  • Stafford III, Kirby C., Goudarz Molaei, Eliza A. H. Little, Christopher D. Paddock, Sandor E. Karpathy, and Andrew Labonte. 2018. Distribution and Establishment of the Lone Star Tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.), in Connecticut. Journal of Medical Entomology. 55(6): 1561-1568.
  • Williams, Scott C., Eliza Little, Kirby C. Stafford III, Goudarz Molaei, and Megan A. Linske. 2018. Integrated control of juvenile Ixodes scapularis parasitizing white-footed mice using combinations of white-tailed deer reduction, the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, and fipronil-based rodent bait boxes in residential southwestern Connecticut. Ticks & Tickborne Diseases. 9:1310-1316.
  • Linske, M. A., S. C. Williams, J. S. Ward, and K. C. Stafford III. 2018. Indirect effects of Berberis thunbergii infestations on Peromyscus leucopus exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi. Environmental Entomology 47: 795-802. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvy079.
  • Linske, Megan A., Scott C. Williams, Kirby C. Stafford III, and Isaac M. Ortega. 2018. Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Reservoir Host Diversity and Abundance Impacts on Dilution of Borrelia burgdorferi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) in Residential and Woodland Habitats in Connecticut, USA. J. Med. Entomol. 55(3):681-690.
  • Williams, Scott C., Kirby C. Stafford III, Gourdarz Molaei, and Megan A. Linske. 2018. Integrated control of nymphal Ixodes scapularis: Effectiveness of white-tailed deer reduction, the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, and fipronil-based rodent bait boxes. Vector-Borne Zoonotic Dis. 18(1): 55-64 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2017.2146 
  • Stafford III, Kirby C., Scott C. Williams, and Goudarz Molaei. 2017. Integrated pest management in controlling ticks and tick-associated diseases. J. Integrated Pest Mgmt. 8(1): 28; 1-7.
  • Stafford III, Kirby C. and Scott C. Williams. 2017. Deer-targeted methods: A review of the use of topical acaricides for the control of ticks on white-tailed deer. J. Integrated Pest Mgmt. 8(1): 19; 1-5.
  • Soghigian, John, Gale E. Ridge, Kirby C. Stafford III, and Goudarz Molaei. 2017. The First Evidence of Nanism in Ixodes (Ixodes) scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae), found parasitizing a human host. J. Med. Entomol. 54(4):1224-1228.
  • Bharadwaj, Anuja, Laura E. Hayes ,and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2015. Effectiveness of garlic for the control of blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) populations on residential properties in western Connecticut. J. Med. Entomol. 52 : 722-725.
  • Hayes, Laura E., Jennifer A. Scott, and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2015. Influences of weather on Ixodes scapularis nymphal densities at long-term study sites in Connecticut.  Ticks Tick-Borne Dis. 6:258-266.
  • Kilpatrick, H. J., A. M. LaBonte, and Kirby C. Stafford III.  2014.  The relationship between deer density, tick abundance, and human cases of Lyme disease in a residential community.  Journal of Medical Entomology.  51(4): 777-784.
  • Stafford III, Kirby C., Scott C. Williams, Louis A. Magnarelli, Anuja Bharadwaj, Randall S. Nelson, and Starr-Hope Ertel. 2014. Expansion of zoonotic babesiosis and reported human cases, Connecticut, 2001-2010. J. Med. Entomol. 50(1): 245-252.
  • Garnett, Jennifer M., Neeta P. Connally, Kirby C. Stafford III, and Matthew L. Cartter. 2011. Evaluation of deer targeted interventions on Lyme disease incidence in Connecticut. Public Health Rpts. 126(3): 446-454.
  • Flor-Weiller, Lina B., Robert W. Behle, and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2011. Susceptibility of four tick species, Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor variabilis, Ixodes scapularis, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) to nootkatone from essential oil of grapefruit. J. Med. Entomol. 48(2): 322-326.
  • Stafford III, Kirby C. and Sandra A. Allan. 2010. Field applications of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) and Metarhizium anisopliae F52 (Hypocreales: Nectriaceae) for the control of Ixodes scapularis (Ixodidae: Ixodidae). J. Med. Entomol. 47(6): 1107-1115.
  • Bharadwaj, Anuja and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2010. Evaluation of Metarhizium anisopliae Strain F52 (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) for Control of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae). J. Med. Entomol. 47(5): 862-867.
  • Tuininga, Amy, Jessica Miller, Shannon U. Morath, Thomas J. Daniels, Richard C. Falco, Michael  Marchese, Sadia Sahabi, Dieshia Rosa, and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2009.  Isolation of Entomopathogenic Fungi from Soils and Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Ticks: Prevalence and Methods. J. Med. Entomol. 46(3): 557-565.
  • Stafford III, Kirby C. and Gale E. Ridge. 2012. Insect Identification and Inquiries in Connecticut: Evolution and Future of an Entomological Service. Amer. Entomol. 58(1): 78-89 (Summer 2012).
  • Bharadwaj, Anuja and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2012. Susceptibility of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) to Metarhizium brunneum F52 (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) using three exposure assays in the laboratory. J. Econ. Entomol. 105(1): 222-231.
  • Bharadwaj, Anuja and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2011. Potential of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) as a Bioassay Probe for Metarhizium brunneum (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) Activity Against Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 104(6): 2095-2098.
  • Behle, Robert W., Lina B. Flor-Weiler, Anuja Bharadwaj, and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2011. A formulation to encapsulate nootkatone for tick control. J. Med. Entomol. 48(6): 1120-1127.
  • Stafford III, Kirby C. and Gale E. Ridge. 2012. Insect Identification and Inquiries in Connecticut: Evolution and Future of an Entomological Service. Amer. Entomol. 58(1): 78-89 (Summer 2012)
  • Bharadwaj, Anuja and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2012. Susceptibility of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) to Metarhizium brunneum F52 (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) using three exposure assays in the laboratory. J. Econ. Entomol. 105(1): 222-231.
  • Bharadwaj, Anuja and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2011. Potential of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) as a Bioassay Probe for Metarhizium brunneum (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) Activity Against Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 104(6): 2095-2098.
  • Behle, Robert W., Lina B. Flor-Weiler, Anuja Bharadwaj, and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2011. A formulation to encapsulate nootkatone for tick control. J. Med. Entomol. 48(6): 1120-1127.
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  • Garnett, Jennifer M., Neeta P. Connally, Kirby C. Stafford III, and Matthew L. Cartter. 2011. Evaluation of deer targeted interventions on Lyme disease incidence in Connecticut. Public Health Rpts. 126(3): 446-454.
  • Flor-Weiller, Lina B., Robert W. Behle, and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2011. Susceptibility of four tick species, Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor variabilis, Ixodes scapularis, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) to nootkatone from essential oil of grapefruit. J. Med. Entomol. 48(2): 322-326.
  • Stafford III, Kirby C. and Sandra A. Allan. 2010. Field applications of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) and Metarhizium anisopliae F52 (Hypocreales: Nectriaceae) for the control of Ixodes scapularis (Ixodidae: Ixodidae). J. Med. Entomol. 47(6): 1107-1115.
  • Bharadwaj, Anuja and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2010. Evaluation of Metarhizium anisopliae Strain F52 (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) for Control of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae). J. Med. Entomol. 47(5): 862-867.
  • Tuininga, Amy, Jessica Miller, Shannon U. Morath, Thomas J. Daniels, Richard C. Falco, Michael  Marchese, Sadia Sahabi, Dieshia Rosa, and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2009.  Isolation of Entomopathogenic Fungi from Soils and Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Ticks: Prevalence and Methods. J. Med. Entomol. 46(3): 557-565.
  • Stafford III, Kirby C. and Gale E. Ridge. 2012. Insect Identification and Inquiries in Connecticut: Evolution and Future of an Entomological Service. Amer. Entomol. 58(1): 78-89 (Summer 2012).
  • Bharadwaj, Anuja and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2012. Susceptibility of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) to Metarhizium brunneum F52 (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) using three exposure assays in the laboratory. J. Econ. Entomol. 105(1): 222-231.
  • Bharadwaj, Anuja and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2011. Potential of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) as a Bioassay Probe for Metarhizium brunneum (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) Activity Against Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 104(6): 2095-2098.
  • Behle, Robert W., Lina B. Flor-Weiler, Anuja Bharadwaj, and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2011. A formulation to encapsulate nootkatone for tick control. J. Med. Entomol. 48(6): 1120-1127.
  • Stafford III, Kirby C. and Gale E. Ridge. 2012. Insect Identification and Inquiries in Connecticut: Evolution and Future of an Entomological Service. Amer. Entomol. 58(1): 78-89 (Summer 2012)
  • Bharadwaj, Anuja and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2012. Susceptibility of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) to Metarhizium brunneum F52 (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) using three exposure assays in the laboratory. J. Econ. Entomol. 105(1): 222-231.
  • Bharadwaj, Anuja and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2011. Potential of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) as a Bioassay Probe for Metarhizium brunneum (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) Activity Against Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 104(6): 2095-2098.
  • Behle, Robert W., Lina B. Flor-Weiler, Anuja Bharadwaj, and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2011. A formulation to encapsulate nootkatone for tick control. J. Med. Entomol. 48(6): 1120-1127.

Special Issue of Vector-Borne Zoonotic Diseases on Use of the 4-Poster Device for the Treatment of White-tailed Deer for Tick Control:

  • Stafford III, Kirby C., Anthony J. DeNicola, J. Mathews Pound, J. Allen Miller, and John E. George. 2009. Topical Treatment of White-tailed Deer with an Acaricide for the Control of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in a Connecticut Lyme Borreliosis Hyperendemic Community. Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. 9(4): 371-379.
  • J. Mathews Pound, J. Allen Miller, John E. George, Durland Fish, John F. Carroll, Terry L. Schulze, Thomas J. Daniels, Richard C. Falco, Kirby C. Stafford III, and Thomas N. Mather. 2009. The USDA Northeast Area-wide Tick Control Project – Summary and Conclusions. Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. 9(4): 439-448.
  • Brandon Brei, John S. Brownstein, John E. George, J. Mathews Pound, J. Allen Miller, Thomas J. Daniels, Richard C. Falco, Kirby C. Stafford III, Terry L. Schulze, Thomas N. Mather, John F. Carroll, and Durland Fish. 2009. Evaluation of the USDA Northeast Area-wide Tick Control Project by Meta-analysis. Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. 9(4): 423-430.
  • Hoen, Anne G, Lindsay Rollend, Michele A. Papero, John F. Carroll, Thomas J. Daniels, Thomas N. Mather, Terry L. Schulze, Kirby C. Stafford, and Durland Fish. 2009. Effects of tick control by acaricide self-treatment of white-tailed deer on host-seeking tick infection prevalence and entomologic risk for Ixodes scapularis-borne pathogens. Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. 9(4): 431-438.

Handbooks:

  • Stafford III, Kirby C. 2008. Fly Management Handbook: A Guide to Biology, Dispersal, and Management of the House Fly and Related Flies for Farmers, Muncipalities, and Public Health Officials. 34 pp. Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin No. 1013. (also available on-line on this web site).
  • Stafford III, Kirby C. 2007. Tick Management Handbook: An Integrated Guide for Homeowners, Pest Control Operators, and Public Health Officials for the Prevention of Tick-Associated Disease. 78 pp. Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin1010 (also available on-line on this web site).

Review Chapter in Books:

  • Ginsberg, H. and Kirby C. Stafford III. 2004. Management of Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases. Chapter 4. In Tickborne Diseases of Humans. Jesse L. Goodman, David T. Dennis, and Daniel E. Sonenshine, Eds. ASM Press. Pp. 65-86.
  • Stafford III, Kirby C. and U. Kitron. 2002. Environmental Management for Lyme Borreliosis in Lyme Borreliosis: Biology of the Agents and Epidemiology of the Disease, J. Gray, editor. CABI Publishing. Pp. 301-334.