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
New Haven, CT 06511
Voice: (203) 974-8485 Fax: (203) 974-8502
E-mail: Kirby.Stafford@ct.gov

Expertise:
Dr. Stafford, a medical-veterinary entomologist, is the former Chief Scientist (Head) of the Department of Entomology and State Entomologist. He retired in 2022, as an emeritus chief scientist after 35 years researching ticks, tick-borne diseases, and tick management strategies. He continues to work on several projects and manuscripts part-time. 

 

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 2013-2022

Emeritus Scientist 2022-present

 

Past Research:
His research program focused on the ecology, distribution, and control of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, with a major focus on natural, biological, and integrated tick control. His field-oriented research has covered broad aspects of tick management including chemical control, biological control, natural products, diverse host-targeted methodologies, integrated tick management and more recently, studies on the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, a newly emerging tick species in Connecticut. He served on regional and national tick-related committees including the Federally chartered Tick-Borne Disease Working Group. He also has expertise in the biological control of fly pests of livestock and poultry pest management.

 

Current Research:
As an emeritus scientist, Dr. Stafford continues work on manuscripts, serving on several tick and research committees in an advisory capacity, and giving occasional talks. 

 

Selected publications available from the author, Kirby.Stafford@ct.gov, online or in books.

 

Recent Publications:

  • Stafford K. C. III, Molaei, G., Williams, S. C., and Mertins, J. W. (2023). Introduction of the Ectoparasite Rhipicephalus pulchellus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) into Connecticut with a Human Traveler from Tanzania, and a Review of Its Importation Records into the United States. J. Med. Entomol. DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad109
  • Williams, S. C., Linske, M. A., and Stafford, K. C. III. (2023). Orally delivered fipronil-laced bait reduces juvenile blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) burdens on wild white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). Ticks & Tick-Borne Dis.14(4): 102189
  • Khalil, N., Dugas, K. D., Cantoni, J. L. Stafford, K. C. III, and Molaei, G. (2022). Anomalous morphologies in Ixodes scapularis feeding on human hosts. Ticks & Tick-Borne Dis. 13(5). DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101993
  • Stafford K. C. III, Goudarz, M., Williams, S. C., and Mertins, J. W. (2022). Rhipicephalus capensis (Acari: Ixodidae), A geographically restricted South African Tick, returning with a human traveler to the United States. Ticks & Tick-Borne Dis.13(3). DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101912
  • Linske, M. A., Williams, S. C., Stafford, K. C. III, and Li, A. (2021). Integrated tick management in Guilford, CT: Fipronil-based rodent-targeted bait box deployment configuration and Peromyscus leucopus (Rodentia: Cricetidae) abundance drive reduction in tick burdens. J. Med. Entomol. 59(2): 591-597. DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab200
  • Molaei, G., Little, E. A. H., Williams, S. C., and Stafford, K. C. III. (2021). First record of established populations of Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae), an invasive disease vector and ectoparasite, in Connecticut, USA. J. Med. Entomol. 58(6), 2508-2513. DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab117
  • Williams, S. C., Stafford, K. C. III, Linske, M. A., Brackney, D. E., LaBonte, A. M., Stuber, H. R., and Cozens, D. W. (2021). Effective control of three Amblyomma americanum stages with reduced Ehrlichia spp. prevalence in adults via permethrin treatment of white-tailed deer in coastal Connecticut, USA. Ticks & Tick-Borne Diseases, 12(3), 101675.
  • Eisen, L. and Stafford, K. C. III. (2021). Barriers to effective tick management and tick bite prevention in the United States [Forum]. J. Med. Entomol. 58(4), 1588-1600. DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa079
  • Stafford K. C. III, Ridge, G. E., Molaei, G., Zarb, C., and Bevilacqua, P. (2020). Rabbit Bot Fly Furuncular, Tracheopulmonary, and Human Bot Fly Infestations in Connecticut (Oestridae: Cuterebrinae). J. Med. Entomol. 58(1), 114-120. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjaa181.
  • Goudarz, M., Mertins, J. W., and Stafford, K. C. III. (2020). Enduring challenge of invasive ticks: Introduction of Amblyomma oblongoguttatum (Acari: Ixodidae) into the United States on a human traveler returning from Central America. J. Parasitology. 106(5), 670-674.
  • Williams, S. C., Linske, M. A., and Stafford, K. C. III. (2020). Humane Use of Cardiac Puncture for Non-terminal Phlebotomy of Wild-caught and Released Peromyscus leucopus and P. maniculatus. Animals. 10, 826. DOI: 10.3390/ani10050826.
  • Williams, S. C., Linske, M. A., Zatechka, S., Richer, L. M., Przybyszewski, C., Oosterwijk, J. G., Wikel, S. K., and Stafford, K. C. III. (2020). Administration of an orally delivered substrate targeting a mammalian zoonotic pathogen reservoir population: Novel application and biomarker analysis. Vector-Borne Zoonotic Dis. 20(8): 603-612. DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2612. 
  • Stafford K. C. III, Williams, S. C., Oosterwijk, J. G., Linske, M. A., Zatechka, S., Richer, L. M., Molaei, G., Przybyszewski, C., and Wikel, S. K. (2020).  Field Evaluation of a Novel Oral Reservoir-Targeted Vaccine Against Borrelia burgdorferi Utilizing an Inactivated Whole-Cell Bacterial Antigen Expression Vehicle. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 80(2), 257-268.
  • Linske, M. A., Williams, S. C., Stafford, K. C. III, Lubelczyk, C. B., Henderson, E. F., Welch, M., and Teel, P. D. (2020). Determining Effects of Winter Weather Conditions on Adult Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) Survival in Connecticut and Maine, USA. Insects. 11, 13;. DOI: 10.3390/insects11010013
  • Little, E. A. H., Williams, S. C., Stafford, K. C. III, Linske, M. A., and Molaei, G. (2020). Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Integrated Tick Management Approach on Multiple Pathogen Infection in Ixodes scapularis Questing Nymphs and Larvae Parasitizing White-footed Mice. Exp. Appl. Acarol. DOI:10.1007/s10493-019-00452-7
  • Goudarz, M., Little, E. A. H., Stafford, K. C. III, and Gaff, H. (2020). A seven-legged tick: Report of a morphological anomaly in Ixodes scapularis (Ixodidae: Acari) biting a human host from the northeastern United States. Ticks & Tick-Borne Dis. 11, 101304.
  • Goudarz, M., Little, E. A. H., Williams, S. C., and Stafford, K. C. III. (2019). Bracing for the Worst: Will the rise of the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, alter the northeastern tick-borne disease landscape? N. Eng. J. Med. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1911661
  • Linske, M. A., Stafford, K. C. III, Williams, S. C., Lubelczyk, C. B., Welch, M., and Henderson, E. F. (2019). Impacts of deciduous leaf litter and snow presence on nymphal Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) overwintering survival in coastal New England, USA. Insects. 10, 227. DOI: 10.3390/insects10080227
  • Little, E. A. H., Anderson, J., Eisen, L., Eisen, R. J., Stafford, K. C. III, and Molaei, G. (2019). Predicting spatiotemporal patterns of Lyme disease incidence from passively collected surveillance data for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato-infected Ixodes scapularis ticks. Ticks & Tick Borne Dis. 10(5): 970-980. DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.04.010
  • Goudarz, M., Andreadis, T. G., Anderson, J. F., and Stafford, K. C. III. (2018). An Exotic Hitchhiker: A Case Report of Importation into Connecticut from Africa of the Human Parasitizing Tick, Hyalomma truncatum (Acari: Ixodidae). J. Parasitol. 104(3), 302-305.
  • Stafford, K. C. III, Molaei, G., Little, E. A. H., Paddock, C. D., Karpathy, S. E., and Labonte, A. (2018). Distribution and Establishment of the Lone Star Tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.), in Connecticut. Journal of Medical Entomology, 55(6), 1561-1568.
  • Williams, S. C., Little, E., Stafford, K. C. III, Molaei, G., and Linske, M. A. (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., Williams, S. C., Ward, J. S., and Stafford, K. C. 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, M. A., Williams, S. C., Stafford, K. C. III, and Ortega, I. M. (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, S. C., Stafford, K. C. III, Molaei, G., and Linske, M. A. (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 K. C. III, Williams, S. C., and Molaei, G. (2017). Integrated pest management in controlling ticks and tick-associated diseases. J. Integrated Pest Mgmt., 8(1), 1-7. DOI: 10.1093/jipm/pmx018
  • Stafford K. C. III and Williams, S. C. (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), 1-5.
  • Soghigian, J., Ridge, G. E., Stafford, K. C. III, and Molaei, G. (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, A., Hayes, L. E., and Stafford, K. C. 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, L. E., Scott, J. A., and Stafford, K. C. 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., LaBonte, A. M., and Stafford, K. C. 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, K. C. III., Williams, S. C., Magnarelli, L. A., Bharadwaj, A., Nelson, R. S., and Ertel, S.-H. (2014). Expansion of zoonotic babesiosis and reported human cases, Connecticut, 2001-2010. J. Med. Entomol., 50(1), 245-252.
  • Bharadwaj, A. and Stafford, K. C. 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.
  • Stafford, K. C. III. and Ridge, G. E. (2012). Insect Identification and Inquiries in Connecticut: Evolution and Future of an Entomological Service. Amer. Entomol., 58(1), 78-89.
  • Garnett, J. M., Connally, N. P., Stafford, K. C. III, and Cartter, M. L. (2011). Evaluation of deer targeted interventions on Lyme disease incidence in Connecticut. Public Health Rpts., 126(3), 446-454. https://doi.org/10.1177/003335491112600321
  • Flor-Weiller, L. B., Behle, R. W., and Stafford, K. C. 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.
  • Behle, R. W., Flor-Weiler, L. B., Bharadwaj, A. and Stafford, K. C. III. (2011). A formulation to encapsulate nootkatone for tick control. J. Med. Entomol., 48(6), 1120-1127.
  • Bharadwaj, A. and Stafford, K. C. 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.
  • Bharadwaj, A. and Stafford, K. C. III. (2010). Evaluation of Metarhizium anisopliae Strain F52 (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) for Control of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae). J. Med. Entomol., 47(5), 862-867.
  • Stafford, K. C. III. and Allan, S. A. (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.
  • Tuininga, A., Miller, J., Morath, S. U., Daniels, T. J., Falco, R. C., Marchese, M., Sahabi, S., Rosa, D., and Stafford, K. C. III. (2009). Isolation of Entomopathogenic Fungi from Soils and Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Ticks: Prevalence and Methods. J. Med. Entomol., 46(3), 557-565.

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, K. C. III., DeNicola, A. J., Pound, J. M., Miller, J. A., and George, J. E. 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.
  • Pound, J. M, Miller, J. A., George, J. E., Fish, D., Carroll, J. F., Schulze, T. L., Daniels, T. J., Falco, R. C., Stafford, K. C. III, and Mather, T. N. 2009. The USDA Northeast Area-wide Tick Control Project – Summary and Conclusions. Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. 9(4): 439-448.
  • Brei, B., Brownstein, J. S., George, J. E., Pound, J. M., Miller, J. A., Daniels, T. J., Falco, R. C., Stafford, K. C. III, Schulze, T. L., Mather, T. N., Carroll, J. F., and Fish, D. 2009. Evaluation of the USDA Northeast Area-wide Tick Control Project by Meta-analysis. Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. 9(4): 423-430.
  • Hoen, A. G., Rollend, L., Papero, M. A., Carroll, J. F., Daniels, T. J., Mather, T. N., Schulze, T. L., Stafford, K. C., and Fish, D. 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, K. C. III. 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, K. C. III. 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 Stafford, K. C. 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, K. C. III. 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.