Dr. Nan-Yao Su
Distinguished Professor
Urban Entomology
Dr. Nan-Yao Su is recognized nationally and internationally as an authority on termites and is known for his innovative approach for their population management. He authored and co-authored over 260 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on termite biology and control. His studies on the population ecology of subterranean termites and slow-acting toxicants led to the development of a baiting system for population control of these cryptic pests. The laboratory screening criteria and field procedures he designed has been used worldwide for development of new bait products as well as their confirmation of field efficacy. Commercialized as the Sentricon system, it has been marketed in 18 countries since 1995 to protect over three million homes, and reduced pesticide use by > 9,000 metric tons. The system has also been used widely to protect historic monuments including the Statue of Liberty. Due to its safety features, the Sentricon system received the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award by the U.S. EPA. Dr. Su has served as a technical advisor relating to termite issues for foreign governments such as New Zealand, China, and Vietnam. In 2009, he established the Nan-Yao Su Award for Innovation and Creativity in Entomology of Entomological Society of America.
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Research
Research:
My research program aims to study the biology and control of termites, which is divided into two major areas of I) fundamental biology and II) management of termite pest species. Studies of fundamental biology is further divided into two areas of Ia) termite foraging behaviors at the individual, group, and colony level, and Ib) termite-microbe interaction and social immunity in termite colonies. Information generated from the fundamental studies are applied to second component of termite management studies that are sub-divided into two areas of IIa) development of noble tools for control of subterranean termites, and IIb) application of the noble control tools for area-wide management projects. Projects Ia, Ib and IIa are funded by the royalty income of my invention, the Sentricon system, and project IIb was funded by USDA-ARS.
I. Fundamental Biology of Termites
II. Management of Termite Pest Species
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Education
Ph.D. in Entomology. University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1982
M.Sc. in Sericultural Science. Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan, 1977
B.Sc. in Sericultural Science. Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan, 1975 - Publications
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Service and Honors
- Outstanding Alumnus of the Year, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii, 2007.
- Fellow of the Entomological Society of America, Entomological Society of America, 2007
- Distinguished Achievement Award in Urban Entomology, National Conf. Urban Entomology, 2008
- University of Florida Research Foundation Professorship, 2009 – 2012
- Educational Excellence Builds Business World Class Faculty Award, Greater Ft. Lauderdale Alliance, 2010
- Medal of Honor, Entomological Foundation, 2012
- International Fellow, University of Florida, Inst. Food & Agric. Sci., 2012
- Charter Fellow, National Academy of Inventors, 2013
- Inductee, Florida Inventors Hall of Fame, 2015