From wriggling larvae to adult breeding pairs, thousands of generations of the same population have lived their lives inside UGA’s black fly colony, providing entomologists around the world with a reliable study population for a full range of research.
First founded in 1981 at Cornell University, the colony now housed at the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has been used for a variety of research projects through the years, including a wide range of vector transmission, environmental monitoring, vector control and larval feeding studies. The laboratory also serves as a preferred site for teaching and educational outreach visits for a wide range of students.
Led by UGA Cooperative Extension public health specialist and research professional Elmer Gray and Department of Entomology research technician Suzanne Gray, the colony provides materials to researchers around the world covering all stages of the black fly life cycle, whether alive or preserved.
