Journal of Plant Pathology

Currently an associate professor in the department of entomology and nematology and affiliate faculty member in the department of plant pathology at the University of Florida. My research focus is on palm lethal decline phytoplasmas and their associated vectors, molecular diagnostics of plant pathogens, planthopper taxonomy and phylogenetics and eDNA monitoring of invasive species.

• Insect Vectors of Plant Pathogens
• Vector–Pathogen–Host Interactions
• Palm Phytoplasma Diseases
• Insect Taxonomy & Systematics
• Insect Genomics and Molecular Diagnostics

1. Research & Academic

• Expertise Insect vectors of plant pathogens
• Entomology of tropical and subtropical crops
• Vector-borne diseases in palms, grapes, and specialty crops
• Insect genomics, taxonomy, diagnostics, and management
• Disease ecology and pathogen transmission mechanisms

2. Professional Experience

• Associate Professor, Entomology & Nematology, University of Florida (2022–Present)
• Assistant Professor, Entomology & Nematology, University of Florida (2016–2022)
• Postdoctoral Researcher, UC Davis (2014–2016)
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Washington State University (2013–2014)

3. Certifications

• Insect Genetic Technologies: Theory and Practice
• Insect Genetic Technologies Research Coordination Network (2017)
• 4. Professional Organizations
• Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC), since 2024
• Entomological Society of America (ESA), since 2010
• American Phytopathological Society (APS), since 2012
• International Palm Society (IPS), since 2020

5. Journal Editorial Roles

• Phytopathology - Associate Editor (2018-Present)
• Insects - Subject Editor (2019-Present)
• Psyche: A Journal of Entomology - Subject Editor (2020-Present)
• Microorganisms - Subject Editor (2021-Present)
• Frontiers in Horticulture - Subject Editor (2022-Present)
• Plant Disease - Senior Editor (2024-Present)

6. Journal Reviewer Activities

Reviewed manuscripts for more than 30 international journals, including:

Phytopathology, Plant Disease, Crop Protection, Insects, European Journal of Plant Pathology, BMC Genetics, Florida Entomologist, Plant Health Progress, Viruses, Zootaxa, and others.

1. Bloch, M., Bartlett, C.R., Wilson, S.W., Halbert, S., & Bahder, B.W. (2025). Establishment, distribution, and preliminary phenological trends of a new planthopper in the genus Patara (Hemiptera: Derbidae) in South Florida, USA. Florida Entomologist, 108(1), 20240094.
2. Palma-Cancino, P.J., Pinedo-Escatel, J.A., Blanco-Rodríguez, E., Bahder, B.W., & Ortiz-García, C.F. (2025). Two new species of the palm-feeding planthopper genus Agoo (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Derbidae) from southern Mexico. Zootaxa, 5706(2), 279–291.
3. Herrera-Blitman, N., Bloch, M., Helmick, E.E., Harper, S.J., Vallad, G.E., & Bahder, B.W. (2025). Development of a Tetraplex Reverse Transcription Digital PCR Assay for three Carlaviruses and an Ilarvirus infecting hop, and viral titer quantification in different tissue types. Plant Disease, 109(9), 1950–1958.
4. Bloch, M., Pilet, F., Helmick, E.E., Rakotomalala, M.R., & Bahder, B.W. (2025). Duplex dPCR assay for detecting palm lethal yellowing phytoplasmas in Africa and Madagascar, with species separation by HRMA targeting secA. Biology, 14(9), 1175.
5. Barrantes, E.A.B., Echavarria, M.A.Z., Bartlett, C.R., & Bahder, B.W. (2025). New planthoppers in the genus Colpoptera (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Nogodinidae) from Costa Rica. Zootaxa, 5689(1), 114–132.
6. Barrantes, E.A., Echavarria, M.A.Z., Bartlett, C.R., Mou, D.F., Helmick, E.E., & Bahder, B.W. (2025). New Anchimothon species (Hemiptera: Derbidae), with a key to the genus and updated molecular phylogeny of New World Cenchreini. Zootaxa, 5683(3), 417–432.
7. Bahder, B.W., Pilet, F., Bartlett, C.R., Ratsimbazafy, M.R., Randretsiferana, S.A., Razafindrakotomamonjy, A., Hasinjaka, R.H., Labbe, F., & Stroiński, A. (2025). New planthoppers in the genus Nesomyndus (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) from Madagascar, with a key and updated phylogeny of Oecleini. Zootaxa, 5683(1), 95–114.
8. Bahder, B.W., Bloch, M., Lane, J., Helmick, E.E., & Jimenez Madrid, A.M. (2025). Multi-locus analysis confirms identity of lethal bronzing phytoplasma in wild date palms (Phoenix sylvestris) from Georgia, USA. Plant Health Progress, 26(2), 202–205.
9. Romer, A.S., Helmick, E.E., Bahder, B.W., et al. (2025). First observation of sea stars (Luidia senegalensis) in Florida with sea star wasting disease. Southeastern Naturalist, 24(2), N23–N27.
10. Onayemi, S.O., Rincon, D.F., Bahder, B.W., Crowder, D.W., & Walsh, D.B. (2025). Optimizing insecticide timing for grape mealybug (Pseudococcus maritimus) using pheromone trap data. Journal of Economic Entomology, 118(3), 1188–1194.