John A. Goolsby, Ph.D., Research Entomologist
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
Knipling Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Laboratory, Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory Moore Airbase, Building 6419, Edinburg, Texas, USA 78541
Mobile: +1-956-373-3223 Office: +1-956-605-7656 Email: john.goolsby@ars.usda.gov
John Goolsby is a Senior Research Entomologist with the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) for the Cattle Fever Research Unit in Edinburg, Texas. He specializes in biological control and integrated pest management methods (IPM) of weeds, insects and ticks. His current research includes biological control of cattle fever ticks, Rhipicephalus microplus and R. annulatus, on cattle and wildlife. He also studies the field biology of nilgai antelope, which are alternate hots of cattle fever ticks. Dr. Goolsby has evaluated and released three biological control agents for invasive, water-using carrizo cane, Arundo donax, which are now established in Texas on the Rio Grande and having significant benefits to national security, cattle fever tick control and water conservation. Research has also been initiated in Africa to search for potential biological control agents of Guineagrass, which is invading South Texas rangelands and facilitates the invasion of fever ticks. He has also developed IPM methods for potato psyllid to minimize the impact of zebra chip disease in potatoes. Prior to Weslaco, he was director of the USDA-ARS, Australian Biological Control Laboratory in Brisbane, Australia. His research in Australia focused on exploration for biological control agents of the Old World climbing fern, , and Australian paperbark tree, both of which are native to Australia/Southeast Asia and invasive in the Florida Everglades. Prior to his overseas posting he was a Supervisory Entomologist with USDA-APHIS at Moore Airbase, Edinburg, TX and was the co-project leader of the silverleaf whitefly biological control program. John received his B.S. (83) and Ph.D. (94) from Texas A&M University in entomology. He has authored two books, made six germplasm releases (insects & mites) and published more than 180 scientific articles. He has received more than 14 million dollars in competitive grants since 2006, including funds from Texas A&M Agrilife Research Foundation, Dept. of Homeland Security, Frito Lay, USDA-NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative & Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council, Texas Dept. of Agriculture, Lee and Ramona Bass Foundation, the Texas Animal Health Commission, USDA-APHIS, and Las Huellas, Inc. For the Subtropical Agriculture and Environment Society he has served as Section chair, Secretary and President.