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Draft:Ronald A. Ochoa

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Ronald A. Ochoa

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Ronald A. Ochoa
In the ARS Electron and Confocal Microscopy Unit, in Beltsville, Maryland, (left to right) support scientist Charlie Murphy and entomologist Ron Ochoa observe a red velvet mite with a digital video camera microscope while lab director Gary Bauchan, plant pathologist John Hammond, and IT specialist Chris Pooley use a confocal laser scanning microscope to view tobacco leaves after gene insertion.
Born1959
San Jose, Costa Rica
Other namesRon Ochoa
CitizenshipUnited States of America
Alma materUniversity of Michigan, Brigham Young University, CATIE, Universidad de Costa Rica
Known forAcarology, Entomology, Microscopy
Children2
Scientific career
InstitutionsUSDA, CATIE

Ronald Ochoa Perez (born in 1959), professionally known as Ron Ochoa, is an American acarologist and research entomologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS/EES), based at the Systematic Entomology Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland. Known for his expertise in mite taxonomy, systematics, and microscopy, Ochoa has significantly advanced the study of mites and their impact on agriculture and ecosystems.[1][2][3]

Early Life

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Dr. Ronald Ochoa was born in San José, Costa Rica, to Rolando Ochoa and Virginia Perez. [4] From an early age, he developed a strong interest in the natural world, particularly biology and entomology. By the age of eight, he was actively collecting insects and lizards. At 12 he resolved to pursue a career in entomology, and by 24, he had developed a specific interest in the study of mites. Ochoa’s first hands-on experience in entomology came through the Museo de Insectos in San José, Costa Rica.[5]

Education

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Dr. Ochoa completed his primary and secondary schooling at the Colegio Calasanz in San Jose, Costa Rica. His academic background includes a BSc in Plant Protection (1977–1983) and a BSc in Agronomic Engineering (1983–1985), both from the University of Costa Rica, and an MSc from the Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) in Costa Rica (1987–1989).[4]

He earned his PhD in Zoology, specializing in Acarology and Entomology, from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah (1991–1996). He conducted his post-doctoral research at the University of Michigan (1996–1997) and focused on Acarology, particularly the taxonomy and biology of Astigmata and Tarsonemidae, including bee-associated mites. He joined the USDA's Systematic Entomology Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland in 1998 and continues to work there until the present day.[6][7]

Ochoa was guided by several influential mentors throughout his career. In Costa Rica, he was influenced by botanists Dr. Rafael Lucas Rodríguez, Dr. Ludwig E. Müller, and entomologists Dr. Álvaro Wille Trejos, Dr. William Ramírez, Mr. Luis Ángel Salas Fonseca and Dr. Joseph L. Saunders. In the United States, he studied with experts such as Dr. Evert E. Lindquist, Dr. Richard Baumann, Dr. Marek J. Kaliszewski, Dr. Edward W. Baker , Mr. Robert L. Smiley. During his postdoctoral work at the University of Michigan, he worked with Dr. Barry M. OConnor. He also attended Acarology Summer Programs at the Ohio State University , learning from Dr. W. Calvin Welbourn, and Dr. John B. Kethley.

Career

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Dr. Ochoa, together with Dr. Gary R. Bauchan, Dr. William Wergin, and Eric Erbe, has been instrumental in adapting low-temperature scanning electron microscopy (LT-SEM) for acarological studies [8][9]. This technique allows for high-resolution and construction of three-dimensional imaging of mites in their natural habitats, providing unprecedented insights into their morphology and behavior. His work has revealed complex details of mite morphology, such as mouthparts and sensory organs, enhancing our understanding of their interactions with host plants and animals.[10] As an adjunct scientist at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, Ochoa oversees a collection of over one million mite specimens, representing thousands of species. This collection serves as a key resource for taxonomic research and biodiversity studies. [11][12]

Throughout his career, he has authored or coauthored over 350 scientific articles, four books, six book chapters, and two catalogs.[13] He has also played a key role in developing online identification tools for agriculturally important mites, such as the "Bee Mite ID" and "Flat Mites of the World" projects.[14][15] Dr. Ochoa's research has practical applications in agriculture, particularly in understanding and managing mite associated plant diseases. For example, his studies on the links between Brevipalpus phoenicis complex and citrus leprosis virus have provided critical insights into the disease's spread and impact on citrus crops. [16]

Some of his higher research impact topics include:

  • Systematics of the family Tenuipalpide (Brevipalpus and Raoiella) and the family Tarsonemidae
  • Mites for biocontrol[17], mite plant interactions and ecological associations
  • Development and implementation of identification tools for agriculture mite pests[18]
  • Curation and digitization of the U.S. National Mite Collection at the Smithsonian Institution
  • Remote sensing tracking damage by Raoiella mites[19]

He has described over 130 new mite species and several new genera across the super orders Acariformes and Parasitiformes. His work covers tropical mite diversity and systematics from North, Central and South America, and includes the description of novel taxa from agricultural, forest, and parasitic ecosystems. His research has focused on economically and ecologically important mites and has involved collaborations with researchers worldwide. [13]

Taxonomic Groups Described

  • Mesostigmata:
    • Asca nelsoni (Ascidae)
  • Astigmata (Acaridae):
    • 8 species, including Rhizoglyphus costarricensis and seven species in the genus Horstiella.
  • Heterostigmata:
    • Acarophenacidae: 7 species in Adactylidium and Paradactylidium.
    • Podapolipidae: 3 species, including the genus Buprestapolipus.
    • Tarsonemidae: Over 60 species and 7 genera described, including Alkithoenemus, Crossacarapis, Excelsotarsonemus, and Paratarsonemella.
  • Prostigmata:
    • Cheyletidae: 3 species, including Oconnoricheylus chimaera.
    • Tenuipalpidae: 38 species and 3 genera, notably within Brevipalpus, Raoiella, and Tenuipalpus.
    • Tetranychidae: 5 species, including Tetranychus algarrobus.
    • Trombiculidae: 6 species and new genera such as Bramkeria and Batmanacarus.
Flat mite Tenuipalpus spinosaurus from Brazil. Electron and Confocal Microscopy Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service. Collection and mounting of the specimen by Elizeo Castro and Ron Ochoa; imaging and coloring by Gary Bauchan and Chris Pooley.

Teaching and Training

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He began his academic career as a teaching assistant in entomology at the University of Costa Rica (1979–1983). From the late 1980s to early 1990s, he served as an instructor and invited professor in acarology and plant diagnostic methods at the University of Costa Rica and CATIE, and taught specialized courses about plant feeding mites in Central America. [1][20]

Ochoa served as a teaching assistant in biology, zoology, and entomology courses at Brigham Young University (1991-1996) and the University of Michigan (1996–1997). From 2000 onward, he taught workshops in agricultural acarology and mite taxonomy for universities, governmental institutions, and quarantine officers in the United States, Brazil, Australia, Argentina, Panama, Saint Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, South Africa, Guatemala, and Peru. Ochoa was a regularly invited instructor at the Ohio State University’s Acarology Summer Program (2007–2018) and has continued to do so after the program moved to the University of Arkansas.[15] He also has supported as similar program at the University of Florida.

He has also mentored high school research students in Maryland and actively participated in virtual acarology seminars during the COVID-19 pandemic through the Acarological Society of Latin America (Sociedad Latinoamericana de Acarologia) , reaching hundreds of participants globally. His most recent teaching roles include workshops in Brasil, Argentina, Peru, and the U.S. (2023–2024), reflecting his continued commitment to acarological education in agriculture worldwide.

Awards and Honors

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Dr. Ochoa was president of the Acarological Society of America during 2006–2007 and 2014–2015, [21] and is an honorary member to the Latin-American Acarology Society.[22]

Several species and one genus have been named in Ochoa's honor, reflecting his contributions to acarology and entomology.

Acari (Mites):

In addition, the genus Ochoanemus (Tarsonemidae) was established in his honor by Lofego, Pitton & Rezende in 2016, with Ochoanemus dux designated as the type species.[32]

Insecta:

  • Amahuaka ochoai (Cicadellidae, Hemiptera) – Nielson & Godoy, 1995[33]
  • Scolothrips ochoa (Thripidae, Thysanoptera) – Mound, Tree & Goldarazena, 2010[34][35]

References

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  1. ^ Lovett, Brian; Garavito, Andrew (September 5, 2014). "One Giant Leap for Mitekind". entomology.iumd.edu.
  2. ^ "Ron Ochoa, Research Entomologist, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, MD". USDA REE.
  3. ^ Elliott, Scott. "Working Across Borders to Fight 'Mite'-y Big Problems".
  4. ^ a b Ochoa, Ronald (September 1989). REVIEW OF THE FAMILY TARSONEMIDAE IN COSTA RICA (ACARI: Heterostigmata) (PDF) (in Spanish and English). Turrialba, Costa Rica: CATIE (published 1989). pp. IV–VI.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  5. ^ Chung, Toan. Barrows, Edward M. (ed.). "Information Sheet, Dr. Ronald Ochoa (Acarologist, Mite Man)". Biodiversity Database of the Washington D.C., Area.
  6. ^ Ochoa, Ronald; O Connor, Barry M. (1 July 2000). "Revision of the Genus Horstiella (Acari: Acaridae): Mites Associated with Neotropical Epicharis Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 93 (4): 713–737. doi:10.1603/0013-8746(2000)093[0713:ROTGHA]2.0.CO;2.
  7. ^ "Ronald Ochoa". ResearchGate.
  8. ^ Lovett, Brian; Garavito, Andrew (5 September 2014). "One Giant Leap for Mitekind". University of Maryland Department of Entomology.
  9. ^ Wergin, William; Ochoa, Ronald; Erbe, Eric; Craemer, Charnie; Ashok, Raina K. (24 February 2000). "Use of low-temperature field emission scanning electron microscopy to examine mites". Scanning. 22 (1): 145–155. doi:10.1002/sca.4950220301. ISSN 0161-0457. PMID 10888119.
  10. ^ Levine, Richard (June 16, 2014). "Of Mites and Men: A Visit to the USDA Electron & Confocal Microscopy Unit". Entomological Society of America. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  11. ^ Donahue, Michelle (4 May 2016). "Enjoy face time with seven of earth's 3-5 million mite species". Smithsonian.
  12. ^ "Collections Contact Information". Smithsonian, National Museum of National History. July 11, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Ron Ochoa, Ronald Ochoa, R Ochoa". Google Scholar.
  14. ^ Kilmov, Pavel; OConnor, Barry; Bauchan, Gary; Redford, Amanda; Scher, J. (October 2016). "Bee Mite ID: Bee-associated Mite Genera of the World".
  15. ^ a b "SU acarology summer program". Identification Technology Program. July 10, 2017.
  16. ^ Pons, Luis (March 2004). "Targeting a Threat to US Citrus Mite-borne disease already has foothold in South America". Agricultural Research. No. March 2004. pp. 18–19. ISSN 2169-8244.
  17. ^ Gerson, Uri; Smiley, Robert; Ochoa, Ronald (23 January 2003). Mites (Acari) for Pest Control. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. ISBN 9780632056583.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  18. ^ Ochoa, Ronald; Aguilar, Hugo; Vargas, Carlos (1 January 1994). Phytophagous mites of Central America: An illustrated guide (1 ed.). Costa Rica: CATIE. ISBN 9977-57-161-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  19. ^ Rodriguez, Jose Carlos V.; Cosh, Michael H.; Hunt Jr., E. Raymond; de Moraes, Gilberto J.; Barroso, Geovanny; White, William A.; Ochoa, Ronald (20 September 2020). "Tracking Red Palm Mite Damage in the Western Hemisphere Invasion with Landsat Remote Sensing Data". Insects. 11 (9): 627. doi:10.3390/insects11090627. PMC 7564567. PMID 32932932.
  20. ^ https://repositorio.catie.ac.cr/bitstream/handle/11554/4441/Review_of_the_family_Tarsonemidae.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
  21. ^ "Governance – Acarological Society".
  22. ^ "Sociedad Latinoamericana de Acarologia". Slacarologia.
  23. ^ Naskrecki, Piotr (1998). Systematics and Host Plant Affiliations of Hummingbird Flower Mites of the Genera Tropicoseius Baker & Yunker and Rhinoseius Baker & Yunker (Acari: Mesostigmata: Ascidae). Thomas Say Monographs. pp. 47–127. ISBN 9781960154200.
  24. ^ Klimov, Pavel 1; Leikveishvil, Mariam; Dowling, Ashley; OConnor, Barry (1 March 2004). "Multivariate Analysis of Morphological Variation in Two Cryptic Species of Sancassania (Acari: Acaridae) from Costa Rica". Annals of the Entomology Society of America. 97 (2): 203. doi:10.1603/0013-8746(2004)097[0322:MAOMVI]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0013-8746 – via Oxford Academic.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ Fain, Alex; Bochkov, Andre; Corpuz-Raros, Leonila A. (2002). "A revision of the Hemicheyletia generic group (Acari: Cheyletidae)" (PDF). Bulletin de l'Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique. 72: 27–66.
  26. ^ Husband, Robert W. (1993). "A new species of Eutarsopolipus (Acari: Podapolipidae) from Costa Rican Pasimachus spp. (Coleóptera: Carabidae)" (PDF). Entomologische Mitteilungen aus dem Zoologischen Museum Hamburg. 11: 157–165.
  27. ^ GLOWSKA, Eliza; MILENSKY, CHRISTOPHER M. (19 May 2014). "New species of the genus Picobia (Cheyletoidea: Syringophilidae) parasitizing tyrannid birds (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 3821 (3): 373–383. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3821.3.6. ISSN 1175-5326. PMID 24989751.
  28. ^ https://www.mindat.org/taxon-2131033.html
  29. ^ Smith Meyer, Magdalena; Vargas, Carlos (17 March 2009). "Two new spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) from Costa Rica". International Journal of Acarology. 25 (2): 111–120. doi:10.1080/01647959908683622.
  30. ^ Lofego, Antonio C.; Demite, Peterson R.; de Moraes, Gilberto J. (21 July 2015). "A new genus and species of Tarsonemidae (Acari: Heterostigmata) from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil". Zootaxa. 3986 (5): 561–568. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3986.5.3. PMID 26250208.
  31. ^ de Castro Jacinavicius, Fernando; Bassini-Silva, Ricardo; Huang-Bastos, Matheus; Horta, Mauricio Claudio; Barros-Battesti, Darci Moraes (17 September 2020). "New Species of Chiggers (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae and Leeuwenhoekiidae) From the Conservation Unit Parque Nacional da Serra das Confusões, Brazil". Journal of Medical Entomology. 58 (1): 286–297. doi:10.1093/jme/tjaa178. PMID 32940331.
  32. ^ Lofego, Antonio; Tharafel, Pitton; Rezende, Jose Marcos (February 2016). "A new genus and new species of Tarsonemidae (Acari: Heterostigmata) from the Brazilian rainforests". Systematic and Applied Acarology. 21 (3): 307–319. doi:10.11158/saa.21.3.6. ISSN 2056-6069.
  33. ^ "Amahuaka ochoai".
  34. ^ Mound, Laurence A.; Tree, Desley J.; Goldarazena, Arturo (22 September 2010). "A new species of predatory Scolothrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) feeding on Raoiella mites (Tenuipalpidae) in Australia". Zootaxa. 2620 (1): 63–68. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2620.1.5.
  35. ^ "Scolothrips ochoa". Thrips of Australia.
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