Entomology Section
Compiled by Susan E. Halbert, Ph.D.
This section provides the division's plant protection specialists and other customers with accurate identifications of arthropods. The entomology section also builds and maintains the arthropod reference and research collection (the Florida State Collection of Arthropods - with over 9 million specimens), and investigates the biology, biological control and taxonomy of arthropods.
Carthosilvanus vulgaris (Grouvelle). Specimens were collected in a blacklight trap at the Port Manatee Forestry Terminal by Customs and Border Patrol on 10 October 2008. This is a Neotropical species not previously known from the United States; the collection is a continental record. This beetle is not of economic importance. It lives under bark and feeds on fungi. (Manatee County; E2009-353; Gloria E. Callahan; 10 October 2008.) (Dr. Michael C. Thomas.)
Orius tristicolor (White) minute pirate bug found on Helianthus debilis, beach sunflower or dune sunflower in Tierra Verde, FL. This is the second catch for the tiny predator (usually no more than 3 mm long) in the landscape in Florida. It is intercepted regularly on produce from Western states. This is a county record for Pinellas. (Pinellas County; E2009-363; Olga Garcia; 18 January 2009.) (Dr. Susan E. Halbert.)
Entomology Specimen Report (Abbreviated)
Following are tables with entries for records of new hosts or new geographical areas for samples identified in the current volume's time period as well as samples of special interest. An abbreviated table, with all the new records but less detail about them, is presented in the body of this web page and another version with more complete data is downloadable as a PDF or an Excel spreadsheet.
Download full spreadsheet in PDF format
Download full spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel format
The tables are organized alphabetically by plant host, if the specimen has a plant host. Some arthropod specimens are not collected on plants and are not necessarily plant pests. In the table below, those entries have no plant information included and are organized by arthropod name.
