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Eupteryx decemnotata (Ligurian leafhopper),
Photograph courtesy of Alessandra Rung, CDFA

Protopulvinaria longivalvata (a soft scale), on Schefflera arboricola (dwarf schefflera). Note parasite exit holes.
Photograph courtesy of Greg S. Hodges, DPI

Pseudococcus dendrobiorum (an orchid mealybug).
Photograph courtesy of Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida

Sinomegoura citricola (an Asian aphid). View of underside of adult. Note long black cauda, bicolored siphunculus and banded antennae.
Photograph courtesy of Manjunath L. Keremane, USDA, and Tom Shea, University of California Cooperative Extension, Riverside County

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.

Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (a white fly), a new US Continental record found in Miami on Bursera simaruba, the gumbo limbo tree. This white fly was first described in 2004 from specimens collected on coconut palms in Belize. This record represents the first occurrence in the United States of the Neotropical species, previously known in Belize, Guatemala and Mexico. The economic importance of this introduction is unknown, but the species occurs on a wide range of hosts that includes plants from six families. Among these hosts are avocado, coconut, banana, guava and bay laurel. (Miami-Dade County; E2009-1229; Olga Garcia; 11 March 2009.) (Dr. Greg S. Hodges.)

Eupteryx decemnotata Rey (Ligurian leafhopper), a new Western Hemisphere record, was found in Palatka on rosemary, the culinary herb, Rosmarinus officinalis. The is a pest of plants in the mint family. Apparently, it is established fairly widely in California. The species was intercepted in Florida on a shipment of holiday topiaries from Southern California. (Putnam County; E2008-8075; Sol F. Looker; 3 December 2008.) (Dr. Susan E. Halbert.) Please see the new DPI Pest Alert on this species for more information.

Liriomyza huidobrensis Blanchard (a pea leafminer) was intercepted on Molucella laevis, bells of Ireland. This is the first positive identification of this highly invasive in Florida. This pest has possibly been intercepted in other imported commodities coming into Florida over the years, but never with a positive identification because DNA sequence data are needed to distinguish it from another commonly intercepted pest, the California pea leafminer, Liriomyza langei. The identification was confirmed with DNA sequence data showing >99% homology with L. huidobrensis vs. ~95% homology with L. langei and much lower homology with other Liriomyza species. The specimens were reared from cut foliage. Tracing the origin of the foliage was not possible because the vendor could not be located. No plant material was submitted to confirm the host species. (Miami-Dade County; E2009-1402; Olga Garcia; 2 March 2009.) (Dr. Gary J. Steck).

Protopulvinaria longivalvata (a soft scale) was found on Schefflera arboricola, the dwarf schefflera. Because this scale does not occur naturally in the United States, it should be considered a quarantine pest. (Miami-Dade County; E2009-22512009 Steven P. Beidler; 16 April 2009.) (Dr. Greg S. Hodges). Please see link to a Powerpoint presentation on identification of this species, which requires microscopic examination for species determination.

Pseudococcus dendrobiorum Williams (an orchid mealybug), a new Western Hemisphere record, was found on a moth orchid, Phalaenopsis sp. This exotic orchid mealybug is native to Asia and has been reported from the Australasian, Oriental and Palaearctic regions. Its economic importance is not known. (Alachua County; E2009-1738; Marjorie A. Hoy, University of Florida, Entomology and Nematology Department; 27 March 2009.) (Dr. Greg S. Hodges.) Please see the new DPI Pest Alert on this species for more information.

Sinomegoura citricola (van der Goot) (an aphid), a new Western Hemisphere record, was found in Hemet, California, on lemon, Citrus limon. This aphid is Asian, including both Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. It is a minor pest of many tropical plants, including citrus, camellia, ficus, mango, avocado and others. It is not known to transmit citrus tristeza virus, but a report from Taiwan indicates that it is among the many species that transmit papaya ringspot virus (Wang 1981). This shiny chestnut brown aphid is quite distinctive among species on citrus. The antennae are banded in both nymphs and adults. The cauda of the adults is black and longer than the siphunculi. So far, the known distribution in the United States includes only southern California. (Riverside County; E2009-2077; Susan E. Halbert; 6 April 2009.) (Dr. Susan E. Halbert.)

References

• Wang, H.L. 1981. Aphid transmission of papaya ringspot virus in Taiwan. Plant Protection Bulletin 23: 229-233.

Entomology Specimen Report

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.

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.

Download full spreadsheet in PDF format

Download full spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel format