DPI's Bureau of Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology (the botany section is included in this bureau) produces TRI-OLOGY six times a year, covering two months of activity in each issue. The report includes detection activities from nursery plant inspections, routine and emergency program surveys, and requests for identification of plants and pests from the public. Samples are also occasionally sent from other states or countries for identification or diagnosis.

Highlights

Following are a few of the notable entries from this volume of TRI-OLOGY. These entries are reports of interesting plants or unusual pests, some of which may be problematic. See Section Reports for complete information.

Asperisporium moringae (a leaf spot) was collected on Moringa oleifera (horseradish tree). This leaf spot pathogen, a Western Hemisphere record, was formerly known only from India, the Philippines, Myanmar and Mauritius.

Chalybion bengalense (Dahlbom) (a mud-dauber wasp), a Western Hemisphere record, was collected on a Multi-Lure fruit fly trap in the vicinity of the Opa-Locka Airport in Miami on June 18, 2008, by Juan Revuelta. Carlos Pelegrin collected additional specimens in June 2009 in the same vicinity. Specimens were sent to Dr. Wojciech Pulawski, California Academy of Sciences, who identified them as Chalybion bengalense. These wasps build nests, which they mass provision with spiders, in mud nests abandoned by other species and in cavities they find in wood and walls. C. bengalense was previously known only from the Afrotropical, Oriental and Australian zoogeographic regions. These collections are the first New World records for this non-pest species.

Corimelaena minuta Uhler (a negro bug), a US Continental record, was found on nettleleaf porterweed, Stachytarpheta urticifolia. Although this Caribbean species is a plant feeder, it is not known to cause any economic damage.

Paracarsidara sp. (a psyllid), a US Continental record, was collected in a suction trap in Miami. The genus is Neotropical, and only a single specimen was found. We will need more specimens and host information to determine if this species is likely to become a pest in Florida.

Trichrous pilipennis Chevrolat (a longhorned beetle), a US Continental record, was collected in a Lindgren multifunnel trap in a gumbo-limbo tree, Bursera simaruba, in Port Everglades. This is a Caribbean species known from Cuba and the Bahamas. Its biology is unknown, but it probably has no economic significance.

Xyleborinus andrewesi (Blandford) (a beetle), a US Continental record, was reared from custard apple, Annona squamosa. This Asian ambrosia beetle is widely distributed in tropical areas of the world, but not previously reported from the United States. It attacks a large variety of hardwoods, but its pest potential is unknown at present. Related species are serious pests.

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (the spotted wing Drosophila), a State record, was collected in a Multi-Lure trap. This exotic pest first appeared in California in 2008 and caused damage in strawberry, blackberry and raspberry crops. In 2009, infestations in California cherry were severe. Adult specimens were detected at two separate sites in rural areas of Hillsborough County. Florida strawberry and blueberry producers are at particular risk from this new pest. See the DPI Pest Alert.

Raoiella indica Hirst (red palm mite), a County record, was collected on coconut palm, Cocos nucifera. This is a significant range extension (130+ miles) for the red palm mite, from the Atlantic Coast to the Gulf Coast of the Florida peninsula. The source of these mites is unclear as they were collected from “coconuts received through the mail from Thailand” according to the owner. Specimens have been sent for DNA analysis to determine the origin of this infestation. For more information about the red palm mite, see DPI Pest Alert.

Archispirostreptus gigas (Peters) (a giant African millipede), and a restricted organism in Florida, was found on the grounds of the Naples Botanical Garden. The adult specimen, tentatively identified from photographs by Diplopoda specialist Dr. Rowland M. Shelley of the North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, was destroyed. This is a common species in the pet trade, but because of environmental concerns, a permit is required to possess it. This individual is likely to have escaped or been released from captivity.

Liriomyza langei Frick (California pea leafminer), was intercepted on lettuce, Lactuca sativa, in a regulatory incident. This is a pest species in California. Interceptions in Florida typically peak in the late summer and fall months, especially in lettuce imports. See DPI Pest Alert.

Ascochyta sp., Pyrenochaeta sp., Cochliobolus sp. and Gaeumannomyces graminis (fungal pathogens), were found on Pleioblastus fortunei, dwarf whitestripe bamboo. All these leaf spot and crown pathogens constitute new host records for this unusual dwarf bamboo.

Ascochyta sp., Aphelenchoides besseyi, Christei, 1942, a foliar nematode, was found infecting the leaves of an ornamental Verbena sp. (vervain). Foliar nematodes of the genus Aphelenchoides are common in Florida and parasitize ornamentals and horticultural crops such as strawberries. The most economically important species are A. besseyi, A. fragariae and A. ritzemabosi. Nematode infections are more likely in humid conditions that encourage nematode movement from the soil to the plant leaves, with subsequent penetration and invasion of the leaf tissues. Leaf damage and defoliation caused by nematodes on infected nursery stock can make the plants unmarketable. Cultural practices such as reduction of excess moisture on the foliage by avoiding overhead irrigation and rigorous sanitation practices may prevent infection by these damaging nematodes.

Cantua buxifolia, Juss. ex Lam. (cantuta, magic flower, sacred flower of the Incas) was submitted for identification. This beautiful plant is native to middle elevations in the Andes of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and northern Chile. It forms a shrub to 2 m tall, with erect stems and arching branches. The striking flowers, with a general aspect like that of a Fuchsia, are borne in drooping clusters from the tips of the branches. The most common color is a bright pink, almost cerise, but the corolla can vary from red to yellow; sometimes the tube and limb are different colors.

Patti J. Anderson, Ph.D., managing editor
Wayne N. Dixon, Ph.D., editor

Acknowledgements:
The editors would like to acknowledge the work of all those who contributed information and explanations by providing data, photographs or text and by carefully reading early drafts. We also thank Scott Weinberg for his skillful use of web authoring tools to produce this report.

Contact TRI-OLOGY | Past Issues | Bureau of Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry
Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact Webmaster | Best Viewed In | E-mail Privacy Policy
Download document viewers: Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) | Microsoft excel (.xls)