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Guazuma ulmifolia (West Indian elm) foliage and fruit
Photograph and copyright courtesy of Daniel Atha and The New York Botanical Garden

Drosophila suzukii (spotted wing Drosophila)
Photograph courtesy of Gary J. Steck, DPI

Sitophilus rugicollis (Taiwan mangrove weevil)
Photograph courtesy of Michael C. Thomas, DPI

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.

Aceria guazumae (Cook) (eriophyid mite), a State record, was collected on Guazuma ulmifolia (bastard cedar, West Indian elm, chicharron) from a residence in Hialeah. Aceria guazumae, originally described as Eriophyes guazumae by Cook in 1906, was collected from a Guazuma sp. in Cuba. While Cook did not draw or photograph the mite, he did provide an image of the galls and leaf curling caused by this pest. Cook reported the mite was widespread in Cuba, and Dorsete reported this mite on Guazuma ulmifolia in Venezuela in 1968. This is the first report of the mite in Florida, but we do not know how long it may have been in the state. Although we have neither a specimen nor photograph of this species to compare with the sample, we know the mites in the Florida galls are Aceria, and the galls are very similar to those photographed by Cook in 1906. No other gall forming eriophyids have been reported from Guazuma. (Miami-Dade County; E2009-5798; Olga Garcia; 6 August 2009.) (Dr. W.C. ‘Cal’ Welbourn.)

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (spotted wing Drosophila), was first detected in Florida, a State record, in August 2009. A cumulative 35 specimens of this fly have been detected at 19 sites in the northern half of Hillsborough County, including sites in Tampa and near numerous strawberry production areas. This exotic pest first appeared in California in 2008 where it caused damage to strawberry, blackberry and raspberry crops; then in 2009, infestations in cherry were severe. The present concern is that numbers and distribution will increase greatly with the advent of cooler weather, threatening winter and spring strawberry and blueberry crops. See the DPI Pest alert. Oregon also has an excellent web publication on this new pest. (Dr. Gary J. Steck.)

Sitophilus rugicollis Casey (Taiwan mangrove weevil), a species of potential concern, was collected at a nursery in Apopka on Rhizophora propagules from Thailand. This is an exotic weevil, but it was described from Florida more than a century ago. The weevil usually feeds on trees and woody debris, but is known to infest seeds as well. The fact that it is breeding in mangrove propagules is cause for concern because mangroves are important constituents of Florida’s coastal ecosystem. (Orange County; E2009-6966; Lance A. Brown; 2 September 2009.) (Dr. Michael C. Thomas.)

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