Sample/Specimen Submissions
November
| Samples Submitted |
635 |
| Specimens Identified |
15,514 |
December
| Samples Submitted |
593 |
| Specimens Identified |
25,026 |
Year to Date
| Samples Submitted |
9,370 |
| Specimens Identified |
347,585 |
Bactericera cockerelli (potato psyllid, teneral adult)
Photograph courtesy of Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, bugwood.org
Gowdeyana punctifera (a soldier fly)
Photograph courtesy of Gary J. Steck, DPI
Sobarocephala quadrimaculata (a clusiid fly)
Photograph courtesy of Gary J. Steck, DPI
Vatiga illudens (cassava lace bug)
Photograph courtesy of Michael C. Thomas, DPI
Vatiga illudens (cassava lace bug) colony and damage to Manihot esculenta
Photograph courtesy of Raymond T. Buchholz and Lane M. Smith, 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.
Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc) (potato psyllid) was intercepted on peppers from Mexico in a regulatory incident. This species is the North American potato/tomato psyllid. It has been a well-known pest for many decades, causing “psyllid yellows of potatoes,” which probably is caused by a toxin. More recently, it has been found to transmit Candidatus Liberibacter psyllaurous. This pathogen causes zebra chip disorder in potato tubers. It also causes disease in tomatoes and peppers. The psyllid has been expanding its geographic range very rapidly in the past five years or so. The pest is a seasonal migrant. In the past, populations overwintered in southern Texas and northern Mexico, expanding to the north and west each season. Now, there appears to be a permanent population in California as well. Neither the psyllid nor the pathogen is known to be established in Florida. (Suwannee County; Tyson R. Emery, Christine A. Zamora and M. Janie Echols; E-2009-8553; 10 November 2009; and Suwannee County; Amber L. Roux and Christine A. Zamora; E-2009-8888; 6 December 2009.) (Dr. Susan E. Halbert.)
Gowdeyana punctifera Malloch (a soldier fly), a State record, was reared on bark beetle-infested avocado logs. This species has not been reported previously from Florida, although one specimen collected in Gainesville in 1958 is present in the Florida State Collection of Arthropods. The species is widespread in the United States and also occurs in Mexico. These are tiny flies, only 3-4 mm long, but silvery hairs reportedly make them very visible when swarming in sunlit conditions. Larvae of this and most other known members of the soldier fly subfamily Pachygastrinae are found under bark of dead or dying trees. It has been stated that larvae are predaceous on bark beetles. A second pachygastrine species, as yet unidentified, was also reared from the same collection of avocado logs. (Miami-Dade County; Jorge E. Peña, University of Florida; E2009-8127; no day given August 2009.) (Dr. Gary J. Steck.)
Sobarocephala quadrimaculata (Soos) (a clusiid fly), a County record, was collected on a Multi-Lure trap in a citrus tree. Members of this genus are small yellow flies, and most species have distinctive patterns of black spots on the thorax and abdomen. They show up commonly in fruit fly traps. Adults may be abundant around dead and dying trees, and some have been reared from rotting logs. None are reported as plant pests. (Duval County; Isabelle S. James; E2009-8683; 18 November 2009.) (Dr. Gary J. Steck.)
Vatiga illudens (Drake) (cassava lace bug), a Continental US record, was found on Manihot esculenta (cassava), growing at a private residence. This species is one of two cassava lace bug species in the genus Vatiga that are economic pests of the crop in the Neotropics. Although leaf damage can be severe, the relationship between the bugs and root yields is unclear because of mixed infestations and other plant stress factors. Younger plants and plants under drought stress may be more susceptible to damage than older, vigorous plants. Please see the upcoming Pest Alert on the DPI website for more information and more photos. (Palm Beach County; Lane M. Smith; E-2009-8243; 3 November 2009.) (Dr. Susan E. Halbert.)
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
