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.
Section Reports
Our Mission…getting it done
The mission of the Division of Plant Industry is to protect Florida’s native and commercially grown plants and the State’s apiary industry from harmful pests and diseases. To carry out that mission, our scientists, agricultural specialists and technicians collaborate with other government agencies and universities. Perhaps you’d be interested in some of the things we do to protect our state through one of our collaborative programs with the United States Department of Agriculture.
The Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Program (CAPS) is a combined effort by state and federal agricultural agencies to look for exotic pests of agricultural and natural plant resources. In Florida, this program has a team of pest survey specialists who conduct surveys to detect plant diseases, insects, weeds, nematodes and other invertebrate organisms. In addition, the program includes laboratory technicians and public information personnel. Surveys are conducted at high risk areas such as ports, environs of nurseries and in specific agricultural growing areas to (1) help protect our plant resources from the introduction of pests or (2) document the absence of a pest species to help facilitate entry of Florida’s agricultural commodities into the world market.
A few of these surveys include monitoring regionally established pests and pests of export significance such as emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis; pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus; and redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus. These pests threaten our forests and natural areas as well as agricultural crops and landscape ornamentals. Florida’s tourism and trade activities, extensive coastline and hospitable weather provide a wealth of opportunities for pests to enter and become established. Our collaborative efforts through CAPS multiply DPI’s ability to provide protection through detection. You’ll find information about pests found through CAPS survey work in most issues of Tri-ology.
We welcome your suggestions for improvement of TRI-OLOGY. Please feel free to contact me or Dr. Patti Anderson with your comments.
Wayne N. Dixon, Ph.D., editor
Assistant Director, DPI
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.
Oxycarenus hyalinipennis (the cotton seed bug), a new Continental USA record, was found for the first time in bolls of cotton plants at a residence on Stock Island, near Key West. A thorough survey of known hosts in the Florida Keys yielded no additional finds, and the known infested plants were destroyed. Future surveys will determine whether the cotton seed bug is established in Florida. Please see DPI Pest Alert 
for more information.
Guignardia citricarpa Kiely (citrus black spot), a North America record, was detected on Citrus sinensis (sweet orange) in the Immokalee area. This marks the first report of this fungal pathogen in North America, and constitutes a major jump in the geographical range of the pathogen. Please see the DPI Pest Alert .
Daucus carota (carrot) infected with Meloidogyne javanica. Note root galling and bifurcation induced by this nematode.
Photograph courtesy of Jeffrey W. Lotz and Janete A. Brito, DPI
Meloidogyne javanica (Treub, 1885) Chitwood, 1949 (the Javanese root-knot nematode) was found infecting the roots of Daucus carota (carrot). Root-knot nematodes are a limiting factor in carrot production in several areas of the world and have required extensive use of pesticides. Infections in carrots cause short, stubby, forked taproots and lead to severe losses in quality and marketability.
Phlox subulata (moss phlox).
Photograph courtesy of Pawel Michalik, Wikipedia [accessed 1 June 2010]
Peronospora phlogina (downy mildew), a new state record, was found in a nursery on Phlox subulata (moss phlox). This pathogen has been previously reported from cooler climates in the Central and Western United States. It has never been reported on the popular annual phlox (P. drummondii), often used as a cool season bedding plant and wildflower in Florida.
Sobarocephala dreisbachi (a clusiid fly), a new State record, was found on Eriobotrya japonica (loquat) at a residence in Miami. This species is not a plant pest.
Hylocurus binodatus (a scolytid beetle), a new State record, was found on a purple sticky board trap in Suwannee River State Park. The trap targets the emerald ash borer. This is a native United States species not previously recorded from Florida. It is not a pest.
Hylocurus rudis (a scolytid beetle), a new State record, was found on purple sticky board trap in Suwannee River State Park. This is a native United States species not previously recorded from Florida. It is not a pest.
Abutilon chittendenii (canary tree) is native to Guatemala and Honduras and is rare in cultivation. It is a showy and handsome tree growing about 3 m tall, with evergreen, broadly heart-shaped, entire-margined leaves that are 8-15 cm long and about as wide. The flowers are 5-8 cm across and resemble those of a hibiscus. The five petals are bright yellow, each with a reddish blotch at the base.
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.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry
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