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. Perhaps you’d be interested in some of the people involved in protecting our state’s plant species.

Of course, DPI staff is critical to carry out the mission of the Division. One such staff member is leaving for the world of retirement. Dr. Richard E. Weaver, who joined the Botany Section in 2003, is a serious and dedicated gardener, who will soon have time to explore new plants to add to his living collection. Dr. Richard E. Weaver While working at DPI, Dick was in charge of the Botany Section within the Bureau of Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology. This section is responsible for plant identification for the DPI, as well as for other governmental agencies and private individuals. Dick’s amazing knowledge of native plants and exotic ornamentals developed over years of experience with temperate and tropical plants. An early interest in wildflowers and other plants of his native Pennsylvania led to a career in botany, starting with a Ph.D. from Duke University in 1971 where he studied tropical genitans. At the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, his expertise in plants of the Far East and his knowledge of cultivated plants increased. Later, he co-founded We-Du Nurseries in Marion, North Carolina, a wildflower/rare plant nursery that is still in operation today. After six years of semi-retirement in Puerto Rico, he came to DPI. As part of our mission, the botany section maintains a herbarium of several thousand dried plant specimens and dried seed samples. herbarium specimen example During Dick’s tenure, our herbarium has grown by over 2,800 new specimens to almost 11,000. His extensive knowledge and interest in sharing his expertise and insights in growing plants will be missed by colleagues throughout the Department and by countless visitors who take advantage of his skills to identify the mystery plants that pop up so often in Florida yards.

We welcome your suggestions for improvement of TRI-OLOGY. Please feel free to contact me or Dr. Patti Anderson with your comments.

Dr. Wayne N. Dixon, editor
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.

Jatropha integerrima (peregrina)
Jatropha integerrima (peregrina)
Photograph courtesy of Joel Timyan, Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants

Jatropha integerrima (peregrina), unlike most species of the Euphorbiaceae family that have rather inconspicuous flowers although they may have showy bracts, this species has beautiful flowers with rather large, conspicuous and brightly colored petals. It is native to Cuba, perhaps Hispaniola as well, and has escaped sparingly throughout the Caribbean Basin. It is also spontaneous in a few spots along Florida’s east coast, from Brevard County to the Keys, but is not invasive anywhere in its introduced range.

Stromanthe sp.
Stromanthe sp.
Photograph courtesy of Top Tropicals

The burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, was found parasitizing Stromanthe sp. plants in a Central Florida nursery. Stromanthe sp. is a new host of this nematode. The direct damage caused by this endoparasitic nematode on these foliage ornamentals consists mainly of stunted growth and discoloration of the leaves; however, because of the infection, plants do not meet the requirements for nematode certification for export markets.

Bactrocera dorsalis (Oriental fruit fly)
Bactrocera dorsalis (Oriental fruit fly)
Photograph courtesy of Gary J. Steck, DPI

Bactrocera dorsalis (Oriental fruit fly) is one of the world’s most aggressive fruit fly pests. Its immature stages frequently are transported in infested fruit to new areas. Recently, two males were captured in a single methyl eugenol-baited Jackson trap at a residential site in Safety Harbor. A high-density delimitation trapping network was quickly implemented in an area of approximately 67 square miles surrounding the detection site, and it will be maintained for an estimated three life cyles. No further flies have been detected to date.

Duponchelia fovealis (European pepper moth)
Duponchelia fovealis (European pepper moth)
Photograph courtesy of Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida Department of Entomology and Nematology

Duponchelia fovealis (European pepper moth), a new state record, was first collected in Orlando, Florida, on October 13, 2010, during a CAPS survey using delta traps and the specific pheromone for the moth. This species is native to the Mediterranean region and the Canary Islands. Its larvae are polyphagous, feeding on a wide range of field crops, ornamental plants and aquatic plants. European pepper moth was reported first in North America in 2004 in California. This moth has been found in at least 10 other states, making it likely that the pest arrived in Florida via transported nursery material or other infested plants.

Stemmatomerinx acircula (a mealybug)
Stemmatomerinx acircula (a mealybug)
Photograph courtesy of Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida Department of Entomology and Nematology

Stemmatomerinx adenticulata (a mealybug) is a species native to the United States in a very distinctive genus. A related species, S. acircula, was re-discovered in Florida in 2001, after its original collection in 1975. Several species occur in the southeastern United States, but they are known mainly from Georgia. The type material for S. adenticulata was collected from Irwin County, in Georgia. The only known hosts are various species of Gramineae/Poaceae.

Tenuipalpus uvae (a false spider mite)
Tenuipalpus uvae (a false spider mite)
Photograph courtesy of Dr. W.C. ‘Cal’ Welbourn and Dr. Paul E. Skelley, DPI

Tenuipalpus uvae (a false spider mite). This mite was described originally from Mexico in 1962 and reported from Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Trinidad. Very little is known about the mite (Dr. W.C. 'Cal' Welbourn).

 

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.