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 things we do to protect one of our state's most iconic native and commercially grown plant species, those in the palm family.

For many people, when Florida plants come to mind, palms swaying in soft breezes are among the first images that appear. Sadly, palms have come under attack by numerous pests recently. For example, the following pests are current threats to palms in Florida's landscape.

The giant palm weevils of the genus Rhynchophorus are among the worst palm pests in the world. Of particular concern is R. ferrugineus, known as the red palm weevil. It is a pest of coconut and other palms in its native range. Over the past three decades, its range has expanded into the Middle East, North Africa and Mediterranean Europe. It attacks many palm species, but is especially devastating on date palms and has been found on Sabal palmetto (our state tree). It recently became established in Curaçao in the Caribbean, placing it ever closer to Florida. In each case, it is suspected that the weevils travelled with imported palms (Dr. M.C.Thomas).

A second pest of recent concern is Texas Phoenix Palm Decline, a phytoplasma that is spread naturally to palms by sap-feeding insects, such as planthoppers. This pathogen was first detected in 2006 along the central west coast of Florida affecting Phoenix species (date palms). In 2008, it was detected on Sabal palmetto in Hillsborough and Manatee counties. Infected palms have now been found in 10 counties. This systemic disease kills palms quickly. Palms showing symptoms of more than 25 percent foliar discoloration or a dead spear leaf due to the disease should be removed immediately (Dr. S.E. Halbert).

For more information about these threats to palms, see the pest alerts:

and the USDA Resource for Pests and Diseases of Cultivated Palms

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.

Pinus elliottii (slash pine) showing decline symptoms induced by B. xylophilus infection
Pinus elliottii (slash pine) showing decline symptoms induced by B. xylophilus infection.
Photograph courtesy of James R. Meeker, USDA Forest Service

Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, (Steiner & Buhrer, 1934) Nickle, 1970, the pinewood nematode, was found infecting the xylem of Pinus elliottii (slash pine). Usually this species does not damage plants, but recently, mortality of sawtimber-sized slash pine has been observed in the Catahoula Ranger District of the Kisatchie National Forest, Grant Parish, Louisiana. Wood samples submitted by USDA Forest Service to the DPI Nematology laboratory were found to be colonized by a large population of adult males, and females and juveniles of the pine wood nematodes.

Planococcus minor (the passionvine mealybug)
Planococcus minor (the passionvine mealybug)
Photograph courtesy of Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida

Planococcus minor, the passionvine mealybug, was collected in South Florida, representing a new continental record. Planococcus minor has a host list in excess of 250 plant species, but it is no more than an occasional pest of several plant species in the Caribbean, where it is currently established.

Bactrocera zonata (peach fruit fly)
Bactrocera zonata (peach fruit fly)
Photograph courtesy of Gary J. Steck, DPI

Bactrocera zonata, the peach fruit fly, a new Florida record, was captured in a fruit fly detection trap in South Miami. Despite its name, it is polyphagous and infests numerous host fruits including peach, guava, mango, apple, date palm, papaya, tropical almond and many others. See DPI Pest Alert.

Illinigina illinoiensis, a grape leafhopper, was found for the first time in Florida on grape at a residence in Miami. This species has been reported from grape plants in other southeastern states.

Syzygium paniculatum (brush cherry)
Syzygium paniculatum (brush cherry)
Photograph courtesy of Top Tropicals

Syzygium paniculatum Gaertn. (brush cherry, eugenia). The genus Syzygium is closely related to Eugenia, and some species have been moved from one to the other, including this one. Now, the consensus is that Syzygium includes the old world species, and those native to the Americas are Eugenia. This species, often referred to by the common name eugenia, is native to Australia where it can grow to become a large tree. In Florida, it is generally smaller and somewhat shrubby in habit.

 

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.