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. Florida is a gateway for foreign agricultural commodities and a common destination for international tourists, making it a highly susceptible to introductions of new pest species. Travelers often unknowingly transport pests and diseases into and around the state. In order to inform consumers about the danger of plant and apiary pests and diseases, we utilize outreach and education activities and programs. Perhaps you'd be interested in learning more about one of our outreach programs, the Save the Guac campaign (www.savetheguac.com).

This campaign is targeted to educate consumers about laurel wilt and the redbay ambrosia beetle, specifically in terms of their potential to harm Florida's avocado industry. The campaign informs consumers about the disease and beetle and their signs, symptoms and hosts. Unprocessed wood and firewood can harbor the pest and disease, so the campaign encourages consumers and travelers to purchase local firewood and burn it all on site to reduce the spread of laurel wilt. Also, the campaign urges consumers to purchase avocado and other host trees from state registered nurseries.

The Save the Guac campaign is an innovative communications outreach program focused on educating consumers about a serious disease and vector issue facing Florida agriculture in a creative, collaborative way.

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
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.

Cithaeron praedonius (a ground spider) male
Cithaeron praedonius (a ground spider) male.
Photograph courtesy of John Koerner, nature photographer

Cithaeron praedonius O.P.–Cambridge (a ground spider ), a Continental USA record. Specimens of Cithaeron praedonius (Cithaeronidae), an Old World species, first showed up in Florida in August 2010, most likely as a result of hitchhiking on containers for other organisms imported via the pet trade.

Cercosporella rubi (double blossom) on Rubus sp. (blackberry).
Cercosporella rubi (double blossom) on Rubus sp. (blackberry).
Photograph courtesy of Steven Vann, Extension Urban Plant Pathologist, University of Arkansas

Cercosporella rubi (double blossom) was found on Rubus sp. (blackberry). This disease is limited to the genus Rubus in which it causes reduced yield, poor quality fruit and (in severe cases) the death of canes.


Hemicycliophora floridensis. Nematodes in the genus Hemicycliophora, commonly called sheath nematodes, are ring nematodes that occur in Florida natural areas. One of these species, H. floridensis, was described in 1957, in a North Florida pine forest close to the Georgia border. Using the location reported in the original description, DPI nematologists collected a large population of H. floridensis for morphological and molecular analysis in order to obtain DNA sequences to be deposited in GenBank.

Lupinus villosus (lady lupine)
Lupinus villosus (lady lupine)
Photograph courtesy of Michael Jenkins, Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants

Lupinus villosus (lady lupine). This robust, more or less erect herbaceous perennial is found in sandhill and scrub habitats and is an excellent choice for planting in hot, dry, open landscapes. Its pea-like flowers make a striking show in spring, with their pale pink to lavender petals framing a dark red to almost black splotch.

Phoenicococcus marlatti (red date scale)
Phoenicococcus marlatti (red date scale)
Photograph courtesy of I.C. Stocks, DPI

Phoenicococcus marlatti (red date scale) was intercepted on Phoenix dactylifera (date palm).

 

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.