Bureau Chief: Dr. Trevor Smith, Trevor.Smith@freshfromflorida.com |
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Classical Biocontrol
Biological Scientist: Dr. Ru Nguyen Ru.Nguyen@freshfromflorida.com
Project Staff
Darleen George
Gloria Trujillo
Mee Ae Lee
Robert Weston
Jonathon Woodrum
With increased international travel and commerce, there is an increase in pest introductions to the state of Florida. There are not enough resources to stop every pest at the border. In cooperation with various government agencies, private companies and universities, the Methods bureau is involved in rearing and release of several beneficial parasitoids to control harmful agricultural pests. The following is a list of current projects:
Citrus Root Weevil
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The Department cooperated with U.S. Sugar Corporation, UF-IFAS, USDA and the Kerr Center in the introduction, rearing and release of Quadrasticus haitiensis, an egg parasite of Diaprepes abbreviatus. This parasite was imported into Florida in November 1998 from Puerto Rico. The Department rears and ships about 1.3 million Q. haitiensis annually for release in infested locations. Q. haitiensis has been established at several locations in Dade, Hendry and St. Lucie counties. |
Asian Cycad Scale
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Asian Cycad Scale, Aulacaspis yasumatsui, was first identified in Florida in Dade County in 1996, but probably was present for 1-2 years or more. This cycad pest has spread to at least 25 Florida counties, including areas of Tampa, Orlando and Stuart. In February 2002, the Department collected the parasitoid, Coccobius flavus, from infested cycads in Naples and released about 11,000 in about 15 counties from Orlando south. In 2005, 5,000 C. flavus from China were released in Alachua and 2,500 were shipped to and released in Guam. An additional parasitoid, Arrhenophagus sp. endemic to China is being tested in the quarantine laboratory. |
Asian Citrus Psyllid
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Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina citri, was discovered by the Division personnel at Boynton Beach, Florida on June 2, 1998. By 2001, it had spread to 28 counties. It is one of the most efficient vectors of greening disease of citrus,which was found in Florida in 2005. In cooperation with UF-IFAS, two parasites of the psyllid, Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis and Tamarixia radiata, were introduced into the Division’s Quarantine laboratory on October 21, 1998, and a permit for field release of T. radiata, was granted on July 12, 1999 and for D. aligarhensis on March 10, 2000. In 2005, approximately 24,000 T. radiata and Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis were reared and released. |
Brown Citrus Aphid
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Brown Citrus Aphid, Toxoptera citricida, was detected in Broward and Dade Counties in November 1995 and has spread throughout the citrus growing region of Florida. It causes economic losses by feeding on young citrus foliage and depleting sap. This aphid is one of the most serious pests of citrus due to its transmission of citrus tristeza virus (CTV). Lipolexis scutellaris adults from Guam were imported into the Department Quarantine laboratory on August 19, 1999 and a permit for release of this parasite was granted on June 21, 2000. In 2005, approximately 8500 L. scutellaris were released in infested counties. |
Citrus Leaf Miner
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The Department continues to rear and release the Citrus Leaf miner parasite, Ageniaspis citricola, especially in the areas that are infested with citrus canker in Miami and Immokolee. This parasite has been established in citrus growing areas in Florida and should continue to be released at outbreaks of Citrus Leaf Miner, Phyllocnistis citrella. An additional parasitoid,Citrostichus phyllocnistoides, is being reared in the quarantine laboratory for possible future release. |
Lobate Lac Scale
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Lobate lac scale, Paratachardina lobata, was first found in Broward County in 1999. This species, from India and Sri Lanka, has rapidly become a serious pest of several ornamental and native plants in south Florida. Cooperative efforts with the University of Florida, IFAS and USDA-ARS, Ft. Lauderdale, are underway to secure and introduce parasitoids from its native land. Two shipments of Kerria lacca, a commercial lac scale, collected from Thailand were sent to the division quarantine laboratory in October 2003 and March 2004. Six parasitoids and two predators emerged from the shipment in March and over 1000 parasitoids representing three species emerged from the March 2004 shipment. Among those parasitoids, Coccophagus tschirchii and Tachardiaephagus tachardiae, were listed in the literature as primary parasitoids of K. lacca and lobate lac scale. Unfortunately neither the parasitoids nor predators could be reared on lobate lac scale in the quarantine laboratory. Additional efforts are underway through several avenues to introduce additional parasitoids into the quarantine laboratory. |
