http://www.fl-dpi.com/ Updates from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry Copyright 2009 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. scott.weinberg@freshfromflorida.com (Scott Weinberg) http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi/plantinsp/bw.html http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi/plantinsp/bw.html Boll Weevil Eradication Program – All Florida commercial cotton producers are required to participate. Deadline for reporting intended acres is April 30th. Cotton growers uncertain of planting plans should still submit intended acreage... Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:45:00 EST http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi/pest-alerts/pdf/paraleyrodes-bondari.pdf http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi/pest-alerts/pdf/paraleyrodes-bondari.pdf a Whitefly (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) New to Florida Attacking Ficus and Other Hosts... Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi/downy-mildew/index.html http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi/downy-mildew/index.html In late 2011, the downy mildew disease of garden impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) caused by Plasmopara obducens made its first appearance in Florida in the Palm Beach County area... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi/plantinsp/gals.html http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi/plantinsp/gals.html The Giant African land snail is one of the most damaging snails in the world because they consume at least 500 different types of plants, can cause structural damage to plaster and stucco, and can carry a parasitic nematode that can lead to meningitis in humans... Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi/enpp/ento/medfly-facts.html http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi/enpp/ento/medfly-facts.html Two Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata, were collected during routine fruit fly monitoring in Pompano Beach... Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:50:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/ento/peach-fruit-fly.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/ento/peach-fruit-fly.html Captured in a fruit fly detection trap on 10 November 2010 in the Homestead area of Miami-Dade County, this is the first time that this species has been found in Florida... Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:01:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/pdf/bagrada-bug-pest-alert.pdf http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/pdf/bagrada-bug-pest-alert.pdf An Exotic Pest of Cruciferae Established in the Western USA... Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:18:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/pdf/red-ring-nematode-pest-alert.pdf http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/pdf/red-ring-nematode-pest-alert.pdf This nematode causes severe damage to coconut (Cocos nucifera) and African oil (Elaeis guineensis) palms, and is known to infect over 17 species of the family Palmae... Tue, 16 Nov 2010 14:58:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/pathology/citrus-black-spot.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/pathology/citrus-black-spot.html Symptoms of the exotic disease citrus black spot were first detected during a Citrus Health Response Plan - Multipest Survey (CHRP-MPS) in Valencia sweet oranges in the Immokalee area on March 8, 2010 and areas were recently placed under quarantine... Mon, 18 Oct 2010 08:53:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/pdf/ash-whitefly-pest-alert.pdf http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/pdf/ash-whitefly-pest-alert.pdf A May 2010 inspection of containerized pomegranate trees (Punica granatum) revealed a moderate infestation of the ash whitefly on several trees... Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:48:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/pdf/aleurodicus-rugioperculatus-pest-alert.pdf http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/pdf/aleurodicus-rugioperculatus-pest-alert.pdf Since the initial March 11, 2009 find, there have been 40 additional collections of Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin, all within Miami-Dade County... Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:11:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/ento/medfly-facts.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/ento/medfly-facts.html During routine fruit fly monitoring, a trap containing Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata, was collected in Palm Beach County... Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/botany/weed-of-the-month/0610-sapium-sebiferum.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/botany/weed-of-the-month/0610-sapium-sebiferum.html Deliberately introduced as a crop plant and an ornamental, this tree has escaped cultivation and is aggressively invading natural areas throughout the Southeast... Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/triology/4901/triology_4901_index.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/triology/4901/triology_4901_index.html Find out the latest reports of pests and diseases detected through nursery inspections... Fri, 04 Jun 2010 8:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/botany/weed-of-the-month/0510-rhodomyrtus-tomentosa.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/botany/weed-of-the-month/0510-rhodomyrtus-tomentosa.html An ornamental shrub that has become naturalized and now forms pure stands in parts of central Florida... Thu, 13 May 2010 15:00:00 EST http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/press/2010/04292010_2.html http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/press/2010/04292010_2.html Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson, like many people, enjoys fresh Florida guacamole and wants the public to know that a plant disease called laurel wilt is threatening one of its host trees, the Florida avocado... Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/cassava-lace-bug-pest-alert.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/cassava-lace-bug-pest-alert.html A population of cassava lace bugs (Vatiga illudens Drake) was found on cassava plants at a residence in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, on 3 November 2009... Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/bean-plataspid-pest-alert.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/bean-plataspid-pest-alert.html An Exotic Legume Pest Established in Georgia... Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/ento/cotton-seed-bug.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/ento/cotton-seed-bug.html A serious pest of cotton that has become established in the Caribbean Basin... Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/botany/weed-of-the-month/0410-broussonetia-papyrifera.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/botany/weed-of-the-month/0410-broussonetia-papyrifera.html A fast-growing, low-branching, bushy tree, occasionally reaching 50 feet in Florida.... Fri, 16 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/pathology/citrus-black-spot.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/pathology/citrus-black-spot.html Symptoms of the exotic disease citrus black spot were first detected during a Citrus Health Response Plan - Multipest Survey (CHRP-MPS) in Valencia sweet oranges in the Immokalee area on March 8, 2010... Thu, 08 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/plantinsp/gals.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/plantinsp/gals.html Scientists consider the giant African land snail to be one of the most damaging snails in the world because it is known to consume at least 500 different types of plants, and can pose a serious health risk to humans... Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/nipaecoccus-viridis-pest-alert.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/nipaecoccus-viridis-pest-alert.html This New Western Hemisphere Record was collected on 13 November 2009 in the Rosemary Scrub Natural Area, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach County. The host plant was dodder (Cuscuta exaltata Engelm), a parasitic plant... Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/mikania-micrantha-pest-alert.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/mikania-micrantha-pest-alert.html This plant has not previously been reported to be established in the continental United States, although it is native in Puerto Rico (Liogier, 1997). It is a serious agricultural and environmental weed... Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/ento/drosophila_suzukii.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/ento/drosophila_suzukii.html The first Florida detections of this fly were made on 4 August 2009 in rural Hillsborough Co. where a single male fly was captured in each of two separate multi-lure traps located about 3 miles apart... Wed, 5 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/ento/xyleborinus.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/ento/xyleborinus.html The ambrosia beetle Xyleborinus andrewesi (Blandford) was recently collected in Ft. Myers, Lee County, Florida. Over 30 beetles were reared from a branch section taken from a sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.) tree... Mon, 3 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/ento/emerald_ash_borer.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/ento/emerald_ash_borer.html Emerald ash borer has killed millions of ash trees in the northern US since its arrival in 2002. This beetle is hitchhiking on firewood infesting new areas at an alarming rate. Florida ash trees are at risk, so please do not transport firewood from other states... Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/sample_sub.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/sample_sub.html To submit a plant or insect specimen to the division for identification, please fill out the specimen report form and mail the form and specimen to the address below... Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/liniepithema_humile.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/liniepithema_humile.html The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), was introduced into Louisiana in 1890 on coffee ships from Brazil. It has since spread to most of the southern United States where it has become a nuisance pest in the urban environment... Tue, 9 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/pseudococcus_dendrobiorum.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/pest_alerts/pseudococcus_dendrobiorum.html University of Florida Insect Diagnostician Lyle Buss submitted this NEW HEMISPHERE and NEW CONTINENTAL US RECORD on April 2, 2009 to the Division of Plant Industry. The initial collection of this specimen was made by a University of Florida researcher on March 27, 2009 on a Phalaenopsis orchid... Tue, 05 May 2009 08:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/ento/eupteryx_decemnotata.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/ento/eupteryx_decemnotata.html New to North America. A leafhopper was intercepted on topiary rosemary plants from California at a discount store in Palatka (Putnam County, E2008-8075) by DPI inspector Sol F. Looker on 3 December 2008... Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/caps/firewood.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/caps/firewood.html Firewood can transport insects and diseases which are harmful to Florida's forests. Help protect Florida's natural resources by following these firewood recommendations... Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/ento/leptocybe_invasa.html http://www.fl-dpi.com/enpp/ento/leptocybe_invasa.html Genus and Species New to Florida and North America. Galls were found on the stems and leaves of a Eucalyptus tree in Lauderhill (Broward County, E2008-4347-1; William A. Thiel, USDA, 2 July 2008). It was suspected that the galls were caused by the blue gum chalcid, Leptocybe invasa Fisher & LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Specimens were reared and submitted to Dr. Michael Gates (Systematic Entomology Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Washington DC) for confirmation of identification. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST