The Psylloidea (Hemiptera) comprise ~4,000 species of small sap-feeding insects known as psyllids... more The Psylloidea (Hemiptera) comprise ~4,000 species of small sap-feeding insects known as psyllids or jumping plant-lice. We summarize species composition of the nonnative psyllid fauna in North America and review detection records, current distributions, host use, life histories, and geographical sources. Forty-six species are considered to be nonnative accounting for ~10% of the known North American psyllid fauna. The family Psyllidae is overrepresented in the pool of exotics (52% of exotic species) relative to global psyllid diversity, whereas Triozidae (at 11% of exotic species) is underrepresented. Records of initial detection range from the 1832 detection of a European pear psyllid to the 2016 detection of a Ficus specialist from Asia. Many species exhibit discontinuous distributions in North America presumably caused by multiple introductions or by secondary spread of established populations. Host plants of nonnative species are almost exclusively trees and shrubs. The factor ...
Citrus huanglongbing (HLB) is a destructive disease with no known cure. To identify sources of HL... more Citrus huanglongbing (HLB) is a destructive disease with no known cure. To identify sources of HLB resistance in the subfamily Aurantioideae to which citrus belongs, we conducted a six-year field trial under natural disease challenge conditions in an HLB endemic region. The study included 65 Citrus accessions and 33 accessions belonging to 20 other closely related genera. For each accession, eight seedling trees were evaluated. Based on quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of the pathogen titers and disease symptoms, eight disease-response categories were identified. We report two immune, six resistant, and 14 tolerant accessions. Resistance and tolerance observed in different accessions may be attributed to a multitude of factors, including psyllid colonization ability, absence of pathogen multiplication, transient replication of the bacterium, lack of pathogen establishment in the plant, delayed infection, or recovery from infection. Most citrus cultivars were considere...
J. E. Eger, Jr., Ames, M., Suiter, D. R., Jenkins, T. M., Rider, D. A., Halbert, S. E. (2010): Oc... more J. E. Eger, Jr., Ames, M., Suiter, D. R., Jenkins, T. M., Rider, D. A., Halbert, S. E. (2010): Occurrence of the Old World bug Megacopta cribraria (Fabricius) (Heteroptera: Plataspidae) in Georgia: a serious home invader and potential legume pest. Insecta Mundi 2010 (121): 1-11
L'aphide recemment decouvert sur la Poaceae Miscanthus aux Etats Unis (Californie, Floride) e... more L'aphide recemment decouvert sur la Poaceae Miscanthus aux Etats Unis (Californie, Floride) est decrit comme une espece nouvelle : Melanaphis sorini. Ce puceron originaire d'Asie orientale est compare a cinq especes voisines ; ses differentes formes, sauf la fondatrice, sont decrites. M. miscanthi (Takahashi) est retabli comme espece valide et redecrit a partir de specimens de Taiwan. La fondatrice, ainsi que l'aile vivipare de M. yasumatsui (Sorin) sont decrits pour la premiere fois. M. formosana (Takahashi) est retabli comme synonyme de M. sacchari (Zehntner).
1. This document is EENY-296 (originally published as DPI Entomology Circular 399), one of a seri... more 1. This document is EENY-296 (originally published as DPI Entomology Circular 399), one of a series of Featured Creatures from the Entomology and Nematology Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Published June 2003. Reviewed February 2014. This document is also available on Featured Creatures website at http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures. Please visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. Additional information on these organisms, including many color photographs, is available at the Entomology and Nematology Department website at http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/.
Woolly oak aphids are conspicuous pests on oak, because they are covered with large amounts of fl... more Woolly oak aphids are conspicuous pests on oak, because they are covered with large amounts of flocculent wax. Two genera of woolly oak aphids occur in Florida, each including one known native Florida species. One species, Stegophylla brevirostris Quednau, is common, and the other, Diphyllaphis microtrema Quednau, is rare. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Susan E. Halbert, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1011
Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae) is a vector of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter sola... more Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae) is a vector of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (Lso), the pathogen that causes potato zebra chip. Zebra chip incidence varies regionally, perhaps because of geographic differences in species of noncrop hosts available to the vector and in susceptibility of those hosts to Lso. Native and introduced species of Lycium (Solanales: Solanaceae) are important noncrop hosts of B. cockerelli in some regions of North America. Susceptibility of native Lycium species to Lso is uncertain. We investigated the use of two native species of Lycium by B. cockerelli in South Texas and tested whether they are susceptible to Lso. Bactericera cockerelli adults and nymphs were collected frequently from L. berlandieri Dunal and L. carolinianum Walter. Greenhouse assays confirmed that B. cockerelli develops on both species and showed that Lso infects L. carolinianum. Molecular gut content analysis provided evidence that B. cockerelli adults dispers...
Five species of the aphid genus Sipha Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are reported in North Amer... more Five species of the aphid genus Sipha Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are reported in North America and are reviewed herein. Of these species, three are adventive species and include: Sipha elegans del Guercio, Sipha glyceriae (Kaltenbach), and Sipha maydis Passerini. Sipha maydis was discovered in California in 2007 and now has been found in Georgia. The genus also includes two native species: Sipha agropyronensis (Gillette) and Sipha flava (Forbes). Sipha maydis can be distinguished easily from all the other species in the genus that occur in North America because it is black. All the species except S. agropyronensis have been implicated in damage to crop plants. A key to the apterae and alatae of Sipha found in North America is included
Metopolophium festucae cerealium (Stroyan) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) was found in wheat fields in th... more Metopolophium festucae cerealium (Stroyan) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) was found in wheat fields in the Pacific Northwest in 2011 and 2012. This is the first record of M. f. cerealium in North America. This subspecies can be a serious pest of cereal crops
Citrus is a high-valued fruit crop in Florida. Citrus fruit and juice production has been reporte... more Citrus is a high-valued fruit crop in Florida. Citrus fruit and juice production has been reported to have generated US$9.29 billion total economic impact. However, huanglongbing (HLB) has threatened the long-term viability of the Florida citrus industry. The history of origin and spread of HLB has been traced. The disease has become widespread in the Florida peninsula. The University of Florida and the Division of Plant Industry have advocated standard management practices for the control of HLB. These practices consist of propagating and planting disease-free nursery plants, inspecting every tree at least four times a year, eliminating symptomatic plants, and preventing build-up of psyllid populations. The growers have responded appropriately to the recommended practices. They have invested time and money to secure their operations. Scientists have observed good results with timely application of pesticide recommendations for psyllid control. Despite these efforts, Florida growers...
Morphological and cytochrome oxidase 1 (Cox1) data show that Aphis floridanae Tissot (Hemiptera: ... more Morphological and cytochrome oxidase 1 (Cox1) data show that Aphis floridanae Tissot (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is not synonymous with A. nasturtii Kaltenbach. Instead, A. floridanae matches the morphological characters of A. impatientis Thomas. Additionally, the range of cytochrome oxidase 1 (Cox1) pair-wise distance of the multiple collections of A. impatientis on Cornus spp., Impatiens spp. and Erechtites hieraciifolius (L.) Raf. ex DC. is 0–0.39%. Therefore, we conclude that A. floridanae Tissot, 1933 is a junior synonym of A. impatientis Thomas, 1878, new synonymy. In addition, A. impatientis is re-described, including first descriptions of the ovipara and alate male of that species
Phorodon cannabis Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Macrosiphini) is reported for the first time a... more Phorodon cannabis Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Macrosiphini) is reported for the first time as a pest of Cannabis L. crops in North America. The insect has been confirmed from fields of industrial hemp in Colorado and Virginia and has been found present within greenhouses in at least several American states and one Canadian province. The generic position of the aphid species is discussed and other known members of the genus are ruled out. Phorodon cannabis is placed in genus Phorodon Passerini and subgenus (Diphorodon Börner). Phorodon persifoliae Shinji is transferred to Hyalopterus Koch as a nomen dubium
Spartocera batatas (Fabricius) was found for the first time in the USA in Homestead, Florida, in ... more Spartocera batatas (Fabricius) was found for the first time in the USA in Homestead, Florida, in 1995. Records from Brazil, British Guiana, Colombia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Jamaica, Martinique, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saba, and Venezuela also are reported. The bug can be a pest of sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas
Brachyplatys subaeneus (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), is reported from Miami Beach, FL, the... more Brachyplatys subaeneus (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), is reported from Miami Beach, FL, the first report from the United States. It was noticed first on a photo-sharing site (iNaturalist) providing an example of the importance of these sites for helping to track introduced species. Information on distribution, host plants and potential spread are provided along with photos and taxonomic characters to assist with identification of this recently introduced species. ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:332C0E76-9AE9-4069-9240-F55CADC6416
The mirine plant bug Tropidosteptes forestierae, new species (Hemiptera: Miridae) is described fr... more The mirine plant bug Tropidosteptes forestierae, new species (Hemiptera: Miridae) is described from Collier County, Florida, where it was found causing serious injury to an extensive ornamental hedge of Florida swampprivet, Forestiera segregata (Jacq.) Krug and Urb. (Oleaceae). Adult male and female, fifth instar, and egg are described. Color images of the adults, nymph, egg, and injury; scanning photomicrographs of selected adult structures; and illustrations of male genitalia are provided. A key to help distinguish the 16 species of Tropidosteptes known to occur in the southeastern United States is given
The Psylloidea (Hemiptera) comprise ~4,000 species of small sap-feeding insects known as psyllids... more The Psylloidea (Hemiptera) comprise ~4,000 species of small sap-feeding insects known as psyllids or jumping plant-lice. We summarize species composition of the nonnative psyllid fauna in North America and review detection records, current distributions, host use, life histories, and geographical sources. Forty-six species are considered to be nonnative accounting for ~10% of the known North American psyllid fauna. The family Psyllidae is overrepresented in the pool of exotics (52% of exotic species) relative to global psyllid diversity, whereas Triozidae (at 11% of exotic species) is underrepresented. Records of initial detection range from the 1832 detection of a European pear psyllid to the 2016 detection of a Ficus specialist from Asia. Many species exhibit discontinuous distributions in North America presumably caused by multiple introductions or by secondary spread of established populations. Host plants of nonnative species are almost exclusively trees and shrubs. The factor ...
Citrus huanglongbing (HLB) is a destructive disease with no known cure. To identify sources of HL... more Citrus huanglongbing (HLB) is a destructive disease with no known cure. To identify sources of HLB resistance in the subfamily Aurantioideae to which citrus belongs, we conducted a six-year field trial under natural disease challenge conditions in an HLB endemic region. The study included 65 Citrus accessions and 33 accessions belonging to 20 other closely related genera. For each accession, eight seedling trees were evaluated. Based on quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of the pathogen titers and disease symptoms, eight disease-response categories were identified. We report two immune, six resistant, and 14 tolerant accessions. Resistance and tolerance observed in different accessions may be attributed to a multitude of factors, including psyllid colonization ability, absence of pathogen multiplication, transient replication of the bacterium, lack of pathogen establishment in the plant, delayed infection, or recovery from infection. Most citrus cultivars were considere...
J. E. Eger, Jr., Ames, M., Suiter, D. R., Jenkins, T. M., Rider, D. A., Halbert, S. E. (2010): Oc... more J. E. Eger, Jr., Ames, M., Suiter, D. R., Jenkins, T. M., Rider, D. A., Halbert, S. E. (2010): Occurrence of the Old World bug Megacopta cribraria (Fabricius) (Heteroptera: Plataspidae) in Georgia: a serious home invader and potential legume pest. Insecta Mundi 2010 (121): 1-11
L'aphide recemment decouvert sur la Poaceae Miscanthus aux Etats Unis (Californie, Floride) e... more L'aphide recemment decouvert sur la Poaceae Miscanthus aux Etats Unis (Californie, Floride) est decrit comme une espece nouvelle : Melanaphis sorini. Ce puceron originaire d'Asie orientale est compare a cinq especes voisines ; ses differentes formes, sauf la fondatrice, sont decrites. M. miscanthi (Takahashi) est retabli comme espece valide et redecrit a partir de specimens de Taiwan. La fondatrice, ainsi que l'aile vivipare de M. yasumatsui (Sorin) sont decrits pour la premiere fois. M. formosana (Takahashi) est retabli comme synonyme de M. sacchari (Zehntner).
1. This document is EENY-296 (originally published as DPI Entomology Circular 399), one of a seri... more 1. This document is EENY-296 (originally published as DPI Entomology Circular 399), one of a series of Featured Creatures from the Entomology and Nematology Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Published June 2003. Reviewed February 2014. This document is also available on Featured Creatures website at http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures. Please visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. Additional information on these organisms, including many color photographs, is available at the Entomology and Nematology Department website at http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/.
Woolly oak aphids are conspicuous pests on oak, because they are covered with large amounts of fl... more Woolly oak aphids are conspicuous pests on oak, because they are covered with large amounts of flocculent wax. Two genera of woolly oak aphids occur in Florida, each including one known native Florida species. One species, Stegophylla brevirostris Quednau, is common, and the other, Diphyllaphis microtrema Quednau, is rare. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Susan E. Halbert, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1011
Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae) is a vector of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter sola... more Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae) is a vector of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (Lso), the pathogen that causes potato zebra chip. Zebra chip incidence varies regionally, perhaps because of geographic differences in species of noncrop hosts available to the vector and in susceptibility of those hosts to Lso. Native and introduced species of Lycium (Solanales: Solanaceae) are important noncrop hosts of B. cockerelli in some regions of North America. Susceptibility of native Lycium species to Lso is uncertain. We investigated the use of two native species of Lycium by B. cockerelli in South Texas and tested whether they are susceptible to Lso. Bactericera cockerelli adults and nymphs were collected frequently from L. berlandieri Dunal and L. carolinianum Walter. Greenhouse assays confirmed that B. cockerelli develops on both species and showed that Lso infects L. carolinianum. Molecular gut content analysis provided evidence that B. cockerelli adults dispers...
Five species of the aphid genus Sipha Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are reported in North Amer... more Five species of the aphid genus Sipha Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are reported in North America and are reviewed herein. Of these species, three are adventive species and include: Sipha elegans del Guercio, Sipha glyceriae (Kaltenbach), and Sipha maydis Passerini. Sipha maydis was discovered in California in 2007 and now has been found in Georgia. The genus also includes two native species: Sipha agropyronensis (Gillette) and Sipha flava (Forbes). Sipha maydis can be distinguished easily from all the other species in the genus that occur in North America because it is black. All the species except S. agropyronensis have been implicated in damage to crop plants. A key to the apterae and alatae of Sipha found in North America is included
Metopolophium festucae cerealium (Stroyan) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) was found in wheat fields in th... more Metopolophium festucae cerealium (Stroyan) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) was found in wheat fields in the Pacific Northwest in 2011 and 2012. This is the first record of M. f. cerealium in North America. This subspecies can be a serious pest of cereal crops
Citrus is a high-valued fruit crop in Florida. Citrus fruit and juice production has been reporte... more Citrus is a high-valued fruit crop in Florida. Citrus fruit and juice production has been reported to have generated US$9.29 billion total economic impact. However, huanglongbing (HLB) has threatened the long-term viability of the Florida citrus industry. The history of origin and spread of HLB has been traced. The disease has become widespread in the Florida peninsula. The University of Florida and the Division of Plant Industry have advocated standard management practices for the control of HLB. These practices consist of propagating and planting disease-free nursery plants, inspecting every tree at least four times a year, eliminating symptomatic plants, and preventing build-up of psyllid populations. The growers have responded appropriately to the recommended practices. They have invested time and money to secure their operations. Scientists have observed good results with timely application of pesticide recommendations for psyllid control. Despite these efforts, Florida growers...
Morphological and cytochrome oxidase 1 (Cox1) data show that Aphis floridanae Tissot (Hemiptera: ... more Morphological and cytochrome oxidase 1 (Cox1) data show that Aphis floridanae Tissot (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is not synonymous with A. nasturtii Kaltenbach. Instead, A. floridanae matches the morphological characters of A. impatientis Thomas. Additionally, the range of cytochrome oxidase 1 (Cox1) pair-wise distance of the multiple collections of A. impatientis on Cornus spp., Impatiens spp. and Erechtites hieraciifolius (L.) Raf. ex DC. is 0–0.39%. Therefore, we conclude that A. floridanae Tissot, 1933 is a junior synonym of A. impatientis Thomas, 1878, new synonymy. In addition, A. impatientis is re-described, including first descriptions of the ovipara and alate male of that species
Phorodon cannabis Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Macrosiphini) is reported for the first time a... more Phorodon cannabis Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Macrosiphini) is reported for the first time as a pest of Cannabis L. crops in North America. The insect has been confirmed from fields of industrial hemp in Colorado and Virginia and has been found present within greenhouses in at least several American states and one Canadian province. The generic position of the aphid species is discussed and other known members of the genus are ruled out. Phorodon cannabis is placed in genus Phorodon Passerini and subgenus (Diphorodon Börner). Phorodon persifoliae Shinji is transferred to Hyalopterus Koch as a nomen dubium
Spartocera batatas (Fabricius) was found for the first time in the USA in Homestead, Florida, in ... more Spartocera batatas (Fabricius) was found for the first time in the USA in Homestead, Florida, in 1995. Records from Brazil, British Guiana, Colombia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Jamaica, Martinique, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saba, and Venezuela also are reported. The bug can be a pest of sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas
Brachyplatys subaeneus (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), is reported from Miami Beach, FL, the... more Brachyplatys subaeneus (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), is reported from Miami Beach, FL, the first report from the United States. It was noticed first on a photo-sharing site (iNaturalist) providing an example of the importance of these sites for helping to track introduced species. Information on distribution, host plants and potential spread are provided along with photos and taxonomic characters to assist with identification of this recently introduced species. ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:332C0E76-9AE9-4069-9240-F55CADC6416
The mirine plant bug Tropidosteptes forestierae, new species (Hemiptera: Miridae) is described fr... more The mirine plant bug Tropidosteptes forestierae, new species (Hemiptera: Miridae) is described from Collier County, Florida, where it was found causing serious injury to an extensive ornamental hedge of Florida swampprivet, Forestiera segregata (Jacq.) Krug and Urb. (Oleaceae). Adult male and female, fifth instar, and egg are described. Color images of the adults, nymph, egg, and injury; scanning photomicrographs of selected adult structures; and illustrations of male genitalia are provided. A key to help distinguish the 16 species of Tropidosteptes known to occur in the southeastern United States is given
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