Citrus Blackfly, Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby

Citrus blackfly, Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby, a serious citrus pest of Asian origin (Dietz and Zetek 1920), was discovered in the western hemisphere, in 1913 in Jamaica. It spread to Cuba in 1916, Mexico in 1935 (Smith et al. 1964) and was detected in Key West, Florida in 1934. It was eradicated from Key West in 1937 (Newell and Brown 1939). Rediscovered in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 1976 (Dowell et al. 1981), citrus blackfly was detected in Palm Beach and Dade counties in 1977; Lee, Highlands and Brevard counties in 1979; Manatee County in 1986; Polk County in 1989; Marion and Volusia counties in 1991; and Alachua County in 1992 (Nguyen, unpublished data). At present, it is widely spread over central and south Florida from Cross Creek to Key West.