Matsucoccus alabamae Morrison, Alabama pine scale
From Entomology Circulars.
Matsucoccus alabamae Morrison was first described from a pine species in Alabama, in 1902 (Morrison 1939). To date, there is no published record of its occurrence outside of Alabama. Pine trees play a vital role in Florida’s ecosystems and economy (Proctor and Monroe 2016). …read more
Chionaspis pinifoliae (Fitch)
From Entomology Circulars.
Chionaspis pinifoliae (Fitch), pine needle scale, is a common pest of conifers, especially in urban environments and Christmas tree farms. This insect is considered one of the most serious pests of ornamental pines in the U.S., …read more
Phenacoccus sisymbriifolium Granara de Willink
From Entomology Circulars.
According to the FDACS-DPI database and ScaleNet (García et al., 2016), there are about 34 genera and 90 species of mealybugs in Florida. More than one third of them occur on roots and are easily overlooked during inspection. …read more
Thysanofiorinia leei (Diaspididae: Coccomorpha: Hemiptera) lychee leei scale
From Entomology Circulars.
Samples of Thysanofiornia leei Williams were submitted by Shannan Webb (FDACS-DPI) on February 28 and April 16, 2019 from Broward County (E2019-1545, E2019-1961). These were identified as a new U.S. continental record and confirmed by Dr. …read more
Phantasma Scale Field Detection and Potential Host Plants of Fiorinia phantasma Cockerell & Robinson
From Entomology Circulars.
Fiorinia phantasma Cockerell & Robinson (Diaspididae: Hemiptera), phantasma scale, is a significant pest of nursery plants, particularly of ornamental palms. The scale has been transported to new localities by movement of live nursery stock (Ahmed and Miller 2018). …read more
First Florida State Record of Chrysomphalus bifasciculatus Ferris
From Entomology Circulars.
Chrysomphalus bifasciculatus Ferris (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), false Florida red scale, was first found in California in 1938 (Ferris 1938). Since then, it is known in 12 U.S. states (Alabama, California, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia), two of which border Florida. …read more
First continental record of Melanaspis leivasi Costa Lima
From Entomology Circulars.
Melanaspis leivasi Costa Lima (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) is known from Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico and Panama (Lepage and Giannotti 1943; Deitz and Davidson 1986), and is not known to occur in the United States. …read more
West Indian Flatid Planthopper, Melormenis basalis in Florida
From Entomology Circulars.
West Indian flatid planthopper (Melormenis basalis (Walker 1851)) (Fig.1) was found in Florida for the first time in Miami-Dade County in 1997 by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry (DPI) inspector James R. …read more
Aleuroglandulus subtilis Bondar (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Florida
From Entomology Circulars.
Aroids (family Araceae), such as Colocasia spp., Alocasia spp., Philodendron spp. and Caladium spp., are popular indoor and patio plants in the United States, and in the subtropical climate of Florida they are also common elements in exterior landscapes. …read more
Poliaspoides formosana (Takahashi)
From Entomology Circulars.
The armored scale genus Poliaspoides MacGillivray contains four species, three of which are thus far recorded exclusively from various bamboo species (Poaceae) (Ulgenturk and Pellizzari 2013). The genus appears to be an Oriental and/or Australasian endemic, but P. …read more
Woolly oak aphids in Florida
From Entomology Circulars.
Woolly oak aphids are conspicuous pests on oak (Quercus spp.), 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. …read more
Tachardiella mexicana (Comstock), the Mexican Lac Scale
From Entomology Circulars.
The Mexican lac scale, Tachardiella mexicana (Comstock) (Hemiptera: Kerriidae), is native to Mexico and Texas. This species was first discovered in Florida in 1985 at a theme park in Lake Buena Vista and a second population was discovered in 1987 at a nursery in Redlon (Seminole County) that is no longer in business. …read more
The Mealybug Phenacoccus multicerarii Granara de Willink(Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Florida
From Entomology Circulars.
On 15 June 2011, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry (FDACS-DPI) inspector Lisa Hassell collected the mealybug Phenacoccus multicerarii, a new continental record, from a retail nursery in Fernandina Beach (Nassau County). …read more
Kermes Scales (Hemiptera: Kermesidae) on Oaks
From Entomology Circulars.
Kermes scales, or gall-like scales (Hemiptera: Kermesidae), occur as pests of oaks (Quercus spp.) throughout the northern hemisphere. Kermes scales feed by drawing sap from the twigs (and sometimes leaves or petioles) of their hosts, which can result in growth loss, branch dieback, leaf distortion, and the accumulation of sooty mold fungi. …read more
Boreioglycaspis melaleucae
From Entomology Circulars.
The USDA/ARS with federal and state permission introduced the psyllid Boreioglycaspsis melaleucae Moore (Fig. 1, 2) in Broward Co., Florida, in February 2002 as a potential biocontrol agent of the introduced invasive pest tree Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) …read more
The Sycamore Lace Bug, Corythucha ciliata (Say)
From Entomology Circulars.
The sycamore lace bug, Corythucha ciliata (Say) (Fig. 1) is a native North American insect that feeds on sycamore trees (Platanus spp., especially Platanus occidentalis L.). The bugs feed on the undersides of the leaves, initially causing a white stippling that can eventually progress into chlorotic or bronzed foliage and premature senescence of leaves (Fig. …read more
Spartocera batatas (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Coreidae), a New Pest of Sweet Potatoes and Several Other Plants
From Entomology Circulars.
A large colony of Spartocera batatas (Fabricius) (Fig. 1) was found in late June 1995 on an Asian cultivar of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) in Homestead, Florida, by Lynn D. Howerton, environmental specialist, Division of Plant Industry (DPI). …read more
The sugarcane lace bug, Leptodictya tabida (Herrich-Schaeffer)
From Entomology Circulars.
The sugarcane lace bug was first described by Herrich-Schaeffer as Monanthia tabida from specimens collected in Mexico in 1839 and synonymized as Leptodictya tabida (Herrich-Schaeffer) by Champion in 1900 (Heidemann 1913). It was discovered on sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum L. …read more
Avocado Lace Bug, Pseudacysta perseae
From Entomology Circulars.
The avocado lace bug, Pseudacysta perseae (Heidemann), was described in 1908 as Acysta perseae from Florida specimens. Blatchley (1926) stated that Acysta perseae Heidemann differed widely from Acysta spp. of Champion (1898). Blatchley described the genus Pseudacysta for A. …read more
Lygaeidae Of Florida
From Arthropods of Florida and Neighboring Land Areas.
Lygaeidae of Florida is the second volume by Drs. Richard M. Baranowski and James A Slater on the Hemiptera of Florida, following Coreidae of Florida, which was published in 1986 in Arthropods of Florida and Neighboring Land Areas._ …read more
Cotton Lace Bug, Corythucha Gossypii, In Florida
From Entomology Circulars.
The cotton lace bug, Corythucha gossypii (Fabricius), is a Neotropical pest that barely ranges into the southern United States. It is a common bug in southern Florida where it feeds on a wide variety of ornamentals and cultivated crops and can cause economic damage if not controlled. …read more
Coreidae Of Florida
From Arthropods of Florida and Neighboring Land Areas.
Thirty-three genera and 120 species of Hemiptera, family Coreidae, commonly called the squash bug family, are known to occur in the United States and Canada. Many of these are found only in the extreme southern or southwestern states. …read more
Jadera Scentless Plant Bugs In Florida
From Entomology Circulars.
Two species of Jadera are known from Florida, J. antica Walker and J. haematoloma (Herrich-Schaeffer), but only the latter species is common. J. haematoloma feeds on a variety of plants but prefers balloonvine, Cardiospermum spp. …read more
Stages In The Life Cycle Of A Predatory Stink Bug, Euthyrhynchus Floridanus (L.)
From Entomology Circulars.
This is the 4th in a series of circulars on the identification of eggs, nymphs, and adults of predatory stink bugs. Euthyrhynchus floridanus (Linnaeus) is a medium-sized asopine stink bug which preys on a wide variety of other arthropods including southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (Linnaeus); West Indian sugarcane rootstalk borer, Diaprepes abbreviatus (Linnaeus); velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner; Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say); alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal); and others (Mead, 1976). …read more
The Coreid Bug, Euthochtha Galeator (Fabricius) In Florida
From Entomology Circulars.
The coreid bug, Euthochtha galeator (Fabricius), is common throughout eastern United States west to the Great Plains (Slater and Baranowski, 1978). The Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA) contains numerous specimens and reports ranging from the northwestern tip of Florida to Key West. …read more
Stages In The Life Cycle Of A Predatory Stink Bug, Podisus Maculiventris (Say)
From Entomology Circulars.
The spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris (Say) is a medium-sized predatory stink bug which preys on a wide variety of other arthropods, especially larval forms of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera (Mukerji and LeRoux (1965)). …read more
Stages In The Life Cycle Of A Predatory Stink Bug, Stiretrus anchorago (Fabricius)
From Entomology Circulars.
Stiretrus anchorago (Fab.) is a medium-sized predatory stink bug which preys on both coleopterous and lepidopterous larvae, and has been taken on soybeans, peanuts, alfalfa, and corn. It is predatory on the larvae of the Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis Mulsant (Howard and Landis, 1936; Waddill and Shepard, 1974, 1975; Deitz et al., …read more
Stages In The Life Cycle Of A Predatory Stink Bug, Aulacorhynchus Grandis (Dallas)
From Entomology Circulars.
Alcaeorrhynchus grandis (Dallas) (fig. 1-2) is a very large (20 mm) predatory stink bug which occurs in several row crops and preys on other insects, especially lepidopterous larvae. The stages in the life cycle have never been illustrated and are presented here (fig. …read more
A Predatory Stink Bug, Euthyrhynchus Floridanus (Linnaeus)
From Entomology Circulars.
The predatory stink bug, Euthyrhynchus floridanus (L.), is considered a beneficial insect because most of its prey consists of plant damaging bugs, beetles, and caterpillars. This stink bug is primarily a Neotropical species that ranges into southeastern quarter of the United States. …read more
The Fringetree Lace Bug, Leptoypha Mutica (Say)
From Entomology Circulars.
In northern Florida the fringetree lace bug, Leptoypha mutica (Say), is an uncommon but locally abundant pest of fringetree, Chionanthus virginicus L. The fringetree (often called old-man’s-beard tree) is a favorite of home gardens and is stocked by some nurseries. …read more
Lantana Lace Bug, Teleonemia Scrupulosa Stal
From Entomology Circulars.
The lantana lace bug, Teleonemia scrupulosa Stal 1873, occurs naturally in Florida and Texas and southward to Brazil, Paraguay, and Chile. It often causes extensive damage to lantana, Lantana camara L. Although lantana is sometimes used as an ornamental, it is usually considered a weed. …read more
A Cactus Bug, Chelinidea Vittiger Aequoris McAtee, In Florida
From Entomology Circulars.
Insects that attack pricklypear cacti, Opuntia spp., In North America have been under investigation for a century. The primary purpose of this research has been to determine which insects have the most promise as biocontrol agents where cacti are severe weed problems. …read more
The Wheel Bug, Arilus Cristatus (Linnaeus)
From Entomology Circulars.
The wheel bug, Arilus cristatus (Linnaeus), is a moderately common, widely distributed, beneficial assassin bug that preys on manis pest insects; however, its bite usually is more severe than a bee sting, and both nymphs and adults should be avoided or handled with caution. …read more
Garden Fleahopper, Halticus Bractatus (Say)
From Entomology Circulars.
The garden fleahopper is a widely distributed plant bug that sporadically attacks a variety of forage, vegetable, and ornamental crops, at numerous times over the past 100 years it has caused heavy damage to crops in the United States and along the west coast of Mexico, but present day commercial growers, using modern insecticides, seldom have trouble with it. …read more
A Lace Bug, Corythucha Floridana Heidemann
From Entomology Circulars.
The lace bug, Corythucha floridana Heidemann, is known as a minor pest of oaks, Quercus spp. Heavy leaf feeding results in discoloration and leafdrop, but generally the injury sustained is not of economic significance. …read more
The Hawthorn Lace Bug, Corythucha Cydoniae (Fitch), In Florida
From Entomology Circulars.
The hawthorn lace bug, Corythucha cydoniae (Fitch) selectively attacks a variety of woody, rosaceous plants and can cause severe leaf damage. The principal Florida host is firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea Roemer). Most of the Florida records are from the northern part of the state; elsewhere, it has been reported North to Ontario, Canada, southwest to Mexico, and in much of the U. …read more
Key To The Species Of Bigeyed Bugs Geocoris spp., In Florida
From Entomology Circulars.
Bigeyed bugs are small insects (approximately 1/6 inch long) that occur in many parts of the world. They are generally regarded as beneficial because they prey upon numerous kinds of insect and mite pests of turf and agricultural crops such as cotton, soybean, vegetables, sugarbeet, alfalfa, and tobacco, bigeyed bugs are among those insects receiving research attention in Florida (and elsewhere) for their value as predators. …read more
Annotated Key To Leaffooted Bugs, Leptoglossus Spp., In Florida
From Entomology Circulars.
Leaffooted bugs are conspicuous insects (usually 5/8 to one inch long) that make a buzzing sound in flight, and often are numerous (sometimes in colonies) on a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds, ordinarily these bugs are considered minor economic pests, but sometimes large numbers accumulate, causing economic damage. …read more
Leaffooted Bug, Leptoglossus Phyllopus (Linnaeus)
From Entomology Circulars.
The leaffooted bug is a widespread and conspicuous minor pest of many kinds of crops, including fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and ornamentals. It has been reported as a major pest in citrus groves, where its feeding on ripening fruit causes premature color break and fruit drop. …read more
