Amanda C. Hodges

Rearing the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Halyomorpha Halys (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Stal) (Heteroptera: Pen tatomidae) is a potential threat to Florida agricul ture (Halbert & Hodges 2011; Zhu et al. 2012). It is native to China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan (Hsiao 1977; Zhang 1985) and was recently in troduced into the United States. It was original ly detected in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1998, and since then has been reported in approxi mately 37 states (NAPIS 2009; Jacobs 2012). Several interceptions of the BMSB have been reported from Florida in the last several years, however it is apparently not yet established there (Leroy Whilby, Personal Communication). BMSB is a polyphagous sucking insect that feeds on a variety of fruit trees including citrus as well as vegetables, ornamental and weedy plants The BMSB has become a serious pest of fruits and vegetable crops in the mid-Atlantic region. The estimated apple losses reached

New Invasive Species of Mealybugs, Palmicultor lumpurensis and Chaetococcus bambusae (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae), on Bamboo in Florida

37 million in 2010 from BMSB for mid-Atlantic ap ple growers (Hamilton & Shearer 2003; Nielsen & Hamilton 2009; Gill et al. 2010). Feeding damage is caused by both nymphs and adults on the leaves, fruits and stems of plants. In ad dition to direct feeding damage, BMSB is also known as a vector of witchs broom phytoplasma in Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) (Lamiales: Paulowniaceae) in Asia (Gao et al. 2008; Jones & Lambdin 2009). However, in the USA it has not been reported as a vector of any pathogen (Gyeltshen et al. 2011). BMSB is able to over winter inside houses and other enclosed struc

Southern Plant Diagnostic Network Invasive Arthropod Workshop

Homeowners, theme parks, botanical gardens, and water gardens utilize bamboo as an ornamental planting in the Southeastern United States. Nurserymen and collectors acquire bamboo cuttings from various regions, including the Orient, which can be infested with exotic pest insects. Unfortunately, immature and adult pests beneath nodal regions and sheaths, and on the roots of a bamboo plant may be difficult for plant inspectors to detect. Two bamboo mealybugs Palmicultor lumpurensis (Takahashi) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and Chaetococcus bambusae (Maskell) which feed underneath leaf sheaths on the bamboo stalks recently invaded Florida. While over 30 species of mealybugs are known to occur on bamboo worldwide, few species have been reported in the United States. The most commonly reported is the noxious bamboo mealybug, Antonina pretiosa Ferris, an established invasive species that is considered a minor pest of bamboo with aesthetics being affected more so than actual plant damage (Miller et al. 2002). The adults are legless, generally located at the nodal regions of various bamboo species and fairly easy to detect due to the presence of sooty mold and long, white, tapering wax filaments emerging from nodal regions. Chaetococcus bambusae (Fig. 1) is an obscure mealybug that first was introduced in Florida during 1956 and subsequently eradicated. However, a small population was able to establish at Coral Gables, Florida in 1998. Adults of this mealybug are legless and generally found beneath the sheaths of their bamboo hosts. The infestation at Coral Gables went unnoticed until the mealybugs were exposed by removal of older leaf sheaths by grounds workers. This population did not induce significant economic damage to stands of bamboo at the infestation site. Subsequent populations were found in Miami and Orange County, Florida. In 2002, P. lumpurensis was introduced in the United States at Lake Buena Vista, Florida (Hodges 2002). Bamboo ( Bambusa oldhammi Munro) at the site of infestation displayed signs of obvious mealybug contamination with large quantities of white wax on new bamboo shoots and beneath the leaf sheaths. Subsequent surveys revealed additional populations on stands of B. olehammi and an Arundinaria sp. in Orange County and Seminole County. Level of infestation ranged from slight to severe and is probably indicative of the amount of time the mealybugs had been present within the individual stands. Unlike the noxious bamboo mealybug and C. bambusae , this mealybug does cause considerable damage to the host plant. New bamboo shoots are aborted from heavy populations of this mealybug. Severe infestations potentially could kill stands of bamboo. The biology of P. lumpurensis is poorly known. Only a brief taxonomic and host description of P. lumpurensis was documented by Takahashi (1950) and Ben Dov (1994), respectively. The adults and immatures of this mealybug are grayishpink, lack lateral wax filaments and are covered by a fine, white mealy wax (Fig. 2). This mealybug superficially resembles both the pink hibiscus mealybug ( Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green)) and the sugarcane mealybug ( Saccharicoccus sacchari Cockerell). Although the pink hibiscus mealybug does not occur on bamboo, the sugarcane mealybug occasionally has been reported on bamboo within Florida. Adult females of Palmicultor lumpurensis mounted on slides are distinguished from these species by having 14-17 pairs of cerarii in contrast to 4-6 pairs in pink hibiscus mealybug and 1 pair in sugarcane mealybug.

Southern Plant Diagnostic Network Invasive Arthropod Workshop May 7–9, 2007, Clemson, South Carolina, USA

The South American rice miner (SARM), Hydrellia wirthi Korytkowski, is a new invasive insect pest of rice in the United States. The species was first described from collections in rice fields from Peru and Colombia. It was reported for the first time in the United States from rice fields in Louisiana in 2004. The species was then reported in different rice areas of Louisiana and Texas. The SARM is a shore fly (Diptera: Ephydridae). The only shore-fly species previously known to infest commercial rice in the US was the smaller rice leafminer, Hydrellia griseola (Fallen). A field survey for the SARM was conducted in the most important rice producing areas of Louisiana and Texas. The objective of the survey was to determine the distribution of this new invasive species and to assess the severity of infestations in rice fields. Efforts were focused to inspect rice fields from one to six weeks of emergence. Commercial rice fields were scouted using a standard 15-inch sweep net. Ten sweep passes at five different locations were performed in each field. Fly adults (dipterans) were collected from nets using a mouth aspirator. Suspicious dipterans were preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol and forwarded to the USDA-ARS-Systematic Entomology Laboratory (SEL) identifier for official confirmation to species level. In addition, suspected damaged plants were taken to a laboratory and fly larvae reared until adult emergence. Fly adults and associated parasitoids emerged in the laboratory were shipped in vials containing 70% ethyl alcohol. A total of 15 different Louisiana parishes were surveyed which included 1223 hectares (3023 acres) of rice. The following parishes were surveyed in 2005: Vermilion, 260 hectares (642 acres); Acadia, 191 hectares (471 acres); Lafayette, 12 hectares (30 acres); St. Landry, 85 hectares (210 acres); Jefferson Davis, 168 hectares (414 acres), Allen, 103 hectares (254 acres); Calcasieu, 45 hectares (110 acres); St. Martin, 81 hectares (200 acres); Cameron, 81 hectares (200 acres); Evangeline, 12 hectares (30 acres); Avoyelles, 36 hectares (90 acres); Concordia, 133 hectares (328 acres); Tensas, 3 hectares (7 acres); Franklin, 2 hectares (5 acres); East Carroll, 13 hectares (32 acres). Forty five vials containing suspicious fly samples (including 5 vials with emerged parasitoids) were sent to the SEL identifier for identification to species level. The field survey revealed that the SARM is widely distributed in all the important rice producing areas of Louisiana. Higher infestations, i.e. those causing significant yield losses, were observed in coastal parishes including Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Acadia and Vermilion parishes. The insect was found at very low levels in other rice areas of southwest, central and northeastern Louisiana including Calcasieu, Allen, St. Martin, Concordia and Tensas parishes. The distribution of the species in Texas counties includes Calhoun, Colorado, Jackson, Jefferson, Matagorda, and Wharton counties.

Education and training to increase adoption of IPM for western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).

The South American rice miner (SARM), Hydrellia wirthi Korytkowski, is a new invasive insect pest of rice in the United States. The species was first described from collections in rice fields from Peru and Colombia. It was reported for the first time in the United States from rice fields in Louisiana in 2004. The species was then reported in different rice areas of Louisiana and Texas. The SARM is a shore fly (Diptera: Ephydridae). The only shore-fly species previously known to infest commercial rice in the US was the smaller rice leafminer, Hydrellia griseola (Fallen). A field survey for the SARM was conducted in the most important rice producing areas of Louisiana and Texas. The objective of the survey was to determine the distribution of this new invasive species and to assess the severity of infestations in rice fields. Efforts were focused to inspect rice fields from one to six weeks of emergence. Commercial rice fields were scouted using a standard 15-inch sweep net. Ten sweep passes at five different locations were performed in each field. Fly adults (dipterans) were collected from nets using a mouth aspirator. Suspicious dipterans were preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol and forwarded to the USDA-ARS-Systematic Entomology Laboratory (SEL) identifier for official confirmation to species level. In addition, suspected damaged plants were taken to a laboratory and fly larvae reared until adult emergence. Fly adults and associated parasitoids emerged in the laboratory were shipped in vials containing 70% ethyl alcohol. A total of 15 different Louisiana parishes were surveyed which included 1223 hectares (3023 acres) of rice. The following parishes were surveyed in 2005: Vermilion, 260 hectares (642 acres); Acadia, 191 hectares (471 acres); Lafayette, 12 hectares (30 acres); St. Landry, 85 hectares (210 acres); Jefferson Davis, 168 hectares (414 acres), Allen, 103 hectares (254 acres); Calcasieu, 45 hectares (110 acres); St. Martin, 81 hectares (200 acres); Cameron, 81 hectares (200 acres); Evangeline, 12 hectares (30 acres); Avoyelles, 36 hectares (90 acres); Concordia, 133 hectares (328 acres); Tensas, 3 hectares (7 acres); Franklin, 2 hectares (5 acres); East Carroll, 13 hectares (32 acres). Forty five vials containing suspicious fly samples (including 5 vials with emerged parasitoids) were sent to the SEL identifier for identification to species level. The field survey revealed that the SARM is widely distributed in all the important rice producing areas of Louisiana. Higher infestations, i.e. those causing significant yield losses, were observed in coastal parishes including Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Acadia and Vermilion parishes. The insect was found at very low levels in other rice areas of southwest, central and northeastern Louisiana including Calcasieu, Allen, St. Martin, Concordia and Tensas parishes. The distribution of the species in Texas counties includes Calhoun, Colorado, Jackson, Jefferson, Matagorda, and Wharton counties.

THE IMPORTANCE OF TAXONOMIC TRAINING TO THE EARLY DETECTION OF EXOTIC PESTS IN THE ORDER HEMIPTERA (AUCHENORRHYCHA, STERNORRHYCHA)

ABSTRACT The University of Florida, IFAS, IPM Florida and Southern Plant Diagnostic Network (SPDN) are cooperatively developing education and training to increase integrated pest management (IPM) of western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Management of WFT is exacerbated by difficulty in identifying thrips species and by their development of insecticide resistance. Education and training will emphasize workshops on identification of thrips; insecticide resistance management protocols; description of the effects of insecticides on natural enemies, i.e., Orius spp., and use of the “Growers IPM Guide for Florida Tomato and Pepper Production”. Thrips identification aids, such as a national field-based identification deck currently under development by the SPDN and the North Central IPM Center (NCIPMC), will be useful to Florida growers. This kind of information will be delivered through Extension programs, including workshops, in-service training, field days, and classroom education. A section of the IPM Florida website is devoted to thrips in several Florida crops (blueberry, cotton, greenhouse and nursery grown ornamentals, pepper, strawberry, tomato) and contains general information, such as (1) F. occidentalis biology and ecology, (2) management tactics incorporated into an IPM program that is crop and location specific, (3) identification of thrips and natural enemies, (4) practices that reduce damaging pest populations in space and time, (5) problems with managing F. occidentalis and other pests, (6) updated, crop and location specific information on population levels, and (7) resistance monitoring. Future needs for specific in-service or other educational programs, including advanced diagnostic training sessions, will be determined by clientele groups. Adoption of IPM for WFT will benefit growers by minimizing insecticide resistance and maximizing benefits of cultural practices and biological controls.

Abundance and diversity of beneficial and pest arthropods in buckwheat on blueberry and vegetable farms in north Florida

Abstract The introduction and establishment of non-native arthropods continually threatens United States agriculture, forests, and natural areas. In order to assist in the early detection of exotic pests, including arthropods, the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) was formed in June, 2002 by USDA CSREES. The NPDN promotes early detection of exotic pests through diagnostics, training and education, information technology, and response exercise scenarios. The NPDN is divided into five regions based on geography and crop similarities, and the University of Florida is the coordination center for the Southern Plant Diagnostic Network (SPDN). The NPDN primarily links land grant universities nationwide, but also seeks to communicate with USDA APHIS and state departments of agriculture as appropriate for regulated pest issues. Organization of intensive taxonomic workshops covering a broad range of topics was one of the objectives established for SPDN entomology in 2004-05. A 3-day workshop on Hemiptera (Auchenorrhycha, Sternorrhycha) was held in December, 2004. Eight national experts led the training and 30 participants from 13 states in the U.S. attended. Major outcomes of the workshop for participants included (1) improved diagnostic abilities, (2) an increased ability to network with specialists, and (3) improved diagnostic resources. The following papers by Miller, Wilson, Dietrich, and Hodges and Evans resulted from the workshop.

Pink Hibiscus Mealybug Identification

Summary The occurrence of beneficial and pest arthropods collected from buckwheat companion plantings on a blueberry and a vegetable farm in north Florida was characterized. Similarity of arthropod diversity at the family level was intermediate (Sørensen index = 0.59). Significantly more pollinators and parasitoids but fewer pests were collected at the blueberry than the vegetable farm. The blueberry farm, therefore, achieved the goal of using companion plants to selectively enhance the impact of natural enemies. This goal was not accomplished at the vegetable farm because relatively large numbers of tarnished plant bugs and other pests attracted to the buckwheat were not controlled by the natural enemies.