DACS-P-00124 Volume 48, Number 4, July - August 2009 Printer-Friendly PDF Version DPI's Bureau of Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology (the botany section is included in this bureau) produces TRI-OLOGY six times a year, covering two months of activity in each issue. The report includes detection activities from nursery plant inspections, routine and emergency program surveys, and requests for identification of plants and pests from the public. Samples are also occasionally sent from other states or countries for identification or diagnosis. Highlights Following are a few of the notable entries from this volume of TRI-OLOGY. These entries Section Reports are reports of interesting plants or unusual pests, some of which may be problematic. See Section Reports for complete information. Botany Asperisporium moringae (a leaf spot) was Entomology collected on Moringa oleifera (horseradish tree). This Nematology leaf spot pathogen, a Western Hemisphere record, was formerly known only from India, the Philippines, Plant Pathology Myanmar and Mauritius. Chalybion bengalense (Dahlbom) (a mud- Our Mission … getting it dauber wasp), a Western Hemisphere record, done was collected on a Multi-Lure fruit fly trap in the As a regulatory agency of the vicinity of the Opa-Locka Airport in Miami on June Florida Department of 18, 2008, by Juan Revuelta. Carlos Pelegrin collected Moringa oleifera (horseradish tree) Agriculture & Consumer additional specimens in June 2009 in the same Photograph courtesy of Services, the Division of Plant TopTropicals vicinity. Specimens were sent to Dr. Wojciech Industry works to detect, Pulawski, California Academy of Sciences, who intercept and control plant and identified them as Chalybion bengalense. These wasps build nests, which they honey bee pests that threaten mass provision with spiders, in mud nests abandoned by other species and in Florida's native plant and cavities they find in wood and walls. C. bengalense was previously known only agricultural resources. from the Afrotropical, Oriental and Australian zoogeographic regions. These collections are the first New World records for this non-pest species. Perhaps you’d like to know more about our duties and the Corimelaena minuta Uhler (a negro bug), a legal authority of US Continental record, was found on nettleleaf FDACS/Division of Plant porterweed, Stachytarpheta urticifolia. Although Industry. Florida Statute this Caribbean species is a plant feeder, it is not 570.32 defines the powers and known to cause any economic damage. duties of the Division of Plant Industry. They include: Paracarsidara sp. (a psyllid), a US 1. Insects, mites, mollusks, Corimelaena minuta Uhler Continental plant diseases and (a negro bug) record, was Photograph courtesy of Susan nematodes E. Halbert, DPI collected in a We identify them on suction trap in Paracarsidara sp. (a psyllid) request, determine their Miami. The genus is Photograph courtesy of Susan E. presence in agricultural and Halbert, DPI Neotropical, and only a single specimen was horticultural crops, and found. We will need more specimens and host investigate methods of information to determine if this species is likely to become a pest in Florida. controlling plant pests and diseases from these groups. Trichrous pilipennis Chevrolat (a longhorned beetle), a US Continental record, was collected in a 2. Honeybees Lindgren multifunnel trap in a gumbo-limbo tree, We enforce the laws of the Bursera simaruba, in Port Everglades. This is a state and the rules of the Caribbean species known from Cuba and the Bahamas. department to control and Its biology is unknown, but it probably has no eradicate honeybee pests economic significance. and unwanted races of honeybees. Xyleborinus andrewesi 3. Plant pests (Blandford) (a beetle), We inspect plants or plant a US Continental Trichrous pilipennis products grown or held in record, was reared from Chevrolat (a longhorned beetle) any area of the state, and custard apple, Annona Photograph courtesy of enforce the laws of the squamosa. This Asian Michael C. Thomas, DPI state and the rules of the ambrosia beetle is widely department pertaining to distributed in tropical areas of the world, but not Xyleborinus andrewesi plants and plant products. (Blandford) (a beetle) previously reported from the United States. It Photograph courtesy of attacks a large variety of hardwoods, but its pest 4. Pest plants and noxious Michael C. Thomas, DPI potential is unknown at present. Related species weeds are serious pests. We carry out eradication and control programs and Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (the spotted associated plant surveys. wing Drosophila), a State record, was collected in 5. Citrus a Multi-Lure trap. This exotic pest first appeared in We regulate and test newly California in 2008 and caused damage in strawberry, introduced citrus trees for blackberry and raspberry crops. In 2009, infestations diseases and for desirable in California cherry were severe. Adult specimens horticultural characteristics; were detected at two separate sites in rural areas of maintain a source of Hillsborough County. Florida strawberry and Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (the spotted budwood of the superior, blueberry producers are at particular risk from this wing Drosophila) tested varieties for new pest. See the DPI Pest Alert. Photograph courtesy of Gary J. Steck, DPI distribution to the citrus Raoiella indica Hirst industry; and verify (red palm mite), a County record, was collected propagations of citrus on coconut palm, Cocos nucifera. This is a varieties and special significant range extension (130+ miles) for the rootstocks for growers red palm mite, from the Atlantic Coast to the Gulf when requested Coast of the Florida peninsula. The source of these 6. New ideas mites is unclear as they were collected from We develop, investigate “coconuts received through the mail from Thailand” and implement improved according to the owner. Specimens have been sent techniques and methods to for DNA analysis to determine the origin of this meet our objectives in the infestation. For more information about the red areas described above. Raoiella indica Hirst (red palm mite, see DPI Pest Alert. palm mite) Next time … more about the Photograph courtesy of Archispirostreptus Cooperative Agricultural Pest kinds of people who help carry Survey Program (CAPS) gigas (Peters) (a out our mission. giant African millipede), and a We welcome your comments restricted organism in Florida, was found on the and suggestions for grounds of the Naples Botanical Garden. The adult improvement on the new specimen, tentatively identified from photographs Archispirostreptus gigas format of TRI-OLOGY. Please by Diplopoda specialist Dr. Rowland M. Shelley of (Peters) (a giant African feel free to contact me at the North Carolina State Museum of Natural millipede) Photograph courtesy of Julieta [email protected] or Dr. History, was destroyed. This is a common species Brambila, USDA Patti Anderson at in the pet trade, but because of environmental [email protected] and concerns, a permit is required to possess it. This let us know. individual is likely to have escaped or been released from captivity. Wayne N. Dixon, Ph.D., editor Liriomyza langei Frick (California pea leafminer), was intercepted on Assistant Director, DPI lettuce, Lactuca sativa, in a regulatory incident. This is a pest species in California. Interceptions in Florida typically peak in the late summer and fall months, especially in lettuce imports. See DPI Pest Alert. Ascochyta sp., Pyrenochaeta sp., Cochliobolus sp. and Gaeumannomyces graminis (fungal pathogens), were found on Pleioblastus fortunei, dwarf whitestripe bamboo. All these leaf spot and crown pathogens constitute new host records for this unusual dwarf bamboo. Ascochyta sp., Aphelenchoides besseyi, Christei, 1942, a foliar nematode, was found infecting the leaves of an ornamental Verbena sp. (vervain). Foliar nematodes of the genus Aphelenchoides are common in Florida and parasitize ornamentals and horticultural crops such as strawberries. The most economically important species are A. besseyi, A. fragariae and A. Verbena sp.(vervain) leaf ritzemabosi. Nematode infections are more likely in infected by humid conditions that encourage nematode Aphelenchoides besseyi (a foliar nematode) Note movement from the soil to the plant leaves, with the brown necrotic leaf area subsequent penetration and invasion of the leaf induced by the nematode feeding and migration tissues. Leaf damage and defoliation caused by adjacent to healthy green nematodes on infected nursery stock can make the tissue. Photograph courtesy of plants unmarketable. Cultural practices such as Jason D. Stanley, DPI reduction of excess moisture on the foliage by avoiding overhead irrigation and rigorous sanitation practices may prevent infection by these damaging nematodes. Cantua buxifolia, Juss. ex Lam. (cantuta, magic flower, sacred flower of the Incas) was submitted for identification. This beautiful plant is native to middle elevations in the Andes of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and northern Chile. It forms a shrub to 2 m tall, with erect stems and arching branches. The striking flowers, with a general aspect like that of a Fuchsia, are borne in Cantua buxifolia, Juss. ex drooping clusters from the tips of the branches. Lam. (cantuta, magic flower, The most common color is a bright pink, almost sacred flower of the Incas) Photography courtesy of cerise, but the corolla can vary from red to yellow; Ghislain Cottat, Wikipedia