Volume 2, Issue 3 June 2009 Aliens of Xamayca a newsletter on non-indigenous species in

Invasive alert new species found Ficus whitefly INSIDE THIS ISSUE: The Fig or Ficus Whitefly adult emergence. the Caribbean (Barbados, the (Singhiella simplex) is a small, Cayman Islands and Jamaica). winged insect that belongs to In Jamaica, it is currently the Order Hemiptera, which causing serious damage to also includes aphids, scales, Ficus plants across the island. bugs and mealy bugs. Control options for the Whitefly Invasive Alert They feed on the underside of are dependent on the site, the New Species Found 1 Ficus Whitefly leaves and can seriously injure Adult Whitefly size and number of trees and host plants by sucking juices the surrounding environment. from them causing wilting, The presence of natural yellowing, stunting, leaf drop enemies have been noted to or death. play an important role in long term control of this pest. Leaves of Ficus trees infested Great-tailed Grackle with Whiteflies turn yellow The natural enemies of the A Wetland 2 before the leaf falls from the Whitefly in Jamaica are the Invasive Species Leaf infested with Whiteflies plant. Ficus trees without any Ladybird Beetles and a parasi- leaves is one obvious symp- The life cycle of the Whitefly is toid that are significantly tom of Whitefly infestation. approximately one month. The reducing the Whitefly popula- eggs are laid on the under- tion. A Familiar Alien surface of the leaves and 2 Ackee hatch to a crawling stage (nymphs). The nymphs are oval, flat and simple in appear- ance. They remain on the leaf Ladybird Beetles and a parasitized Ficus Whitefly pupa and begin to feed until they ©Juliet Goldsmith, MOA A Piece from the A leaf infested by Whiteflies emerge as adults. Past Persons who see the Ficus 3 Biological Control in The adult Whitefly has a yellow Whitefly are asked to contact Jamaica body and white wings with a the local Ministry of Agriculture faint grey band in the middle office and/or the Rural Agricul- of the wings. Eggs and nymphs tural Development Authority @ are found primarily on the 977-1158 or 977-1161. under-surface of the leaves. Children’s Corner 4 Extracted from “Ficus Whitefly - A New The under-surface of infested Immature Whiteflies Pest in South Florida’ Fact Sheet. University of Florida, IFAS Extension leaves are dotted with small, Photos © C. Mannion, H. Glenn and A. Hunsberger silver or white spots that are The Whitefly has been empty skins of the pupae after recorded in Florida (USA) and Page 2 Aliens of Xamayca

The great-tailed grackle a wetland invasive species same location were reported by The boat captains recognized mangroves for inver- Dr. Ann Sutton, Mr. Brandon the differences to the Greater tebrates and seeds. Hay and Mr. Robert Melbourne. Antillean Grackles they nor- Its impact on native mally saw i.e. substantially biodiversity is how- On June 24th 2007, four other larger size and more marked ever unknown. members of BirdLife Jamaica bluish iridescence of the made an early morning visit to Persons who have males’ plumage. the Portmore sewage ponds in seen the Great-tailed Great-tailed Grackle (female) (Photo © John Fletcher) St. Catherine. Before entering Grackle are asked to the fenced area, 5-7 Great- make a report to the On June 13th 2005, Mr. Herlitz tailed Grackles were found National Environment Davis, one of Jamaica’s most foraging in a drain close to the and Planning Agency experienced and perceptive southernmost residential area. (NEPA) @ 754-7540 birders, observed two large This was a mixed group of or toll free @ 1-888- Grackles close to Kingston’s males, females and juveniles. 991-5005 or by email, Norman Manley International Great-tailed Grackle (male) (Photo © John Fletcher) [email protected]. Airport. He subsequently Excellent photographs were

identified them as Great-tailed obtained by Dr. Hugh Vaughan, The Great-tailed Grackle is a Grackles (Quiscalus mexi- Mr. Claude Fletcher and Mr. fairly common resident of Cen- canus), a bird previously un- Jan van den Broeck, one of tral America, coming as far known in Jamaica or elsewhere which appeared with the sight- north as the U.S. border. It is in the Caribbean archipelago. ing report in Broadsheet No.86 reported to be aggressively in September 2007. extending its range, but it is This sighting was reported in th believed that its arrival in Broadsheet No.82, published Most recently (November 6 Great-tailed Grackle at the 2008) these birds have been Jamaica is its first incursion Portmore Sewage Ponds by BirdLife Jamaica in (June 2007) into the Caribbean islands. September 2005. In the next reported by Charles Swaby’s (Photo © Hugh Vaughan) issue No.83 (March 2006), boat captains on the Black Its normal habitat is near confirmatory sightings in the River, St. Elizabeth. water where it often forages in

A familiar alien - ackee The Ackee (Blighia sapida) Indian islands. Extracted from ’Ackees and Avoca- does’; Jamaica Journal Vol. 5, No. 1, is a native of West Africa. It 1971 and ‘Flowering Plants of There are two kinds of Ackee Jamaica’ by C. D. Adams, 1972. is Jamaica’s National Fruit known “hard or cheese” and and may have arrived in the “soft or butter”. Since plants island via African slaves. seldom come true to seed, Reputedly, the fleshy yellow the differences between the part of the fruit, the aril, is two are vast. Ackee is most Ackee and Saltfish (©www.tasteslikehome.org/2008/02 eaten as a food in Africa. often grown from seeds. /ackee-saltfish.html) The seeds were also beaten Jamaicans use the ripened to a pulp and thrown into Ackee in many dishes such Ackee (in & out of pod) rivers where they acted as a as “Ackee and Saltfish with (©www.mona.edu.jm/chemistry/ narcotic on the fish which appliedandfoodchem/images/ackee.jpg) Breadfruit and Pear”; “Ackee rose to the surface and was with Season Rice”; “Ackee caught. Loaf”; “Ackee and Tofu”; Ackee is commonly cultivated “Ackee and Pork”; Ackee and in Jamaica but is rare or Red Herring” and “Ackee and Unopened Ackee on the tree (right) (©www.mona.edu.jm/chemistry/images/ absent in many of the West Mackerel”. unrpacke.jpg) Volume 2, Issue 3 Page 3

A piece from the past Biological control in Jamaica Over the years certain animals have Since the introduction of the Eddy feeds on several species of woody been introduced into Jamaica to serve Wasp, there were still other outbreaks plants such as citrus and Pittosporum. as biological control agents. Biological of the citrus black fly. Consequently, a The Vedalia Beetle, a type of ladybird control is the method used to manage tiny wasp of the Aphelinidae family beetle, has successfully reduced the (same as the Eddy Wasp) was brought pests by using their natural enemies. level of infestation of the scale. The in from Mexico to assist with the mechanism by which the Vedalia Bee- This article highlights some of the control of the citrus black fly. tle entered the island is however un- biological control agents that have known. been introduced into Jamaica.

Bullfrog (Bufo marinus) ? The Bullfrog or Cane Toad was intro- duced about 1844. In some countries, the Bullfrog was used to help maintain control in cane fields by eating “May beetles” or “June beetles”. In banana fields, they were Bug typical of family Aphelinidae found to eat “Banana borers” and in Photo © http://bugguide.net

citrus fields, “Fiddler beetles”. The Bullfrog also eats mice, snails and is a Vedalia Beetle and “Cottony Cushion” Scale Java Beetle (Plasius javanus) √ Photos © http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/ known natural enemy of slugs. vedalia_beetle.html The ‘Java Beetle’ was brought in from

The impact of the Bullfrog as a Fiji to control the banana borer. Other ladybird beetles have also been biological control agent in Jamaica is However, this beetle did not flourish in introduced to control scale insects on however unknown and as such, its areas with a lot of sunlight (e.g. plains) coconut and the destructor scale, successes and/or failures cannot be but were found in little pockets and Aspidiotus destructor. presented. glades along rivers and streams.

Along with hydrophylids or water Others beetles, which were brought in from In 1937, Dasyscapus parvipennis was Malaya, the Java Beetle successfully brought in to control thrip in Jamaica. controlled the banana borer resulting It was reported to attack mango and in increased banana production. avocado and is a serious pest of cocoa trees in Trinidad. Another parasite was also introduced Cane Toad to control the West Indian peach scale Photo © Craig G. Murray on ornamentals such as oleander.

Eddy Wasp (Eretmocercus sirius) √ Extracted from “Bio-Policemen-Two Entomologists Willie Dixon & Tom Farr reminisce about Biologi- The Eddy Wasp was introduced from cal Control in Jamaica”; Jamaica Journal, Vol. 5, No. 1, 1971. Cuba in the 1930’s to control the

citrus black fly, which was a serious Water Beetle Photo © The University of Michigan Dearborn pest in Jamaica.

The citrus black fly affects citrus trees Vedalia Beetle (Rodolia cardinalis) √ by sucking the juices out of the leaves. The fly also exudes a ‘honey dew’, Within the past few years, the “cottony cushion” scale (Iceyria purchasii) was which promotes mould growth, that affect leaf functions and encourages somehow brought into the island. ants. Iceyria purchasii is a scale insect that CHILDRENS’ CORNER

Can you spot the Aliens? Below is a table that contains examples of introduced and native wetland species. Look at the names under each heading and circle those that are “aliens in wetlands”. If you do not know, ask your parents, older siblings or a teacher to help you. PLANTS MAMMALS AMPHIBIANS & BIRDS FISH INVERTEBRATES REPTILES Casuarina/Willow Cow Cane Toad Bananaquit Jack Pink Mealybug

Red Mangrove Hutia Anoline Lizard Cattle Egret Mosquito Fish Firefly

Water Hyacinth Mouse Snake Parrot Snook Spider

Water Lily Rat Shiny Cowbird Tarpon Ticks

Mango Mongoose Bullfinch Crabs

Bat Yellow Warbler

Anyone at home?

Can you find the following in the picture • Green Turtle • Mangrove Snail above: • Snakes • Seahorse • West Indian Whistling Duck • Barracuda • • Brown Pelican • Snapper • Mangrove Crab • Egret • Mosquito Fish • Swimming Crab • Brown Booby • • Red Mangroves Adapted from the Wondrous West Indian Wetlands Teacher’s Resource Book

The Aliens of Xamayca is a quarterly newsletter of the Ecosystems Management Branch of NEPA that features non-native species in Jamaica. Persons interested in writing articles for the newsletter may submit them to the editor at [email protected].