DACS-P-00124 Volume 50, Number 3, May - June 2011 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 Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicolson & C.E. Jarvis Entomology (seasonvine, possum grape, princess vine), a Nematology native vine that is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental, but can also become an aggressive Plant Pathology intruder given good growing conditions in South Florida. This species was submitted four times for Our Mission…getting it identification in May, with additional submission of done photographs in later months. Although anecdotal, this activity might suggest an increased presence or The mission of the Division of popularity of the species. Plant Industry (DPI) is to protect Florida's native and Meloidogyne incognita commercially grown plants and (Kofoid and White, 1919) the State's apiary industry Cissus verticillata Chitwood, 1949, also (possum grape, princess from harmful pests and known as the southern vine) foliage diseases. Perhaps you'd be Photograph courtesy of root-knot nematode, TopTropicals interested how we use causes severe damage to biological control techniques to many crops in temperate help carry out our mission. and tropical areas of the world as well as in greenhouse operations. In Florida, this nematode has Biocontrol helps growers been reported parasitizing agronomic and vegetable reduce reliance on chemical crops, ornamental plants and weeds. controls, while still growing the high-quality produce for which Ambrosiodmus minor, Florida is famous. Biocontrol is a Western the use of parasites, predators Beta vulgaris (Swiss chard) infected with Hemisphere record. and pathogens for the control Meloidogyne incognita. This is an Asian scolytid or stabilization of pest Photograph courtesy of Mariana P. Beckman and beetle, not recorded populations and is an effective, Janete A. Brito, DPI previously from the environmentally-safe strategy Western Hemisphere. for managing agricultural and The native range is southern and southeastern urban pests. We conduct Asia. Its pest potential is unknown, but probably Ambrosiodmus minor several ongoing programs that minimal. Photograph courtesy of Michael rear insects which are natural C. Thomas, DPI enemies of many pest insects. Euwallacea interjectus, a The Bureau of Methods Western Hemisphere record. This is an Asian Development and Biological scolytid beetle, not recorded previously from the Control develops and Western Hemisphere. The native range is southern implements new ideas, and southeastern Asia. Its pest potential is techniques and methods for unknown, but probably minimal. the survey, detection, control and eradication of plant pests. Aleuroplatus It also oversees the Biological cococolus, a Euwallacea interjectus Control Rearing Facility (BCRF) Photograph courtesy of Continental USA in Gainesville. This facility is a Michael C. Thomas, DPI record. Two samples of 15,000-square foot building this whitefly were dedicated to the mass-rearing collected from Coccoloba diversifolia in a parking-lot of various natural enemies and in Miami-Dade County. This species probably is their hosts for research and native to the Caribbean or Central America, where it release. The bureau is also is known from a wide diversity of plant species, responsible for two biocontrol some of which are economically important fruit Aleuroplatus cococolus mass-rearing facilities located species, although this whitefly does not appear to Photograph courtesy of Ian C. in Ft. Pierce and Dundee. be an economic pest. Stocks, DPI Gainesville's DPI complex Holoplagia houses mass-rearing facilities guamensis, a Continental USA record. This which produce Caribbean fruit species, a minute black scavenger fly, is not a flies and Diaprepes root plant pest. This is the first record for the Nearctic weevils for research, along with region. It is recorded previously from the South many biocontrol insects for a Pacific, Africa and Central America. large number of pests and weeds, including the imported Phenacoccus fire ant, Asian citrus psyllid, multicerarii, a Holoplagia guamensis pink hibiscus mealybug, citrus Photograph courtesy of Gary J. Continental USA leaf miner, Asian cycad scale Steck, DPI record. This and tropical soda apple. mealybug species has subsequently been identified from two DPI also houses the Florida nurseries. The second, in Apopka, was on fern Accelerator Services & material (Polystichum sp.) acquired from the Technology (FAST) facility, an electron-beam linear Jacksonville nursery where the Continental record Phenacoccus multicerarii was discovered. In the Jacksonville nursery, it Photograph courtesy of Ian C. accelerator, which treats many Stocks, DPI was present in high numbers with all life stages agricultural commodities and is present. used in the cactus moth sterile insect technique (SIT) Amitus granulosus, a State record. This species is a parasitoid of program. Millions of cactus Tetraleurodes perileucae. It is known previously only from Texas. The genus moths are reared at the BCRF, Amitis is known only to parasitize whiteflies. then sterilized in FAST before being released all along the Chrysobothris acutipennis, a State record. This species is a metallic wood- Gulf coast in an effort to stop boring beetle or jewel beetle (Buprestidae). It is native from central Texas to the westward expansion of this South America. Larvae have been found in Texas ebony, Pithecellobium very damaging pest. The flexicaule. Sterile Insect Release Facility Hahncappsia neomarculenta, a State record. (SIRF) in Sarasota is a This crambid snout moth was found in a cooperative program between Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey pheromone FDACS-DPI and USDA-APHIS trap for light brown apple moth in Leon County. which produces millions of Subsequent examination of similar LBAM traps sterile Mediterranean fruit flies yielded numerous records as far south as De Soto for weekly release in high-risk and St. Lucie counties. The larval hosts are not areas throughout the state. known, and it is not expected to be of economic We welcome your suggestions importance. Hahncappsia neomarculenta for improvement of TRI- Photograph courtesy of James E. Hayden, DPI OLOGY. Please feel free to contact me or Dr. Patti Neorhegmoclemina bisaccata, a State record. Anderson with your comments. This species, a minute black scavenger fly, is not Dr. Wayne N. Dixon, editor a plant pest. This species has been reported Assistant Director, DPI previously from New York. Tessaropa tenuipes, a State record. This species is a longhorned wood-boring beetle Neorhegmoclemina bisaccata (Cerambycidae). It is native to the central and Photograph courtesy of Gary J. eastern United States, but heretofore has never Steck, DPI been collected in Florida. It is found in small dead branches of hardwoods (hickory, oak, walnut, beech) and is uncommon. Melanaphis sorini, a State record for Georgia. This Asian aphid species was discovered in Florida in 1996. The taxonomy of the genus was not in order, so this species did not have a valid name. Thus, the species was described from Florida and Asian specimens. Uromyces transversalis (gladiolus rust) was reported in Florida for the first time this year. The first detection of Uromyces Melanaphis sorini Photograph courtesy of Lyle transversalis in the United States J. Buss, University of Florida was made on Gladiolus x hortulanus (garden gladiolus) in Manatee County, Florida, in April 2006. Acknowledgements: Uromyces The editors would like to acknowledge the work of all those transversalis Photograph who contributed information and explanations by providing courtesy of data, photographs or text and by carefully reading early drafts. Wayne N. Dixon and Jeffrey W. We also thank Scott Weinberg for his skillful use of web Lotz, DPI authoring tools to produce this report. Contact TRI-OLOGY | Past Issues | Bureau of Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact Webmaster | Best Viewed In | E-mail Privacy Policy Download document viewers: Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) | Microsoft excel (.xls) DACS-P-00124 Volume 50, Number 3, May - June 2011 Printer-Friendly PDF Version Home Botany Entomology Nematology Plant Pathology Botany Section Compiled by Patti J. Anderson, Ph.D. Sample Submissions This section identifies plants for the Division of Plant Industry, as well as for other May/ Year to governmental agencies and private individuals. The Botany Section maintains a June Date reference herbarium with over 10,000 plants and nearly 1,400 vials of seeds. Some of Samples 1,398 3,574 the samples received for identification are discussed below: submitted by other DPI Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicolson & C.E. Jarvis (seasonvine, possum sections grape, princess vine), from a genus of about 200 species in