Tag: Entomology and Nematology Department

Cherry Fruit Fly, Rhagoletis cingulata (Loew) (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (EENY203/IN360)

Adult female eastern cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cingulata (Loew).The cherry fruit fly (adult) or cherry maggot (larva) attacks cherry and causes wormy fruits. In Florida it attacks wild cherries and is of little economic importance. Across its range, it breeds in all varieties of cherries including the sweet cherry. This 3-page fact sheet was written by H. V. Weems Jr., and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in360

Intercropping, Crop Diversity and Pest Management (ENY862/IN922)

Squash with living mulch of buckwheat.Growing different crops in the same field and/or planting different crops on the same plot during different times of the year can reduce insect pest populations, increasing beneficial insects, and suppress weeds. In addition, non-crop plants such as weeds, cover crops, and habitat plantings can be combined in space and time to influence numbers of pest and beneficial arthropods on the main crop. This 7-page fact sheet was written by Hugh A. Smith and Oscar E. Liburd, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in922

Lesser Pumpkin Fly, Ethiopian Fruit Fly, Cucurbit Fly, Dacus ciliatus (Loew) (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (EENY258/IN539)

Adult female.The lesser pumpkin fly is one of several fruit flies found in Africa and Asia, which could become serious pests of Florida agricultural crops if introduced into this state.This 2-page fact sheet was written by H. V. Weems, Jr., and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, March 2012. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in539

A Fruit Fly, Anastrepha nigrifascia Stone (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (EENY262/IN541)

Adult female Anastrepha nigrifascia Stone.This small yellowish fruit fly, somewhat larger than a house fly, with rather long, patterned wings is limited to the Florida Keys, from Key Largo Key to Key West. Its two known hosts are sapodilla and wild-sapodilla. This 2-page fact sheet was written by H. V. Weems, Jr., and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in541

Melon Fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (EENY199/IN356)

Adult melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett).Within its range, the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett), is one of the most important pests with which vegetable growers have to contend. Although found in Hawaii, it is not present in the continental United States. This 5-page fact sheet was written by H. V. Weems Jr., J. B. Heppner, and T. R. Fasulo, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, March 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in356

Erythrina moths Terastia meticulosalis Guenée and Agathodes designalis Guenée (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Spilomelinae) (EENY516/IN921)

Figure 15. An adult Erythrina leaf-roller, Agathodes designalis Guenée. Photographed in Gainesville, Florida.The little known Erythrina moths represent a remarkable case of niche partitioning. In Florida these two species feed on plants of the genus Erythrina (Fabaceae), including the coral bean, Erythrina herbacea, which is native to North Central Florida and is frequently used as an ornamental. This 10-page fact sheet was written by Andrei Sourakov, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in921

Mexican Fruit Fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (EENY201/IN358)

Figure 12. Mexican fruit flies, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), laying eggs in grapefruit during a laboratory test. The Mexican fruit fly is a very serious pest of various fruits, particularly citrus and mango, in Mexico and Central America. Its natural distribution includes the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, where populations routinely attain pest status if control measures are not practiced. It is a frequent invader in southern California and Arizona. Mexican fruit fly represents a particular threat to Florida because of its special affinity for grapefruit, of which Florida is one of the world’s leading producers. Mexican fruit fly larvae are transported widely in infested fruits. This 6-page fact sheet was written by H. V. Weems, Jr, J. B. Heppner, G. J. Steck, T. R. Fasulo and J. L. Nation, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in358

El Mosquito Culex Iolambdis (ENY727S/IN901)

Figure 6. Hembra adulta de C. iolambdis.Culex (melanoconion) iolambdis es un mosquito pequeño de color marrón oscuro que existe en sitios tropicales y subtropicales. En los Estados Unidos, solo se encuentra en el sur de Florida. Se conoce poco sobre la biología y comportamiento de este mosquito. El subgenéro Melanoconion se distingue por el pequeño tamaño de sus especies y por dificultad en diferenciar las diferentes especies. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Jorge R. Rey, Erik M. Blosser, Stephanie K. Larrick and C. Roxanne Connelly, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, September 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in901

Widow Spider Parasitoids Philolema latrodecti (Fullaway) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) and Baeus latrodecti Dozier (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) (EENY515/IN919)

Figure 8. Philolema latrodecti (Fullaway), a parasitoid of the widow spiders in Latrodectus 
Walckenaer, perched on the egg sac of a brown widow spider, Latrodectus 
geometricus Koch.There are limited records of pathogens, parasites, and parasitoids known to affect widow spiders. This 4-page fact sheet describes what is known about two parasitoids, and observations from rearing them in the lab. Written by Christopher S. Bibbs and Lyle J. Buss, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, January 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in919

Insecticides and Wildlife (ENY511/IN881)

Figure 7. Some birds are nearly wholly dependent on insect life for food. Note the unusual ‘whiskers’ near the beak of this Chuck-will's-widow, Caprimulgus carolinensis. These structures cause insects to be directed to the mouth while the birds sweep through the air in pursuit of ‘dinner’.When we use chemical insecticides to eliminate problem insects we discover that the effects of insecticides are not always limited to these 6-legged targets. Wildlife, pets, and humans also can be affected by insecticides. So one of the great challenges confronting humans is to develop ways to manage insects without affecting non-target organisms. Learn more in this 16-page fact sheet written by John L. Capinera, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in881

Passionvine Mealybug, Planococcus minor (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) (ENY920/IN920)

Figure 2. Adult female passionvine mealybug, Planococcus minor (Maskell) on potato sprout.The passionvine mealybug was discovered in the continental U.S. for the first time in southern Florida a little over a year ago. USDA, APHIS lists it as a high priority threat. Given its polyphagous nature, this pest should be given careful attention in a new area such as Florida, which has an important agricultural sector and amenable climate. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Antonio W. Francis, Moses T. K. Kairo and Amy L. Roda, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, February 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in920

Cape Honey Bee Apis mellifera capensis Escholtz (EENY513/IN916)

Figure 3. An adult female Cape honey bee, Apis mellifera capensis Escholtz, 
collecting pollen and nectar on a flower in South Africa.Cape honey bees can produce both male and female offspring parthenogenetically. Unlike other African bee races, they are docile, but unlike all other races of honey bees, they are social parasites. Find out why South African beekeepers consider Cape bees a more serious threat than the varroa mite in this 4-page fact sheet was written by James D. Ellis, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in916

European Pepper Moth or Southern European Marsh Pyralid Duponchelia fovealis (Zeller) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Crambidae) (EENY508/IN910)

Figure 1. Adult European pepper moth, Duponchelia fovealis (Zeller), showing two identification features: yellowish-white transverse lines (red arrows) and pronounced "finger" (yellow arrow) that points towards the back edge of the wing.Researchers are monitoring this notable greenhouse pest in northern Europe and Canada for the cut flower, vegetable and aquatic plant industries. Its native range is southern Europe, the eastern Mediterranean region, the Canary Islands, Syria and Algeria, but it has expanded its range to include other parts of Africa and the Middle East, northwest India, Europe, Canada and the United States. Recent survey detected adults in pheremone traps in 20 of the 26 Florida counties surveyed. This 11-page fact sheet was written by Stephanie D. Stocks and Amanda Hodges, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in910

A Wireworm Conoderus rudis (Brown) (EENY507/IN909)

Figure 2. Adult without eyespots and adult elytron with eyespotWireworms are the larvae of click beetles. These larvae are smooth, slender and round in cross-section. Wireworms are important pests of various crops and occur in all seasons at variable densities. Feeding damage is restricted to the seeds, seedlings and underground parts of the plants. Unlike foliage feeders, they are very difficult to detect due to their soil-dwelling habitat. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Dakshina R. Seal, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in909

Florida Wax Scale, Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock (EENY510/IN913)

Figure 2. Adults and early instar nymphs of the Florida wax scale, Ceroplastes floridensis
 Comstock.The Florida wax scale, Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock, is one of the most commonly encountered soft scales throughout the the southern United States, where it is a serious pest of citrus and several ornamental and landscape plants, like holly.This 4-page fact sheet was written by Shweta Sharma and Eileen Buss, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in913

Miner Bee, Chimney Bee Anthophora abrupta Say (EENY512/IN912)

Figure 1. Nesting area of the miner bee, Anthophora abrupta Say, with at least
three females visible.These gregarious, yet solitary, ground-nesting bees are “…conspicuous as they noisily swing their ponderous bodies to and fro on the wing, arrive home and scramble into their burrows or come tumbling out headlong and dash off into the sunny fields, with all the exuberance of boys just out of school.” This 5-page fact sheet was written by Jason R. Graham, Jamie Ellis, Glenn Hall, and Catherine Zettel Nalen, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in912

The Bumble Bees of Florida, Bombus spp. (EENY050/IN207)

Figure 2. A bumble bee, Bombus sp., with full pollen basket.Bumble bees are easily recognized by the corbicula (pollen basket) on the hind tibiae in the females. They are beneficial insects that pollinate many native and ornamental plants. They can sting severely, so problem nests near human dwellings should be removed by experienced pest control operators. This 5-page fact sheet includes a key to the bumble bees in Florida. Written by Lionel A. Stange, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in207

Florida Woods Cockroach Eurycotis floridana (Walker) (EENY514/IN915)

Figure 1. Lateral-dorsal view of an adult Florida woods cockroach, Eurycotis floridana (Walker).This “peridomestic” organism can be found in structures near the home, such as storage areas, greenhouses, or shelter boxes for other structures such as water pumps. It is one of the species commonly referred to as palmetto bugs, and is also called a “stinkroach” or “skunk cockroach” due to its aromatic defensive secretions. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Christopher S. Bibbs and Rebecca W. Baldwin, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in915

Heliconia Bug Leptoscelis tricolor Westwood (EENY511/IN914)

Figure 6. Adult heliconia bugs, Leptoscelis tricolor Westwood, copulating. The female is in the foreground. Note that females nearly always feed while mating.Though not found in Florida, this insect has been used to examine insect behavior, sexual selection, plant-insect interactions, and color variation. Learn more in this 4-page fact sheet was written by Christine W. Miller, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in914

A Wireworm Conoderus scissus Schaeffer (EENY509/IN911)

Figure 1. Adult Conoderus scissus Schaeffer, a wireworm. Conoderus scissus is the most abundant wireworm species found in sweet potato fields. Its preference for other crops is followed by peanut, cowpea, and corn. Learn more in this 4-page fact sheet written by Dakshina R. Seal, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in911