Corn wireworm Melanotus communis Gyllenhal (Insecta: Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Figure 1.  Larva of Melanotus communis Gyllenhal.Insects in the family Elateridae are commonly known as click beetles. Their name comes from the clicking sound they make while attempting to right themselves after falling or being placed on their backs. The larvae of click beetles are called wireworms. The corn wireworm is a serious agricultural pest and was added to the EPPO A1 action list of quarantine pests in 2002. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Harsimran K. Gill, Gurminder Chahil, Gaurav Goyal, Jennifer L. Gillett-Kaufman and Ronald Cherry, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, January 2014.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1025

Spotted cucumber beetle Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber (Insecta: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Figure 1.  The spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber. Credit: Photograph by James Castner, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida.Spotted cucumber beetle is a major agricultural pest of North America. Another name for the spotted cucumber beetle is “southern corn rootworm”. Many Diabrotica species cause damage to field crops, especially corn, making these beetles a major agricultural concern. Because of the subterranean nature of their larvae, these insects are hard and expensive to control. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Harsimran Kaur Gill, Gaurav Goyal, and Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, September 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1008

Seedcorn maggot, Delia platura (Meigen) (Insecta: Diptera: Anthomyiidae)

Figure 2. Late instar larva and pupa of the seedcorn maggot, Delia platura (Meigen), showing seed damage. Credit: Leon HigleyThe seedcorn maggot is a polyphagous pest, affecting more than 40 different host plants. It is an important pest of germinating soybeans and corn, and also attacks a wide range of horticultural crops including beans, peas, cucumber, melon, onion, pepper, potato, and other vegetables. Seedcorn maggots damage newly planted seeds by feeding on seed contents, often leaving empty seed shells and preventing germination. Although usually no more than 2% of the seedlings get infested by this insect, 30% to 60% plant loss may occur in the field. This 5-page fact sheet was written by Harsimran Kaur Gill, Gaurav Goyal, and Jennifer L. Gillett-Kaufman, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, July 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1002

Citrus Mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso) (Insecta: Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) (EENY537/IN947)

Figure 3. Adult mealybug female. The citrus mealybug is a common pest of citrus primarily in greenhouses, and of several ornamental plants in Florida. It has been recognized as a difficult to control pest in Europe since 1813, where it is called the greenhouse mealybug and in the United States since 1879. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Harsimran Kaur Gill, Gaurav Goyal, and Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, September 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in947

Common Weed Hosts of Insect-Transmitted Viruses of Florida Vegetable Crops (ENY863/IN931)

Figure 1. Balsam apple (Momordica spp.)This 12-page fact sheet expands upon and updates the information on several weeds reported as virus hosts by UF/IFAS plant pathologists in 2001 and provides links to further information on specific viruses that affect vegetable crops. Written by Gaurav Goyal, Harsimran K. Gill, and Robert McSorley, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, April 2012.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in931

EENY435/IN789 Corn blotch leafminer Agromyza parvicornis Loew (Insecta: Diptera: Agromyzidae)

EENY-435, a 4-page illustrated fact sheet by Gaurav Goyal and Gregg S. Nuessly, is part of the Featured Creatures collection. It describes this minor and sporadic pest of corn, its distribution, description and life cycle, host plants, economic importance, and management. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, June 2008.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN789