We are pleased to announce a new article on Featured Creatures!
Take a sneak peek with this excerpt from the article: A new addition on the list of whitefly species found in Florida, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin, was originally called the gumbo limbo spiraling whitefly, but is now named the rugose spiraling whitefly. Being a fairly new species to science – identified less than a decade ago, not much information is available about this pest. It is an introduced pest, endemic to Central America, and was reported for the first time in Florida from Miami-Dade County in 2009. Since then it has become an escalating problem for homeowners, landscapers, businesses, and governmental officials throughout the southern coastal counties of Florida. Feeding by this pest not only causes stress to its host plant, but the excessive production of wax and honeydew creates an enormous nuisance in infested areas.
Females of rugose spiraling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin, on white bird of paradise. Photographs by Jennifer Wildonger, University of Florida.
Authors: Vivek Kumar, University of Florida, Entomology and Nematology Department, Cindy L. McKenzie, United States Horticulture Research laboratory, ARS-USDA, Catharine Mannion, University of Florida, Entomology and Nematology Department, Ian Stocks, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, Trevor Smith, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry and Lance S. Osborne, University of Florida, Entomology and Nematology Department.
Available at: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/Aleurodicus_rugioperculatus.htm
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