ARS | Publication request: First Florida records for Anovia circumclusa (Gorham) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Noviini): A natural enemy of Icerya genistae Hempel (Hemiptera: Margarodidae)

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: January 22, 2008
Publication Date: March 5, 2008
Citation: Forrester, J.A., Vandenberg, N.J. 2008. First Florida records for Anovia circumclusa (Gorham) (Coleoptera:Coccinellidae:Noviini):A natural enemy of Icerya genistae Hempel (Hemiptera:Margarodidae). Zootaxa. 1720:66-68.

Interpretive Summary: Lady beetles are important predators of agricultural, garden and forest pests. A neotropical lady beetle is recorded for the first time in Florida feeding on an adventive scale pest of vegetables and ornamental plants. Recognition characters and collection records are presented. This work will aid agriculturalists, biological control practitioners, and ecologists in recognizing the lady beetle and assessing its role as a beneficial predator of the scale.

Technical Abstract: A neotropical lady beetle, Anovia circumclusa (Gorham), is recorded for the first time in Florida. The species was collected feeding on Icerya genistae (Hempel), an adventive scale pest of vegetables and ornamental plants. Recognition characters are given for A. circumclusa and collection records are presented.