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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #321910
Title: Manduca rustica (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) damage on olive (Olea europaea;Lamiales:Oleaceae)trees in Florida

Author
item GILLETT-KAUFMAN, JENNIFER - University Of Florida
item Allan, Sandra - Sandy
item BUSS, LYLE - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2015
Publication Date: 12/1/2015
Citation: Gillett-Kaufman, J.L., Allan, S.A., Buss, L.J. 2015. Manduca rustica (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) damage on olive (Olea europaea;Lamiales:Oleaceae) trees in Florida. Florida Entomologist. 98(4):1260-1261.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1653/024.098.0443

Interpretive Summary: Olives are a relatively new crop for cultivation in Florida and the overlap of these new plantings on historically citrus land raises concerns about the potential of citrus pests to affect the new olive plantings. In this study, a scientist from the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology in Gainesville, Florida, in conjunction with collaborators from University of Florida, conducted surveys of new olive plantings near or adjacent to commercial citrus groves to determine insect pests present in the olive groves. The rustic sphinx moth was newly reported as an occasional defoliator of olive throughout Florida and can potentially cause problems for nursery producers or growers with new olive plantings.

Technical Abstract: The rustic sphinx, Manduca rustica has been identified as an occasional pest for olive, Olea europaea, in Florida. This pest’s distribution spans Florida’s olive growing region from the northern panhandle as far south as Polk County.