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Research Project: Exotic Whitefly Pests of Vegetables and Ornamental Plants

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Title: Pallidus beetle, Delphastus pallidus LeConte (Insecta: Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a native predatory beetle of whitefly species in Florida

Author
item AHMED, MUHAMMAD - Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services
item HERNANDEZ, YISELL - Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services
item KUMAR, VIVEK - Mid Florida Research & Education Center
item FRANCIS, ANTONIO - Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services
item SKELLEY, PAUL - Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services
item ROHRIG, DRIC - Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services
item McKenzie, Cindy
item OSBORNE, LANCE - Mid Florida Research & Education Center
item MANNION, CATHARINE - Mid Florida Research & Education Center

Submitted to: Plant Industry Bulletin
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2017
Publication Date: 12/31/2017
Citation: Ahmed, M.A., Hernandez, Y.V., Kumar, V., Francis, A., Skelley, P., Rohrig, E., McKenzie, C.L., Osborne, L.S., Mannion, C. 2017. Pallidus beetle, Delphastus pallidus LeConte (Insecta: Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a native predatory beetle of whitefly species in Florida. Plant Industry Bulletin. FDACS-P-01782(435), December 2017. (Public database)

Interpretive Summary: Beetles in the genus Delphastus are small whitefly-specific predatory ladybird beetles that feed on all immature stages of whitefly and are reared and sold commercially all over the world for this purpose. They are compatible with the application of parasitoid wasps since their larvae and adults avoid feeding on parasitized whitefly nymphs. Within this genus, there are species which are well-known biocontrol agents of multiple whitefly species such as Delphastus catalinae (Horn) and Delphastus pallidus (LeConte). However, for the last six decades, there has been little information published on Delphastus pallidus (LeConte), a native species to Florida. In the past, its population has been low in Florida agro-ecosystems. However, it has recently been found consistently in relatively high populations on ficus hedges infested by the ficus whitefly, Singhiella simplex (Singh), at different locations in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Currently there is no source for proper field identification of this beetle in Florida. We provide a summary of our recent field surveys, pictures and videos to help others ability to identify this beetle in the field.

Technical Abstract: Beetles in the genus Delphastus Casey are small whitefly-specific predatory ladybird beetles belonging to the coccinellid tribe Serangiini. They feed on all immature stages of whitefly and are reared and sold commercially all over the world for this purpose. They are compatible with the application of parasitoid wasps since their larvae and adults avoid feeding on parasitized whitefly nymphs. Within this genus, there are species which are well-known biocontrol agents of multiple whitefly species such as Delphastus catalinae (Horn) [formerly known as Delphastus pusillus (LeConte)], D. davidsoni (Gordon) and Delphastus pallidus (LeConte). However, for the last six decades, there has been little information published on Delphastus pallidus (LeConte), a native species to Florida. In the past, its population has been low in Florida agro-ecosystems. However, it has recently been found consistently in relatively high populations on ficus hedges infested by the ficus whitefly, Singhiella simplex (Singh), at different locations in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Currently there is no source for proper field identification of this beetle here in Florida. We provide the summary of our recent field surveys, combined with pictures and videos to help others accurately identify this beetle in the field.