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Title: A new Lestodiplosine (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) preying on the avocado lace bug, Pseudacysta Perseae (Heteroptera: Tingidae) in southern Florida

Author
item GARNE, RAYMOND - USDA (RETIRED)
item PENA, JORGE - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item AGUDELO, FLOR - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item Solis, M Alma

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/24/2007
Publication Date: 3/1/2008
Citation: Garne, R.J., Pena, J., Agudelo, F., Solis, M.A. 2008. A new Lestodiplosine (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) preying on the avocado lace bug, Pseudacysta Perseae (Heteroptera: Tingidae) in southern Florida. Florida Entomologist. 91:43-48.

Interpretive Summary: Most gall midges are plant pests, but some species have predaceous larvae. They are beneficial because they help control other insect pests. Larvae of one species were discovered preying on the avocado lace bug, a serious pest of avocado in southern United States and the American tropics. The predator was determined to be a species new to science that is apparently a natural control of the lace bug. The new species is described and a new genus is erected to receive it. This report classifies the species in its proper place and provides tools to identify all stages. This information will be useful to the scientific and commodity grower communities.

Technical Abstract: A species new to science, Tingidoletes praelonga Gagné (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)was recently discovered preying on the avocado lace bug, Pseudacysta perseae (Heidemann) (Heteroptera: Tingidae), in Florida, USA. A new genus is described to receive the new species.