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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #414358

Research Project: Basic and Applied Approaches for Pest Management in Vegetable Crops

Location: Vegetable Research

Title: The first species of Prococcophagus Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) from America north of Mexico

Author
item LAHEY, ZACHARY - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item Simmons, Alvin
item Andreason, Sharon

Submitted to: Insecta Mundi
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/24/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: A natural enemy of scales was discovered in Florida. For the first time, this predator species was collected in the southeastern United States, indicating its successful establishment in a new environment in the U.S. In this study, amendments were made to the original species description based on the individuals collected in Florida. This discovery will be of interest to the scientific community and pest management specialists in the southeastern U.S.

Technical Abstract: Prococcophagus tobiasi (Myartseva) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) is newly recorded from the state of Florida. This represents the first record of the genus Prococcophagus Silvestri in the United States. Amendments are made to the original description based on the newly collected specimens, and the species is placed in the context of the genus based on a phylogenetic analysis of 28S rDNA. The status of the specimens comprising the type series is discussed and notes are made on the unusual coloration exhibited by living specimens.