Blastopsylla occidentalis Taylor 1985

Blastopsylla occidentalis Taylor, 1985

(Fig. 92)

Materials examined. USA: Florida: Specimens from Collier, Glades, Indian River, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Sarasota counties (FSCA). At least 400 specimens were collected in suction trap samples in Collier and Miami-Dade counties (most not retained).

Diagnosis. Blastopsylla occidentalis (Fig. 92) was described from its native Australia and from California, where it is adventive (Taylor 1985). Description see Burckhardt and Elgueta (2000). Halbert et al. (2001) contains a key that separates B. occidentalis from other psyllids on Eucalyptus in North America.

Distribution. Originating from Western Australia, well established populations of B. occidentalis also were discovered in Michoacan, Mexico in 1989 (Hodkinson 1991a). Now, the species occurs on all continents except Antarctica. Details on the distribution and the damage inflicted to Eucalyptus are provided by Queiroz et al. (2018).

Blastopsylla occidentalis was found for the first time in Florida in the Orlando (Orange County) area by Susan Halbert and DPI inspectors Barbara Wilder and Anthony Capitano on Eucalyptus at an amusement park in April 2001 (FSCA# E2001-1596). More specimens were found in another amusement park in the Orlando area in May 2001 (FSCA# E2001-1989), and the identification was confirmed by Dr. Ray Gill, CDFA (Halbert 2001b). In June 2002, two specimens were collected in the suction trap in Miami (Miami-Dade County) (FSCA# E2002-4697). The presence of the psyllid was confirmed in Miami-Dade County in 2002 (FSCA#s E2002, 4697, E2003-2766, 3199) when colonies were found on Eucalyptus in Miami. The psyllid also was found in Sarasota (Sarasota County) on Eucalyptus by Bertila Gomez and Julieta Brambila in June 2003 (FSCA# E2003-2302). Since then, there have been numerous detections, particularly in suction traps.

Host plants. Corymbia K.D. Hill & L.A.S. Johnson and Eucalyptus L’Hér. species (Myrtaceae).

Comments. In Florida, B. occidentalis is inconspicuous. The insects form small flocculent colonies on the newest growth of Eucalyptus trees. Flight occurs year around in Florida, with most abundant collections in the late spring and early summer. We suspect the Florida population arrived on imported Eucalyptus trees from California.

Boreioglycaspis Moore, 1964