The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced that a eucalyptus pest, Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), of a genus and species new to Florida and North America was recently discovered in Broward County, Florida. "The blue gum chalcid, as it is known, produces galls in the form of distinct swellings on the petioles, leaf midribs and stems on new foliage of both young and mature trees. Galling causes the leaves to curl and may stunt the growth and weaken the trees; thus L. invasa can cause substantial damage or death to young trees. The impact on adult trees is not known."
A link to the announcement is available on the UF/IFAS Pest Alert site.
The UF/IFAS Pest Alert WWW site is available at http://pestalert.ifas.ufl.edu/ .
Instructions for subscribing and unsubscribing to the UF/IFAS Pest Alert listserv are available on site.
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Thomas R. Fasulo
extension entomologist
University of Florida
Instructions for subscribing and unsubscribing to the UF/IFAS Pest Alert listserv are available on site.
--
Thomas R. Fasulo
extension entomologist
University of Florida