The dacetine ant Pyramica boltoni is described from specimens collected in leaf litter in dry and mesic forest in central and northern Florida. It appears to be closely related to P. dietrichi (M. R. Smith), with which it shares peculiar modifications of the clypeus and the clypeal hairs. In total, 40 dacetine species (31 native and 9 exotic) are now known from southeastern North America.

A new Mexican and Guatemalan species, Onthophagus yucatanus, belonging to the Clypeatus group is described and illustrated. The distinctive characters of this species, its geographical distribution, and habits are described.

Twelve pesticides used in citrus were tested for their contact toxicity to Aprostocetus vaquitarum Wolcott (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) a parasitoid of Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Sevin® 80 WSP, Malathion 5 EC, and Imidan® 70 WSB resulted in the most rapid death of A. vaquitarum adults. Admire® 2F, Danitol® 2.4EC, and Surround® WP were also very detrimental. Kocide® 101 WP, Citrus Soluble Oil, Micromite® 80 WGS, Acramite® 50 WS, Micromite® 80 WGS Citrus Soluble Oil, Aliette WDG, and Agrimek® 0.15 EC Citrus Soluble Oil were slightly to non-toxic to A. vaquitarum. The relative toxicity of the pesticides was consistent up to four weeks after application. Significantly fewer adult A. vaquitarum emerged from D. abbreviatus eggs laid on foliage treated in the field with Sevin® XLR and Imidan® 70 WSB than emerged from the water treated control. Field residues of Sevin® XLR remained toxic for seven days while the effects of Imidan® 70 WSB were no longer significant after one week. The number of A. vaquitarum adults emerging from host eggs laid on treated foliage was not significantly different among Micromite® 80 WGS, Acramite® 50 WS, and the control, but significantly fewer adults emerged from foliage treated with either Micromite® 80 WGS Citrus Soluble Oil or Citrus Soluble Oil alone. There were no significant differences between oviposition or new generation adults when A. vaquitarum was exposed to Micromite® 80 WGS or a water control.

Four buildings (two high-rise condominiums, a single-family residential structure, and a trailer) in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, Florida, infested with Formosan subterranean termites (FST, Coptotermes fomosanus Shiraki) were treated with baits containing 0.5% wt/wt noviflumuron. Each building represented a challenging treatment scenario for liquid termiticides due to the location of the infestation within the structure and/or occupant refusal to permit pesticide application in termite-infested living and activity areas. Marking of FST by in-situ baiting with blank bait matrix treated with 0.5% wt/wt Neutral Red dye indicated only one FST foraging population infested each building. Two FST infestations were aerial in high-rise condominiums. Noviflumuron baits were applied to two buildings in aboveground stations, one building with in-ground stations, and the remaining building with both station types. All detected FST infestations were eliminated within 71-92 days after first application of noviflumuron baits. FST foraging populations with confirmed ground contact consumed approximately 4-fold more bait than did aerial infestations; mean ± SD, 242 ± 74 g vs. 62 ± 51 g, respectively. Termite feeding activity was monitored before, during, and after bait application at two buildings with an acoustic emissions detector (AED) and in one building with a microwave detector. Cessation of termite activity measured with these devices corresponded with elimination of live FST previously observed in stations, infested wood, and foraging tubes. No FST were observed in any monitoring station or building during the 12-18 month inspection period following elimination of the detected FST infestation.

The seasonal abundance of phytophagous scarabs in Gainesville and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was documented with ultraviolet blacklight traps operated from April 2002 to November 2004. Over 44,000 adult scarabs were trapped and identified, including 30 species from 14 genera. Hybosorus illigeri Reiche was the most abundant species trapped (n = 12,306 or 27.9% of total trap catches). Phyllophaga was the most diverse genus with ten species collected. Tomarus cuniculus (F.) and Dyscinetus morator (F.) adults were trapped every month of the year. Anomala innuba (F.), Cyclocephala lurida (Bland), C. parallela Casey, H. illigeri, and Phyllophaga bruneri Chapin exhibited bimodal flight patterns. Adults of these five species combined represented 49.1, 56.5, and 64.6% of the collections in 2002, 2003, and 2004, respectively. Species that occurred in both locations tended to be active earlier in Fort Lauderdale than in Gainesville. The flight activity and species composition of potential scarab pests in Florida appears to be different from those in the midwestern and northern U.S., suggesting that turfgrass and ornamental plant managers need to adjust their management strategies accordingly.

The exotic anthocorid Montandoniola moraguesi (Puton) was intentionally introduced in Hawaii and Bermuda for the control of thrips on outdoor plantings of ornamental Ficus. These successful programs resulted in similar efforts to introduce this predator at several locations within the continental United States. Such attempts to establish the bug as a component of biological control systems aimed at pest thrips apparently have been unsuccessful. Our surveys and requests for museum records revealed detections of M. moraguesi in four states: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Circumstances surrounding detections in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi suggest that viable populations may not currently exist in those states. M. moraguesi occurs widely throughout peninsular Florida, wherever outdoor plantings of exotic, ornamental Ficus spp. are found. An updated distribution of M. moraguesi is provided along with field observations and new thrips host records.

Scirtothrips dorsalis (Hood) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a recently identified invasive pest to the Caribbean and poses a significant threat to agriculture and trade in the region. Methods are needed to detect the presence and to monitor populations of this pest so that it can be effectively managed. Three different CC trap base colors (blue, yellow, and white) with or without dichlorvos as a killing agent, and a newly developed and named the Blue-D trap were studied in Taiwan and St. Vincent for attraction and capture of S. dorsalis. In lemons in Taiwan, mean numbers of S. dorsalis caught in Blue-D traps were greater compared with dichlorvos cube modified CC traps. In St. Vincent chili pepper plantings, the Blue-D traps caught more Thrips palmi (Karny), Frankliniella sp., and Microcephalothrips abdominalis (Crawford) than dichlorvos cube modified CC traps. More Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom), Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall), T. palmi, Frankliniella sp., and M. abdominalis were caught in blue and white base CC traps than yellow base CC traps. Average captures per CC trap per week were 0.07 and 0.02-0.09 S. dorsalis in Taiwan and St. Vincent, respectively. There were no differences in S. dorsalis captures in white, blue, or yellow base CC traps. The average weekly S. dorsalis catch for yellow sticky card traps was 19.8. CC traps can be used for detection of S. dorsali and collecting intact S. dorsalis for taxonomic and genetic determinations when a few of the species are found in a large commercial production area. Yellow sticky traps can be used for monitoring S. dorsalis populations. A combination detecting system of visual observation, yellow sticky traps, and CC traps may be an effective S. dorsalis population detecting and monitoring system.

Egg hatching of the maple aphid, Periphyllus californiensis Shinji, was observed on saplings of Acer amoenum Carriere in two microhabitats, i.e., the understory of a maple stand (a shaded site) and an open area in a nursery (a sunny site), over a 2-year period. Buds of A. amoenum opened earlier at the shaded site than at the sunny site and eggs of P. californiensis also hatched a little earlier at the shaded site. To test whether oviposition timing or microhabitat characteristics affected the timing of egg hatching, eggs were collected during four periods in December to observe egg hatching in the laboratory. Hatching occurred earlier at the shaded site than at the sunny site only for eggs laid in early December. The duration of egg hatching was shorter for eggs laid earlier compared with those laid later. The duration of the egg stage (estimated as the median oviposition date to the median egg hatching date) was negatively correlated with the time when the eggs were laid. These results suggest that differences in timing of egg hatching between habitats may be affected by the microhabitat and date of oviposition.

Limited information exists on molecular genetic variation and distribution of the corn and rice strains of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith). This study was conducted to investigate the genetic structure of S. frugiperda across a part of its range in the United States. A 608-base-pair portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I and II genes was sequenced from 71 individuals resulting in three corn and four rice strain haplotypes. Genetic divergence between the two strains ranged from 0.66 to 0.99%. A 562-base-pair region of the nuclear ITS-1 gene was also amplified and sequenced from 17 individuals representing both corn and rice strains. No variation was detected in any of the samples for the ITS-1 region. Analysis of molecular variance was conducted on the resulting mtDNA haplotypes from the Arkansas and Florida populations and as a hierarchical analysis between populations in the two states. Results indicate a significant overall Φ_ST for all populations with the hierarchical analysis revealing that this significant Φ_ST is due to structuring of the populations between states. The observed genetic structure is possibly due to the distribution of fall armyworm strains.

Historical, anecdotal records of the state-endangered Miami blue butterfly, Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri (Comstock & Huntington) (Lepidoptera), have mentioned larval associations with the Florida carpenter ant, Camponotus sp. Recent population studies confirm that C. t. bethunebakeri larvae associate with Camponotus floridanus (Buckley) as well as another member of the genus, Camponotus planatus (Roger). Additionally, caterpillars have been observed tended by Crematogaster ashmeadi (Emery), Forelius pruinosus (Roger), and Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fab.). Field surveys of remaining Miami blue habitat and recent butterfly reintroduction sites reveal other potential ant associates, Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille) and Paratrechina bourbonica (Forel), and a host of possible predaceous ant species. The corresponding conservation implications are discussed. Detailed information is also presented about larval ant-associated organs and their mediation of this facultative symbiosis.

Analysis of museum specimens has added to the cicada fauna of Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Information on the cicada fauna reported in the literature as well as the first records of cicada species to the fauna are reported here to provide a more accurate understanding of cicada diversity in each country and the region. The new records represent an increase of 75, 14, 110, and 320%, respectively, to the cicada faunal diversity of each country.