Evaluation of Natural Enemies and Insecticides for Control of Pseudacysta Perseae (Hemiptera: Tingidae) on Avocados in Southern California (Report‪)‬

The avocado lace bug, Pseudacysta perseae (Heidemann) (Hemiptera: Tingidae), was first described in 1908 from specimens collected from avocados, Persea americana Miller (Lauraceae), in Florida. Pseudacysta perseae nymphs and adults feed in dense aggregated colonies on the underside of predominantly mature leaves, resulting in development of large necrotic areas (Hoddle et al. 2005a). The exact impact of P. perseae on productivity is not known, but fruit yields are likely reduced because of lower photosynthetic rates and defoliation events that result from feeding damage. Until recently, P. perseae was considered a pest of sporadic and minor economic importance (Mead & Pena 1991). Population outbreaks of P. perseae on avocados have been observed since the mid 1990s in Florida and several countries in the Caribbean, and P. perseae has now emerged as a serious foliar pest of avocados in the Caribbean (Pena 2003). The known geographic range for P. perseae in the Caribbean includes Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix, and Cuba (Hoddle, unpublished surveys). It has been recorded from the states of Chiapas, Michoacan, Nayarit, Veracruz, and Yucatan in Mexico, and in Escuintla Guatemala (Hoddle, unpublished surveys). In South America, P. perseae is known from Venezuela and French Guyana (Mead & Pena 1991; Medina-Gaud et al. 1991; Abreu 1995; Diaz 2003; Hernandez et al. 2004; Hoddle et al. 2005a; Morales 2005; Sandoval & Cermeli 2005; Streito & Moriva12005). In the U.S., P. perseae has been recorded from the southeastern states of Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas (Hoddle et al. 2005b). In Sep 2004, P. perseae was detected for the first time in California on 2 residential backyard avocado trees in Chula Vista and National City in San Diego County. The trees were heavily infested and exhibiting premature leaf drop because of feeding damage (Bender & Witney 2005; Hoddle et al. 2005b). Subsequent surveys conducted by the San Diego County Department of Agriculture, Weights & Measures and the California Department of Food and Agriculture during 2004-05 (winter) and 2006 (spring and fall) indicated that this pest was restricted to residential areas in southern San Diego County and had not established in commercial avocado orchards in this area or spread beyond San Diego County.