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Florida Entomologist (2007) 90, 763-765

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Lisa A. Huey, Gary J. Steck and Alison M. Fox (2007)
Biological notes on Melanagromyza ruelliae (Diptera: Agromyzidae), a seed feeder on the invasive Mexican petunia, Ruellia tweediana (Acanthaceae)
Florida Entomologist 90 (4), 763-765
Abstract: We report the first collections of Melanagromyza ruelliae (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in Florida since the 1960s, in Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Collier, Hillsborough, and Seminole Counties, the first Florida records outside of Dade County. Larvae are seed feeders of the invasive weed, Mexican petunia (Acanthaceae: Ruellia tweediana). Seed capsule infestation rates ranged from 73% to 98% in Alachua County. Infested seed capsules produced <25% viable seeds compared to uninfested capsules and dispersion of seeds by explosive dehiscence was prevented due to larval feeding. Flies are multivoltine in north Florida with a flight time from at least Sep to Feb. Two parasitic species of Heteroschema (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and an Aprostocetus (Aprostocetus) sp. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were reared from fly puparia.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution


Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial Pest/Disease/Weed Crop/Product Country Quarant.


Ruellia tweediana (weed) U.S.A. (SE)
Melanagromyza ruelliae (weed bioagent) Ruellia tweediana (weed) U.S.A. (SE)