A New Lestodiplosine (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Preying on the Avocado Lace Bug, Pseudacysta perseae (Heteroptera: Tingidae) in Southern Florida

An undescribed cecidomyiid was discovered in Miami-Dade Co., Florida, during a survey for predators of the avocado lace bug, Pseudacysta perseae (Heidemann), a native pest of avocados, Persea americana , and redbay, Persea borbonia , in the USA. The avocado lace bug was considered a minor pest of avocados until the mid-1990s. Persistent outbreaks of this insect have been observed in Florida and in the Caribbean region since 1990 (Medina-Gaud et al. 1991; Abud-Antun 1991). In the United States the avocado lace bug is currently known from Florida and Georgia and more recently in California. It also is known from Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba, Surinam, and Venezuela (Mead & Peña 1991; Sandoval 2004; Morales, unpubl.). A survey for predators of this pest undertaken in Florida from 1995 through 1997 found several important natural enemies of this pest (Peña et al. 1998), but only in a recent survey was the new cecidomyiid discovered by one of us (FA) preying on nymphs of P. perseae . Single eggs were observed among colonies of P. perseae on avocado. Newly hatched amber-colored larvae crawled to the lace bugs and inserted their mouthparts usually under the more anterior abdominal segments (Figs. 1 and 2). After their initial feeding, larvae turned reddish-orange. Larvae were commonly observed feeding in a position perpendicular to the prey. A larva was once found with its mouthparts inserted into the distal antennal segment of an immobilized third instar. Larvae appeared more often to feed on lace bug nymphs, but larger larvae were also observed feeding on lace bug adults. When full grown, larvae spun orange-colored cocoons close to the leaf midvein (Fig. 3). Adults (Fig. 4) emerged 6-8 d later and lived 2-4 d under laboratory conditions.