Invasive scale insects in Florida: The crossroads of regulatory and taxonomic entomology

Florida’s numerous many ports of entry, booming agricultural trade, and subtropical climate make the state particularly susceptible to invasive species. An average of one exotic arthropod species is estimated to arrive in Florida each month. Of those, more than a third belongs to the order Hemiptera and around 37 invasive scale insect species (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) are thought to have established in the Florida landscape since 1990. Two recent introductions and the challenges of regulatory entomology with respect to scale insects will be discussed. The mealybug Phenacoccus miruku Tanaka & Choi was first detected in Florida in 2019. Specimens were originally identified as Phenacoccus sisymbriifolium Granara de Willink until the description of P. miruku in 2022 prompted us to reevaluate the identity of these invasive mealybugs in Florida. This species highlights the importance of taxonomic work to quickly and accurately identify invasive species, as well as the difficulty of detecting insects on the roots of their hosts. The armored scale insect Lepidosaphes laterochitinosa Green was repeatedly intercepted before becoming established in Florida in late 2022. This scale insect is an excellent example of how data collected of species found on imported plant material at ports of entry and in nursery inspections can provide a window into the distribution, establishment, and pathways of adventive species.