Rice insects in Florida: Monitoring and management in a sentinel state for invasive species

Rice is produced on >8,000 ha in southern Florida. The rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis, and three stink bug species in the genus Oebalus feed on rice in the state. However, stink bugs are the only insects requiring management under current production practices. Pyrethroid applications remain the main tactic for stink bug management because seven commercial biological insecticides do not reduce populations below acceptable levels. However, field surveys revealed that Telenomus podisi was a prevalent egg parasitoid that might be considered in a biological control program. In addition, monitoring for emerging pests and invasive species threatening rice complements stink bug management. Florida is considered a “sentinel state” because its humid subtropical climate, global trade activities, and thriving tourism industry, make the state particularly susceptible to the introduction and establishment of invasive species. Pheromone trapping showed that a stem borer pest of rice and sugarcane, Eoreuma loftini, occurred in five counties in central Florida but not in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), where rice is produced. Field surveys in the EAA revealed that Tagosodes orizicolus was the most abundant delphacid planthopper, but the insect occurred below damaging levels. These surveys also resulted in the first continental record for Balclutha jafara, a leafhopper.