DISTRIBUTION OF THE ASIAN CITRUS PSYLLID, DIAPHORINA CITRI KUWAYAMA (RHYNCHOTA: PSYLLIDAE) IN THE CARIBBEAN BASIN

Abstract

Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama 1907 (Rhynchota: Psyllidae), was described from Taiwan and is native to Asia. It has been known in the Western Hemisphere for several decades in Brazil (Hodkinson & White 1981; Lima 1942). During the past decade, its range has expanded into northern South America and the Caribbean. The focus of this paper is to document the distribution of D. citri in the Caribbean Basin. Burckhardt & Martinez (1989) reportedD. citri intercepted in France on citrus plants from Honduras and reconditione aux Etats-Unis avant d'etre importe en France. This report has been difficult to verify. There is no doubt that the intercepted insects were D. citri, but the source of the shipment is questionable. The circumstances under which these infested plants spent time being rehabilitated in the United States are not stated. Citrus plants from foreign sources are not allowed in the USA except under strict quarantine conditions (Title 7 (Agriculture), Chapter III, Part 319.19, Code of Federal Regulations). Additionally, D. citri was not present in the USA in 1989, so the infestation did not come from the USA. Visiting scientists Ronald Cave (Department of Entomology, University of Florida, pers. comm. 2003) and James Baker (Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, pers. comm. 2003) spent many months in Honduras in the 1990s and failed to find D. citri. In 1997, specimens of D. citri were found on citrus in Corrientes, Argentina, by Sara Caiceres (Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA) accession # E1997-3427). Evidently, the infestation was minor, because the Argentina Department of Agriculture was unaware of the presence of D. citri in Argentina in 1998. This low infestation level suggests that D. citri had been there prior to 1997 long enough for populations to subside to low levels controlled by local natural enemies. In 1998, D. citri was found in Guadeloupe (Etienne et al. 1998) and in south Florida (FSCA# E1998-1751) (Halbert 1998; Halbert et al. 2003). Since then, movement throughout the Caribbean has been rapid. In 1999, D. citri was found on Abaco Island and Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas, on both Citrus spp. and on Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack. (FSCA# E1999-1975, 1976, Robert C. Bullock and Robert R. Pelosi, University of Florida). Two years later, high numbers of D. citri were intercepted on citrus fruit from Abaco, Bahamas sent for processing in Ft. Pierce, FL (FSCA# E2001-747, 850, 978, 1135, and 2049, Kenneth L. Hibbard and James J. Walukiewicz, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry (DPI) inspectors). These repeated interceptions of D. citri indicate beyond doubt that D. citri can move on fresh, unprocessed citrus fruit. Infestations were found in West Bay, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands in June 2000 (FSCA# E2000-2102, Joan Steer and Sasha Frederick). In 2001,D. citri was intercepted in passenger baggage on leaves of Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengel from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, probably indicating a population of D. citri on that island (FSCA# E2001-696). An infestation was found in Jamaica for the first time in Bodles, St. Catherine on 18 January 2003 (FSCA# E2003-259, Sharon McDonald). Diaphorina citri was first found in the Dominican Republic in September 2001, but because of its wide distribution in the country, we believe its introduction occurred at least one year before its detection. The specimens from the Dominican Republic are housed at the Museum of Natural History, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. All collections are by C.A. Nuiiez unless otherwise noted. They are labeled as follows: 17 adults on Murraya paniculata-Distrito Nacional, Santo Domingo, Ciudad de los Millones, 16-IX-2001; 9 adults on Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, Plaza de la Cultura Juan Pablo Duarte, 20-IX-2001; 6 adults, 1 nymph on Murraya paniculata, Ensanche Miraflores, 21-IX-2001; 3 adults on Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f., 2 adults on Citrus reticulata Blanco, 6 adults on Citrus limetta Risso, 5 adults on Citrus sinensis, 7 adults on Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr., Urbanizaci6n Las Praderas, 22IX-2001; 7 adults, 3 nymphs on Citrus aurantium L., Ensanche Quisqueya, 23-IX-2001; 11 adults on Murraya paniculata, 3 adults on Citrus limon, 3 adults on Citrus sinensis, Province of Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo Oeste, Engombe 26-VII2002; 6 adults, 9 nymphs on Murraya paniculata, Zona Industrial, Herrera, 14-XI-2002; 8 adults, 10 nymphs on Murraya paniculata, Santo Domingo Este, Ensanche Ozama, 8-VIII-2002; 7 adults on Citrus sinensis, San Cristobal, General Leger Ave., 30-IX-2001; 9 adults on Murraya paniculata, Monte Plata, Parque Central, 23-VII-