Polymerus testaceipes Stal, 1860

Matsunaga, Janis N., Howarth, Francis G. & Kumashiro, Bernarr R., 2019, New State Records and Additions to the Alien Terrestrial Arthropod Fauna in the Hawaiian Islands, Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 51 (1), pp. 1-71 : 10

Polymerus testaceipes Stal, 1860

NEW STATE RECORD

Polymerus testaceipes was found infesting Gerbera jamesonii (gerbera daisy) cultivars in Volcano, Hawaii, causing significant damage to the flowers. Upon closer inspection, lygaeids, aphids, and thrips were also found feeding on the flowers at high densities, causing uneven opening, however, the mirid appeared to be a new species in Hawaii. Specimens were sent to USDA-ARS-SEL in January 2013 and identified by T.J. Henry in December 2014.

According to T.J. Henry, Polymerus testaceipes is a highly variable species distributed throughout the Neotropics and established in Florida. Recorded hosts include various Asteraceae species, Borreria verticillata (Rubiaceae) , Chenopodium quinoa (Chenopodiaceae) ( Logarzo et al. 2005), Phaseolus sp. (Fabaceae) ( CABI 2015).

Collection records: HAWAII, Volcano , 27.IX.2012, ex. gerbera daisy, coll. S. Chun, det. T.J. Henry, 14.XII.2014. Voucher at HDOA .