Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc, 1909)

Halbert, Susan E. & Burckhardt, Daniel, 2020, The psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) of Florida: newly established and rarely collected taxa and checklist, Insecta Mundi 2020 (788), pp. 1-88 : 54

* Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc, 1909)

Materials examined. Specimens intercepted from western USA and Mexico, along with reference specimens provided from a laboratory culture in Washington State.

Diagnosis. Separated from other Florida species of Bactericera as indicated in the keys above.

Distribution. Western and mid-western North America; adventive in Central America, Ecuador, Australia and New Zealand ( Ouvrard 2020).

Host plants. Polyphagous, in particular Solanaceae .

Comments. This is a serious pest on Solanaceae as vector of Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (Lso). Currently, it is not known from Florida. This species has been intercepted 134 times since 2006. Interceptions consist mostly of immatures feeding on the calyxes of Capsicum peppers, but there also have been 18 interceptions of adult hitchhikers on lettuce. Interceptions are most common in the fall, peaking in October and November. Many of our intercepted B. cockerelli have been tested for Lso, with positive specimens found in April, June, September, October, and November (DPI unpublished data).