Re: Mystery solved

---

• To: <g*@hort.net>
• Subject: Re: [CHAT] Mystery solved
• From: &* <k*@comcast.net>
• Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2004 12:37:20 -0500
• References: <E8814BFB-D8D9-11D8-9B83-000A95B94698@igc.org>

Pretty while they lasted, but you're doing the right thing, Jim.
Kitty

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "james singer" <jsinger@igc.org>
To: "Chat" <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2004 11:45 AM
Subject: [CHAT] Mystery solved


> Auralie got it absolutely right. Thorn bug [Umbonia crassicornis].
> Here's when the University of Florida says about it--
>
> The thorn bug is an occasional pest of ornamentals and fruit trees in
> southern Florida. During heavy infestations, nymphs and adults form
> dense clusters around the twigs, branches and even small tree trunks.
> Some hosts which have been severely damaged include Hibiscus sp.,
> powder-puff (Calliandra spp.), woman's tongue tree (Albizzia lebbek),
> and Acacia spp. Young trees of jacaranda (Jacaranda acutifolia) and
> royal poinciana (Delonix regia) with a diameter of 1.5 to 2 inches have
> been killed by thorn bugs in the Tampa area. The trunks were so heavily
> infested that is was difficult to place a finger anywhere on the trunk
> without touching a specimen. Damage is caused by sucking the sap and by
> oviposition cuts. Butcher (1953) reported that certain trees,
> especially some cassias, suffered considerable loss of foliage, and
> that pithecellobiums (Pithecellobium spp.) suffered general and
> extensive terminal twig death. He also mentioned that thorn bug
> honey-dew secretions and accompanying sooty mold development caused a
> nuisance to home owners. Kuitert (1958) noted that heavy accumulations
> of honey-dew sometimes occurred on parked automobiles. There are
> reports of barefooted children stepping on the spines of thorn bugs
> which drop out of trees. The wounds are slow healing and sometimes
> become infected.
>
> There was also a picture of it at the UF site. And now, just so it
> doesn't kill my acacia, I will go kill them.
>
> Island Jim
> Southwest Florida
> 27.0 N, 82.4
> Zone 10a
> Minimum 30 F [-1 C]
>
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