WINTER NUMBER 47 
Sparganothis (Platynata) sp.—A moth, which is of a light brown color, 
deposits its eggs in the avocado blossom cluster. The larvae which hatch 
from these eggs in turn tie the blossom cluster together with their webs 
to form a nest; the larvae feed on the flower parts. This insect has not 
been noticed in large numbers nor is it widely distributed. Wherever they 
should become abundant, they would be capable of considerable injury. The 
larvae when full grown are about a half inch in length and a dark green 
in color. 
Lypsimena fuscata, Lec. and EHlaphidion inerme, Newm.—These two 
Cerambycid beetles attack the dying or unhealthy branches of the avocado. 
This is true especially after a freeze. If the dying branches are allowed 
to remain the borers or larvae often burrow down into the healthy tissue 
beyond the axis of the branches. 
A number of scale insects of minor importance have at times been noticed 
on the avocado doing damage to individual trees. Some of these are the 
Common Mealy Bug, Pseudococcus citri Risso; Florida Wax Scale, Cero- 
plastes floridensis Comst.; Hemispherical Scale, Saissetia hemisphaerica 
Targ.; and the European Fiorinia, Fiorinia fioriniae Targ. 
BENEFICIAL INSECTS 
A number of beneficial insects, either predatory or parasitic on the prev- 
iously named injurious insects of the avocado in Florida, are as follows: 
Sympiesis dolichagaster, Ashm.—Represents a parasite which keeps the 
avocado leaf roller in check to a considerable extent. It is a small greenish 
colored hymenopterous insect. 
Chrysopa lateralis, Guer.—This lace wing fly is present on the avocado in 
considerable numbers at the time the avocado red spider mite is present in 
abundance. The larvae of this species carry with them a protective covering 
of small particles which is characteristic of some lace wing flies. The larvae 
devour large numbers of the red spider mites. 
Franklinothrips vespiformis, Crawford.—This is a large species of thrips. 
It is black with a whitish band and is very active on the foliage when dis- 
turbed. It is present in large numbers on the avocado in the late winter or 
early summer. The larvae and adults of this thrips destroy large numbers 
of all stages of the avocado red spider mite. The adults resemble ants on 
the foliage. It is also predatory on the larvae of Heliothrips hemorrhodalis 
Bouche’ and the nymphal stages of Hmpoasca minuenda Ball. It attacks 
the avocado white fly, Trialeurodes floridensis Q., in the larval and pupal 
stages as well as the egg stage. This thrips is peculiar in its habits in that 
it spins a cocoon, on the lower surface of the leaf, in which the larva pupates. 
The larvae are a deep red in color also possessing a whitish band on the body. 
Scymnus utilis, Horn.—This insect is commonly found among the red 
spider mite colonies on the avocado. It is a small lady bird beetle about the 
size of a pin head, black in color. With the beetles may be found their dark 
brown larvae, also feeding on all stages of the red spider mite. This species 
is very beneficial. 
Scymnus kinzeli, Casey —Another lady bird beetle. It is larger than the 
former and is bicolored, abdomen black and head reddish. It is never abund- 
ant, however. 
Leptothrips mali, Hinds.—This is a large black thrips and is very active 
on the foliage. When disturbed it elevates its body as if going to sting. 
