Mastigimas ernstii (Schwarz, 1899)

(Fig. 98, 99)

Materials examined. USA: Florida: Miami-Dade County: Miami, 6.vi.2003, Cedrela odorata, (Duraid Hanna) (FSCA # E2003-2480) (FSCA, slide mounted, ethanol) ; same but 11.vi.2004 (FSCA # E2003-2416) (FSCA, slide and dry mounted, ethanol) .

Diagnosis. Adults of Mastigimas ernstii (Fig. 98) are easy to recognize. The head is cleft in front, and there are high antennal tubercles. The third antennal segment is expanded at the base.

Distribution. Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica, and Venezuela (Burckhardt et al. 2013), USA (FL) (Halbert 2003b).

Mastigimas ernstii was discovered for the first time in Florida at a nursery in Miami (Miami-Dade County) by DPI inspector Duraid I. Hanna on Cedrela on 6.vi.2003 (FSCA# E2003-2480). Subsequent collections were made at the same nursery on 11.vi.2003 and 5.xi.2003 (FSCA#s E2003-2516, 4430).

Host plants. Cedrela odorata L. ( Meliaceae).

Comments. Immatures secrete white fluffy wax (Fig. 99). The species is not likely to be of economic significance in Florida, although Cedrela plants are considered to be high value nursery stock. The species has been found only in south Florida where the host plants occur. After the first detection, no specimens were found for several years, leading us to suspect that the population had been eradicated; however, a small outbreak occurred in Miami- Dade County in 2016, accompanied by suction trap collections and infested plants .

Carsidaridae Crawford, 1911

Paracarsidara Heslop-Harrison, 1960