Tiny redish-brown heteroptera with strange facial features - Thaumastocoris peregrinus

Moved

… junkyardsparkle, 18 July, 2016 - 12:41am

I found dozens of these today, both adults and nymphs

on Eucalyptus leaves in Heartwell Park in Long Beach, CA. I've been monitoring Eucalyptus over the past year or so for psyllids and this is the first time I've encountered this bug, but they were quite common at this location today. I didn't think it was anything special at the time so I released it after photographing, but if I need to send samples or notify anybody please let me know.

… Chris Mallory, 16 July, 2016 - 10:17pm

I've mailed you contact information...

...for the interested folks at UC Riverside, and sent them a mail about your discovery as well. We never found any more around here, so I was starting to think it was just a freak accident of sorts... maybe they'll end up in the guide after all. :/

… junkyardsparkle, 16 July, 2016 - 10:53pm

Thanks!

I sent along an email with the precise coordinates, photos, and other data. We'll see what happens from here. Hopefully they have not become established; by my count this is the 12th Eucalypt pest that I've personally photographed in the county.

… Chris Mallory, 17 July, 2016 - 12:13am

response from Eric Gordon

"We suspect that this pest will or already has become established. The site you've located them a may be closer to the original inoculation source than the previous sighting"

Based on this and based on the localized population that I found, I'm thinking we should move these into the guide. =v= made a page for it a couple weeks ago, here.

I also uploaded my image (not as good as yours) to bugguide:

… Chris Mallory, 18 July, 2016 - 12:03am

I didn't know about the page...

...but if it's there, it should have images, I reckon. Commencing move... welcome to California, bug!

… junkyardsparkle, 18 July, 2016 - 12:44am

Moved

Moved from Lygaeoidea.

Placed here pending evidence of establishment.

… Ken Wolgemuth, 15 June, 2016 - 5:19pm

Thaumastocoris

This is an invasive palm-feeding Thaumastocoris, and folks at CDFA/APHIS need to be notified. Is there an exact street address for this bug encounter?

… Doug Yanega, 15 June, 2016 - 4:36pm

Just sent an email...

...in response to Eric Gordon at UCR with information about specific location (southern part of North Hollywood, just north of SR134). Found indoors. Maybe I'll go out looking for Eucalyptus now...

… junkyardsparkle, 15 June, 2016 - 5:41pm

brain fart

Sorry, brain fart. Eucalyptus-feeding, not palm.

… Doug Yanega, 15 June, 2016 - 4:57pm

Is this established...

...or accidental/adventive?

… Ken Wolgemuth, 15 June, 2016 - 4:52pm

Presumably accidental, hopefu

Presumably accidental, hopefully not well-established, but goodness only knows how urgently people might be about responding to quarantine the area if it's a small affected area.

… Doug Yanega, 15 June, 2016 - 4:59pm

Biocontrol

We have been introducing a number of biocontrols to combat non-native thistles, knapweeds, St John's wort, loosestrife, water hyacinth, etc. Why shouldn't we look at this insect as a eucalyptus biocontrol?
No, I am not the one who is smuggling eucalyptus biocontrols to California :)

… Beatriz Moisset, 21 July, 2016 - 6:48pm

Many thanks for the ID.

I assume that you have reported, or will be reporting,the sighting. Correct?

… Ken Wolgemuth, 15 June, 2016 - 5:23pm

Moved tentatively

Moved from ID Request.

Placed here pretty much by the process of elimination. It's a distinctive little critter, but I'm not finding a good match. I've asked an expert to have a look, so with luck we'll have a name before too long.

… Ken Wolgemuth, 11 June, 2016 - 9:36am

Thanks...

I especially found the structure of the eyes fascinating, would they maybe suggest Geocoridae? The slightly stubby legs make it seem baby-like to me... is this a general characteristic of juveniles, or am I just projecting anthropomorphic attributes where they don't apply?

… junkyardsparkle, 11 June, 2016 - 4:43pm

It's the structures...

...between the eyes that baffle me. I don't remember seeing anything like them before.

… Ken Wolgemuth, 11 June, 2016 - 7:07pm

The "scoops"?

Yeah, those are weird, too... but I'm really new to all this, so I can't really discern between things that seem interesting to me and things that might be... Actually Interesting. :P

… junkyardsparkle, 11 June, 2016 - 7:59pm