PCO Contributions To Entomology Are Many

It is a Myth Conception to lump all PCOs into a group of mere pesticide applicators or "poison peddlers." It may come as a surprise to those who belittle the industry and perceive PCOs as "polluters" to learn of the contributions PCOs have made to academic entomology.

Many PCOs have helped fill the pages of entomology textbooks with the discovery of new or introduced species. The following is a partial list of these contributions with the name of the species, the PCO who found it, the entomologist who identified it, and the date. Readers are invited to write with additional items for a possible sequel.

• Allodermanyssus sanguineus (Hirst), a house mite. Charles Pomerantz, 1947, found that this mite on mice caused rickettsial pox in homes in New York City. This was confirmed by R.J. Huebner and W.L. Jellison of the U.S. Public Health Office in Washington.

• Termite swarm dates in the United States are based on collections by PCOs made from 1964 to 1972 for Frances Weesner, a retired author and termite biologist.

• Data on the incidence of termites, ticks, and other species were recorded daily for 20 to 30 years by J.C. Ehrlich Company of Philadelphia and Elco Manufacturing Company of Pittsburgh. The data were given for research to Robert Snetsinger of Penn State University.

• Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki), the Formosan subterranean termite, was found in Hallandale, Fla., by Fred Diehl. It was identified by Ray Beal of the USDA Forest Service in 1980.

• C. formosanus was found in Orlando, Fla., by Thomas Walkup of Walkup Exterminating. It was identified by Ray Beal and Philip Koehler of the University of Florida in 1982.

• Blatella asahinai (Mizukubo), the Asian cockroach, was discovered in Lakeland, Fla., by Ed Shower, and was identified by Richard Brenner of the University of Florida in 1985.

• Amitermes floridensis (Scheffrahn et al.), a subterranean termite, was found in 1973 in St. Petersburg, Fla., by Phil Amick of Amick & Sons, but was misidentified at that time. This was corrected later by Rudi Scheffrahn of the University of Florida when John Mangold of Terminix found it in 1985.

• Nine new species of flea beetles, Phyllotreta spp., were discovered and described by Eric Smith of Dodson Brothers Exterminating, Lynchburg, Va., in 1985. Many members of this genus are economically important as pests of cruciferous plants such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

• Termite swarming dates of structure-infesting species throughout Florida were recorded in 1986 by John Mangold and the Terminix staff. The identifications were made by Rudi Scheffrahn.

• Incisitermes minor (Hagen), a drywood termite, was found in Toronto, Calif., in 1989 by R. Murphy of Aetna Pest Control. The identification was made by Rudi Scheffrahn.

• C. formosanus was found in Tampa, Fla., by Tim Berriault of Truly Nolen of America. It was identified by Rudi Scheffrahn in 1991.

• Tapinoma melanocephalum, the ghost ant, was found and identified in Newport Beach, Calif., by D.C. Taylor in 1991.

• C. formosanus was found in La Mesa, Calif., by Mike Cole of Algon Exterminating. It was identified by Rudi Scheffrahn in 1992.

• Harmonia axyridis, the multicolored Asian lady beetle, was found in Logan, Ohio, by B.B. Lewellen of Arab Pest Control, and was identified by William Lyon of Ohio State University in 1992.

• A collection of 53 ant species in Philadelphia County were collected by area PCOs and identified by extension entomologist Stanley Green in 1992.

• Cryptotermes chasei (Scheffrahn), a new species of drywood termite, was found in the Dominican Republic in 1993 by John Mangold of Terminix and was identified by Rudi Scheffrahn.

• Incisitermes minor (Hagen), a drywood termite, was found in Fort Myers, Fla., in 1993 by Robert Belmont of Belmont Pest Control. It was identified by Rudi Scheffrahn.

• Parvitermes subtilis, a new species of subterranean termite, was found in the Dominican Republic in 1993 by John Mangold of Terminix and identified by Rudi Scheffrahn.

• Coptotermes vastator (Light), a species of subterranean termite, was found in Guam in 1994 by Joe Lopez of No Ka Oi and identified by Nan-Yao Su of the University of Florida.

• Incisitermes furvus (Scheffrahn), a new species of drywood termite, was found in Puerto Rico in 1994 by John Mangold of Terminix and identified by Rudi Scheffrahn.

• Coptotermes brevis (Walker), a drywood termite, was found in Los Angeles in 1995 by Michael Lawton of Western Exterminator Company. It was identified by Rudi Scheffrahn.

• Heterotermes, a new species of subterranean termite, was found in Miami in 1995. Soldiers and workers were found by Burt Sage and Norman Silver of Residential Inspections; alates were found by Larry Weinberg of Guarantee Floridian Pest Control. The termites were identified by Rudi Scheffrahn.

• Parvitermes collinsae, a new species of subterranean termite, was found in the Dominican Republic in 1995 by John Mangold of Terminix and identified by Rudi Scheffrahn.

• Blatta lateralis (Walker), the Turkestan cockroach, was found in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., in 1993 by Hanif Gulmahamad of Terminix.

• Prenolepis imparis (Say), the small honey ant; Polistes dominulus (Christ), the Medwasp; and Chiracanthium, the sac spider: All three were found by Gerald Wegner of Varment Guard, Columbus, Ohio, and identified by William Lyon of Ohio State University.

I am indebted to several entomologists for help in assembling this list, especially to Eric Smith of Dodson Brothers Exterminating and Rudi Scheffrahn of the University of Florida.