Grylloprociphilus imbricator Fitch

The late Dr. S. W. Frost took adult aphids in a blacklight trap from 1958-1964 at Lake Placid (Archbold Biological Station), Highlands County, Florida. These specimens were described by Smith and Pepper (1968) as Grylloprociphilus Frosti. In May 1978, D. L. Culbert collected the apterous aphids on the roots of Taxodium distichum (L.) L. C. Rich at Gainesville, FL (fig. 1). The junior author identified them as Grylloprociphilus sp. Additional apterous aphids were collected in August, 1979 by C. C. Riherd from the same area on T. distichum. Riherd collected alates of this aphid in December and it was confirmed by the junior author to be G. Frosti. Further study of these aphids and a comparison with Grylloprociphilus fr0sti Smith and Pepper showed these aphids to be the same species. This study also showed Fagiphagus Smith to be a synonym of Grylloprociphilus and that frosti Smith and Pepper is a synonym of imbricator Fitch, 1851. We also concluded that T. distichum is the secondary host for this beech aphid. The life history and synonymy of this aphid were presented by Smith and Denmark (1984). The ants Pheidale moerens Wheeler and Solenopsis invicta Buren were tending these aphids in a greenhouse.