Sugarcane Delphacid, Perkinsiella Saccharicida Kirkaldy 1903

The sugarcane delphacid, Perkinsiella saccharicida Kirkaldy, is a serious sugarcane pest of Australian origin. It posed a serious threat to the Hawaiian sugarcane industry during the early 1900s. The first North American record of this insect was reported on 4 August 1982, from Canal Point, Palm Beach County, Florida. Surveys quickly revealed that this delphacid ranged throughout southern Florida. To date, little economic damage has been reported; however, if there is a population explosion of the delphacid, it can be extremely damaging because of its feeding and ovipositional activities. Furthermore, it is a known vector of the virus that causes Fiji disease. This disease has been troublesome in the Orient, southern Pacific, and Madagascar. Fortunately, Fiji disease has not been detected in Hawaii or Florida.