Bactericera californica

(Crawford, 1910)

California psyllid

Bactericera californica is a of in the Triozidae, first described by Crawford in 1910. It is native to western North America and has been documented in California, Arizona, Colorado, and Arkansas. As a member of the Bactericera, it belongs to a group of psyllids that includes several economically significant agricultural pests. The species is poorly studied compared to its B. cockerelli, the potato psyllid, and little is known about its specific or associations.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Bactericera californica: /bækˈtɛrɪˌsɛrə ˌkælɪˈfɔrnɪkə/

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Identification

Bactericera californica can be distinguished from the closely related and morphologically similar potato (Bactericera cockerelli) primarily by geographic origin and subtle morphological differences. psyllids in this are small, approximately 2 mm in length, with clear wings held rooflike over the body and characteristic white markings on a predominantly dark body. Precise identification requires examination of genitalic structures or molecular analysis.

Distribution

Documented from California, Arizona, Colorado, and Arkansas based on GBIF distribution records. The appears to have a western North American distribution, though its full range remains incompletely characterized.

Similar Taxa

  • Bactericera cockerelliExtremely similar congeneric ; B. cockerelli is a major agricultural pest of potatoes and other solanaceous crops, while B. californica has no documented economic impact. The two species require careful morphological or molecular examination to distinguish.

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