Florida-introduced
Guides
Blaberus discoidalis
discoid cockroach, tropical cockroach, West Indian leaf cockroach, false death's head cockroach, Haitian cockroach, drummer
Blaberus discoidalis is a large cockroach in the family Blaberidae, native to Central America and the Caribbean. Adults measure 35–45 mm and are tan with a distinctive dark brown to black pronotal patch that resembles the death's head marking of Blaberus craniifer, hence the common name "false death's head cockroach." The species is gregarious and has been extensively studied in laboratory settings for its locomotion, sensory processing, and social behavior. It is widely used as feeder insects for captive reptiles and amphibians due to its ease of rearing and nutritional profile.
Boreioglycaspis
Boreioglycaspis is a genus of psyllids in the family Aphalaridae, containing species that specialize on Melaleuca and related Myrtaceae. The genus includes Boreioglycaspis melaleucae, introduced to Florida in 2002 as a classical biological control agent against the invasive tree Melaleuca quinquenervia. Species in this genus are characterized by their narrow host specificity and association with Australian native plants.
Boreioglycaspis melaleucae
melaleuca psyllid
Boreioglycaspis melaleucae is a psyllid native to Australia, introduced to Florida in 2002 as a classical biological control agent against the invasive tree Melaleuca quinquenervia. It is a phloem-feeding specialist on Melaleuca quinquenervia and has established self-sustaining populations in South Florida. The species produces waxy secretions from specialized integumentary structures and excretes honeydew. Its population dynamics in Florida are influenced by temperature extremes, with development ceasing below 10°C and above 30°C, and it faces parasitism by the adventive encyrtid wasp Psyllaephagus migrator.
Siproeta stelenes
Malachite
Siproeta stelenes, commonly known as the malachite, is a neotropical brush-footed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is named for the mineral malachite due to the brilliant green or yellow-green coloration on the upperside of its wings. The species ranges from Brazil through Central America to Mexico, with populations also established in southern Florida, southern Texas, and several Caribbean islands. Adults are long-lived and feed on diverse carbohydrate sources including flower nectar, rotting fruit, and even carrion. Larvae feed on plants in the family Acanthaceae.