In order to promote the early detection of exotic arthropod pests in conjunction with the mission of the National Plant Diagnostic Network, the Southern Plant Diagnostic Network (SPDN) hosted an intensive 3-day ‘Homoptera’ taxonomic training in December 2004. Eight national taxonomic experts led the training session including individuals from the Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, USDA-ARS, USDA-APHIS, Central Missouri State University, Illinois Natural History Survey, and Auburn University. Thirty-one participants from the following institutions attended the workshop as participants: the University of Georgia, Syngenta, Texas A&M University, Texas Cooperative Extension, USDA-APHIS, University of Florida, University of Puerto Rico, Auburn University, University of Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Louisiana State University, Cornell University, USDA-CSREES, Rutgers University, Mississippi State University, University of Kentucky, Clemson University, and the Republic of Korea. Outcomes of the workshop included 1) enhanced knowledge of identification of the ‘Homoptera’ 2) approximately 1000 pages of training material that was provided to the participants and 3) a proceedings of the new taxonomic keys developed for this training (currently in review) for publication in the Florida Entomologist. Plans for other upcoming taxonomic training sessions in the SPDN will also be discussed.