Friday, November 2, 2012

Lobate Lac Scale


Notification
New State Record
Lobate Lac Scale
Paratachardina pseudolobata  Kondo and Gullan (Hemiptera: Kerriidae)
 
Prepared by:
Bemarr Kumashiro, Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture Insect Taxonomist and WPDN PI Bemarr.R.Kumashiro@ hawaii.gov
October 30, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sooty mold covered     
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ficus benjamina     
 
 
 
Mature females adults and immatures dieback
Photos by HDOA staff
 
On October 12, 2012, an arborist from a tree service company brought to the Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture Taxonomy Lab samples of Ficus benjamina stems that were heavily covered by sooty mold. The sample was obtained from Moanalua Gardens, located in the Honolulu district, a few miles from the airport. Insect Taxonomist Bemarr Kumashiro
and Walter Nagarnine examined the samples. The red nymphs were readily noticable. Upon closer inspection, the derm of several adults could be seen imbedded in the sooty mold. Searching through literature, it was suspected that the pest was the lobate lac scale, Paratachardina pseudolobata Kondo and Gullan (Coccoidea: Kerriidae). This scale is a new state record, when confirmed. Kondo's and Gullan's paper, Taxonomic review of the lac insect genus Paratachardina...., showed photos (figure 2B) of P. pseudolobata which matched well with our specimens. In the afternoon of Oct. 12, HDOA staff went to Moanalua Gardens and collected additional samples from F. microcarpa, F. benjamina, F.religiosa, hibiscus, and mango. Infestations on some trees were very heavy.
 
On October 15, acting SPRO Neil Reimer, asked Kumashiro (WPDN PI) to process the sample through the NPDN protocol (which involves rapid identification and notification to proper authorities). Kumashiro called the SPHD office and notified Dorothy Alontaga, and WPDN deputy director Carla Thomas. Also, he alerted the Systematic Entomology Lab (Geoff White, Greg Evans, and Dug Miller) that samples will be corning and that the identification is urgent. Because it takes time for mounted slides to dry, alcohol
specimens were sent instead.
 
On October 19, Reimer received from USDA-APHIS-PPQ Emergency Domestic Programs, the identification that was made by Systematic Entomology Lab in Beltsville, MD. It was confirmed as the Lobate Lac Scale, Paratachardina pseudolobata.


This appears to be a serious pest of a wide variety of plants. See the link below. Besides the hosts listed above at Moanalua Gardens, it was also found on gardenia and Koelreuteria elegans. In the continental US, it is established only in Florida.

 

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