The Scale March 1999

Editor:
Dug Miller
Systematic Entomol. Lab.
Plant Sciences Institute
Agric. Res. Service, USDA
Building 005, Room 137
BARC-West, Beltsville, MD
20705-2350 USA
FAX 01 301-504-6482
dmiller@sel.barc.usda.gov

Many of you are aware that two of our colleagues Francesco Porcelli and Yair Ben-Dov have combined to establish a new forum for communication among coccidologists. It is a web site where items of interest can be presented and discussed in the rapid communication mode available through the Internet. Some information about this exciting new home page is given below. Please support this endeavor because it has taken a lot of energy and effort to get it started and should prove an interesting way of discussing issues of interest. The following are the "Opening words from the Editors"", as given in Issue No. 1 (December 1998) of Scale Insect Forum. "At the business meeting of the VIII International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies (ISSIS - 31 August - September 6, 1998, Wye, England) colleagues suggested establishing a web site on the Internet to improve and enhance communication among scale insect students. This site would facilitate communication of information, in a faster and more frequent format than 'The Scale' newsletter, which currently is issued only once a year.. In response to this request we have agreed to collaborate and establish a new web site. We are pleased that within a short period of time the goal was achieved and the first issue of Scale Insect Forum is available on the Web. We anticipate that this new web site will become a useful tool and will enhance communication about scale insect workers. Because Scale Insect Forum is new, feedback from colleagues and other users will be extremely valuable. We would appreciate receiving your comments, corrections and suggestions, because they will contribute to improved presentation and function of this site." If you want more information or have suggestions you can contact Francesco at scaleinfo@iea8.uniba.it. Please go to the site at http://193.204.185.103/scaleinfo/scale.htm and see what it has to offer.

Editors Note: With the advent of Scale Info (http://193.204.185.103/scaleinfo/scale.htm) it seems more appropriate for this kind of information to be located there rather in "The Scale" so that it will be more timely. I am sure that Francesco Porcelli or Yair Ben-Dov will be happy to include any information that you think would be of interest to the coccidology community.

Yair Ben-Dov, Department of Entomology, Institute of Plant Protection, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel: Since July 1995 the major project (a joint project with Dug Miller, USDA, Beltsville, Maryland) in our laboratory is the development of "ScaleNet," a computerized database of the scale insects of the world. The work at Bet Dagan is carried out by Yair Ben-Dov and is assisted by Ms. Viktoria German and by Ms. Yulia Bir. A detailed report on the project was published by Dug Miller and by us in "The Scale" vol. 22 (March 1998). In September 1998, during ISSIS-VIII, a detailed presentation and demonstration of "ScaleNet' was given to the participants of the Symposium. Since July 1998 I have been studying at the Laboratoire d'Entomologie, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, where I am working on a study with Daniele Matile-Ferrero on a revision of the Mediterranean Mealybugs. The scale insect fauna of this region includes some 'old' taxa from the 18th and 19th centuries. In the Coccoidea Collection in MNHN, Paris are deposited specimens of some of these 'old' species. These specimens have proven to be of great significance to the study. Francesco Porcelli and I have joined efforts to establish a new website, called the "Scale Insect Forum. " Information on this website is given at the beginning of this issue of "The Scale."

Evelyna Danzig, Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia: I am continuing the revision of mealybugs of the former USSR. I am nearly finished with the part on Peliococcus Borchs., Peliococcopsis Borchs., and Spinococcus Kir., which includes 20 species. It will be published in Zoosystematica Rossica in English. In March in Entomol. Obozr. N1 my revision of the genus Puto Sign. (including Ceroputo Sulc and Macrocerococcus Leon. as synonyms) will be published. I just received a message from Valentina Yasnosh that Zoja Konstantinovna Hadzhibeyli passed away on February 2 after a prolonged illness at the age of 88. Her daughter gave the collection to the Institute of the Plant Protection, Tbilisy, Georgia. Last autum 2 coccidologists visited our Institute. Just after the ISSIS Symposium, Jan Giliomee spent 2 days in St. Petersburg. Unfortunately, I was still in England. During the last 2 weeks of September Francesco Porcelli spent many interesting hours in my laboratory. He was working with the scale literature and borrowed a lot of slides of Diaspididae for his project (now our joint project) on the antennae of this family. He worked very hard, but his visit was especially pleasant and usefully for me and my assistant Margarita. He left us some dissections of valuable material and taught Margarita how to improve her preparations of slides.

John Davidson, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, USA: Since my retirement in 1994 I have kept my hand in at the University of Maryland Dept of Entomology by teaching an Ornamentals Pest course and by running a short course for the green industry. My scale work revolves around projects with Dug Miller. We recently discovered and described Hemiberlesia neodiffinis, an armored scale previously confused with H. diffinis. We just completed a year long observation on the life history of Putnam scale, Diaspidiotus ancylus, on blueberry in southern N.J. with Dr. S. Paravalapu of Rutgers University, this to be published shortly. The remainder of my time is spent working on our 20 year project covering the armored scales of economic importance in the U.S.

Imre Foldi, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Entomology, Paris: I continue the generic revision of this family Margarodidae which is well progressed now. The most time consuming so the hardest part of this work e.g. the illustrations (females and some males) are now made for sixty on 77 genera. A cladistic analysis is undertaken also on this family and related groups for serving a basis for its classification. This work is difficult because there is no too much usable characters and in numerous cases their homology could not well establish. To assure a better understanding of the margarodids, a morpho-anatomic study is also associated at this revision and finally completing with the preparation a systematic catalogue. In 1997, I published a work on the defense strategies in scale insects and proposed a hypothesis of phylogey of the scale insects, based on a cladistic analysis. This phylogeny was used as a reference to provide hypotheses for a evolutionary scenario concerning habitat (feeding site) and the type of protective structure for all the scale insects. This is really a fascinating research area. The same methode will be applied for the basal groups e.g. margarodids and related groups trying establish a evolutionary scenario on the origin of the scale insects. About systematic studies, I am finishing this year a work on the diversity and evolution of populations of the scale insects of the French Mediterranean Islands in the natural and man modified environments. I worked really in the very nice area from sea level to high mountain during several years in differents periode of the year. The field work in these beautiful environmental conditions I am wishing to my all colleagues coccidologists. The results will be compare with data from 65 years to see how the fauna is modified.

Jan Giliomee, Department of Entomology & Nematology, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa: Waktola Wakgari, a PhD student, is making good progress with his studies on the biology of Ceroplastes destructor. A paper has been published in African Entomology in which the developemental stages are described. (6:303-316). Jan Giliomee and Ferenc Kozár have nearly completed a paper on the Asterolecaniidae of South Africa. Jan has also relocated the only known indigenous eriococcid, Calycicoccus merwei, not seen since its description by Brain in 1919, but still present in its type locality. It forms a beautiful little gall on the leaves of its host. Specimens have been sent to Penny Gullan in Australia for molecular phylogenetic studies.

Ray Gill, California Department of Food and Agriculture: About the only thing that is going on here at CDFA is my next "Scale Insects of California" book. It will be the fourth in the series and the last on the scale insects. It is on the mealybugs of California and was actually written some years ago. Over the last year I have been trying to bring it up to date and to get it ready for printing. I do not know at this point if I can fund it this year if I am able to get it done. The main hurdle here is time and a number of illustrations that will have to be completed.

Avas B. Hamon, Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Gainesville, Florida USA: I have a 3 year (unfunded) project with Nereida Mestre of the Instituto de Ecologia y Sistematica, Ministerio de Ciencia Tecnologia y Medic Ambiente, in Havana, Cuba to collect, identify, and describe Coccidae of Cuba. She is presently doing extensive collecting and slide mounting, and will visit the FSCA for the second time later this summer (1999). I plan to visit there and collect in the year 2000. Afterwards, we plan to produce a joint publication on the Coccidae of Cuba.

From Rosa Henderson, Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand: It was great having Chris Hodgson visit here last (southern) summer, January-February 1998, and I think he got a feeling for the native scale insect fauna by collecting in the forests whilst travelling around with his family. However, by coming at that time of year he missed the major difference between our forests and those deciduous forests of Europe, say -it was some time later that the point about NZ forests being evergreen finally came up, with regard to the many scale species which overwinter here on the leaves of trees. We have made good progress on our joint revision of the NZ soft scales, the manuscript on the adult females has been submitted for peer review, and is due to be published in the Fauna of New Zealand series before the end of 1999. We propose 8 new genera and 27 new species along with Maskell's previously described 16 species and the 14 established exotic species. Colour photos and some scanning electron micrographs will be included. An earlier paper on one of the new genera, Pounamococcus came out in December 1998. Chris intends the next part of this revision to be the adult males for which he has the basis done already, followed by a volume on all the known immature stages of the indigenous species. I much enjoyed meeting fellow coccidologists at Wye College for ISSIS VIII last year.

Chris Hodgson, Wye College, Wye, England, UK: I have been working with Rosa Henderson on a revision of the New Zealand soft scales. Details of this are covered in her letter and so I will not repeat them here. However, two other items might be of interest. 1. I am now about half-way through editing the Proceedings of ISSIS VIII. It is my aim to have finished this by the end of March, although I think that may be a bit optimistic. I shall then be sending the manuscripts off to reviewers to see if there are any points that I have missed. Hopefully, the reviewing and final corrections should be in by the end of June and so I am optimistically hoping that the manuscript should go to Entomologica sometime mid- to late summer. I am not sure what their time scale is but it may be on course for publication in 1999. That will, however, depend very much on the second point, which will come as a bit of a surprise to many people! 2. I am leaving Wye, probably at the end of the summer term and should be contactable through the Entomology Department, National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, Wales, from about 1st August onwards. I shall be sending out e-mails with contact addresses and e-mail addresses as soon as I have them to anyone whose e-mail address I have through ISSIS, etc. Otherwise I shall rely on "The Scale" to advertise my whereabouts for those who are interested. This move could be complex from my point of view and so could hold up the publication of the Proceedings if I have not managed to move it along as I would wish! I have now been at Wye for 32 years. Nonetheless, the College does not see fit to offer me promotion and I have therefore decided to leave and work on scales full-time! I shall finish the revision of the soft scales of New Zealand (the males and immature stages are partially complete) and then I am hoping that Penny Gullan and I can concentrate on Australia. However, any other interesting projects that people can suggest, I would be delighted to consider!

Michael Kosztarab, Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, USA: 1998 was both a good and a bad year for me. It was good since I was able to complete the manuscript with the survey results on the human resources in coccidology and to give a talk on this topic at the 8th International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies at Wye College, University of London last September. Two manuscripts are in print: one with Mary Rhoades as co-author on "Disjunct Distribution and Endemism in the Appalachian scale insect fauna", and also "Revision of the Tribe Serrolecaniini", with senior author H.J. Hendricks. The latter was scheduled for release last January (1999) in Berlin. On the down side, I moved my office last December to my home, but still receive mail to both the office and my home address. My email (mkoszt@vt.edu) comes home, but fax messages (540-231-9131) still go to the Department. Please do not send e-mail with attachments that require downloading. The scale bulletin and books from our former laboratory are on sale by the Virginia Museum of Natural History, 1001 Douglas Ave., Martinsville, VA 24112, USA (Tel: 01-540-666-8629). I just packed my leftover library on scale insects to go to Paris Lambdin, who is coordinating the writing of a manual for the identification of scale insects of southeastern North America, and who has two graduate students studying scale insects.

Jan Koteja, Institute of Applied Zoology, Krakow, Poland: I presented my current studies on fossil scale insects at the ISSIS VIII (poster). In the meantime the number of fossils available for examination has significantly grown, reaching 876 specimens. Also my "private" collection of fossil coccids reached 310 specimens. By the end of March, I hope to get another portion of amber inclusions, at the International Amber Fair (Amberif '99) held at Gdansk. What is more important, the collection includes more and more Cretaceous material. Among them there is a sample of Lebanese amber definitely different from recent forms (in cooperation with Mr. Dany Azar, owner of a large collection of Lebanese inclusions). Dr Dmitry Shchervakov from the Moskow Paleoentomological Laboratory informed me of a discovery of an Upper Jurassic coccid impressions (I have not seen it yet), thus the scale insect fossil record successfully crossed the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary (earlier Mesozoic records apparently refer to some other taxa, and not to coccids). Also, with the accumulation of fossil material, some special cases appear; several have been described in a paper ("Sudden death in amber?"). Currently my main task is completing the drawings for the study of the New Jersey amber scale insects which include about 8 families and perhaps 12 species. The New Jersey coccids really are an unusual sample in many ways. As far as I know, Dr. Bozena Lagowska and her student are working on the Polish scale insect fauna, Dr. Anna Dziedzicka on introduced and greenhouse species, and Dr. Teresa Szklarzewicz on coccid ovarioles. All my best wishes to you and "The Scale" readers.

Ferenc Kozár, Plant Protection Institute, Budapest, Hungary: I have become very interested in the scale insects collected in Berlese samples and have found several groups to be very common, particularly ortheziids. In collaboration with Dug Miller, we have nearly finished with the work on Ortheziola of the World. The genus now includes 23 species, most of which are found in Africa but two are present in Europe and one is found in Asia. It is interesting that there are no species in North and South America, Australia, or the Pacific. My current research is on the genus Newsteadia of the World. Several new species are being described from Afric and there are ten new species from Australia and the Pacific. Some other species are waiting for treatment from the Oriental Region. Based on the samples available, there are few undescribed species in Central and South America. Several new species of the strange Carayonemidae scale family were also found in Berlese samples from Central and South America. This family looks as if it can survive in aquatic habitats. Perhaps hydrobiologists are aware of them. Please see if you can find them.

Dug Miller, Systematic Entomology Laboratory, USDA, Beltsville, Maryland: Many things have been going on at Beltsville including visits from Ferenc Kozár ( to work on Ortheziidae) and Doug Williams (to work on Furcaspis). The grant that Yair Ben-Dov and I obtained from the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund will be running out in July of this year (although there will be a one-year extension without funds) and we are vigorously looking for additional monies that will allow us to finish the retrospective part of the project on ScaleNet. The biggest hurdle is to input data on the Diaspididae which Maren Gimpel (on the US side) has been working on for nearly a year. A manuscript catalog on the eriococcids is complete and will be submitted to a publisher soon. One of the exciting things for the year was a National Science funded trip to Davis, California to help them improve their scale collection. Chris Hodgson called it a mini-ISSIS since those present were: Jack Beardsley, Ray Gill, Penny Gullan, Doug Williams and myself. We spent 2 weeks trying to identify and organize the extensive dry collection that is deposited there. It was great fun looking at material and drawing from the expertise of all present to make a determination. Although we worked long hours and looked at way too many little boxes, a good time was had by all. There is some very valuable material there; so when you are doing work on a group we highly recommend that you contact Steve Heydon, Bohart Museum, University of California, Davis, California 95616 to see what is available. We did not have time to work in the slide collection, but it also is quite exhaustive. We are grateful to Lynn Kimsey for finding the funds to allow us to go there.

Francesco Porcelli, Istituto di Entomologia Agraria, Università di Bari, Italy: While analysis of the morphology of Diaspididae (mainly functional morphology of sense organs) is my primary research effort, in order to enhance the control of diaspidid pests I am also building a multimedia database on Diaspididae and related organism. This project is being funded by a grant from my University. My student Agnese Ingegno has just completed her PhD Thesis onNidularia

pulvinata Plachon reporting data on morphology of all stages, biology, predators/parasitoids, damage, and control. A study on Septobasidium/Diaspididae interactions is starting thanks to the

help from many Colleagues who responded through Scale Insect Forum. The first paper giving a list of the available collection material will hopefully be ready soon. Recently I have become fascinated by the "Zonobiome" concept and its possible use in searching for natural enemies of Diaspididae. I may try to input data into a GIS (Geographical Information System) program to

search for biocontrol agents. Francesco also wrote: While studying the antennae of female Diaspididae I wondered if it would be possible to borrow specimens of 80% of the species. Evelyna Danzig has started the process by lending me about 300 slides. I would be delighted to have a loan of other material from other readers of "The Scale." Please let me know if this is possible. My address is "Istituto di Entomologia Agraria, Università di Bari, Via Amendola, 165/a, 70125 Bari, Italy." I can be reached by e-mail as follows: porcelli@agr.uniba.it

Karen Veilleux, Blacksburg, Virginia: I continue compiling annotated bibliographies of scale and aphid literature and I am responsible for the ever increasing reference file in ScaleNet [http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/scalenet/scalenet.htm]. I am most anxious to have recent reprints and will include them in ScaleNet soon after I receive them. Please send them to 710 Cedarview Dr., Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA or fax them to 815-371-2472. My e-mail address is veilleux@vt.edu.

Xie Yingping, Department of Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, P. R. China Happy New Year! I want to draw attention to a book that I wrote which was published in February, 1998. It is "The Scale Insects of the Forests and Fruit Trees in Shanxi of China". This research is the result of work that I did as a M.S. student working with Prof. Tang Fang-de. Since then I have continued my research in coccidology and worked in the Department of Forestry in Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China. Last April I was promoted to Professor of Forest Entomology. My main research focus is on scale insects on forests and fruit trees and on environmental pollution and scale insects. Now, I am working on a Ph.D. thesis in the Department of Biology of Nankai University, in Taijin, China.

On February 2, 1999 Zoja K. Hadzhibeyli passed away after a prolonged illness at the age of 88. She was a very famous specialist of scale insects and a good friend of N. Borchsenius. Her many papers and her monograph "Coccids of the subtropical zone of the Georgian SSR" (in Russian), 1983 provided important new knowledge on the Coccoidea of all of the Caucasus.

Ferris (in Zimmerman 1948), in describing Pseudococcus floriger from the Hawaiian islands, stated that the vulva in that species exhibited "a peculiar, slightly sclerotized internal folding which has suggested the specific name." He noted further that "this disappears or becomes obscured in old females after the eggs have been deposited" (sic!). The same sort of vulvar sclerotization is seen in a few other Hawaiian Pseudococcus species (e.g.: P. nudus Ferris, P. swezeyi Ehrhorn). Similar vulvar sclerotization also is present in some extra-Hawaiian Pacific species of Pseudococcus, such as P. orchidicola Takahashi and P. turkensis Beardsley. In the former the vulva has an unusual and characteristic shape and exhibits what appear to be internal lateral pockets (fig. 1).

All of the Pseudococcus species that possess such sclerotized or saccate vulvae that I have seen apparently are ovoviviparous forms. These species have a relatively small number of multilocular disc pores which are restricted to the ventral segments immediately around the vulvar opening.

Pseudococcus Westwood is a large and taxonomically difficult genus. As presently constituted, it is probably not monophyletic. As is the case in all mealybug genera, classification in Pseudococcus is based almost exclusively on the external morphology of the neotenic adult females, and the information available on other stages is very incomplete.

In a paper on adult males of Hawaiian mealybug (Beardsley 1960) those of P. longispinus (Targioni-Tozzetti) (as P. adonidum (L.)) and several other Pseudococcus spp. were characterized. Emphasis was placed on the form of the penial sheath, and on various non-genitalic characters useful in distinguishing between species. The intromittent organ (aedeagus) was described and figured for P. adonidum, but was not compared with the aedeagi of other species. This was due in part to the difficulty in obtaining slide preparations that clearly showed the form of the often partly or entirely membranous aedeagus.

More recently, while attempting to clarify the identity of some Pacific Pseudococcus, I examined the adult males of several species, and noticed the presence of lateral aedeagal lobes in a few of these. These structures, which appear to arise near the base of the aedeagus and take different forms in different species, apparently have not been reported previously in males of other mealybugs. Their function is yet undemonstrated. However, they appear to occur only in those species in which the female vulva is modified in some way, as described above. They are absent in P. longispinus and in other species in which the vulva is unmodified. The form of the aedeagus in P. orchidicola, in which the lateral lobes of the aedeagus are very strongly developed, is illustrated in fig. 2. In this species the penial sheath (fig. 3) is exceptionally broad, presumably to accommodate the large aedeagus. Perhaps the lateral aedeagal lobes, which appear to be at least somewhat flexible, and the lateral pockets associated with the vulva in the females of this species, have the sort of lock and key type of relationship that is characteristic of the genitalia in many other insects. If these structures are species specific, as I believe them to be, they may provide morphological characters that can be utilized to help distinguish between species in this taxonomically difficult group of Pseudococcus.

Beardsley, J. W. 1960. A preliminary study of the males of some Hawaiian mealybugs (Homoptera:Pseudococcidae). Proc. Hawaii. Entomol. Soc. 17:199-243.

Zimmerman, E. C. 1948. Insects of Hawaii. Vol. 5, Homoptera: Sternorrhyncha. vi + 464. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu.

Abd-Rabou, S. 1998. An annotated list of hymenopterous parasitoids of armoured scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Diaspididae) in Egypt. Page 9 in VIIIth International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies. 41 pp.

Notes: [Conference held at Wye College, University of London, Aug. 31st - Sept. 6th, 1998.] Abstract only. Eighteen species of hymenopterous parasitoids of armoured scale insects (Diaspididae) were recorded from various host plants in Egypt in a survey between 1994-1997. Ten of these parasitoids were new records from Egypt: Aphelinidae - Ablerus atomon, Aphytis lignanensis, A. phoenicis, Aphytis sp., Coccophagoides sp., Encarsia aurantii, Marietta leopardina and Marietta sp.; host range and distribution.

Abd-Rabou, S., Hanafi, A. & Hussein, N. 1998. Notes on the parasitoids of the soft brown scale, Coccus hesperidum L. (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae) in Egypt. Page 9 in VIIIth International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies. 41 pp.

Notes: [Conference held at Wye College, University of London, Aug. 31st - Sept. 6th, 1998.] Abstract only. Parasitoid species found in association with Coccus hesperidum on host plants in different localities in Egypt are Coccophagus bivittatus, C. ishii, C. scutellaris, Marietta picta, Diversinervus elegans, Metaphycus flavus, M. helvolus, Microterys flavus, Prochilonerus aegyptiacus, Alaptus pallidicornis and Scutellista cyanea.

Abdrashitova, N. 1998. Dendrophilous coccoids (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of the walnut-fruit forest area of Kyrgyzstan. Page 10 in VIIIth International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies. 41 pp.

Notes: [Conference held at Wye College, University of London, Aug. 31st - Sept. 6th, 1998.] Abstract only. 45 coccoid species were discovered belonging to 27 genera and 6 families: Diaspididae, Coccidae, Pseudococcidae, Margarodidae, Eriococcidae and Ortheziidae. Sphaerolecanium prunastri was found to be the most numerous and economically important species, causing extensive damage Prunus sogdiana. Biological control recommended utilizing such encyrtid parasitoids as Discodes coccophagus and Microterys hortulanus.

Abeeluck, D. & Walter, G.H. 1997. Mating behaviour of an undescribed species of Coccophagus, near C. gurneyi (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 6: 92-98.

Abou-Elkhair, S. 1998. Surveys of coccoid insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) and their parasitoids on some ornamental plants and trees in Alexandria, Egypt. Pages 9-10 in VIIIth International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies. 41 pp.

Notes: [Conference held at Wye College, University of London, Aug. 31st - Sept. 6th, 1998.] Abstract only. Surveys of the Coccoidea attacking some ornamental plants and trees in Alexandria, Egypt. Their associated hymenopterous parasitoids were also recorded. Surveys revealed the presence of 37 scale insect species belonging to eight families: Asterolecaniidae, Coccidae, Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, Margarodidae, Ortheziidae, Phoenicococcidae and Pseudococcidae.

Acero, S., Tabar, A.I., Alvarez, M.J., Garciak, B.E., Olaguibel, J.M. & Moneo, I. 1998. Occupational asthma and food allergy due to carmine. Allergy 53: 897-901.

Notes: Carmine (E120), a natural red dye extracted from the dried females of the insect Dactylopius coccus var. Costa (cochineal), has been reported to cause hypersensitivity reactions.

Ackonor, J.B. 1997. Preliminary studies on breeding and predation of Scymnus (Pullus) sp. and Hyperaspis egregia Mader on Planococcoides njalensis Laing. Proceedings First International Cocoa Pests and Diseases Seminar 238-241.

Notes: [Conference held in Accra, Ghana, 6-10 November, 1995.] Predation and breeding studies were carried out on Scymnus sp. and Hyperaspis egregia reared from Planococcoides njalensis colonies which were sampled from Bieni in Eastern Ghana and kept in petri dishes. Newly emerged adults of the predators were kept singly in glass vials and given 40 2nd- and 3rd-instar nymphs (crawlers) of P. njalensis daily for 20-33 days. Missing crawlers were assumed eaten by the predators. Breeding in H. egregia was studied by pairing four females with males of comparable age in petri dishes. In the case of Scymnus sp., the sexes were undetermined. Therefore four to five adults were kept together in single petri dishes, assuming both sexes were included. Scymnus sp. consumed more (33.8 ± 0.7) crawlers per day than both the female (29.8 ± 1) or male (25.8 ± 0.5) H. egregia. Apart from preying on live crawlers, the two predators appeared to have eaten dead or moribund crawlers as well. Both beetles mated frequently in captivity but failed to oviposit. Pupation of field-collected larvae lasted 15.8 ± 3.8 days in the female H. egregia and 16.3 ± 2.5 days in the male. Adult longevity was 48.3 ± 7.9 days and 50.0 ± 8.9 days in H. egregia female and male, respectively. For Scymnus sp. pupation lasted 13.6 ± 4.5 days while the adult survived for 28.4 ± 11.3 days in captivity.

Al-Whaibi, M.H. 1997. Some metabolic changes of chlorotic and green leaflets of date palm tree. (In English with summary in Arabic.) Journal of King Saud University, Science 9: 1-9.

Notes: Yellow leaflet samples of 2 date palm trees showing either infection by green scale insects (Asterolecanium phoenix (Palmaspis phoenicis) or unknown pathogen(s) were compared with healthy green leaflets.

Alford, J., Cronin, M. & Ponsonby, D. 1998. Effect of host plant and selected environmental factors on the abundance of Pulvinaria regalis Canard. Page 10 in VIIIth International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies. 41 pp.

Notes: [Conference held at Wye College, University of London, Aug. 31st - Sept. 6th, 1998.] Abstract only. Pulvinaria regalis investigated on its hosts Tilia, Acer and Aesculus in rural and urban areas of Kent and South London related to environmental factors such as stress due to poor growing conditions, traffic volume and nitrogen dioxide levels. Regression analysis showed a significant positive relationship between mean scale insect infestation levels and maximum monthly NO2 levels.

Allsopp, P.G. & Manners, J.M. 1997. Novel approaches for managing pests and diseases in sugarcane. Pages 173-188. in: Keating, B. & Wilson, J. (Eds.), Intensive sugarcane production: meeting the challenge beyond 2000. Proceedings. CAB International, Wallingford; UK.

Notes: [Conference held in Brisbane, Australia, 20-23 August 1996.] Pest and disease control on sugarcane in Australia is discussed. Novel approaches to minimising impacts of pests and diseases are considered. The major pests of Australian sugarcane are Scarabaeidae and rodents, with Rhabdoscelus obscurus, Inopus rubriceps, Elateridae and Eumargarodes laingi being less important. Management is moving from reliance on synthetic pesticides to pest management systems integrating cultural, biological and insecticidal control. The ability to transform sugarcane plants has opened new opportunities for control of many diseases. The application of strategies for control of viral diseases using novel resistance genes encoding viral coat proteins, replicases and movement proteins are discussed.

Allsopp, P.G. & McGill, N.G. 1997. Variation in resistance to Eumargarodes laingi (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) in Australian sugarcane. Journal of Economic Entomology 90: 1702-1709.

Notes: The responses of 24 commercial cultivars and one experimental clone of sugarcane to the margarodid Eumargarodes laingi Jakubski were evaluated in a field trial in southern Queensland. Although there were significant quantitative differences between clones in yields over the four crops, the rankings for yield components and for cyst numbers did not differ significantly between crops. Hence, clones could be selected for resistance to E. laingi on the basis of data from one or two years. However, clones that showed good antibiosis/antixenosis resistance to E. laingi showed poor resistance to the root pathogen Pachymetra chaunorhiza, which may provide a conflict in the breeding program. Combining cultivars should minimize the detrimental impact of E. laingi on sugar production.

Alstad, D. 1998. Population structure and the conundrum of local adaptation. Pages 3-21. in: Mopper, S. & Strauss, S.Y., Eds., Genetic Structure and Local Adaptation in Natural Insect Populations: Effects of Ecology, Life History, and Behavior. Chapman & Hall, New York. xix + 449 pp.

Notes: Nuculaspis californica is a parasite of Pinus ponderosa and 11 other species; review and discussion of theory that these scale populations apparently become adapted to specific host individuals, and population densities can become high only with genetic fitness of the population to the host species and individual; viability of neutral drift hypothesis.

Alvarez, J.M. & Van Driesche, R. 1998. Biology of Cybocephalus sp. nr. nipponicus (Coleoptera: Cybocephalidae), a natural enemy of euonymus scale (Homoptera: Diaspididae). Environmental Entomology 27: 130-136.

Notes: Cybocephalus sp. nr. nipponicus Endrody-Younga was introduced into the U.S. as part of a biological control project against euonymus scale, Unaspis euonymi (Comstock). Biology discussed. Adult beetles consumed 4.5 times more euonymus scales than San Jose scales, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock), with high consumption rates of 2-stage male euonymus scales.

Alvarez, J.M. & Van Driesche, R. 1998a. Effect of prey sex, density, and age on oviposition of Cybocephalus sp. nr. Nipponicus (Coleoptera: Cybocephalidae), a natural enemy of Euonymus scale (Homoptera: Diaspididae). (In English with summary in Spanish.) Florida Entomologist 81(3): 429-436.

Notes: Unaspis euonymi is the ovipositional prey for this predator; discussion of qualities of individual scales or patches of scale insects as factors that can potentially be used by beetles to select oviposition sites.

Amin, A.H., Madiha, A.R. & Sakr, H.E.A. 1998. Factors responsible for the extinction of Chrysomphalus ficus Ashmed from citrus orchards in Egypt. Page 11 in VIIIth International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies. 41 pp.

Notes: [Conference held at Wye College, University of London, Aug. 31st - Sept. 6th, 1998.] Abstract only. Ecological studies demonstrate that the black armoured scale, Chrysomphalous ficus has four overlapping annual generations on naval orange trees in Qalyubyia Governorate, Egypt. Five species of natural enemies were recorded on C. ficus. The ectoparasitoid, Aphytis holoxanthus, was recorded for the first time from Egypt. The endoparasitoids were Aspidiotiphagus citrinus, A. lounsburyi and Habrolepis pascuorum and an entomogenous fungus was Cladosporium cladosporides. Timing and effectiveness of chemical control also discussed.

Appelbaum, S. & Gerson, U. 1997. David Rosen: 1936-1997. Phytoparasitica 25(2): 171-174.

Arai, T. 1997. [The ecology and control of mealybugs on citrus.] (In Japanese.) Shokubutsu Boeki 51: 263-266.

Notes: Species mentioned include Pseudococcus citriculus, P. comstocki, P. longispinus, Planococcus kraunhiae and P. citri.

Arai, T. 1998. [Discrimination of nymphal stages of Pseudococcus cryptus Hempel (Homoptera; Pseudococcidae).] (In Japanese.) Japanese Journal of Applied Entomology and Zoology 42: 24-27.

Notes: Several morphological characteristics of each nymphal stage of Pseudococcus cryptus were compared. Antennae of slide-mounted individuals of each stage were observed under a differential interference microscope. The number of antenna segments of the first, second, and third instar, and adult females were 6, 6, 7 and 8, respectively. The length of the second and third antenna segments differentiated the first instar from the second instar nymph. Each instar stage was precisely discriminated by the number and length of antenna segments. To discriminate nymphal stages by external appearance, the body length, dorsal wax covering, and 17 paired marginal wax appendages were compared under a stereoscopic microscope. Nymphal stages could not be identified by body length alone. The first instar had only one pair of wax appendages, and the second instar could be distinguished from other stages by the appearance of 17 paired marginal wax appendages. The third instar could be differentiated from adult females by the combination of body length and dorsal waxy covering. The accuracies of the first, second, third instar nymph, and adult female, discriminated by combined observation of body length, dorsal wax covering and 17 paired marginal wax appendages, were 92.0%, 91.4%, 93.4% and 81.8%, respectively.

Awasthi, V.B. 1997. Introduction to General and Applied Entomology. Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur, India. vi + 394 pp.

Notes: This textbook aims to fill a gap between too exhaustive or too brief and research-oriented textbooks, and those which deal with only one part of entomology. Accounts are presented of the morphology, anatomy, physiology and developmental biology of various insect organs and systems. Control and preventive measures against crop and veterinary pests are covered. Various aspects of the lac insect (Laccifer lacca (Kerria lacca)) are among those species discussed. The book is based upon lectures given by the author.

Bae, W.I., Shin, S.C. & Kim, Z.S. 1997. Difference in occurrence of pine needle gall midge and sucking insects in pure-pine and mixed-pine stands. Journal of Forest Science (Seoul) 56: 37-43.

Notes: Results of this study indicate that sucking insects, including unspecified scale insects, have increased population density. Planting mixed pine stands is recommended as a strategy to prevent these insect pests.

Balu, A., Rajarishi, R., Deeparaj, B. & Durairaj, S. 1997. Curling and crinkling of teak leaves. Indian Forester 123: 775-777.

Notes: A few unnamed species of mealybugs are among those insects implicated in this disease.

Baroffio, C. 1997. [Some aspects of the biology of Encarsia perniciosi (Tower) in its host, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock), and application of the results in a biological control program in central Switzerland (Canton Zug).] (In French with summary in English.) Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft 70: 323-333.

Notes: [Original title: Quelques aspects de la biologie de Encarsia perniciosi (Tower) dans son hote, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock). Applications de ces donnees dans un programme de lutte biologique en Suisse centrale (Canton de Zoug).] The biology of Encarsia perniciosi in its host, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (SJS), was studied. The aim of the study was to develop a technique for a controlled release of the parasitoid in the field in pumpkins (Cucurbita maxima). As a support, pumpkins infested with SJS were used. It was best to have 3 days of contact between the parasitoids and SJS when they were between 6 and 9 days old. The pumpkins with parasitized SJS were transferred to the field 1 month later. After 3 years, the parasitoids were well established. The parasitism rate calculated on branches in the third spring was 75%. A strategy to avoid reinfestation with SJS which escaped parasitism is discussed.

Bayaa, B., Kumari, S.G., Akkaya, A., Erskine, W. & Makkouk, K.M. 1998. Survey of major biotic stresses of lentil in South-East Anatolia, Turkey. Phytopathologia Mediterranea 37: 88-95.

Notes: In May, 1996, 47 randomly-selected lentil fields in the main lentil production regions of South-East Anatolia, Turkey, were surveyed for the incidence and severity of diseases (fungal and viral), parasitic weeds and insect pests. Among insect pests, ground pearl (Porphyrophora polonica) was among the most damaging.

Beardsley, J.W. 1998. Nipaecoccus nipae (Maskell), a widespread mealybug that is one member of a species complex. Page 11 in: VIIIth International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies. 41 pp.

Notes: [Conference held at Wye College, University of London, Aug. 31st - Sept. 6th, 1998.] Abstract only. The most widely distributed form of the mealybug N. nipae apparently is a single species that occurs in South America, California, Hawaii, Europe and Asia. A single adult male recovered from Maskell's unmounted type material appears to be the same as the males from California and Hawaii and female morphology and colour of external wax support this conclusion. The species almost certainly originated in the Neotropical region. Morphological and biological evidence for the existence of sibling species of this mealybug is presented, and two of these are named: N. floridensis from Florida and N. neonipae from Hawaii and Mexico. Futher collecting and research on tropical America Nipaecoccus is needed to elucidate possible additional siblings in this complex.

Beckh, G. & Lullmann, C. 1998. [Phenol as a natural component in New Zealand honeydew honeys.] Phenol - ein naturlicher Bestandteil neuseelandischen Waldhonigs? (In German with summary in English.) Deutsche Lebensmittel-Rundschau 94: 149-152.

Notes: Many different phenolic substances are known as characteristic components of honey responsible for the honey-specific or source-specific flavour and taste. Phenol itself is generally considered a residue of bee repellents. Maximum limits for phenol in honey are discussed between experts and the trade. In New Zealand honeydew honeys produced by the beech scale insect, Ultracoelostoma assimile on Nothofagus sp., phenol can be found at concentrations up to 0.2 ppm. Phenol in small amounts (<0.2 ppm) should be considered as a natural component of this type of honey. Discussion of the origin of phenols in honey.

Ben-Dov, Y. & Lit, I.L. 1998. Stabilizing Kerridae as the family-group name of the lac insects (Hem., Coccoidea). Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France 103(5): 455-456.

Notes: This brief communication confirms Kerriidae's replacement of Tachardiinae and Lacciferidae and establishes it as the family name that will be used on the Scalenet website.

Ben-Yehuda, S., Hada, D., Wysoky, M., Izhar, Y. & Swirski, E. 1998. The importance of oils in the integrated management of the pyriform scale in avocado orchards in Israel. Pages 11-12 in: VIIIth International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies. 41 pp.

Notes: [Conference held at Wye College, University of London, Aug. 31st - Sept. 6th, 1998.] Abstract only. History of Protopulvinaria pyriformis on avocado in Israel; damage; impact of Metaphycus stanleyi, an introduced encyrtid; discussion of chemical control.

Bermuda, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. 1997. Unwelcome visitors to the island at Christmas. Monthly Bulletin (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Parks, Bermuda) 68: 8 pp.

Bernal, J.S., Luck, R.F. & Morse, J.G. 1998. Sex ratios in field populations of two parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of Coccus hesperidum L. (Homoptera: Coccidae). Oecologia 116: 510-518.

Notes: Several assumptions and predictions of host-quality-dependent sex allocation theory were studied with data obtained for the parasitoid Metaphycus stanleyi on its host, brown soft scale (Coccus hesperidum) in a California citrus grove and in the laboratory. Scales ceased growing after parasitization by M. stanleyi. Thus, parasitoid fitness gains with host size and adult size were similar in males compared to females. Females consistently emerged from larger hosts than males. Mean host sizes of females versus males, and of solitary versus gregarious parasitoids, varied with the available host size distribution. Only females emerged from hosts in the upper size range, and a variable ratio of males and females emerged from hosts in the lower size range. It was concluded that the sex ratio of field populations of M. stanleyi is driven largely by the available size distribution of C. hesperidum. In addition, predictions resulting from theoretical analyses of sex allocation in autoparasitoids were tested with data obtained on Coccophagus semicircularis parasitizing brown soft scale in the field. The sex ratio of C. semicircularis was consistently and strongly female biased (ca. 90% females). Based on available theoretical analyses, it is suggested that this sex ratio pattern may have resulted from a very low encounter rate of secondary hosts coupled with a strong time limitation in C. semicircularis females. This explanation was the most plausible, given constraints stemming from the detection of secondary hosts, their variable location within primary hosts, and their handling times. Finally, the size of hosts which yielded single versus multiple parasitoids, and the sizes of these parasitoids, were compared. These comparisons suggested that: (1) M. stanleyi females gauge host sizes precisely, and in terms of female offspring; thus a fitness penalty is not incurred by females which share a host, while males benefit from sharing a host, and; 2) instances where multiple C. semicircularis emerged from a single host were probably the result of parasitism by different females, or during different encounters by a single female.

Bhattacharya, A., Jaiswal, A.K., Sharma, K.K. & Mishra, Y.D. 1997. Evaluation of diflubenzuron on Eublemma amabilis Moore (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) - a predator of lac insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr). Journal of Entomological Research. New Delhi 21: 365-369.

Notes: The toxicity of diflubenzuron (as Dimilin 25 WP) was evaluated against larvae of Eublemma amabilis, a highly destructive lepidopterous predator of lac insects, Kerria lacca.

Bhattacharya, A., Naqvi, A.H., Sen, A.K. & Mishra, Y.D. 1998. Artificial rearing of Pseudohypatopa pulverea Meyr. - a predator of lac insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr). Journal of Entomological Research. New Delhi 22: 83-87.

Notes: Nutrition; biological characteristics i.e., duration of each instar, and morphological parameters such as length of larvae, width of head capsule and dimension of adult reared in artificial diets were at par with those reared under natural condition. The adult moths which laid eggs only on lac encrusted twigs in nature were made to lay eggs on artificial substrates, (sand and emery paper).

Bhattacharya, A., Sushil, S.N., Mishra, Y.D., Jaiswal, A.K. & Sharma, K.K. 1998. Effect of UV light on eggs of Eublemma amabilis Moore (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Insect Environment 4: 15-16.

Notes: One- to 3-day-old eggs of Eublemma amabilis, a serious predator of lac insects (Kerria lacca), were exposed to ultraviolet radiation in a closed chamber at 55 cm from a 30-watt light source for 5, 10, 20 or 25 min. Percentage mortality ranged from 24.07 to 90.99 after 5 and 25 min exposure, respectively, as compared to 6.78 in the control. These findings may be used for the rearing of egg parasitoids in the laboratory.

Bhuiya, B.A. 1998. Two new species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from Bangladesh attacking Pulvinaria psidii Maskell (Homoptera: Coccidae) on guava. Oriental Insects. New Delhi 32: 267-277.

Notes: Two new species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), namely Aschitus zakeri, sp. nov. and Paraphaenodiscus momawari, sp. nov. are described from Bangladesh parasitizing early stages of Pulvinaria psidii Maskell (Coccidae).

Blackmer, J.L. & Hanson, P. 1997. Abundance and life history of two gall-inducing homopterans on Nectandra salicina (Lauraceae) in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Revista de Biologia Tropical 45: 1131-1137.

Notes: This paper presents information on the abundance and life-history characteristics of two gall-inducing homopterans and a parasitic wasp that occur on Nectandra salicina (Lauraceae). The more common gall replaced the fruit and contained Trioza sp. (magnoliae group). The stem gall contained a Coccoidea sp. (Homoptera), N. salicina were heavily infested with the psyllid gall, the mean ratio of galled to normal fruit was 6.2:1. Galls had one to three chambers, with 2.0 plus or minus 0.1 individuals per chamber and 3.0 plus or minus 0.2 psyllids per gall. Trioza sp. had four instars and at the time of collection 71% of the psyllids were 3rd or 4th instar. The galls increased in size as the number and size of the psyllids, and the number of chambers increased. Eighteen percent of the 3rd and 4th instar psyllids were parasitized by Metaphycus electra. Thirty-three percent of galls containing 3rd or 4th instar psyllids had one or more parasitoid, and within these attacked galls 69% of the psyllids were parasitized. The likelihood of a gall being attacked by M. electra had less to do with the size of the gall than with the frequency distribution of the various gall sizes. Similar to the Trioza sp. galls, the size of the Coccoidea galls increased as the mother matured and the number of offspring increased.

Blair, B.W. 1998. Insect pests of lawns in Rhodesia. Rhodesia Agricultural Journal 2446: 37-39.

Notes: Antonina graminis and A. natalensis are among the pests discussed; brief descriptions; chemical control recommendations.

Blank, R.H., Gill, G.S.C. & Dow, B.W. 1997. Determining armoured scale distribution within kiwifruit blocks. Pages 293-297 in: Proceedings of the Fiftieth New Zealand Plant Protection Conference. New Zealand Plant Protection Society, Rotorua, New Zealand.

Notes: [Conference held at Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand, 18-21 August, 1997.] Hemiberlesia rapax, H. lataniae and Aspidiotus nerii are most common species found on Actinidia deliciosa.

Blank, R.H., Olson, M.H., Gill, G.S.C. & Dow, B.W. 1997. Timing of insecticide applications for control of soft wax scale (Homoptera: Coccidae) on citrus. New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science 25: 311-317.

Notes: The efficacy of four insecticide treatments-buprofezin, chlorpyrifos, 1 and 2% mineral oil, applied at four single, and a double application time, was evaluated against soft wax scale, Ceroplastes destructor Newstead, on 'Seminole' tangelo (Citrus paradisi (Macfadyen) times C. reticulata (Blanco)) in Kerikeri, New Zealand. The 1% mineral oil treatment was the preferred choice in an integrated pest management programme.

Blumberg, D., Ben Dov, Y. & Mendel, Z. 1998. The citriculus mealybug, Pseudococcus cryptus Hempel, in Israel: History and present situation. Page 12 in International Symposiumon Scale Insect Studies. 41 pp.

Notes: [Conference held at Wye College, University of London, Aug. 31st - Sept. 6th, 1998.] Abstract only. Occurrence and abundance of this mealybug population on citrus in Israel; impact of Clausenia purpurea, imported from Japan; impact of chemical control techniques; list of other biological control agents.

Boecklen, W.J. & Mopper, S. 1998. Local adaptation in specialist herbivores: theory and evidence. Pages 64-88. in: Mopper, S. & Strauss, S.Y., Eds., Genetic Structure and Local Adaptation in Natural Insect Populations: Effects of Ecology, Life History, and Behavior. Chapman & Hall, New York. xix + 449 pp.

Notes: Examples mentioned include Nuculaspis californica on Pinus ponderosa, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona, Cinara cupressi on Cupressus lusitanica, Cryptococcus fagisuga on Fagus sylvatica, Matsucoccus acalyptus on Pinus edulis and P. monophylla.

Bogo, A., Watson, G.W. & Mantle, P.G. 1998. The sugar composition of honeydew excreted by Stigmacoccus ?asperhempel (Coccoidea: Margarodidae: Xylococcinae) feeding on leguminous trees in Brazil. Page 13 in: VIIIth International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies. 41 pp.

Notes: [Conference held at Wye College, University of London, Aug. 31st - Sept. 6th, 1998.] Abstract only. Flying insects were recently observed attending mature leguminous trees (Schizolobium excelsum) in Brazil; their trunks were black with sooty mould and bore numerous, protruding hyaline wax filmaments, each with a droplet of honeydew at its tip. The insects producing the honeydew have been identified as Stigmacoccus ?asper (Coccoidea: Margarodidae: Xylococcinae). Preliminary analysis of the honeydew sugars has revealed a complex composition. The principal sugar was sucrose, but there were significant porportions of fructose, glucose and three oligosaccharides. One of the latter has been tentatively characterized as melezitose, a trisaccharide. Although the sugar composition of the tree sap has yet to be determined, the findings imply significant metabolic transformations of sugars, consistent with passage through an insect with a discontinuous gut.

Bohidar, K. 1998. The taxonomic relationship of some Coccoidea (Hemiptera) based on male characteristics. Pages 12-13. in: VIIIth International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies. 41 pp.

Notes: [Conference held at Wye College, University of London, Aug. 31st - Sept. 6th, 1998.] Abstract only. Male characters of species from five different families were studied and the taxonomic status of the families are described. A key of characters provided for adult males. The quantitative evaluation method was applied to assess the relationship between the families. All the characters included were regarded as being of equal importance and those shared by any one family exhibited some differences, justifying the recognition of the taxon as a distinct family. It was found that the Margarodidae were the most primitive group followed by Pseudococcidae. The Diaspididae showed the maximum number of specialised characters, while the Coccidae and Dactylopiidae fell between the Diaspididae and the Pseudococcidae. The Coccidae and Dactylopiidae share an equal number of characters with the Pseudococcidae and are considered to be close to each other.

Bokonon-Ganta, A.H.; Alphen, J.J.M. van & Neuenschwander, P. 1997. Competition between two parasitoids of the mango mealybug. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Research No. 14-15: 14-18.

Notes: The competition between the encyrtids Gyranusoidea tebygi and Anagyrus mangicola, exotic parasitoids of Rastrococcus invadens, was studied in the laboratory.

Booth, R.G. 1998. A review of the species resembling Chilocorus nigrita (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): Potential agents for biological control. Bulletin of Entomological Research 88(4) 361-367.

Notes: Chilocorus nigrita (Fabricius) is a well-known predator of scale insects. It has been widely used for biological control and has spread naturally beyond its previous native range over the last three decades or so. Three other Oriental species closely resembling C. nigrita can now be separated.

Borowka, R. & Hummel, H.E. 1997. Olfactometric response of one introduced exotic and two indigenous coccinellid beetle predators of the cassava mealybug in Malawi. Mitteilungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Allgemeine und Angewandte Entomologie. Bremen 11: 529-532.

Notes: [Proceedings of the German Society for General and Applied Entomology, Bayreuth, Germany, 18-22 March 1997.] Olfactometry was used to measure the reactions of 3 coccinellid predators of the cassava pests Phenacoccus manihoti and P. madeirensis; these were Diomus hennesseyi, Exochomus troberti and Hyperaspis aestimabilis. Females of D. hennesseyi reacted clearly to the odour of the pest on cassava leaves. Females of H. aestimabilis gave a similar reaction, while no reaction was observed in males of either species. On cassava leaves infested with P. madeirensis, only female H. aestimabilis reacted significantly. E. troberti showed no significant reaction to either pest.

Borowka, R., Neuenschwander, P. & Hummel, H.E. 1997. Reaction of two cassava cultivars to cassava mealybug attack under conditions favoring high pest infestation in Malawi. Mededelingen Faculteit Landbouwkundige en Toegepaste Biologische Wetenschappen Universiteit Gent 62: 289-299.

Notes: Each of the two local cassava cultivars Gomani and Koroweka confirmed good adaptation to the difficult growth conditions of a marginal location on the shore of lake Malawi. They reacted to the beginning of the dry season with a reduction of the above soil biomass and the approaching end of the dry season led to a reduced leaf area. During the dry season the plants were living from the reallocated energy resources of their roots. A chemical exclusion of the predominant and well-established exotic parasitoid Apoanagyrus (Epidinocarsis) lopezi De Santis (Hym.. Encyrtidae) and other beneficials indicated reductions in root yield in both cultivars and changes in other assessed plant parameters. As this experiment reconfirmed the impact of efficient biological control of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero (Hom., Pseudococcidae), it also indicated agronomic strategies for the improvement of cassava production under marginal conditions.

Borroto, E.G., Cintra, M., Gonzalez, J., Borroto, C. & Oramas, P. 1998. First report of a closterovirus-like particle associated with pineapple plants (Ananas comosus cv. Smooth Cayenne) affected with pineapple mealybug wilt in Cuba. Plant Disease 82: 263.

Notes: [Abstract only] Leaves from wilt-affected pineapple plants, collected from the Experimental Station "Tomas Roig" at Ciego de Avila, Cuba, and asymptomatic plants derived from meristem tissue and cultivated under greenhouse conditions were analysed by several virus purification procedures. Partially purified samples from symptomatic and asymptomatic plants were negatively stained and examined by transmission electron microscopy. Long, flexuous, rod-shaped, virus particles were observed in symptomatic leaves. These particles were similar to those of the pineapple wilt-associated closterovirus found in Hawaii and Australia. This is the first report of closterovirus-like particles associated with pineapple plants affected with pineapple mealybug wilt in Cuba. Individual mealybug species not mentioned.

Boursiquot, J.M. 1997. [The development of viticulture in Chile.] L'évolution de la viticulture au Chili. (In French.) Progrès Agricole et Viticole 114: 8, 177-181.

Notes: During the period 1994-97, viticulture and wine production in Chile expanded considerably, taking advantage of markets in America, northern Europe and Asia. The main cultivars are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pais, Muscat d'Alexandrie, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Semillon, Merlot and Torontel, with another 14 grown in 1996. Grafting onto a range of rootstocks has recently been introduced, with mixed results, and a number of different training systems are used. The main pest is the soil insect Margarodes vitium [M. vitis], which feeds on the roots and can kill the vines.

Brown, M.W. & Puterka, G.J. 1997. Orchard management effects on the arthropod community on peach with comparison to apple. Journal of Entomological Science 32: 165-182.

Notes: Quadraspidiotus perniciosus among the 162 species recorded in this survey.

CAB International. 1997b. Parasaissetia nigra. Distribution Maps of Pests, Series A, Agricultural Map no. 573: 2 pp.

Notes: Published in the U.K. by the International Institute of Entomology, an agency of CAB International; map showing distribution of this sp. worldwide; countries listed with references to records; hosts.

CAB International 1998. Lopholeucaspis japonica. Distribution Maps of Pests, Series A, Agricultural Map no. 582: 2 pp.

CAB International 1998a. Rastrococcus invadens. Distribution Maps of Pests, Series A, Agricultural Map no. 585: 2 pp.

Cabaleiro, C. & Segura, A. 1997. Field transmission of grapevine leafroll associated Virus 3 (GLRa V-3) by the mealybug Planococcus citri. Plant Disease 81: 283-287.

Notes: Analysis of spatial distributions of grapefine leafroll in nine vineyards in the Galician wine-growing regions of northwestern Spain; in five, significant aggregations of diseased plants and/or disease gradients toward one of the borders of the plots constituted indirect evidence of vector transmission by a nonflying vector; P. citri associated with the infected plants; other mealybugs mentioned as vectors are Pseudococcus longispinus, P. affinis and Planococcus ficus; Pulvinaria vitis also mentioned as possible vector.

Cabaleiro, C. & Segura, A. 1997a. Some characteristics of the transmission of grapevine leafroll associated virus 3 by Planococcus citri Risso. European Journal of Plant Pathology 103(4): 373-378.

Notes: Some characteristics of the acquisition and transmission of GLRaV-3 by Planococcus citri were determined by ELISA testing and transmission experiments. Groups of five insects were used, i.e. the advisable minimum group size suggested by the results of ELISA of insect groups of various sizes. The virus was transmitted to only 1/10 test plants each of which had been exposed to a group of insects fed on GLRaV-3 infected plants for at least three days, even though more than 80% of the insect groups were expected to contain viruliferous individuals under these conditions. Viruliferous mealybugs transferred to potato plants could retain the virus for up to 24 h, but lost the capacity for effective transmission to vines within 1 h after transfer. In newly infected vines, the virus remained latent or undetectable by ELISA for at least 13 months.

Cadee, N. & Van Alphen, J.J.M. 1997. Host selection and sex allocation in Leptomastidea abnormis, a parasitoid of the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 83(3): 277-284.

Notes: Leptomastidea abnormis (Girault) and Leptomastix dactylopii (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) are the two parasitoid species frequently used for biological control of the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). As part of a programme to determine the best control practice, host size selection and sex allocation were studied in L. abnormis, and compared with those of L. dactylopii. L. abnormis showed a preference for the second size class, but also attacked third and fourth size class and adult mealybugs, while in previous studies L. dactylopii was found to prefer the third and fourth size class and adults, and never attacked second size class mealybugs. Female L. abnormis reared from parasitized mealybugs had a higher mean body mass than males, as is predicted by Charnov's theory on sex allocation. However, sex ratios of emerging L. abnormis did not differ between mealybug size classes. These results imply possible coexistence of the two parasitoids. As field evidence suggests a more complex interaction between the two species, studying direct competition would be a useful next step.

Calatayud, P.A., Delobel, B., Guilaud, J. & Rahbé, Y. 1998. Rearing the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti, on a defined diet. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 86: 325-329.

Notes: Brief review of biology and attempts to control this major pest of Manihot esculenta; this research designed to provide knowledge of nutritional requirements of phloem-feeding insects; similar data previously supplied for Planococcus citri and Acyrthosiphon pisum.

Calatayud, P.A. & Le Ru, B. 1997. [Control of the cassava mealybug in Africa.] La lutte contre la cochenille du manioc en Afrique. (In French with summary in English.) Cahiers de la Recherche Developpement No. 43: 59-66.

Notes: Since the first detection of the pest in Africa in the Congo and Zaire in 1973, cassava crops have been damaged by the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti. This oligophagous pest reproduces by thelytokous parthenogenesis and feeds on the sap of cassava. Biological control (particularly using the parasitoid Epidinocarsis lopezi (Apoanagyrus lopezi)) and the use of resistant varieties to control the pest are briefly described.

Calatayud, P.A., Rouland, C. & Le Ru, B. 1997. [Influence of linamarin in the cassava-mealybug system.] Influence de la linamarine dans la relation manioc-cochenille. (In French with summary in English.) Acta Botanica Gallica 144: 427-432.

Notes: Cassava Manihot esculenta Crantz (Euphorbiaceae) is distinguished by the presence of cyanid compounds in leaves, stems and tubers. In plant's tissues, -CN group is linked with D-glucose to form cyanogenic glucosides: mainly linamarin. In Congo, the cassava mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) is the major pest of cassava. This insect is living mainly on genus Manihot. This oligophagy of P. manihoti towards cassava suggests that the mealybug is adapted to secondary compounds of its host plant, and more particularly to linamarin. This specialization supposes the presence of an enzymatical fittings adjusted. In fact, our results show that this insect has a linamarase (participating in hydolysis of linamarin), an endogenous and an inductive enzyme in cassava mealybug. As other insects, P. manihoti has an enzymatical fittings hydolysing linamarin. In this insect, the use of hydolysis products is discussed.

Ceballo, F.A., Papacek, D. & Walter, G.H. 1998. Survey of mealybugs and their parasitoids in south-east Queensland citrus. Australian Journal of Entomology 37(3): 275-280.

Notes: Mealybugs in Queensland citrus receive regular control measures, but have never been surveyed for species composition or for their associated parasitoids. We collected infested fruits regularly between February 1994 and May 1995 at Mundubbera, Nambour, and Brisbane in south-east Queensland. More than 650 fruits and twigs were sampled from citrus trees and nearby plants. The citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), accounted for virtually all mealybugs collected. Ten species of hymenopteran parasitoids were recovered. The pteromalid Ophelosia sp. and four Encyrtidae (Anagyrus sp., Coccidoxenoides peregrinus, Leptomastidae abnormis and Leptomastix dactylopii were the most common species and are primary parasitoids of mealybugs. A hyperparasitic signiphorid, Chartocerus sp., was also present, as were males of an unidentified encyrtid species with indeterminate host relationships. The three remaining species were Aphelinidae (Myiocnema comperei, Euryishia sp., Coccophagus sp.) and were uncommon in samples. Parasitism was never higher than 3%.

Cech, T. & Perny, B. 1998. [Pine decline in the Tyrol.] Kiefernsterben in Tirol. (In German with summary in English.) Forstschutz-Aktuell. No. 22: 12-15.

Notes: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) trees along the Upper Inn Valley, Tyrol, Austria are affected by a decline, which began in 1989. Specific site conditions and site stresses as main causes as well as the role of mistletoes, scale insects and sapwood nematodes are discussed.

Cermeli, M. & Geraud-Pouey, F. 1997. Capulina sp. near jaboticabae von Ihering (Homoptera: Coccoidea, Eriococcidae) new pest of guava in Venezuela. Capulinia sp. cercana a jaboticabae von Ihering nueva plaga del Guayabo en Venezuela. (In Spanish with summary in English.) Agronomía Tropical 47: 115-123.

Notes: First record of this Eriococcid on Psidium guajava; description of damage; natural enemies; distribution.

Chai, X.M. 1997. Research on population variation of natural predators of Matsucoccus matsumurae. (In Chinese with summary in English.) Journal of Nanjing Forestry University 21: 36-39.

Notes: When there was simultaneous occurrence of the pine blast scale M. matsumurae and the pine aphid Cinara pinitabulae, the population of the predators increased considerably, and they were more inclined to prey on the latter. Sticholotis punctus, Exochomus monol and Sospita chinensis preyed on the scales, while Ballia obscurosignata preyed mainly on the aphids.

Chai, X.M. 1998. [A study of the natural predators of the pine bast scale.] (In Chinese with summary in English.) Scientia Silvae Sinicae 34: 58-62.

Notes: A study was carried out to examine the number of predators and predation capabilities along with mortalities of the pine bast scale, Matsucoccus liaoningensis (Matsucoccus matsumurae), inside a sampling plot, and by applying the K-value graphic analysis method. The stage primarily preyed upon was the female imago, rarely the egg sac. The main species of predator were Harmonia axyridis, Sticholotis punctata, Exochomus mongol, Iridomyrmex anceps and Polyrhachis dives.

Chandrababu, A., Gautam, R.D. & Garg, A.K. 1997. Feeding potential and associated behaviour of predatory beetle, Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius). Annals of Plant Protection Sciences 5: 1, 53-60.

Notes: Feeding and associated behaviour of Brumoides suturalis was studied on 3 species of mealybugs, Ferrisia virgata, Planococcus pacificus [P. minor] and Maconellicoccus hirsutus, and one species of aphid (Aphis craccivora) at a temperature of 25 ± 2C and 65 ± 5% RH. The feeding efficiency of the predator increased progressively with the development of the larval stages of the predator. Discussion of the average number of 2nd-instar nymphs of P. pacificus, M. hirsutus, F. virgata and A. craccivora consumed by 1st- to 4th-instar larvae. Females consumed food faster than males. The speed of movement of larvae also increased with the development of different larval instars. Larval mortality due to cannibalism was about 15.6% in group rearings.

Notes: Distribution of Maconellicoccus hirsutus in the Caribbean; brief descriptin of damage to hosts; mentions introduction of Gyranusoidea indica for control.

Charlet, L. 1997a. Pink Hibiscus mealybug. Newsletter (International Organization for Biological Control) 19: 4.

Notes: Report of invasion of Maconellicoccus hirsutus into U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada and other Caribbean islands; hosts include coffee, cotton, soybeans and citrus.

Charles, J.G., Froud, K.J. & Henderson, R.C. 1998. Morphological variation in the mealybugs Pseudococcus calceo-lariae and P. similans (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae. Pages 13-14 in: VIIIth International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies. 41 pp.

Notes: [Conference held at Wye College, University of London, Aug. 31st - Sept. 6th, 1998.] Abstract only. Examination of slide-mounted laboratory-reared daughters from isolines of Pseudococcus calceolariae and P. similans mothers collected from two widely separated locations in the North Island of New Zealand has thrown doubt on the validity of the defining characters of the species. For P. similans, the number and position of oral rim tubular ducts varied widely and sometimes fell outside the defined species limits. In addition, the characteristic 'stout abdominal setae' were lost in the F1 generation. The combinations of leg-length and number of oral rim tubular ducts which separate P. calceolariae (Maskell) from P. similans co-existed in cohorts of F1 sisters and both character-sets could be manipulated by changing the temperature at which the mealybugs developed. Mating studies are proposed to investigate whether the two species are valid, or whether they merely represent the phenotypic extremes of one widely polymorphic species.

Charmillot, P.J., Baillod, M., Bloesch, B., Linder, C. & Pasquier, D. 1997. [Management strategies for insect pests in deciduous fruit orchards.] Strategies de lutte contre les principaux ravageurs des arbres fruitiers. (In French.) Revue Suisse de Viticulture, d'Arboriculture et d'Horticulture 29: 39-44.

Notes: Integrated pest management strategies for the major arthropod pests in apple and pear orchards in western Switzerland are discussed. The major pests include Quadraspidiotus perniciosus. The strategies presented include biological control, mating disruption, insect growth regulators and chemical control.

Cheah, L.H. & Irving, D.E. 1997. Kiwifruit. Pages 209-227. in: Mitra, S.K., Ed., Postharvest Physiology and Storage of Tropical and Subtropical Fruits. CAB International, Wallingford, England, UK. 423 pp.

Notes: Important quarantine pests include Hemiberlesia rapax, H. lataniae, Aspidiotus nerii and Quadraspidiotus perniciosus; chemical control recommendations.

Chen, X.M., Chen, Y., Wang, S.Y., Mao, Y.F., Feng, Y. & Ye, S. 1998. [The radiation experiment for lac insects.] (In Chinese with summary in English.) Forest Research 11: 382-387.

Notes: Different stages of the lac insects (Kerria chinensis and K. lacca) were radiated by several dosages of Co 60. Results showed complete mortality of second stage lac insects after radiation of 500-2000 rad, females of K. chinensis with eggs radiated by 1000 rad can still produce new generation. K. lacca females with eggs radiated by 11000 rad can occasionally produce new generation. The egg amount and amount of secreting lac are similar to those of the normal, effective production and sex ratio are higher than those of the normal, group density on branch is lower than the normal in the generation of K. lacca after radiation. The sex ratio of the female, group density on branch are higher than those of the normal, egg amount and amount of secreting lac are normal in the generation of K. chinensis after radiation.

Chen, X.M., Chen, Y., Ye, S., Mao, Y.F., Wang, Z. & Wang, S. 1997. Studies on hatching behavior of Chinese white wax scale (Ericerus pela). (In Chinese with summary in English.) Forest Research 10: 149-153.

Chen, X.M., Chen, Y., Zhou, C.H., Wang, Z.L. Ye, S.D. & Wang, S.Y. 1998. Studies on wax secretion of Chinese white wax scale (Ericerus pela Chavannes). I: The comparison of wax secretion of different geographic varieties. (In Chinese with summary in English.) Forest Research 11: 34-38. Notes: Wax secretion from E. pela from 3 different regions in China was compared. The differences in secretion levels between the 3 groups were related to the activities of esterase and peroxidase levels.

Chen, Y.G. & Hu, D.X. 1998. [Interspecific interaction between Hemiberlesia pitysophila Takagi (Homoptera: Diaspididae) and its parasite Coccobius azumai Tachikawa (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae).] (In Chinese with summary in English.) Natural Enemies of Insects 20: 136-142.

Notes: A set of differential equations was established to describe the interaction between Hemiberlesia pitysophila and Coccobius azumai based on population data from the field in Huidong and Gaoming, Guangdong, China, during 1993-95. The pest and parasitoid were found to coexist, under low population densities, characterized by a long parasitoid-releasing period.

Chen, C.C., Ko, W.H. & Liao, C.T. 1997. A survey on the wild host plants and life cycle of Brevennia rehi (Lindinger) in Taiwan. (In Chinese.) Bulletin of Taichung District Agricultural Improvement Station No. 57: 49-54.

Notes: The occurence of B. rehi on Oryza sativa, Panicum maximum, Echinochloa crusgalli var. oryzicola, Eleusine indica, Paspalum distichum and Leptochloa chinensis is noted, and symptoms of damage described. The developmental stages of the pest are described.

Chen, S.L., Wu, H. & Ye, J.X. 1997. Bionomics and control methods of Kermococcus roboris (Four). (In Chinese with summary in English.) Wuyi Science Journal 13: 176-181.

Notes: In field studies conducted in Fujian, China, the kermesid Kermococcus roboris had one generation each year and overwintered as second-instar nymphs. The most effective level of control was obtained using 50% mevinphos, 40% dimethoate and 80% DDVP (dichlorvos).

Chen, X.M., Ye, S., Chen, Y., Mao, Y.F., Wang, Z.L. & Wang, S.Y. 1997. Studies on distribution characteristics of Chinese white wax scale. Forest Research 10: 415-419.

Notes: The distribution of Ericerus pela (a coccid used for wax production in forest plantations in China) on host trees of Ligustrum lucidum and Fraxinus chinensis relates to the direction and position of the branches, and varies with sex and developmental stages of the insect.

Cheng, Z.S. 1997. Test on effect of some preparations to control Unaspis yanonensis Kuwana. (In Chinese with summary in English.) Journal of Zhejiang Forestry Science and Technology 17: 38-40.

Chi, D.F., Miao, J.C., Qu, H., Xiang, W.J., Li, C.Y., Lu, C.J. & Yi, L.S. 1997. Control of Quadraspidiotus gigas and Lepidosaphes salicina using insect growth regulator, RH-5849. (In Chinese with summary in English.) Journal of Northeast Forestry University 25: 10-14.

Notes: 1,2-dibenzoyl-1-tert-butylhydrazine (the insecticide RH-5849) was tested in Heilongjiang province, northeast China, in the middle of May 1994 to coincide with the emergence of the target pests after overwintering. Between 86 and 98% of 2nd-instar larvae of Quadraspidiotus gigas (Diaspidiotus gigas) were killed by spraying RH-5849 in oil, diluted to 0.5-3%, on Populus xiaohei. Using RH-5849 in July against 1st-instar larvae which had emerged that year was equally effective. Mortality of Lepidosaphes salicina eggs and larvae varied between 93% and 100% with 1-3% RH-5849. When formulated as a 25% wettable powder and sprayed in June, 91-95% of 1st-instar larvae were killed. Natural enemies were unaffected by RH-5849 when tested in the laboratory and in the field.

Chi, D.F., Shao, J.W., Sun, F., Wang, C.Y., Mu, Y.J. & Zhou, Z.Y. 1997. Effects of phytoecdysones from Ajuga plants on the nymphs of pests with piercing-sucking mouthparts and their natural enemies. (In Chinese with summary in English.) Journal of Northeast Forestry University 25: 91-96.

Notes: Nymphs of Aphrophora intermandia, Parthenolecanium corni and Myzus persicae kept on plants cultivated in a phytoecdysone solution extracted from Ajuga multiflora, A. multiflora var. brevispicata, A. multiflora var. serotina and A. linearifolia were significantly affected by these extracts. More than 90% mortality of Aphrophora intermandia was recorded. Natural enemies were not affected.

Chi, D.F., Zhang, F.B., Hu, Y.Y. & Sun, Y. 1997. The influence of the kairomone of Quadraspidiotus gigas and oviposition deterring pheromone in parasitoids on the control ability of these parasitoids. (In Chinese with summary in English.) Journal of Northeast Forestry University 5: 15-21.

Notes: A kairomone occurring mainly in the scale of Quadraspidiotus gigas (Diaspidiotus gigax) helps Pteroptrix longiclava and Encarsia gigas find their host for oviposition so as to keep the host population at a low level. Experiments showed that after oviposition by P. longiclava and E. gigas on their hosts, some chemical compounds with an oviposition-deterring effect were left on the parasitized hosts. The existence of these compounds can significantly reduce the occurrence of superparasitism or multiparasitism, assure that the parasitoids in the bodies of Q. gigas have sufficient nutrition, and allow the parasitoids maximum use of the limited number of eggs.

Choi, K.S., Lee, S.G. & Shin, S.C. 1997. [Selection of a low toxic insecticide for aerial control of the black pine bast scale, Matsucoccus thunbergianae.] (In Korean with summary in English.) Journal of Forest Science (Seoul) 56: 82-86.

Notes: Stem injection of a systemic insecticide such as Phosphamidon 50% Lq and thinning are commonly applied to control the black pine (Pinus thunbergii) bast scale, Matsucoccus thunbergianae in the Korea Republic. However, both these methods have high labour costs, so aerial spraying with a low toxicity insecticide was tested as an alternative. Buprofezin 40% SC was selected as a low toxicity pesticide, and was applied as 100 litres/ha in 50-80x dilution. Both dilutions, used at different locations, gave about 80% mortality of the intermediate nymph stage under all conditions. The effective application period for this aerial control method was in early March.

Cipolla, C., Lugo, G., Sassi, C., Belisario, A., Nucci, M.C., Palermo, A., Pescarelli, M.A., Nobile, M. & Raffi, G.B. 1997. [Hypersensitivity and allergic diseases in a group of workers employed in breeding insects for biological pest control.] Sensibilizzazioni e patologia allergica in un gruppo di lavoratori addetti all'allevamento di insetti utili per la lotta biologica. (In Italian with summary in English.) Medicina del Lavoro 88: 3, 220-225.

Notes: On the basis of the results of a previous study and immuno-allergological tests, a group of 21 workers employed in breeding insects for biological pest control in Italy were studied to ascertain whether any new sensitizations to arthropods had occurred and whether any new allergic diseases were observed. The results confirmed a high sensitization to Ephestia kuehniella and to Orius sp. Sensitization to Tetranychus urticae and to Planococcus citri were observed, although to a lesser degree. It is concluded that the insects used in biological pest control are highly allergenic and that the protective devices used in this case were ineffective. The authors recommend the use of closed or semi-closed rearing chambers along with local ventilation equipment.

Cobb, N.S. & Whitham, T.G. 1998. Prevention of deme formation by the pinyon needle scale: problems of specializing in a dynamic system. Pages 37-63. in: Mopper, S. & Strauss, S.Y., Eds., Genetic structure and local adaptation in Natural insect populations: effects of ecology, life history, and behavior. Chapman & Hall, New York. xix + 449 pp.

Notes: No evidence found to support deme formation (DF) hypothesis, whereby insect herbivores became genetically adapted to individual host trees; mechanisms that could prevent deme formation by M. acalyptus on individual trees examined.

Coll, M. & Abd-Rabou, S. 1998. Effect of oil emulsion sprays on parasitoids of the black parlatoria, Parlatoria ziziphi, in grapefruit. Biocontrol 43: 1, 29-37.

Notes: The black parlatoria, Parlatoria ziziphi, a common pest of citrus in the tropics and subtropics, has become the most important citrus pest in Upper Egypt. Spray oils may be a relatively safe alternative to harmful synthetic insecticides. However, the effect of spray oils on black parlatoria and associated parasitoids is unknown. Field studies were conducted in Giza, Egypt to assess the effect of two experimental spray oils on P. ziziphi and three associated parasitoid species on grapefruit (Citrus paradisi). Triona oil was more effective than Shecrona oil and reduced s