Editor: Dug Miller Systematic Entomol. Lab. Building 005, Room 137 10300 Baltimore Avenue Plant Science Institute Beltsville Agric. Res. Ctr. Beltsville, MD 20705 USA dmiller @sel.barc.usda.gov

Volume XXIX December 30, 2005

ISSIS-XI

Manuela Branco, Instituto Superior Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa (ISA-INIA), Portugal: The meeting will be held on the campus of the National Agronomic Station (Estação Agronómica Nacional, Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária (EAN-INIA)). It will be jointly organized and sponsored by ISA-UTL and EAN-INIA. The meeting place is located in a park in the city of Oeiras, which is about halfway between Lisbon (17 km distance) and Cascais (13 km). Travel to both cities can be made by train, more or less in 15 min. Oeiras is near an interesting tourist region in the route line Lisbon- Estoril - Cascais - Cabo da Roca (the westernmost point in Continental Europe) and Sintra (UNESCO World Heritage Centre), which we will explore for the one-day field trip including the possibility of collecting scale insects (e.g., in Sintra). The date of the meeting is not decided, but we are planning for it to be between the end of September 2007 (two last weeks) and early October (first week). We are planning to send the first announcement out sometime during the first three months of 2006. If you need more information or details please do not hesitate to contact me (mrbranco@isa.utl.pt).

ISSIS-X

Lerzan Erkilic, Plant Protection Research Institute, Adana, Turkey: I hope that everyone received their copy of the proceedings. If not, they can find them at the following address: http://www.yyu.edu.tr/issis.asp The site also includes images of activities during the meetings. I would like to thank Bora for all his efforts in preparing the proceedings and putting them at this address at Yüzüncü Yil University. I hope the coming year brings health, happiness and success to all.

NEWS

Michelle Leddel, Century High School, Alhambra, California, USA and Joel Grossman, editor of IPM Practioner, California, USA: 'Our little scale insect' may become a household term after people learn about a just published book, "A Perfect Red." By Amy Butler Greenfield. Joel Grossman, who writes the Entomological Society of America Conference Highlights for the IPM Practitioner, and I have a book review that should be of broad interest to readers of the Scale. For more information see www.amybutlergreenfield.com and www.aperfectred.com.

REVIEW OF NEW BOOK "A Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the Color of Desire" (Harper-Collins, 2005; 338 pages; ISBN: 0060522755). This is a tale of colonialism, empires, world trade, pirates, fashion, the color red, and a scale insect, Dactylopius, whose harvest as a medicine, clothing dye, food ingredient (mixed with chocolate it looked like a bowl of blood and repulsed the Spanish Conquistadors), etc., dates back thousands of years in the Americas. The book, which includes tales of botanical and scale insect espionage, is designed to appeal to the general reader. It reads like a novel, because its author Amy Butler Greenfield has the skills of a novelist. Greenfield is also an historian with knowledge of multiple languages, which aided in combing European archives for documents pertaining to world trade in the red cochineal dye harvested in the bodies of Dactylopius scale insects grown in southern Mexico. A Perfect Red places the cochineal scale into the larger fabric of world history. That history is surprisingly relevant today, with its geo-political intrigue and stories of heads of state (e.g. Spanish kings) turning to deficit spending and going beyond their budgets to finance their imperial aims, religious agendas, and military machines. Indeed, the cochineal scale insect grown by small farmers in southern Mexico was second only to silver in providing the financing that kept the Catholic Spanish Empire on top of the world and ahead of the Protestant British in the 16th and 17th centuries. Far from being a textbook, this book places scale insects into the heart of modern world history and is very enjoyable reading. It will be a welcome change of pace from scientific papers, and provide readers with some cochineal scale historical tales to enliven dinner and party conversations. Some of the gaps in our knowledge are almost as interesting as Greenfield's sweeping world history, and it is here that entomology using modern DNA and other technologies can be brought into play. For example, it is clear that the cochineal scale insect of commerce was deliberately bred for its red dye in southern Mexico. But not even Greenfield can tell us how many thousands of years ago the Dactylopius of commerce was first cultivated by the ancient Mexicans. Just as we unravel the genetic heritage of corn, we might similarly determine when the cochineal scale (and perhaps also its prickly pear cactus host plant) was first domesticated. Indeed, being able to date scale insect domestication in Mexico and comparing it to silk moth domestication in China would be useful to historians, anthropologists, and others.

Lerzan Erkilic, Plant Protection Research Institute, Adana, Turkey: Since 2004, I am spending more research effort on the practical side of scale insects studies. We recently established a beneficial insects rearing facilities for citrus mealybug biological control in citrus groves rearing Cryptolaemus montrozieri and Leptomastix dactylopii. We also provide advice and technical services to facilitate the usage of beneficials in citrus groves. However, biological control is currently used in only about 5% of citrus due primarily to problems with pesticide residues.

Jan Giliomee, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa: During the past year my post-doc student Waktola Wakgari and I published descriptions of all female stages of six mealybug species that occur on citrus in South Africa (African Entomology 13:281-332). This was necessary to enable the morphological identification of immatures (and adults) that may be found on exported fruit. The presence of South African endemics on fruit is of course not acceptable to importing countries and may lead to consignments being destroyed. Waktola briefly returned to South Africa from Ethiopia, where he now works, to bring about changes to the manuscript suggested by our valued reviewer Penny Gullan, who happened to be visiting from California at the time.

Giuseppina Pellizzari, Universita di Padova, Legnaro, Italy: I am continuing my work on collecting Italian scale insects. Among them several appear to be new species, but I have not had time to describe them. I hope to begin doing this in the near future. Last year we discovered two new alien scale species that are recorded outdoors in Italy for the first time, namely Fiorinia pinicola and Pseudococcus comstocki. A third species, an Eriococcus species, was recorded on ornamental plants of Leptospermum scoparium, a plant native to New Zealand. Rosa Henderson kindly provided me with descriptions of New Zealand eriococcids and I also checked the Australian species but my specimens don’t fit any of them. Has anyone else collect eriococcids on Leptospermum? Dug Miller thinks the Eriococcus species may be native to North America. During 2005, I collaborated with two Italian colleagues (Tino Russo and Antonio Tranfaglia) in writing a book on the scale insects of olive and fruit trees; it is near completion and will be in press soon. In addition, I am working with several European colleagues to build a list of alien arthropod species of Europe. It consists of compiling a list of alien arthropod species (except Aranea and Crustacea) in Europe. Alien species are defined as species whose primary introduction was caused directly or indirectly by man’s activity. We will use 1492 (or the "discovery" of America) as the departure date for considering species aliens. We will publish the results in a book "Alien invasive species of insects and mites in Europe". In the list of alien introduced insects, as you can imagine, scales constitute a major component.

Yair Ben-Dov, Department of Entomology, Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Dagan, Israel: During 2004 I have been updating the 11 families, which I am processing, for ScaleNet, the joint project with Dug Miller. Data were added and updated on the families: Aclerdidae, Asterolecaniidae, Beesoniidae, Carayonemidae, Coccidae, Dactylopiidae, Diaspididae (subfamilies Aspidiotinae, Comstockiellinae and Odonaspidinae), Kerriidae, Lecanodiaspididae, Margarodidae and Pseudococcidae. This is the appropriate time to thank our colleagues for the comments, notes and corrections which they sent us. We very much appreciate your feedback, as it contributes to ScaleNet, for the benefit of all. The Catalogue of the Margarodidae (Ben-Dov, Y. 2005. A systematic catalogue of the of the Scale Insect family Margarodidae (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of the world. Intercept Publishers, Wimborne, UK & Lavoisier, Paris. 400 pp.) was published on January 2005, and it is available for purchase from the Publisher; information is available at the URL: http://www.intercept.co.uk. Subsequently, the database for the family has been added to ScaleNet, and it is now available on-line. The website Directory of Scale Insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) Systematists, was developed and placed on-line during 2004 on the Internet at the URL: http://www.agri.gov.il/publications/systematists. This website was developed to provide information on systematists of scale insects, beginning with Carl von Linnaeus (1707-1778) to the present. A scale insect systematist is regarded, in the context of this Directory, as a person who has been either an author or co-author of a new taxon in the Coccoidea. During 2005 I have added data for several ‘new’ systematists, corrected errors and supplemented the information from available records. It is my wish to update and upgrade the Directory. Therefore, feedback from colleagues and users will be highly appreciated. If you discover that a particular scale insect systematist is not included in the Directory, or you have new information and corrections to the included information, please send the information by email to yairbd@int.gov.il.

Chris Hodgson, The National Museum of Wales, Wales, UK: All of the projects listed in last year’s “The Scale” as being nearly completed are finished and are either in the late stages of publication or have been published. In addition, Jon Martin and I published a paper on a new soft scale genus (Fistulicoccus) and 2 new species from Hong Kong and New Guinea (in Zootaxa). The following projects are now at an advanced stage and should be published reasonably soon: Vahedi & Hodgson - on some Porphyrophora species from Europe, the Middle East and north Africa (in Systematics and Biodiversity); Hodgson & Foldi - morphology of the adult males of Margarodidae sensu Morrison (in Zootaxa); the morphology of Marchalina hellenica (with Sofia Gounari); a revision of the soft scale genus Cissococcus in South Africa (with Ian Millar - we believe this genus does belong to the Coccidae but it is the only known gall-forming soft scale); a check list of the insects of the Galapagos Islands (with Charlotte Causton and many others); the systematics and biology of the South African eriococcid genus Calycicoccus (with Penny Gullan, Jan Giliomee and Lyn Cook). On-going projects are: the phylogeny of the non-margarodoid genera based on adult males; a revision of the monophlebid genus Palaeococcus (with the help of Zvi Mendel, Sofia Gounari and others); a possible revision of the margarodid genus Stigmacoccus (with Gillian Watson and Amauri Bogo); descriptions of the type species of the South American eriococcid genera (with Dug Miller); the immature stages of New Zealand Coccidae (with Rosa Henderson); the males of the diaspid genus Leucaspis from New Zealand (with Rosa Henderson and Ben Normark); and, finally, a revision of the Coccidae of Australia (with Penny Gullan). None of this would be possible without the on-going support of the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, to whom I am extremely grateful.

Penny Gullan, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa: I'm writing this from Doug Downie's lab at Rhodes University in Grahamstown. Pete Cranston and I have been on sabbatical leave in South Africa since the end of September and are enjoying the change of scene, as well as the escape from administration and teaching. While here I'm mainly working on the taxonomy of mealybugs of the South African endemic plant genus Elytropappus (Asteraceae). The best known and most widely distributed species of Elytropappus, E. rhinocerotis, commonly is called "renosterbos" (rhinoceros bush) because early settlers believed that it was eaten by rhinoceros. Apparently there's no evidence for that claim. Certainly it is not palatable to livestock, but is a weedy pasture shrub in many places. However, both gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) and mealybugs seem to like it, and a few species of each induce galls on the foliage. In addition to gall-inducing pseudococcids, especially of the genus Diversicrus, there are other mealybug species that live among the bracts of galls induced on renosterbos by the gall midges and yet other mealybugs that feed on the stems. So the insect-plant associations are complex. In mid October, Pete and I spent an enjoyable few days in Stellenbosch, where we were looked after royally by Jan and Warnia Giliomee. We gave seminars at Stellenbosch University, met with other other academics and friends, and did some collecting and sightseeing in the local area. Jan has kindly agreed to continue the search for Diversicrus mealybugs on Elytropappus, since the type locality for the type species, D. longulum, is fairly close to Stellenbosch. I'm looking forward to a visit to the South African National Collection of Insects (SANC) in December. I'll spend a week there hosted by Ian Millar and get the chance to examine their extensive collection of African scale insects, including type material from De Lotto and Brain. One taxon of special interest to me, Ian and Chris Hodgson is Cissococcus Brain, which is gall-inducing on Rhoicissus (Vitaceae). Cissococcus is believed to be the only member of the family Coccidae to induce complex (covering) galls, but I had been guessing that it's really an eriococcid, perhaps related to the only native South African eriococcid, Calycicoccus (also a gall inducer). Chris Hodgson has studied immature and adult males of a couple of collections of Cissococcus and he's still betting on Coccidae. I now have some fresh specimens and the nymphs sure do look coccid-like. Hopefully the DNA will tell us the true relationships. While I'm enjoying southern Africa, my lab group at University of California, Davis (UCD), is busy with taxonomic and molecular activities on various scale insect groups. Cory Unruh is continuing her taxonomic and molecular phylogenetic research on iceryine margarodids for her Ph.D. Nate Hardy is completing the required coursework as well as doing molecular work for his Ph.D. on Australian gall-inducing eriococcids. Janie Booth is finishing up her Masters on Matsucoccus. Demian Kondo has become a gel-jock! Under the expert tuition of originally Lyn Cook and now Geoff Morse, he has been extracting DNA, doing PCRs and getting nucleotide sequences for coccids. He plans to produce the first molecular phylogeny for the higher groups within Coccidae and perhaps challenge (or support) the Hodgson higher classification of the family. In June 2005, our PEET (Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy) team had another get-together at UCD. Thirteen of us participated for part or all of a week: the Normark lab (University of Massachusetts, Amherst), the Gullan lab (UCD), Ray Gill and Gillian Watson (California Department of Food & Agriculture, Sacramento), Dug Miller (USDA, Beltsville) and Lyn Cook (all the way from the Australian National University, Canberra). We ran a workshop on cytology and endosymbionts of scale insects, at which Lyn was the lead trainer, showing us the wonders of coccoid chromosomes. Lyn also went on a pre-workshop field trip with Ben Normark and his students, and she stayed on in Davis after the workshop to work on a long overdue Gullan & Cook manuscript (which is still not done). I'll be seeing Lyn briefly in January 2006 when I travel back to California via a two-week stop in Australia. I will also see Rosa Henderson at Landcare Research, New Zealand, for one day in February.

Imre Foldi, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France: My research on the archaeococcoids has resulted in two publications in 2005. One on the Matsucoccidae of the Mediterranean basin, the other on a generic revision of the family Margarodidae sensu stricto. I also have a paper in preparation on a generic revision of the family Monophlebidae, with descriptions of several new species. In addition, Chris Hodgson and I are collaborating on a very interesting comparative study on margarodid males; this is finished and is in press. We intend to follow this with another, more complete phylogenetic analysis based on adult males. With Ferenc Kozàr, I am currently working on some mealybugs from South America collected on one of my collecting trips. I have enjoyed working with both Chris and Ferenc. It was also a great pleasure to meet with Douglas Williams again in 2005 and have discussions during his recent visit to Paris.

André Panis, Laboratoire de Biologie des Invertebres, Antibes, France: I made short collecting trips to northern or higher altitude localities in the southern sections of France where some cold-limited scale-insect species were collected in the wild many years ago. I was investigating the question of their survival in the hard winter of 2005. A paper is in preparation on the present distribution and new host-plants of one of these species, Icerya purchasi Maskell, about one century after its introduction (on the French Riviera in 1910). Yearly number of generations of Pseudococcus maritimus (Ehrhorn) was established in a vineyard. I found P. maritimus, as morphologically defined by Gimpel and Miller (1996), on wine grapes in the southern areas of France in the seventies for the first time and again in 1999 and 2000. Three mealybugs are widely distributed in the southern vineyards: Heliococcus bohemicus Sulc, Phenacoccus aceris (Signoret), and Planococcus ficus (Signoret). Two other species are restricted to just a few vineyards: Planococcus citri (Risso) and Pseudococcus maritimus. In some areas Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret), which is very similar to P. maritimus, lives on wine grapes. I have not found it on wine grapes in the south.

Laurence Mound, Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra, Australia: We have recently completed an inventory of the Pseudococcidae slide material in the collection and are planning to do the rest of the Coccoidea slide collection in the near future. This inventory is included in this edition of “The Scale” on page 13. Also since many of the readers of “The Scale” may be interested in aphids, I want to draw attention to the ABRS list of Australian aphids.

See www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/abrs/fauna/tree.pl?pstrVol=APHIDOIDEA&p

Wengei Tong, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts USA: I'm just starting my PhD at Harvard, and am thinking of working on Icerya purchasi and East African scales. Ben Normark suggested that I post a note about this on "The Scale".

Adrian Rakimov, Mildura, Australia, : I have recently been introduced to the fantastic world of scale insects. I am one year into my PhD on the distribution, lifecycle and biological control of the grapevine scale (Parthenolecanium persicae) in Australian vineyards. Very little work has been done on P. persicae and other coccids in Australian vineyards, which has made my work challenging, but at the same time provided me with a wealth of opportunities! Parthenolecanium persicae is the most common coccid pest of grapevines in Australia, however, I have also found significant infestations of Coccus hesperidum and Parasaissetia nigra. To date I have collected a number of parasitoids of P. persicae from around Australia including; Coccophagus lycimnia, Metaphycus maculipennis, M. helvolus, Microterys sp. and Cheiloneurus sp. I have also collected male P. persicae and this appears to be the first record of them in Australia. Currently, I am establishing glasshouse cultures of P. persicae and parasitoids to be used in future bioassay experiments. I also plan to look at how ants affect the ability of natural enemies to control populations of P. persicae. If anyone has any obscure or hard to get P. persicae papers or specimens, it would be greatly appreciated if you could send them to me at: The Department of Primary Industries, PO Box 905, Mildura, Victoria 3502, Australia.

Selma Ulgenturk, Ankara University Agriculture Faculty, Ankara – Turkey: This year I continued my research in the following areas: 1) Biological control of euonymus scale (Unaspis euonymi Comst., Diaspididae) using Chilocorus kuwanae Silvestri (Coccinellidae); 2) Biological relationships between some mealybugs and the parasitoid Anagyrus pseudococci (Girault) (Encyrtidae) and their interactions with the mealybug predator Cryptolaemus montrizieri Mulsant (Coccinellidae); 3) The effectiveness of entomopathogen Paecilomyces farinosus (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomucetes) on citrus mealybugs Planococcus citri (Risso) and P. ficus (Signoret) (Pseudococcidae) and the interactions of the mealybugs with fungicides. I also completed the following research: 1) Studies on some biological characters of Planococcus citri (Risso) on certain ornamental plants under laboratory conditions. 2) Some morphological and biological characteristics of Melanaspis inopinata Leonardi (Diaspididae)

Demian Kondo, University of California, Davis California, USA: The year 2005 has been flying by pretty fast for me; too many projects and too little time. My work this year can be summarized as follows: I had finally described a new mango pest coccid from Thailand in collaboration with M.L. Williams (Zootaxa: 1045:25-37); with P.J. Gullan we published a review of the genus Austrotachardiella Chamberlin and described a new species from Colombia (Neotropical Entomology 34(3): 395-401); with M.L. Williams and P.J. Gullan we erected the new genus Octolecanium in order to accommodate Neolecanium perconvexum (Cockerell) and describe a new species from Guatemala (TIP Revista Especializada en Ciencias Químico-Biológicas 8(1): 5-11); also with Mike and Penny, we reviewed the coccid genus Xenolecanium Takahashi and erected the new genus Takahashilecanium in order to accommodate Xenolecanium perconvexum Takahashi (Entomological Science 8: 109-120); a short paper and abstract with Mike on the coccid genus Akermes Cockerell came out in the ISSIS proceedings (Proceedings of the X international symposium of scale insect studies; Pp. 71-77; P. 78, April 19-23, 2004, Adana, Turkey). Two more papers are in press, the first one on the taxonomy and biology of the mealybug genus Plotococcus Miller & Denno in Brazil, with descriptions of two new species (Kondo, T., Gullan, P.J. Culik, M. and Ventura, J.A., Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment), and a new genus of African soft scale, Pseudocribrolecanium gen. nov.(Journal of Insect Science). This last paper resulted from a collecting trip in June to Ghana sponsored by the PEET project that supports my postdoctoral research at UC Davis. The trip to Ghana consisted of members from various Institutions including the New York State Museum, Brigham Young University, and the University of California, Davis. Geoff Morse who is conducting postdoctoral research in Davis at the Cranston and Gullan lab until the end of 2005 was also a member of the expedition to Ghana and helped me collect the species that resulted in the Pseudocribrolecanium paper. With a little bit of pressure, a lot of encouragement, patience and cooperation by Lyn Cook, Geoff Morse, Penny Gullan and the students at the Cranston and Gullan lab, I have started a project aimed at producing a genetic level phylogeny of the family Coccidae. In order to conduct this study I have asked several of my colleagues, e.g. Gillian Watson, Ray Gill, Chris Hodgson, Jon Martin, Mike Williams, Greg Hodges, and others for help in obtaining alcohol or dried material for DNA extraction. I am still short of many coccids for this work, and would like to ask for help. I especially need specimens from coccids included in the subfamily Eriopeltinae (e.g. Eriopeltis festucae, Luzulaspis spp., Poaspis spp., etc); Cyphococcinae (i.e. Cyphococcus Laing and Messinea De Lotto); Cissococcinae (i.e. Cissococcus fulleri Cockerell); Coccinae: Paralecaniini (Paralecanium spp., Fistulococcus spp., Austrolecanium spp., Maacoccus spp., etc); and Filippinae (e.g. Ceronema spp., Filippia follicularis, Kozaricoccus bituberculatus, Takahashia japonica, etc.). I will appreciate coccids from other subfamilies as well. Finally but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to Lerzan Erkilic and M. Bora Kaydan and all those who organized the successful ISSIS 2004 meeting at Adana, Turkey.

Lyn Cook, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia: This year I have been able to return to working on scale insects almost full time after spending the past four years doing mostly plant systematics, evolution and biogeography. I currently have funding to work on scale insect-host plant interactions and continue to be primarily interested in gall-inducing 'eriococcids'. In June this year, I visited Penny Gullan's lab in California and attended "scale camp", where it was good to catch up with other coccidologists and talk scales. I've also been lucky to have been able to go on several big field trips in Australia (totalling more than six months over the past 4 years) and have collected many new gallers - particularly eriococcid gallers of Myrtaceae. I have also continued to work on Apiomorpha and genetic data suggest that the genus represents a cryptic species-radiation of well over 100 species; all on Eucalyptus. Mike Crisp (ANU) and I are continuing collaborations on plant systematics and hope to be able to test some hypotheses of scale insect-host cospeciation. We currently have an honours student (Robert Edwards) working on a molecular phylogeny of Melaleuca, which will feed into our studies of cospeciation between the newly discovered species radiation of eriococcid gallers and their host Melaleucas. The undescribed species (probably more than 30) appear to be most closely related to eriococcids currently named "Sphaerococcus" ferrugineus and "S." socialis. Some other collaborative projects include the evolution of eriococcids that feed on Nothofagus (joint with Penny Gullan and Nate Hardy), Matsucoccus systematics (Penny G and Janie Booth) and a molecular phylogeny of Coccidae (primarily with Demian Kondo). I would like to thank all those coccidologists who have provided specimens and identifications for the molecular systematics studies and hopefully papers will start to come out in 2006.

M. Bora Kaydan, Ankara University, Faculty of Agriculture, Plant Protection
Department, Turkey: At last we have finished the “Proceedings of the Xth International Symposium of Scale Insect Studies” with Lerzan Erkýlýç; it was published this summer. Now I am working on the scale insect fauna of the eastern part of Turkey. All summer I collected interesting species from unusual and diverse locations. This project will continue two more years. I also have been studying mealybug-parasitoid interactions. Some recent faunistic articles on scale insects were accepted by “Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica”, “Bolletino di Zoologia Agraria e di Bachicoltura” with the assistance of Dr. Kozár. Finally I am planning to describe two new species of Atrococcus and Stipacoccus and to prepare a list of mealybug species of Turkey because a lot of new species have been added in the last five years.

Benjamin Normark, University of Massachusetts, Massachusetts, USA, bnormark@ent.umass.edu. The main focus of our laboratory continues to be on molecular systematics of Diaspididae.  We are always very grateful to receive samples of diaspidids from anywhere. We are interested in the genetic diversity of common pests, as well as the systematics of non-pests, so virtually any sample with recoverable DNA (ideally in 100% ethanol) is useful to us. We recently published one paper on molecular systematics of the Aspidiotus nerii complex (first author Lisa Provencher) in Annals of the Entomol. Soc. Am., and another on molecular systematics across Diaspididae (first author Geoffrey Morse) in Syst. Entomol. We have also recently submitted a third paper (on the molecular phylogeography of an eriococcid, the beech scale Cryptococcus fagisuga, first author Rodger Gwiazdowski) to Biological Control. Our next publication (including authors Geoff Morse and Rosa Henderson) will probably be on the molecular phylogenetics of New Zealand Leucaspis. Ph.D. student Matthew Gruwell is doing his Ph.D. dissertation on the primary endosymbionts of diaspidids; Ph.D. student Rodger Gwiazdowski is starting dissertation work on the molecular systematics of Chionaspis, especially of the sexual/parthenogenetic species complexes Ch. pinifoliae and Ch. salicis. Undergrad Jeremy Andersen has done a lot of work this year to expand our sequencing effort across Diaspididae and especially to develop the gene CAD new molecular marker for inferring phylogeny in scales. And I am still working to recruit another graduate student for a well-funded NSF research assistantship: alert your undergraduate students. We all travelled to Davis in June for the third Scale Camp, hosted by the Gullan lab, and learned from Lyn Cook about how to do chromosome squashes and from Gillan Watson, Ray Gill, and Penny about how to make good slides for morphological characters. Ray Gill gave us detailed maps and directions to collecting sites -- and a truck! -- that enabled us to have a very productive diaspidid safari in the Mojave. I remain especially interested in the unusual genetic systems of scale insects and related issues such as: sex ratios, sex determination, genomic imprinting, ploidy levels of bacteriomes/mycetomes, and cytogenetics.  One venue where I was invited to speak about these issues was the Gordon Research Conference on Epigenetics, where I was impressed to find researchers on the fundamentals of gene regulation (e.g., Amar Klar of the National Cancer Institute) who are interested in scale insect genetic systems, and who remember Spencer Brown and Uzi Nur. Indeed, I met the world's leading researcher on genomic imprinting in Drosophila -- Vett Lloyd of Mount Allison University in New Brunswick -- and found her keen to start in on mealybugs.

SOO-jung SUH, South Korea suhsj97@npqs.go.kr: I am a new face in the world of scale insects, and I would like to introduce myself. I am working for the National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) and have been charged with the identification of Coccoidea and Aleyrodidae. Actually I knew very little about scale insects until last year, and I still consider myself a novice. I have been interested in scale insects and whiteflies because they are major pests on many plants in my country. I wanted to improve my identification skills, so I trained with Greg Hodges for 11 months (from August 2004 to June 2005) at the Division of Plant Industry, FDACS. This trip was a great experience for me and I learned a lot about scale insects. I appreciate Greg's help and kindness and I was very glad to meet Dug Miller and Greg Evans while I was in the United States. I returned home in July 2005 and started working on scale insects and whiteflies of South Korea. I am particularly interested in the Diaspididae, so I have been concentrating on the Korean armored scale insects. Currently only 69 species have been recorded as occurring in South Korea, but I think more species are likely to be added in the future because neighboring nations, such as Japan and China, have many more identified species than Korea. I am planning to start a new project that will be a taxonomic revision of the Korean armored scale insects. I hope I can find new species during the survey phase of the study and plan to finish the project in 2009.

Vett Lloyd, Mt. Allision University, New Brunswick, Canada vlloyd@mta.ca: I'm a (very) recent convert to the wonderful world of mealybugs. I've been working on genomic imprinting in Drosophila for many years and have recently started to expand our work to Planococcus citri. We're interested in studying the mechanism of genomic imprinting and paternal chromosome elimination in mealybugs.

Greg Hodges, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville, Florida : This past year has been a very busy one for myself, my wife and my lab. My wife (Dr. Amanda Hodges) is currently the entomology coordinator for the Southern Plant Diagnostic Network () and one of her main objectives has been to organize taxonomic workshops for taxonomists based at land grant universities in the southeastern United States. In December 2004, I participated in one of these workshops () sponsored by the Southern Plant Diagnostic Network along with Drs. Doug Miller, Gary Miller, Mike Williams, Greg Evans, Susan Halbert, Chris Dietrich and Steve Wilson. There were approximately 32 participants at the workshop and it was a lot of fun but a lot of work. Several nice publications from the above taxonomists were generated from this workshop and will be available in the December 2005 issue of the Florida Entomologist. Not too long after our ‘Homoptera’ workshop, Amanda asked me to help with another session. This time it was all about pink hibiscus mealybug (Maconellicoccus hirsutus) and all the various mealybugs that we routinely encounter in Florida. This past year I also hosted a very promising visiting scientist from South Korea. Her name is Dr. Soo Jung Suh and she spent 11 months with me learning about the taxonomy of the Coccoidea and also the Aleyrodidae. From her visit, we have generated four publications that will be out soon. Soo left my lab this past June and returned to South Korea where she has been asked to be the primary scale insect/whitefly identifier for the National Plant and Quarantine Service for her country. In October 2005, I had another visiting scientist spend time with me. Her name is Nereida Mestre Novoa from Cuba. She is currently finishing up her dissertation and working on the Coccidae of Cuba. This has also been an active year on the pest front for Florida. The pink hibiscus mealybug has continued to give us problems, especially in getting into new areas due to plant movement. The lobate lac scale (Paratachardina lobata (Kerriidae)) is still a major pest for south Florida and we now have about 300 host records for this scale in Florida alone. We have also seen the spread of Duplachionaspis divergens (Diaspididae) within our state this year and it looks as though it may have the potential to be nasty little pest for some of our ornamental grasses. If any of you ever get a wild hair to come my way, please know that you are all welcome. Just drop me a line () and let me know when or if you need specimens.

Manuela Branco, Instituto Superior Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa (ISA-INIA), Portugal: Please find below two references concerning scale insects that were accepted and will be in press soon. You might find it interesting for "The Scale". 1) Branco M., Franco J.C., Dunlkelblum E., Assael F., Protasov A., Ofer D., Mendel Z. (in press) A common mode of kairomonal attraction of larvae and adults of insect predators to the sex pheromone of their prey (Hemiptera: Matsucoccidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research. 2) Branco M., Lettere M., Franco J. C., Binazzi, A., Jactel, H.. (in press) Kairomonal response of predators to three pine bast scale sex pheromones. Journal of Chemical Ecology.

Gregory Evans, Beltsville, Maryland, USA, Gregory.A.Evans@usda.gov. After many years working with scale insect systematists, Dug Miller, Avas Hamon and Greg Hodges, I was given the privilege of joining the ranks in June 2004 as the National Coccidology Specialist for USDA/APHIS, a position previously occupied by Doug Odermatt (retired). My primary duty is to identify species of scale insects and whiteflies intercepted at the U.S. ports-of-entry. Several new species have been intercepted, particularly by Bert Lindsey (APHIS, Los Angeles), that I plan to describe with Dug Miller, who has been extremely helpful to me. We are also working together with Dr. Alessandra Rung to resolve the taxonomic status of Planococcus citri versus P. minor by a combination of morphological and DNA studies. I am especially grateful to André Panis for collecting and sending specimens of Planococcus citri from the type locality in France for our study. John Dooley (APHIS, San Francisco) and I are working on keys to the scale insects and whiteflies found on bananas. I continue to work on the systematics of aphelinid parasites of scale insects, aphids and whiteflies when I can.

Dug Miller and Alessandra Rung, Beltsville, Maryland, USA: Our major projects have been to complete expert system keys for the identification of scale insects intercepted at U. S. ports-of-entry. To date a family key http://www.sel.barc. usda.gov/ scalekeys/all_families.htm

and mealybug key http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/scalekeys /NET/Mealybugs.html are available on line. We currently are working on a soft scale key but are having difficulty finding funds to support the effort. The newest in the series of catalogs that has been published as a result of ScaleNet is A systematic catalogue of the Cerococcidae, Halimococcidae, Kermesidae, Micrococcidae, Ortheziidae, Phenacoleachiidae, Phoenicococcidae, and Stictococcidae of the world which was published in 2005 by Intercept (see http://www.intercept.co.uk). I have just submitted the last of our ScaleNet-based catalogs on the Diaspidinae, Leucaspidinae, and Ulucoccinae to the American Entomological Institute (AEI); this has been a major task because it contains 1600 camera ready pages. Unfortunately, Intercept was bought out by a French company Lavoisier and they were not interested in continuing to publish the volumes produced through ScaleNet. We also are pleased to announce that the book that John Davidson and I have been working on for nearly 30 years is now in print “Armored scale insect pests of trees and shrubs.” It is available from Cornell University Press at http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/cup_order.html. Douglas Williams and I have just completed a manuscript on the armored scale genus Furcaspis which we also hope will be published by AEI. The other big news is that I am considering retiring in January of 2007 after 37 years with the US Department of Agriculture. This gives me a year to clean up all of the projects that are still in process and to straighten things out in the collection so that the next person here will begin with a clean slate. One important project for 2006 is to obtain cabinets for the slide collection so that we can incorporate the Kosztarb collection. We have written several proposals for funding, but have yet to succeed. The Miller Hotel has had a few visitors this year including Amanda and Greg Hodges, Douglas Williams, Janie Booth, and Cory Unruh.

Douglas Williams, The Natural History Museum, London, UK: For some reason I am unable to convince Douglas to write something for “The Scale” so I (Dug Miller) am writing something for him. The problem is, I miss a lot, and probably misrepresent his numerous accomplishments. In terms of travel, I know that he visited Beltsville, Maryland so that we could finish a paper on the armored scale genus Furcaspis. He also visited with his colleagues Danièle Matile and Imre Foldi in Paris where he is working on species of Stictococcus and other genera. He seems to have new papers coming out several times each year and I hope that we have caught most of them in ScaleNet. When he is home, I know he spends considerable time drawing the many exciting new scales that come across his desk; his major current works are on Protortonia and the Iceryines with Penny Gullan.

Michael Kosztarab, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA: Michael professionally had a productive year by seeing four of his articles published. He was fortunate last May to meet three of his former graduate students: Avas Hamon and Michael Williams in Beltsville, Maryland, during the celebration honoring the still living US Department of Agriculture aphidologist [and coccidologist] Louise M. Russell. In Regensburg, Germany Michael also met former graduate student Gema Perez Guerra and her family. Michael is serving for the third year in a row as the faculty adviser for the Virginia Tech Hungarian Student Association. Michael’s main hobby and pastime remains working in the garden and greenhouse. [Extracted from a holiday letter].

Agatino Russo, Gaetana Mazzeo and Pompeo Suma, Istituto di Entomologia Agraria, Catania, Italy: We are still working on the systematics of the Coccoidea, and faunistic and physiological aspects of the Pseudococcidae. Currently we are involved in studies on species living in Sicilian protected natural environments that are poorly known, and about species newly introduced through commerce of ornamental plants. A paper is in progress on the species related to succulents. A national research project is underway on the side effects of insecticides on the citrus mealybug and its parasitoids. Initial results have been presented in National and International Congresses (OILB, IOBC, Congresso Nazionale Italiano di Entomologia) and have been published. Next year we will begin research on populations of Planococcus citri in Sicily to distinguish them from other populations in the Mediterranean Basin using molecular tools; similar studies will be carried out on P. citri parasitoids.

Jon Martin, The Natural History Museum, London, UK : NHM scales on the move:
The big news in the collections world has been the move of the entire entomological collection of London ’s Natural History Museum during 2005. This has been to allow demolition of the Entomology building to make way for the creation of Phase 2 of the museum’s “Darwin Centre”. For the scale insect collections, Jon Martin began preparing in earnest in 2004, with a complete overhaul of the dry collections. Several separate collections, including the former Newstead and Green collections, were amalgamated into one. This “new” dry collection comprises small shunt boxes and small glass-topped boxes, and is alphabetically arranged according to up-to-date name combinations, making location of any named taxon much easier and quicker. The slide collections, already in much better order than the dry collections had been, were prepared for shipping by tightening the rows of slides to minimise movement. Several cabinets required attention to drawer handles and locks, to allow all cabinets to be secured. The scales, along with Lepidoptera and parasitic Hymenoptera, began their journey in June 2005. Their new location is some 4 miles from the main South Kensington museum, at Wandsworth (Southfields) and physically close to the Wimbledon tennis ground. By the end of October, approximately 100,000 coccoid slides and over 8,000 boxes of dry scales had been trucked across London , along with 82,000 drawers of Lepidoptera, their cabinets and the Entomology Library – not to mention 25 staff and their working environment. Once settled in, some distortion of wooden cabinets led to drawer-jamming and the whole coccoid and whitefly dry collection was then re-rehoused in metal “Dexion” drawer units, which was a job that Jon could have done without. Fortunately, settling has not led to such major problems with the wooden “Hill” slide cabinets. After the inevitable closed period, Gillian Watson (California Department of Agriculture) became the first visitor to the NHM scales’ new location in November. At the time of writing Ferenc Kozar ( Hungarian Academy of Sciences) is putting the new system through its paces. In theory at least, the whole process will be reversed in 2008 or 2009, with Darwin Centre 2 due to accommodate as much as possible of the NHM’s entomological collection. For now, the temporary arrangements are functioning well. The 4 th floor of the old building, which many coccidologists will recall (fondly, we hope!), is already but a memory.

PSEUDOCOCCIDAE

in

The Australian National Insect Collection

Listed by Kenneth Webster & Laurence Mound

November 2005

Indicating number of slides, location (cabinet and drawer number), and type specimens available.

I. Pseudococcidae taxa recorded in Australia

Slides Location Types

Acinicoccus Williams, 1985

stipae Williams, 1985 3 A6 Holotype, 1 paratype

triodiae Williams, 1985 2 A6 Holotype

Antonina Signoret, 1875

crawi Cockerell, 1900 1 A7

graminis (Maskell, 1897) 23 A7 – 8

Apodastococcus Williams, 1985

aldinganus Williams, 1985 1 A9 Holotype

onar Williams, 1985 7 A9 Holotype, 1 paratype

tiphys Williams, 1985 1 A9 Holotype

Asteliacoccus Williams, 1985

margaretae Williams, 1985 1 A9 Holotype

Australicoccus Williams, 1985

grevilleae (Fuller, 1899) 60 A 10 – 12

hibbertiae (Maskell, 1892) 24 A 15 – 16

Sp. 9 A 16

Australiputo Williams, 1985

casuarinae (Maskell, 1893) 2 A 17

eucalypti Williams, 1985 18 A 17 Holotype

Sp. 5 A 18

Chaetotrionymus Williams, 1985

murnpeowiensis Williams, 1985 3 A 19 Holotype, 2 paratype

pachylus Williams, 1985 5 A 19 Holotype, 4 paratype

Chorizococcus McKenzie, 1960

discretus Williams, 1985 1 A 19 Holotype

eriachnis Williams, 1985 9 A 20 Holotype, 3 paratype

herbicola (Maskell, 1891) 7 A 21 Lectotype

montius Williams, 1985 1 A 21 Holotype

oreophilus Williams, 1985 1 A 21 Holotype

subalpinus Brookes, 1976 3 A 22 Holotype, 1 paratype

Sp. 8 A 22

Chryseococcus Cox, 1987

arecae (Maskell, 1890) 16 A 23

Conulicoccus Williams, 1985

beardsleyi Williams, 1985 7 A 24 Holotype, 1 paratype

eucalypti Williams, 1985 2 A 24 Holotype, paratype

pholeter Williams, 1985 2 A 24 Holotype

Coorongia Williams, 1985

gahniae Williams, 1985 5 B 3 Holotype, 4 paratype

Crisicoccus Ferris, 1950

acaciae Williams, 1985 3 B 3 Holotype, 2 paratype

gullanae Williams, 1985 4 B 3 Holotype, 3 paratype

Cryptoripersia Cockerell in Ehrhorn, 1899

lii (Brookes, 1976) 2 B 3 Holotype, paratype

loweri (Brookes, 1976) 2 B 3 Holotype, paratype

Cypericoccus Williams 1985

multipori Williams 1985 14 B 4 Holotype, 4 paratype

Dawa Williams, 1985

karrinyupae Williams, 1985 1 B 5 Holotype

Dysmicoccus Ferris, 1950

acaciarum Williams, 1985 4 B 5 Holotype

aggeris Williams, 1985 3 B 5 Holotype, 1 paratype

anicus Williams, 1985 14 B 6 Holotype 2 paratype

banksi Williams, 1985 9 B 7 Holotype, 1 paratype

brevipes (Cockerell, 1893) 16 B 5 – 8

bundooranus Williams, 1985 1 B 8 Holotype

casuarinarum Williams, 1985 1 B 8 Holotype

coorongae Williams, 1985 1 B 8 Holotype

hilli (Froggatt, 1916) 2 B 8

howrahicus Williams, 1985 1 B 8 Holotype

hypogaeus Williams, 1985 8 B 9 Holotype

insulae Williams & Watson, 1988 2 B 9 Holotype and 1 paratype

jenniferae Williams, 1985 4 B 9 Holotype, 3 paratype

laporteae Williams, 1985 2 B10 Holotype 1 paratype

macrozamiae (Fuller, 1897) 11 B10

moundi Williams, 1985 11 B11 Holotype2 paratype

mundaringae Williams, 1985 1 B11 Holotype

notialis Williams, 1985 12 B12 Holotype

perissus Williams, 1985 1 B13 Holotype

prochilus Williams, 1985 4 B13 Holotype

queenslandianus Williams, 1985 12 B13 3 paratype

saustralis Qin & Gullan, 1990 2 B14 Holotype, 1 paratype

victorianus Williams, 1985 4 B14 Holotype3 paratype

waustensis Qin & Gullan, 1990 13 B15 Holotype, 10 paratype

Sp. 10 B16

Epicoccus Cockerell, 1902

acaciae (Maskell, 1897) 1 B18

Sp. 14 B18

Erium Cockerell, 1897

globosum (Maskell, 1892) 45 B19 – B21 Lectotype

Eucalyptococcus Williams, 1985

brookesae Williams, 1985 12 B22 Holotype, paratype

gisleni (Ossiannilsson, 1954) 8 B22

lobulatus (Maskell, 1894) 7 B23 Lectotype

Eumyrmococcus Silvestri, 1926

lamondicus Williams, 1998 6 C3 Holotype, 5 paratype

queenslandicus Williams, 1998 9 C4 Holotype, 8 paratype

recalvus Williams, 1998 6 C4 Holotype, 5 paratype

taylori Williams, 19983 33 C5 – 6 Holotype, 31 paratype

Sp. 1 C2

Eurycoccus Ferris, 1950

antiscius Williams, 1985 4 C7 1 paratype

Ferrisia Fullaway, 1923

malvastra (McDaniel, 1962) 13 C7 – C8 2 paratypes of consobrina Williams & Watson, 1988

virgata (Cockerell, 1893) 24 C8 – 9

Hadrococcus Williams, 1985

maireanae Williams, 1985 2 C10 Holotype & paratype

pultenaeae Williams, 1985 2 C10 Holotype 2 paratype

Heliococcus Šulc, 1912

summervillei Brookes, 1978 1 C10 Holotype

Humococcus Ferris, 1953

allantoideus Williams, 1985 1 C10 Holotype

enchylaenae Williams, 1985 7 C10

greensladeae Williams, 1985 1 C11 paratype

petilus (Brookes, 1976) 2 C11 Holotype, paratype

Sp. 3 C11

Hypogeococcus Rau, 1938

H. pungens Gran. de Willink, 1981 4 C11 [mislabelled festerianus (Lizer y Trelles, 1942)]

Ityococcus Williams, 1985

beardsleyi Williams, 1985 4 C12 Holotype 2 paratype

eremocitri Williams, 1985 3 C12 Holotype 1 paratype

milparinkae Williams, 1985 1 C12 Holotype

Laminicoccus Williams, 1960

flandersi Williams, 1985 3 C12 Holotype 2 paratype

Maconellicoccus Ezzat, 1958

australiensis (Green & Lidg, 1900) 78 C14 – 17

hirsutus (Green, 1908) 35 C18 – 19

lanigerus (Fuller, 1897) 6 C20 3 paratype [Holotype, 5 paratypes yanchepae Brookes]

tasmaniae Williams, 1985 4 C20 4 paratype

Sp. 9 C21

Madangiacoccus Williams, 1985

araucariae Williams, 1985 2 C23 1 paratype

Melanococcus Williams, 1985

albizziae (Maskell, 1892) 38 C24 – 25 Lectotype

cobaricus Williams, 1985 1 D3 Holotype

darwiniensis Williams, 1985 9 D3 Holotype, 5 paratype

froggatti Williams, 1985 1 D3 Holotype

morgani Williams, 1985 2 D3 Holotype 1 paratype

phylodii Williams, 1985 5 D4 Holotype

senticosus Williams, 1985 28 D6 – 7 1 paratype

tasmaniae Williams, 1985 3 D8 Holotype and 2 paratype

viridis (Green, 1901) 2 D8

Moystonia Williams, 1985

neboissi Williams, 1985 1 D9 1 paratype

Nipaecoccus Šulc, 1945

agathidis Williams, 1985 1 D9 1 paratype

aurilanatus (Maskell, 1890) 11 D9

banksiae Williams, 1985 1 D9 Holotype

ericicola (Maskell, 1893) 45 D10 – 12 Lectotype

exocarpi Williams, 1985 24 D13 – 14 Holotype and 10 paratype

maireanae Williams, 1985 7 D16 Holotype 6 paratype

passlowi Williams, 1985 1 D16 1 paratype

viridis (Newstead, 1894) 18 D17

Sp. 16 D18

Odacoccus Williams & Watson, 1988

anaclastus Wilms & Watsn, 1988 6 D19 Holotype and 5 paratype

Palmicultor Williams, 1960

browni Williams, 1960) 9 D20

Paracoccus Ezzat & McConnell, 1956

biporus Williams, 1985 1 D20 Holotype

nothofagi Williams, 1985 1 D20 Holotype

poculiporus Williams, 1985 1 D20 Holotype

solani Ezzat & McConnell, 1956 2 D21

Sp. 6 D21

Paradiscococcus Williams, 1985

hudsoni Williams, 1985 2 D21 Holotype and paratype

Paramonostherium Williams, 1985

richardsi Williams, 1985 1 D21 Holotype

Peliococcus Borchsenius, 1948

subcorticicola Williams, 1985 3 D22 Holotype 2 paratype

Peridiococcus Williams, 1985

ethelae (Fuller, 1897) 11 D22

Phenacoccus Cockerell, 1893

angophorae Williams, 1985 1 D23 Holotype

cassiniae Williams, 1985 1 D23 Holotype

graminicola Leonardi, 1908 28 D23 – 24 [1 paratype graminosus McKenzie, 1960]

hakeae Williams, 1985 1 E1 Holotype

parvus Morrison, 1924 6 E1

Sp. 19 E2

Planococcus Ferris, 1950

citri (Risso, 1813) 84 E4 – 8

mali Ezzat & McConnell, 1956 4 E8

minor (Maskell, 1897) 88 E8 – 12 [P. pacificus Cox, 1981]

Sp. 4 E13

Poecilococcus Brookes, 1981

longilobus Brookes, 1981 7 E14 Holotype, 4 paratype

Prorsococcus Williams, 1985

acanthodus Williams, 1985 31 E14 – 15 Holotype

Pseudococcus Westwood, 1840

aneurae Williams, 1985 1 E16 Holotype

araucariarum Williams, 1985 2 E16 2 paratype

atalestus Williams, 1985 1 E16 Holotype

calceolariae (Maskell, 1879) 49 E16 – 18 [similans (Lidgett, 1898)]

callitris Williams, 1985 29 E19 – 20

carrietoniensis Williams, 1985 2 E21 Holotype and paratype

chenopodii Williams, 1985 15 E21 Holotype 6 paratypes

cunninghamii Williams, 1985 12 E22 Holotype and 11 paratype

darwiniensis Williams, 1985 1 E22 paratype

dendrobiorum Williams, 1985 2 E23

epidendrus Williams, 1985 4 E23 Holotype

eremophilae Williams, 1985 1 E23 Holotype

eucalypticus Williams, 1985 15 E24 Holotype and 2 paratypes

goodeniae Williams, 1985 1 F2 Holotype 2 paratype

hypergaeus Williams, 1985 12 F2 Holotype and 1 paratype

longispinus (Targioni Tozz, 1867) 110 F3 – 8 [adonidum Auctorum]

mintaroicus Williams, 1985 4 F9 Holotype and 3 paratypes

onustus Williams, 1985 1 F9 Holotype

pittospori Williams, 1985 1 F9 Holotype

queenslandicus Williams, 1985 1 F9 paratype

quinyambiensis Williams, 1985 11 F10 Holotype and 1 paratype

symoni Williams, 1985 10 F11 Holotype and 3 paratype

viburni (Signoret, 1875) 73 F12 – 15 [P. affinis; obscurus Essig,; malacearum Ferris]

xanthorrhoeae Qin & Gullan, 1990 49 F17 – 19 Holotype, 11 paratypes

zamiae (Lucas, 1855) 12 F20

Sp. 18 F21

Pseudoripersia Cockerell, 1899

brevipes Froggatt, 1933 8 F22 Lectotype 3 paralectotype

turgipes (Maskell, 1893) 15 F23 Lectotype

Rastrococcus Ferris, 1954

banksiae Williams, 1985 3 G2 2 paratypes

lamingtoniensis Williams, 1985 4 G2

melaleucae Williams, 1985 2 G3 Holotype and 1 paratype

stolatus (Froggatt, 1917) 16 G3

truncatispinus Williams, 1985 11 G3 1 paratype

Sp. 4 G4

Rhizoecus Künckel d'Herculais, 1878

cacticans (Hambleton, 1946) 3 G5

dianthi Green, 1926 3 G5

falcifer Künckel d'Herculais, 1878 46 G5 – 7

rumicis (Maskell, 1892) 5 G7

sphagni Williams, 1985 4 G8 Holotype

Saccharicoccus Ferris, 1950

sacchari (Cockerell, 1895) 11 G9

Sphaerococcus Maskell, 1892

casuarinae Maskell, 1892 5 G10 Lectotype

Spilococcus Ferris, 1950

mamillariae (Bouché, 1844) 7 G10 [cactearum McKenzie, 1960]

Strombococcus Williams, 1985

melaleucae Williams, 1985 8 G11

Tasmanicoccus Williams, 1985

petrensis Williams, 1985 1 G11 Holotype

Trionymus Berg, 1899

ascripticius Williams, 1985 15 G12 Holotype and 2 paratype

gyrus Williams, 1985 1 G12 Holotype

tasmanianus Williams, 1985 3 G13 Holotype and 1 paratype

zoysiae Williams, 1985 3 G13 Holotype, 2 paratype

Ventrispina Williams, 1985

epigaea Williams, 1985 2 G16 Holotype and 1 paratype

lathetica Williams, 1985 2 G16 Holotype

woodi Williams, 1985 8 G16 Holotype and 2 paratype

Vryburgia De Lotto, 1967

amaryllidis (Bouché, 1837) 11 G17 [=Pseudococcus lounsburyi Brain, 1912]

brevicruris (McKenzie, 1960) 18 G18 – 19 7 paratype [+Chorizo radicalis Brookes, Holotype]

succulentarum Williams, 1985 4 G20 Holotype and 3 paratype

Xenococcus Silvestri, 1924

acropygae Williams, 1998 24 G21 – 22 1 paratype [+ misidentified annandalei Silvestri, 1924]

Yudnapinna Williams, 1985

radicalis Williams, 1985 12 G23 Holotype, 1 paratype

II. Pseudococcidae taxa not recorded in Australia

Crenicoccus Williams, 2004a

gullanae Williams, 2004a H1 Holotype 11 Paratype MALAYSIA

cladomyrmae Williams, 2004a H2 Holotype 10 Paratype MALAYSIA

Crisicoccus Ferris, 1950

theobromae Willms & Wats., 1988 H3 SOUTHERN ASIA

Dysmicoccus Ferris, 1950

lepelleyi (Betrem, 1937) H3 SOUTHERN ASIA

neobrevipes Beardsley, 1959a H3 KIRIBATI

Eumyrmococcus (Silvestri 1926)

kolombangarae Williams, 1998 H4 Holotype, 3 paratype SOLOMON Islands

kusiacus Williams, 1998 H4 Holotype SOLOMON Islands

neoguineensis Williams, 1998 H4 Holotype, 4 paratype PNG sarawakensis Williams, 1998 H5 Holotype, 18 paratype MALAYSIA, SARAWAK

Exallomochlus Williams, 2004a

hispidus (Morrison, 1921) H7 ORIENTAL

Formicococcus Takahashi, 1928

polysperes Williams, 2004a H7 1 paratypes ORIENTAL

Hordeolicoccus Williams, 2004a

crypteroniae Williams, 2004a H8 Holotype 7 Paratype ORIENTAL

heterotrichus Williams, 2004a H8 10 Paratype ORIENTAL

Idiococcus Takahashi & Kanda, 1939

bambusae Takahashi & Kanda, 1939 H9 [=maanshanensis Tang & Wu] CHINA

Kermicus Newstead, 1897

wroughtoni Newstead, 1897 H10 ORIENTAL

Malaicoccus Takahashi, 1950

tiomanensis Williams, 2002 H11 6 paratypes MALAYSIA

Mutabilicoccus Williams, 1960

sp. 3 H11 INDONESIAN

Palmicultor Williams, 1960

palmarum (Ehrhorn, 1916) H12 WIDESPREAD

Paracoccus Ezzat & McConnell, 1956

interceptus Lit 1997a H12 ORIENTAL

Paraputo Laing 1929

acehicus Williams, 2004a H12 Holotype 3 Paratype ORIENTAL

areolatus Williams, 2004a H13 Holotype 2 Paratype ORIENTAL

capillulatus Williams, 2004a H13 Holotype 2 Paratype ORIENTAL

domatium Williams, 2004a H13 3 Paratype ORIENTAL

errabundus Williams, 2004a H13 2 Paratype ORIENTAL

leveri (Green, 1934b) H14

NEW HEBRIDES, ORIENTAL

malesicus Williams, 2004a H14 8 Paratype MALAYSIA

maschwitzi Williams, 2004a H15 Holotype 1 Paratype ORIENTAL

neonaucleae Williams, 2004a H15 4 Paratype ORIENTAL

odontomachi (Takahashi 1951a) H15 ORIENTAL

ranauensis Williams 2004a H15 1 Paratype ORIENTAL

spatholobi Williams 2004a H15 Holotype 1 Paratype ORIENTAL

specicola Williams 2004a H16 Holotype 5 Paratype ORIENTAL

Planococcus Ferris, 1950

lilacinus (Cockerell, 1905) H17 INDONESIAN

litchi Cox, 1989 H17 ORIENTAL, PALAEARCTIC

Pseudococcus Westwood, 1840

cryptus Hempel, 1918 H18 WIDESPREAD

daymananus Williams, 1985) H18 1 Paratype PNG

maritimus (Ehrhorn, 1900) H18 AMERICA’S

nakaharai Gimpel & Miller, 1996 H18 1 paratype NEOTROP, PALAEARTIC

neomicrocirculus Gimpel & Miller, 1996 H18 1 paratype NEOTROPICAL

puertoricensis Gimpel & Miller, 1996 H18 1 paratype NEOTROPICAL

jackbeardsleyi Gimpel & Miller, 1996 H18 1 paratype WIDESPREAD

Rastrococcus Ferris, 1954

iceryoides (Green 1908a) H19 WIDESPREAD

Pseudococcidae Unidentified 11 H20

RECENT LITERATURE

Compiled by Karen Veilleux

Karen compiled the following reference information in 2005. Because of financial problems, she was not working on the ScaleNet project for most of November and December. This meant that dug miller checked the reference information for “The Scale.” Therefore, don’t hold Karen responsible for any errors that might have crept into the following reference information. The total number of reference records in ScaleNet now is 21,422. We would appreciate hearing about any references that are not included. Please send publication information to Karen at veilleux@vt.edu. Hard copy can be sent to Karen Veilleux, 710 Cedarview Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060 USA.

Results

Abou-Elhagag, G.H. 2004. Abundance of olive scale insect, Parlatoria oleae Clovee (Homoptera: Diaspididae) and its parasitoids in Upper Egypt. (In English; Summary In Arabic). Assiut Journal of Agricultural Sciences 35(3): 197-208. [AbouEl2004]. Notes: The population fluctuations of P. oleae were studied in two regions of Assiut Governorate (Sahel-Selim and Assiut College Farm), Egypt, during 2002 and 2003. The pest population decreased gradually from January till April and then increased to reach its maximum level of abundance in September 2002 and October 2003 in Sahel-Selim. The average mean number of P. oleae was 512.83 and 626.5 individuals/50 leaves during 2002 and 2003, respectively. Approximately, the same trend occurred in Assiut College Farm, except that the population of the pest was very low compared with that at Sahel-Selim. Three P. oleae parasitoids, Encarsia aurantii, Aphytis chrysomphali and Aphytis diaspidis, were found in Sahel Selim, while A. diaspidis was the only parasitoid species recovered from Assiut College Farm. The first two parasitoids, E. aurantii and A. chrysomphali, are considered as first record on the olive scale insect in Assiut. The effects of weather factors (minimum and maximum temperatures as well as relative humidity) on the population of the pest and its parasitoids and the effects of these parasitoids on the population of the pest were also determined in Sahel-Selim.

Afonso, A.P.S., Teixeira, I., Botton, M., Faria, J.L. & Loeck, A.E. 2004. [Control of the European peach scale Parthenolecanium persicae (Fabricius, 1776) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in vineyards.] Controle da cochonilha-parda Parthenolecanium persicae (Fabricius, 1776) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) na cultura da videira. (In Portuguese; Summary In English). Ciencia Rural 34(4): 985-989. [AfonsoTeBo2004]. Notes: The efficacy of dimethoate (Tiomet 400 EC at 100 ml/100 litre), fenitrothion (Sumithion 500 EC at 150 ml/100 litre), methidathion (Supracid 400 CE at 100 ml/100 litre), parathion-methyl (Folidol 600 EC at 100 ml/100 litre) and trichlorfon (Dipterex 500 SNAqC at 300 ml/100 litre) in 2001, and imidacloprid (Provado 200 SC at 30, 40 and 50 ml/100 litre), thiacloprid (Calypso 480 SC at 20, 30 and 40 ml/100 litre), thiamethoxam (Actara 250 WG at 20, 30 and 40 g/100 litre) and parathion-methyl (Folidol 600 CE at 100 ml/100 litre) in 2002 to control P. persicae in vineyards was investigated in a field experiment in Monte Belo do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The insecticides were sprayed using 800 litre of water/ha seeking third instar nymphs. Fenitrothion, methidathion, parathion-methyl, trichlorfon, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam were efficient for P. persicae control. Dimethoate and thiacloprid reduced pest population levels below 50%.

Aldama-Aguilera, C., Llanderal-Cázares, C., Soto-Hernández, M. & Castillo-Márquez, L.E. 2005. Cochineal (Dactylopius coccus Costa) production in prickly pear plants in the open and in microtunnel greenhouses. (In English; Summary In Spanish). Agrociencia (Montecillo) 39(2): 161-171. [AldamaLlSo2005]. Notes: Some countries produce cochineal in the open to obtain carminic acid as a natural red dye. In México, this is done on protected cut cladodes because of the environmental conditions, natural enemies, and competitors. This results in a disadvantage when compared to production in other countries. For this reason, prickly pear plants (Opuntia ficus-indica) found in the open and protected in two types of microtunnel greenhouses were infested. Fresh and dry weight, carminic acid content, length of the biological cycle, the presence of natural enemies of the cochineal, as well as the resistance of the plant in various cycles were evaluated. The microtunnel made of transparent plastic was the best treatment to produce cochineal. The plants in this microtunnel resisted three cycles, while the ones in the green raffia canvas resisted two cycles. The length of the biological cycle decreased when the temperature increased and was lower in the greenhouses than in the open. The carminic acid content ranged between 19.4 and 22.9%. The predators of D. coccus found were Baccha sp., Laetilia coccidivora, Hyperaspis trifurcata, Sympherobius sp. and the competitor D. opuntiae.

Alemán, J., Martínez, M.A., Milián, O., Massó, E. & Rijo, E. 2004. Alternatives for Cryptolaemus montrouzieri artificial rearing. (In Spanish; Summary In English). Revista de Protección Vegetal 19(2): 131-132. [AlemanMaMi2004]. Notes: Several alternatives for C. montrouzieri artificial rearing were tested. They were: the use of Galleria mellonella eggs, aphid colonies and banana plants infested with the mealybug Dysmicoccus bispinosus [D. texensis]. C. montrouzieri was able to feed itself and complete its life cycle over the three assayed substrates. No deformations on C. montrouzieri larvae, pupae or adults were observed. The adults obtained were used as parental for the next generation. This method could be recommended for Cuban laboratories where C. montrouzieri is massively reared.

Altfeld, L. & Stiling, P. 2004. Myrmecophily on Baccharis halimifolia - the effects of an ant-homopteran mutualism on a community of insects. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting Abstracts 89(13): 13-14. [AltfelSt2004]. Notes: [Conference held in Portland, OR in August 1-6.]

Andreev, R. & Kutinkova, H. 2004. Plum pests in Middle-Southern Bulgaria and their control. (In English; Summary In Polish). Progress in Plant Protection 44(2): 577-579. [AndreeKu2004]. Notes: Diaspidiotus perniciosus is among the pests discussed.

Arancon, N.Q., Galvis, P.A. & Edwards, C.A. 2005. Suppression of insect pest populations and damage to plants by vermicomposts. Bioresource Technology 96(10): 1137-1142. [ArancoGaEd2005]. Notes: The effects of commercial vermicomposts, produced from food waste, on infestations and damage by aphids, mealy bugs and cabbage white caterpillars were studied in the greenhouse.

Arimoto-Kobayashi, S., Machida, M., Okamoto, K. & Yamaguchi, A. 2005. Evaluation of photo-mutagenicity and photo-cytotoxicity of food coloring agents. Mutagenesis 20(3): 229-233. [ArimotMaOk2005]. Notes: Pigments extracted from natural products are widely used for food coloration in Japan. An investigation concerning the photo-mutagenicity and photo-carcinogenicity of frequently used colorants in Japan was performed. Colorants examined were from Laccifer lacca (lac-color), Coccus cacti (cochineal-color), Carthamus tinctorius (carthamus yellow), Gardenia augusta (gardenia yellow and gardenia blue), Monascus anka and Monascus purpureus (monascus red), the skin of Vitis vinifera and V. labrusca (grape-skin color), Tamarindus indica (tamarind brown) and Beta vulgaris (beet red). No significant increase in bacterial mutation was found when Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100 and TA102 were simultaneously treated with colorants and subjected to UVA irradiation for 30 min. When colorant solutions were subjected to UVA irradiation for 4 h, irradiated solutions containing lac-color became slightly mutagenic toward S. typhimurium TA98 without metabolic activation. A decrease in cell survival resulted when WTK-1 cells were subjected to UVA irradiation for 60 min in the presence of purpurin at 1 mg/ml. Delayed cytotoxicity was also observed following 24 h incubation in fresh medium of samples that were subjected to UVA irradiation for 60 min in the presence of colorant (carthamus yellow, grape-skin color, gardenia blue, cochineal-color, monascus red or purpurin).

Asensio, L., Lopez-Llorca, L.V. & Lopez-Jimenez, J.A. 2005. Use of light, scanning electron microscopy and bioassays to evaluate parasitism by entomopathogenic fungi of the red scale insect of palms (Phoenicococcus marlatti Ckll., 1899). Micron 36(2): 169-175. [AsensiLoLo2005]. Notes: We have evaluated the parasitism of the red scale insect of the date palm (Phoenicococcus marlatti) by entomopathogenic fungi, using light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and low temperature scanning electron microscopy (LTSEM). Beauveria bassiana, Lecanicillium dimorphum and Lecanicillium cf. psalliotae, were inoculated directly on the scale insects or on insect infested plant material. We found that L. dimorphum and L. cf. psalliotae developed on plant material and on scale insects, making infection structures. B. bassiana was a bad colonizer of date palm leaves (Phoenix dactylifera L.) and did not parasitize the scale insects.

Aubert, G. 2005. [The dynamics of maritime pine stands in the Mediterranean region of France.] Dynamique des peuplements de pin maritime en region mediterranéenne française. (In French; Summary In English, Italian). Forêt Mediterranéenne 26(1): 47-62. [Aubert2005]. Notes: This paper discusses Matsuccocus feytaudi.

Audant, P., Kreiter, P., Rigollot, P., Thaon, M., Giuge, L. & Clisson, S. 2005. [Biological control of the Japanese citrus fruit scale.] Lutte biologique contre la cochenille japonaise des agrumes. (In French; Summary In English). Phytoma No. 583: 36-39. [AudantKrRi2005]. Notes: The Japanese scale Unaspis yanonensis causes damage on ornamental citrus fruit in Menton, France. To reduce its population, the town decided to use biological control which is more environmentally friendly. A specific parasitic wasp, Aphytis yanonensis, already introduced in France from Japan, was collected on the trees of the town. The rearing, maintained by the INRA laboratory of Valbonne, aimed at producing parasitoids by augmentative releases to control the pest. The parasitoid was quite well acclimatized and the rate of parasitized scales increased after releases. However, Aphytis yanonensis seems not to be established and could not be really efficient unless by renewed releases each year.

Austin, A.D., Yeates, D.K., Cassis, G., Fletcher, M.J., La Salle, J., Lawrence, J.F., McQuillan, P.B., Mound, L.A., Bickel, D.J., Gullan, P.J., Hales, D.F., & Taylor, G.S 2004. Insects 'Down Under' - Diversity, endemism and evolution of the Australian insect fauna: examples from select orders. Australian Journal of Entomology 43: 216-234. [AustinYeCa2004]. Notes: The Australian insect fauna is highly endemic and characterised by numerous unique higher-level taxa. In addition, a number of groups are noticeably absent or depauperate on the continent. Many groups found in Australia show characteristic Gondwanan distribution patterns on the southern continents. There are extensive radiations on the plant families Myrtaceae and Mimosaceae, a specialised arid/semiarid fauna, and diverse taxa associated with rainforests and seasonally wet tropical regions. The fauna is also poorly studied, particularly when compared with the flora and veterbrate groups. However, studies in the last two decades have provided a more comprehensive picture of the size of the fauna, relationships, levels of endemism, origins and its evolution. Here we provide an overview of these and other aspects of Australian insect diversity, focusing on six groups, the Thysanoptera and the five megadiverse orders Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. In the section on Hemiptera, the genera Cystococcus and Callipappus are discussed, as well as Icerya purchasi.

de Azeredo, E.H., Rodrigues, W.C. & Cassino, P.C.R. 2004. [Occurrence of Selenaspidus articulatus (Morgan) (Hemiptera, Diaspididae) and of the predator Pentilia egena (Mulsant) (Coleoptera, Coccinelidae) on Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae), in Pinheiral County, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.] Ocorrencia de Selenaspidus articulatus (Morgan) (Hemiptera, Diaspididae) e do predador Pentilia egena (Mulsant) (Coleoptera, Coccinelidae) em Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae), em Pinheiral, RJ. (In Portuguese). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 48(4): 569-576. [deAzerRoCa2004]. Notes: The evaluations were conducted weekly in the vegetative and blooming/fructification phases in four quadrants (N, S, E, W) of the plant. 2,230 specimens of S. articulatus were collected in the vegetative phase and 1,006 in the blooming/fructification, therefore, 59,8% adults. From the total of 965 P. egena, 416 were immatures and 549 adults. The main conclusions are: (I) M. communis may be useful as plant bait; (2) this plant may be cultivated or not around the crops of economic importance because it may function as a reservoir of the pest or of its natural enemies; (3) the relationship of predator/prey/plant quadrant/phenology phases was, respectively, 1.14:1.0 and 1.0:1,08 in north and east quadrant; while in the south and west quadrants it was 1.0:2.26 and 1.0:2.80; and, (4) the predation of S. articulatus by P. egena was, on average, 1.0-2.8 nymphs and 1.66-4.44 adults (in vegetative phases) and 1.0-3.76 and 1.0-3.98 (in blooming/ fructification) with significant differences at P 0.01.

Bacandritsos, N. 2004. Establishment and honeydew honey production of Marchalina hellenica (Coccoidea: Margarodidae) on fir tree (Abies cephalonica). Bulletin of Insectology 57(2): 127-130. [Bacand2004]. Notes: M. hellenica is an important honeydew-producing scale insect useful to apiculture and endemic in the pine (Pinus halepensis) forests of Greece. Until 1995, this insect was known to be monophagous on certain species of the genus Pinus. From 1995 onwards, several attempts were made to establish M. hellenica on fir trees, A. cephalonica, on Mt. Helmos (Greece). In 1995 and 1996, inoculation treatments, either with 2nd instar insects or with adult individuals, were used for the establishment of the insect on fir trees. These trials were successful and for the first time in 1999, honey was collected, the physicochemical characteristics of which suggest that the honey was of good quality. These results create the necessary preconditions for the increase in honey production derived from the honeydew secretions of M. hellenica.

Bacandritsos, N., Saitanis, C. & Papanastasiou, I. 2004. Morphology and life cycle of Marchalina hellenica (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) on pine (Parnis Mt.) and fir (Helmos Mt.) forests of Greece. (In English; Summary In French). Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 40(2): 169-176. [BacandSaPa2004]. Notes: Marchalina hellenica is a scale insect, endemic in pine (Pinus halepensis) forests of Greece and other Mediterranean countries, which plays a major role in the production of honeydew honey. We investigated the morphological and the biological characteristics of M. hellenica in the pine forests of Mt. Parnis in comparison with those in the high-altitude fir (Abies cephalonica) forest of Mt. Helmos where it has been recently established, after anthropogenic intervention. Morphologically, the final body size of the 1st instar and the adult stages of M. hellenica in the fir forest were equal to those in the pine forest. Biologically, in the fir forest, the insect exhibited a long 1st instar's period, which was the stage of its overwintering. In the pine forest, the 1st instar period was short and the insect overwinters in the stage of 2nd instar. The number of eggs per female in the fir forest was quite low (25-145) compared with the number of eggs in the pine forest (200-300). Concerning the qualitative parameters of the resulting honeydew-honey, statistically significant differences were found in Diastase and HMF (p<0.0001). No difference was found in sucrose, fructose + glucose and water content, neither to electrical conductivity and total acidity. All values were within the EU limits (EU Directive 2001).

Baldacchino, F. & Corato, U. de 2004. [Activity of Fusarium larvarum Fuckel as a natural biocontrol agent of Targionia vitis (Signoret) (Rhynchota: Diaspididae) in Apulia.] Osservazioni sul ruolo del fungo Fusarium larvarum Fuckel quale agente di contenimento biologico del diaspidide Targionia vitis (Signoret) (Rhynchota-Diaspididae) in Puglia. (In Italian; Summary In English). Informatore Fitopatologia 54(9): 52-56. [BaldacCo2004]. Notes: Laboratory and field experiments were carried out in 2003 to determine the efficacy of F. larvarum in controlling the black oak scale, T. vitis. F. larvarum was the only entomogenous fungus that is active in the area. A high infestation level (60.4%) by the fungus was recorded in abandoned orchards, whereas it was almost negligible in 13 commercial orchards. Limited effects of parasitoids and predators were recorded in the experimental fields. Only in 2 out of 13 vineyards were T. vitis observed to be attacked by the parasitoid Coccophagoides moeris. The most common predators observed were Lestodiplosis spp. and members of the family Rhaphidiidae.

Balikai, R.A. 2005. Management of grape mealy bug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) using insect growth regulator. Research on Crops 6(1): 68-71. [Balika2005]. Notes: A field trial was conducted during the 2000/01 rabi season to evaluate the efficacy of buprofezin (Applaud 25 SC), applied at 1125, 1500 or 2250 ml/ha, against the grape mealy bug. Results revealed that 10 days after the 1st, 2nd and 3rd sprays, buprofezin at 2250 ml/ha recorded the least number of mealy bug colonies per vine (27.7, 19.3 and 8.2, respectively) and was at par with buprofezin at 1500 ml/ha, which in turn was at par with buprofezin at 1125 ml/ha. Similarly, 10 days after the 1st, 2nd and 3rd sprays, buprofezin at 2250 ml/ha recorded the least number of mealy bug colonies per bunch (6.8, 2.9 and 2.0, respectively), followed by buprofezin at 1500 and 1125 ml/ha which were at par with each other. The lower dosage of buprofezin 25 SC (1125 ml/ha) along with fish oil rosin soap (Meenark) at 3125 g/ha can be recommended for the management of mealy bugs on grape vines and bunches.

Barbour, M.M., Hunt, J.E. & Dungan, R. 2005. Variation in the degree of coupling between delta C-13 of phloem sap and ecosystem respiration in two mature Nothofagus forests. New Phytologist 166(2): 497-512. [BarbouHuDu2005]. Notes: Day-to-day variability in the carbon isotope composition of phloem sap (delta C-13(hd)) and ecosystem respiratory CO2 (delta C-13(R)) were measured to assess the tightness of coupling between canopy photosynthesis (delta C-13(hd)) and ecosystem respiration (delta C-13(R)) in two mature Nothofagus solandri (Hook. f.) forests in New Zealand. Abundant phloem-tapping scale insects allowed repeated, nondestructive access to stem phloem sap 1-2 m above ground. delta C-13(hd) was compared with delta C-13 predicted by an environmentally driven, process-based canopy photosynthesis model. Keeling plots of within-canopy CO2 were used to estimate delta C-13(R). By including a lag of 3 d, there was good agreement in the timing and direction of variation in delta C-13(hd) and predictions by the canopy photosynthesis model, suggesting that delta C-13(hd) represents a photosynthesis-weighted, integrative record of canopy photosynthesis and conductance. Significant day-to-day variability in delta C-13(R) was recorded at one of the two forests. At this site, delta C-13(R) reflected variability in delta C-13(hd) only on days with < 2 mm rain. We conclude that the degree of coupling between canopy photosynthesis and ecosystem respiration varies between sites, and with environmental conditions at a single site.

Baron, S.E. & Moss, C. 2004. Contact urticaria to play dough: a possible sign of dietary allergy. British Journal of Dermatology 151(4): 945-947. [BaronMo2004]. Notes: Cochineal dye is among the allergins discussed.

Bellis, G.A., Donaldson, J.F., Carver, M., Hancock, D.L. & Fletcher, M.J. 2004. Records of insect pests on Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Indian Ocean. Australian Entomologist 31(3): 93-102. [BellisDoCa2004]. Notes: A survey for pests of crops on Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands was conducted in May 2000. Fifteen new pest records were obtained from Christmas Island. Among them are Pentalonia nigronervosa (Aphididae), Coccus sp. and Saissetia sp. (Coccidae), Lepidosaphes sp. and Lindingaspis sp. (Diaspididae), Dysmicoccus sp. and Nipaecoccus viridis (Pseudococcidae). Six new records were obtained from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands: Aphis gossypii and Rhopalosiphum maidis (Aphididae), Ceroplastes rubens (Coccidae), ? Icerya sp. (Margarodidae), Ferrisia virgata and Saccharicoccus sacchari (Pseudococcidae). A list of insect pests so far recorded from these islands is also included.

Ben-Dov, Y. 2005. The Solanum mealybug, Phenacoccus solani Ferris (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae), extends its distribution range in the Mediterranean Basin. Phytoparasitica 33(1): 15-16. [BenDov2005]. Notes: P. solani is newly recorded from Israel, where it was found on the Coastal Plain and in the Arava Valley, on plants belonging to the families Amaryllidaceae, Compositae and Solanaceae.

Ben-Dov, Y. 2005a. A Systematic Catalogue of the Scale Insect Family Margarodidae (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of the World. Intercept Ltd., Wimborne, U.K.. 400 pp. [BenDov2005a]. Notes: This catalogue of the scale insect family Margarodidae (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) includes data on 442 species and subspecies that are placed among 77 genera. The family Margarodidae includes some destructive pests of agricultural crops such as citrus, coconut, grapevine, mango, oil palm, deciduous fruit trees, forest trees and ornamentals. On the other hand, several margarodid species are beneficial insects, as they produce components of economic importance. This book is a synthesis and catalogue of all the information published on these genera, species and subspecies worldwide from 1758 to December 2003, plus several works published in 2004. Data are provided on their correct scientific names, taxonomy, common names, synonyms, host plants, distribution, natural enemies, biology, economic importance and published references. Neomargarodes cucurbitae Tang, 2000 is homonym and n. syn. of Neomargarodes cucurbitae Tang & Hao, 1995. Four new combinations are introduced in this Catalogue, namely, Margarodes australis (Jakubski) n. comb., Margarodes floridanus (Jakubski) n. comb. Margarodes sinensis (Silvestri) n. comb. and Margarodes williamsi (Jakubski) n. comb. The generic name Porphyrophora Brandt, 1833, is regarded as a nomen protectum, while Coccionella Hahnemann, 1793 as a nomen oblitum and a synonym of Porphyrophora.

Ben-Dov, Y. 2005b. The malvastrum mealybug Ferrisia malvastra (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae): Distribution, host plants and pest status in Israel. Phytoparasitica 33(2): 154-156. [BenDov2005b]. Notes: The malvastrum mealybug Ferrisia malvastra (McDaniel) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) is widely distributed in Israel, recorded so far from 30 species of host plants belonging to 18 families. Its occurrence on herbal plants and on avocado should be considered by farmers in Israel.

Ben-Dov, Y. & Matile Ferrero, D. 2005. Taxonomic status of the scale insect Dactylopius caricus Gennadius, 1883 (Hem., Coccoidea). Bulletin de la Societe Entomologique de France 110(3): 293-294. [BenDovMa2005]. Notes: A brief profile is given of Panagiotis Gennadius, further details are given for his description of Dactylopius caricus, and its synonymy with Marchalina hellenica is established.

Ben-Dov, Y., Gottlieb, Y. & Sando, T. 2005. First record of Phenacoccus parvus Morrison (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) from the Palaearctic Region. Phytoparasitica 33(4): 325-326. [BenDovGoSa2005]. Notes: The lantana mealybug, Phenacoccus parvus, was described from the Galapagos Islands in the Neotropical region by Morrison, while its junior synonym, P. surinamensis has been described from Suriname. Distribution, host plants, brief description to distinguish it from similar species, and a comment on its potential pest status are provided.

Bentley, W.J., Beede, R.H., Daane, K.M. & others. 2004. UC IPM Pest management guidelines: Pistachio. Publication (University of California Cooperative Extension) 3461. [BentleBeDa2004]. Notes: [http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PDF/PMG/pmgpistachio.pdf, accessed February 2005.] Technical guidelines are provided for control of Coccus hesperidum, Parthenolecanium corni, P. pruinosum and Saissetia oleae as well as other insects and pests, diseases and weeds.

Bentley, W.J., Coates, W.W., Hasey, J.K., Pickel, C., Van Steenwyk, R.A., Grant, J.A. & others. 2005. UC IPM Pest management guidelines: Walnut. Publication (University of California Cooperative Extension) 3471. [BentleCoHa2005]. Notes: [http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PDF/PMG/pmgwalnut.pdf, accessed February 2005.] Technical guidelines are provided for control of Diaspidiotus (=Quadraspidiotus) perniciosus and Quadraspidiotus juglansregiae as well as other insects and pests, diseases and weeds.

Bentley, W.J., Zalom, F.G., Granett, J., Smith, R.J., Varela, L.G., Purcell, A.N. & others. 2004. UC IPM Pest management guidelines: Grape. Publication (University of California Cooperative Extension) 3448. [BentleZaGr2004]. Notes: [http://www.ipm. ucdavis.edu/PDF/PMG/pmggrape.pdf; accessed February 2005.] Technical guidelines are provided for control of Parthenolecanium corni, Planococcus ficus, Pseudococcus longispinus, P. maritimus and P. viburni as well as other insects and pests, diseases and weeds.

Benuzzi, M. & Vacante, V. 2004. (In Italian). [Phytosanitary defense in biological agriculture: damage, products and strategies for control of cultivated orchards.] Difesa fitosanitaria in agricoltura biologica: le avversità, i prodotti e le strategie di lotta nelle colture orto-frutticole.Edagricole, Bologna. 297 pp. [BenuzzVa2004]. Notes: Among the scale species mentioned or discussed are Aonidiella aurantii, Aspidiotus nerii, Ceroplastes rusci, C. sinensis, Comstockaspis perniciosa, Icerya purchasi, Lepidosaphes beckii, L. gloverii, Mytilococcus ulmi, Parlatoria oleae, P. pergandei, Planococcus citri, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona, Pseudococcus affinis, P. longispinus, P. maritimus and Saissetia oleae.

Biondi, E., Casavecchia, S., Guerra, V., Medagli, P., Beccarisi L. & Zuccarello, V. 2004. A contribution towards the knowledge of semideciduous and evergreen woods of Apulia (southeastern Italy). Fitosociologia (Pavia) 41(1): 3-28. [BiondiCaGu2004]. Notes: The subject of the present research is the phytosociological study of some typologies of semideciduous and evergreen wood vegetation of the Apulia region, in the southeast of peninsular Italy. The associations, which have been defined on the basis of 152 phytosociological relevees and elaborated by cluster analysis methods, are: the Aleppo pine woods (Thymo capitati-Pinetum halepensis and Cyclamino hederifolii-Pinetum halepensis ass. nova), the cork oak woods, which in Apulia find the eastern limits of their distribution (Carici halleranae-Quercetum suberis ass. nova), the kermes oak shrubbery (Arbuto unedi-Quercetum calliprini) and woods (Hedero helicis-Quercetum calliprini ass. nova), the holm oak woods, which represent the major vegetational potentiality of the region (Cyclamino hederifolii-Quercetum ilicis, Cephalanthero longifoliae-Quercetum ilicis and Festuco exaltatae-Quercetum ilicis), the Trojan oak woods, which find the western limits of their distribution in the area of Murge, between Apulia and Basilicata (Euphorbio apii-Quercetum trojanae and Teucrio siculi-Quercetum trojanae), and the woods of Quercus virgiliana (Irido collinae-Quercetum virgilianae ass. nova and Cyclamino hederifolii-Quercetum virgilianae ass. nova) and of Quercus dalechampii (Stipo bromoidis-Quercetum dalechampii ass. nova.). Finally, the complete syntaxonomic scheme of the forest vegetation of Apulia is presented.

Bliss, R.M. 2005. Sex potion ensnares mealybugs. Agricultural Research Magazine 53(4): 18.Bliss2005]. Notes: [http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/apr05/potion 0405.htm] The pink hibiscus mealybug (PHM) can destroy more than 200 plant species by injecting them with toxic saliva while sucking their sap. The exotic insect pest recently invaded California and Florida, and has proven difficult to monitor and kill, partly because their waxy outer coating, or cuticle, resists penetration by conventional insecticides. But ARS scientists have now found a way to lure male mealybugs with pheromones, making them easier to detect.

Boniecki, P. & Piekarska-Boniecka, H. 2004. The SOFM type neural networks in the process of identification of selected orchard pests. (In English; Summary In Polish). Journal of Research and Applications in Agricultural Engineering 49(4): 5-9. [BoniecPi2004]. Notes: One of the advantages of the Kohonen type neural network, called also as SOFM (Self Organizing Feature Maps), is the ability of the discussed neural network to determine the degree of similarity occurring between classes. The SOFM network can be also used to detect regularities occurring in the obtained empirical data. If at the network input, a new unknown case appears which the network is unable to recognize, it means that it is different from all the classes known previously. The SOFM network taught in this way can serve as a detector signaling the appearance of a widely understood novelty. Such a network can also look for similarities between the known data and the noisy data. In this way, it is able to identify fragments of images presenting photographs of e.g. orchard pests. The purpose of this research was to use the SOFM neural networks in the process of identification of 5 selected orchard pests, namely Dasyneura mali, D. piri, Parthenolecanium corni, Zeuzera pyrina and Cossus cossus. The desirable features enable the Kohonen neural network to identify the pests correctly based on the presentation of images not originating from the teaching set, i.e. noisy photographs taken under different light exposure conditions and using different qualities of the equipment.

Borowka, R., Hein, D.F. & Hummel, H.E. 2005. [Biological plant protection on cassava in East Africa.] Biologischer Pflanzenschutz des ostafrikanischen Maniokanbaus. (In German; Summary In English). Gesunde Pflanzen 57(1): 18-26. [BorowkHeHu2005]
Notes: Biological plant protection is considered an important part of integrated pest management (IPM) and may eventually culminate in global resource management. IPM involves all factors that are suitable for and contribute to "a unified programme to manage pest populations so that economic damage is avoided and adverse side effects to the environment are minimized". Unfortunately, the entomological challenges in the direction of global resource management are only minor aspects of the task to be solved. Efforts to control a number of pests on cassava in East Africa, specifically in the Republic of Malawi, must focus on the cassava mealy bug Phenacoccus manihoti, but also on the green cassava mite Mononychellus tanajoa, the grasshopper Zonocerus elegans, and the bacterial disease Xanthomonas campestris pv. manihotis [X. axonopodis pv. manihotis]. Moreover, the effective management of these insects and microorganisms needs also to consider external, particularly sociological and economic factors that currently interfere with the best efforts of the scientists involved. These external factors are a formidable challenge to the best scientific state of the art available. In view of our experiences in East Africa, we propose to transform IPM into a system of Integrated Production (IP) as a generally applicable, sustainable, long-term strategy for global plant protection. If adopted, this would be a move into the direction envisioned by delegates at the World Conference at Rio de Janeiro.

Boucek, Z. & Noyes, J.S. 2004. Two new species of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae, Encyrtidae) associated with Icerya pattersoni Newstead (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) a pest of coffee in Kenya. 137-145 In: Narendran, T.C., Perspectives on Biosystematics and Biodiversity Systematic Entomology Research Scholar Association (SERSA), Kerala, India. 666 pp. [BoucekNo2004]. Notes: [Prof. T.C. Narendran Commemoration Volume.] Austroterobia iceryae Boucek sp. nov., a pteromalid egg predator within the ovisac of Icerya pattersoni and its encyrtid hyperparasitoid, Tremblaya coffeicola Noyes sp. nov., are described.

Brinon, L., Matile-Ferrero, D. & Chazeau, J. 2004. [Outbreak and regression of a grass infesting mealybug, introduced in New Caledonia, Heliococcus summervillei Brookes (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae).] Extension et régression d'une cochenille nuisible aux Graminées, introduite en Nouvelle-Calédonia, Heliococcus summervillei Brookes (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae) (In French; Summary In English). Bulletin de la Societe Entomologique de France 109(4): 425-428. [BrinonMaCh2004]. Notes: Heliococcus summervillei was detected in 1998 for the first time in New Caledonia. It was a very spectacular attack on grasses in pastures. In Australia, similar problems with H. summervillei were observed in 1926 on Pasaplum grass in a pasture. In New Caledonia, the phenomenon was studied from 1998 to 2003 on the main island, and the results are given here. Like in Australia, a natural reduction of populations was observed, so pronounced that the species is supposed to be extinct locally. The factors were not determined.

Buglia, G.L. & Ferraro, M. 2004. Germline cyst development and imprinting in male mealybug Planococcus citri. Chromosoma. Berlin 113(6): 284-294. [BugliaFe2004]. Notes: In the epigenetic modifications involved in the phenomenon of imprinting, which is thought to take place during gametogenesis, one of the primary roles is exerted by histone tail modifications acting on chromatin structure. What is more, in insects like mealybugs, with a lecanoid chromosome system, imprinting is strictly related to sex determination. In many diverse species gametes originate in specific, highly evolutionarily conserved structures called germline cysts. The use of staining techniques specific for fusomal components like F-actin has allowed us to describe for the first time the morphogenesis of male germline cysts in the mealybug Planococcus citri. Antibodies to anti-methylated lysine 9 of histone H3 (MeLy9-H3) and anti-heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) were used during cyst formation to investigate the involvement of these epigenetic modifications in the phenomenon of imprinting and their possible concerted action in sex determination in P. citri. These observations indicate: (i) a specific role for F-actin in the segregation, typical of the lecanoid chromosome system, of genomes of paternal origin; (ii) that the two vital gametes originating from a given meiosis, although carrying the same genome, differ in the levels of both MeLy9-H3 and HP1, one of them being more heavily labelled by both antibodies.

Casas, J., Swarbrick, S. & Murdoch, W.W. 2004. Parasitoid behaviour: predicting field from laboratory. Ecological Entomology 29(6): 657-665. [CasasSwMu2004]. Notes: Most of what is known about parasitoid behaviour comes from laboratory observations: field quantitative observations on searching parasitoids are extremely difficult to do and are rare. The basic components of Aphytis melinus's response to California red scale (Aonidiella aurantii) were studied in the laboratory: encounter, rejection, drumming, probing, oviposition, and host-feeding. It was then asked whether these observations provided a reliable guide to behaviour in the field in a situation that was very different from the laboratory. Field observations were carried out on bark on the trunk and interior branches of trees where live scale density is extremely high in patches, dead scale make up 90% of all scale, and could be expected to interfere with Aphytis search. The laboratory observations predicted well the time taken in the field for each basic event (drumming or probing) and average times spent on a scale. Also well predicted were the distributions of times spent on drumming, probing, and total time on a scale. Rejection rates were much higher in the field. Thus, the laboratory studies predicted foraging behaviour in the field with variable success; potential explanations for observed mismatch between laboratory and field and its possible larger implications are discussed.

Ceballo, F.A. & Walter, G.H. 2005. Why is Coccidoxenoides perminutus, a mealybug parasitoid, ineffective as a biocontrol agent--inaccurate measures of parasitism or low adult survival? Biological Control: Theory and Applications in Pest Management 33(3): 260-268. [CeballWa2005]. Notes: N/A

Ceballos, M.R. & Granda, C. 2004. Hambletonia pseudococcina Compere (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae): new report in Cuba. Revista de Protección Vegetal 19(1): 70 pp. [CeballGr2004]. Notes: In a survey conducted in Cuba on July 2003 to detect the presence of pink mealybug (Maconellicoccus hirsutus) infesting hibiscus, a species of Dysmicoccus infesting coffee and banana was observed to be infested by Hambletonia pseudococcina [H. pseudococcinna]. H. pseudococcina is a parasitoid of the pineapple mealybug Dysmicoccus brevipes, which is distributed in Mexico, Florid (USA), Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Taiwan. This is thought to be the first report of H. pseudococcina in Cuba.

Cebeci, H.H. & Kucukosmanoglu, A. 2005. [The Eriococcidae species of Turkey.] Türkiye Eriococcidae Türleri. (In Turkish; Summary In English). Orman Fakültesí Dergísí/Review of the Faculty of Istanbul 55(2): 97-102. [CebeciKu2005]. Notes: Apart from Ulgenturk et al. (2003) there has been scarcely any detailed data on the Turkish Eriococcidae family. This paper lists 16 Eriococcidae species and their hosts recorded from Turkey for the first time: Cryptococcus fagisuga, Eriococcus agropyri, E. araucariae, E. cynodontis, E. greeni, E. harbaceus, E. micracanthus, E. munroi, E. pseudinsignis, E. roboris, E. spurius, E. thymi, E. williamsi, E. zernae and Pseudochermes fraxini.

Ceroni, M.R., Graziani, S. & Pollini, A. 2004. [Nezara viridula harmful to Actinidia.] Nezara viridula dannosa all'actinidia. (In Italian). Informatore Agrario 60(44): 37-38. [CeroniGrPo2004]. Notes: Information is included on main kiwifruit varieties grown in Italy, and main fungal and bacterial diseases, Meloidogyne nematodes, and insect pests attacking kiwifruit. The newly introduced variety Zespri Gold turned out to be susceptible to various diseases and pests, particularly to Pseudaulacaspis pentagona. Observations conducted in 2003 revealed that Zespri Gold was also attacked by N. viridula in areas where cultivar Hayward is attacked by Ceratitis capitata, i.e. in Emilia Romagna. Information is included on the host range of N. viridula completing 2 generations in conditions of Emilia Romagna with overwintering of adult insect in sheltered places, colonization habits on kiwifruit and damage to crops. Recommendations are provided on chemical control of N. viridula with malathion and through indirect control with etofenprox used against C. capitata.

Chen, Y.Q., Chen, X.M., Li, K., Shi, L. & Chen, Z.Y. 2004. [Preference of lac insect to host branch in foraging.] (In Chinese; Summary In English). Forest Research 17(2): 159-166. [ChenChLi2004]. Notes: A study was conducted to determine the characteristics of lac foraging behaviour of Kerria lacca and its preference to host branch in foraging. Results showed that K. lacca hardly hosted on branches over two years old and the distribution of lac insects on branches had no relation to orientation. The diameter of hosted branches ranged from 0.47-1.60 cm. On erect branches, K. lacca was distributed around the branch but on most declining branches, K. lacca only settled on the shaded parts. Comparison anatomy showed that the periderm and cortex of two-year-old branches were thicker than those of one-year-old branches. Furthermore, the layer of sclereids and fibres in two-year-old branches was thicker than that in one-year-old branches by 27 micro m. The distance from periderm to phloem of 2-year-old branches was farther than that of one-year-old branches. The periderm and cortex of the upper parts of the branches were thinner than the basic parts of the branch. The phloem of parts reached by sunlight was thinner than the shaded parts. Furthermore, the keratinization of host tree suberin and tinsel on the epiderm also inhibited K. lacca foraging.

Chen, Y.Q., Chen, X.M., Li, K., Shi, L. & Chen, Z.Y. 2004a. [A study on the relationship between amino acid content of host trees and Kerria lacca.] (In Chinese; Summary In English). Forest Research 17(3): 362-367. [ChenChLi2004a]. Notes: This study describes the relationship among the amino acids (viz., aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glycine, alanine, isoleucine, tyrosine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine, methionine, histidine, lysine, arginine and tryptophan) in the unhosted and hosted branches of Schleichera oleosa by Kerria lacca, and its biological characteristics.

Chiu, Y.C., Wu, W.J., Wong, C.Y., Chen, S.P. & Shih, C.J. 2004. [Application of the PCR-RFLP technique for the rapid diagnosis of scale insects (Homoptera: Coccoidea) on imported agricultural products in Taiwan.] (In Chinese; Summary In English). Formosan Entomologist 24(2): 159-171. [ChiuWuWo2004]. Notes: There are 30 scale insect species which have been intercepted from agricultural products coming into Taiwan by quarantine workers at customs. This study attempted to develop a molecular diagnostic technique (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, PCR- RFLP) using genomic DNA markers (ribosomal DNA, rDNA) for identifying 16 scale insect species. NS7 and ITS6 primer sets were used to amplify ITS1 and its flanking regions of rDNA from genomic DNA as a template extracted from a single specimen. DNA extracted from these 16 scale insect species yielded a single fragment after PCR amplification. These PCR products were then cut with various restriction endonucleases in order to compare the results of restriction fragment length polymorphism. Our results also reveal that it is possible to discriminate these 16 scale insect species based on the species-specific patterns acquired from digesting the PCR products with the endonucleases, TaqI, MspI, and HaeIII. Furthermore, we also a set up a molecular key for these 16 scale insect species based on their RFLP digestion patterns.

Chong, J.H., Oetting, R.D. & Osborne, L.S. 2005. Development of Diomus austrinus Gordon (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on two mealybug prey species at five constant temperatures. Biological Control 33(1): 39-48. [ChongOeOs2005]. Notes: Diomus austrinus Gordon is a generalist mealybug predator native to southern Florida. The objective of this study was to provide information on the development and survival of D. austrinus when reared on two common mealybug species [the Madeira mealybug, Phenacoccus madeirensis Green, and the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso)] at five constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 deg C). Results of this study demonstrated the efficacy of D. austrinus as an egg predator of mealybugs within the temperature range found in greenhouses. D. austrinus successfully completed development on both mealybug species, with larval development requiring 1-4 days longer on the citrus mealybug than on the Madeira mealybug. D. austrinus feeding on the Madeira mealybug completed development in 15 days at 20 deg C, 22 days at 25 deg C, and 39 days at 30 deg C. The lower and upper larval developmental thresholds of D. austrinus appeared to be 15 and 35 deg C, respectively. Estimates of lower developmental thresholds using a linear model agreed with the observed results. Survival of D. austrinus from egg to adult among temperature/prey species combinations ranged from 60 to 90%. In all temperature/prey species combination, the cohorts were slightly female-biased, with an average proportion of females of 0.53. Females reared on Madeira mealybugs at higher temperatures were generally larger than those reared on citrus mealybugs.

Culik, M.P. & Gullan, P.J. 2005. A new pest of tomato and other records of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) from Espirito Santo, Brazil. (In English; Summary In Portuguese). Zootaxa 964 (May 2, 2005): 1-8. [CulikGu2005]. Notes: Three mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) plant pest species: Dysmicoccus boninsis (Kuwana), Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, and Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret), are recorded for the first time in the state of Espirito Santo, Brazil. This is the first record of Phenacoccus solenopsis in Brazil, where it was found infesting tomato plants. The species Antonina graminis (Maskell), a common pest of Bermuda grass, and Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell), a major pest of pineapple, also were encountered.

Danilenkova, G.N. 2004. [The level of modern standards for the work of quarantine laboratories.] (In Russian). Zashchita i Karantin Rastenii 7: 8-11. [Danile2004]. Notes: The structure and activities of 34 plant quarantine laboratories related to detection, diagnosis and control of weeds, diseases and pests of crops during 2003-04 discussed at a meeting held on 17-21 May 2004 in Moscow, Russia, are outlined. Information is included on quarantine organisms of importance to Russia, such as Phomopsis of sunflower [Diaporthe helianthi], brown rot of potato [Ralstonia solanacearum], blight of fruit crops, Andean potato latent tymovirus, whiteflies, plum pox potyvirus, ivy-like Ipomoea sp., western flower thrips, potato moth [Phthorimaea operculella], Mediterranean fruit fly [Ceratitis capitata], common ragweed [Ambrosia artemisiifolia], San Jose scale [Diaspidiotus perniciosus], bur-marigold [Bidens] sp., gypsy moth [Lymantria dispar], Asian boll worm (cutworm), potato nematode [Globodera rostochiensis] and forest nematodes.

Davoodi, A., Talebi, A.A., Radjabi, G.R., Fathipour, Y. & Moharramipour, S. 2004. Report of Metaphycus claviger (Hym.: Encyrtidae) from Iran. (In Persian; Summary In English). Journal of Entomological Society of Iran 23(2): 129-130. [DavoodTaRa2004]. Notes: Metaphycus claviger was isolated from Coccus hesperidum samples collected from apple trees in various orchards near Shiraz, Iran in summer 2002. Some morphological characters of this species are described. M. claviger is reported for the first time from Iran.

Demeyere, A. 2004. [Little cherry virus: a new threat for cherry cultivation?] Little cherry virus: een nieuwe bedreiging voor de kersenteelt? (In Dutch). Fruitteelt 17(10): 18-19. [Demeye2004]. Notes: Distribution of this virus (LChV1, LChV2 and LChV3) in Europe is discussed and symptoms are described. The vector in Canada for LChV3 is Phenacoccus aceris and Canadian insect control measures are outlined. Detection and control of the vector in Belgium are briefly discussed.

Díaz, A., Abreu, N., Martín, J. & Suárez, G. M. 2004. [Hemiptera associated with wild orchids.] Hemípteros asociados a orquídeas silvestres. (In Spanish). Fitosanidad 8(2): 43-44. [DiazAbMa2004]. Notes: Eight species of Hemiptera associated with Orchidaceae in Cuba are listed with their host plants. The species are: the aphids Cerataphis orchidearum and Macrosiphum luteum, the diaspidid Chrysomphalus aonidium, the coccids Coccus viridis, Saissetia coffeae and Vinsonia stellifera, and the pseudococcids Pseudococcus longispinus and Planococcus citri.

Dimetry, N.Z. & Abdel-Moniem, A.S.H. 2004. Physical and chemical variability in sugarcane fields infested with the red-striped soft scale insect, Pulvinaria tenuivalvata (Newstead). Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection 37(4): 327-337. [DimetrAb2004]. Notes: The red-striped soft scale insect Pulvinaria tenuivalvata (Hemiptera: Coccidae) started to infest sugarcane plants (Saccharum officinarum) in different districts of Egypt during the last decade. The percentage of infestation was recorded in El-Wakf area, Qena Governorate (Naghhamadi mill zone) in Upper Egypt in some fields. There were three levels of infestation, i.e. low, intermediate and high. From these fields, samples were selected for physical and chemical studies. The results showed that the stalks of infested plants decreased in weight and the sugar content (glucose and sucrose) was drastically reduced. The primary and secondary humidity and the cellulose content also increased in the healthy plants compared to the infested ones. All the physical characters of the infested plants were significantly affected in comparison with the healthy ones.

Downie, D.A. & Gullan, P.J. 2005. Phylogenetic congruence of mealybugs and their primary endosymbionts. Journal of Experimental Biology 18(2): 315-324. [DownieGu2005]. Notes: Tight interactions between unrelated organisms such as is seen in plant-insect, host-parasite, or host-symbiont associations may lead to speciation of the smaller partners when their hosts speciate. Totally congruent phylogenies of interacting taxa have not been observed often but a number of studies have provided evidence that various hemipteran insect taxa and their primary bacterial endosymbionts share phylogenetic histories. Like other hemipterans, mealybugs (Pseudococcidae) harbour multiple intracellular bacterial symbionts, which are thought to be strictly vertically inherited, implying codivergence of hosts and symbionts. Here, robust estimates of phylogeny were generated from four fragments of three nuclear genes for mealybugs of the subfamily Pseudococcinae, and a substantial fragment of the 16S-23S rDNA of their P-endosymbionts. Phylogenetic congruence was highly significant, with 75% of nodes on the two trees identical, and significant correlation of branch lengths indicated coincident timing of cladogenesis. It is suggested that the low level of observed incongruence was influenced by uncertainty in phylogenetic estimation, but evolutionary outcomes other than congruence, including host shifts, could not be rejected.

Draganova, S. 2004. New record of a fungal pathogen on white peach scale Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targ. - Tozz.) (Homoptera: Diaspididae) in Bulgaria. Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science 10(4): 453-455. [Dragan2004]. Notes: The armored scale insect, P. pentagona, is an important agricultural pest, currently restricted to the southwest region of Bulgaria around the towns of Petrich and Sandanski. Dead insects were observed in a peach orchard near Petrich and over 200 specimens with evidence of fungal infection were collected in spring 2001 and 2002. The fungal infections were caused by a pathogen belonging to the species Fusarium larvarum (Nectria aurantiicola), which has never previously been reported from Bulgaria. The fungus was isolated in pure culture.

Dungan, R.J., Beggs, J.R. & Wardle, D.A. 2004. A simple gravimetric technique for estimating honeydew or nectar production. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 28(2): 283-288. [DunganBeWa2004]. Notes: We describe a simple gravimetric technique for measuring the standing crop or production of carbohydrate-rich solutions such as honeydew or nectar. Simulated honeydew was sampled by absorbing droplets of solutions of known concentration and volume with dried and weighed pieces of filter paper. The change in mass of the paper after redrying provides an estimate of the total solution carbohydrates. This method was compared with a widely used technique, whereby the volume and concentration of droplets is measured with microcapillary tubes and a sugar refractometer. A factor was derived to convert gravimetric refractometer readings (g sucrose 100 g SUP -1 solution) to volumetric carbohydrate concentration (g carbohydrate 100 ml SUP -1 solution) for the simulated honeydew solutions. There was no difference in the ratio of measured-to-expected carbohydrate mass between the 2 techniques, showing that the quick, easy, and accurate filter paper method is appropriate for measuring carbohydrate-rich solutions. The technique was developed to aid the study of honeydew production by scale insects (Ultracoelostoma spp.) in New Zealand beech (Nothofagus spp.) forests.

Endersby, I. 2004. A marsupial margarodid (Callipappus). Victorian Entomologist 34(6): 74. [Enders2004]. Notes: The family Margarodidae contains over forty species and includes the cottony cushion scale Icerya purchasi. Of particular interest is the genus Callipappus, known as the Bird of Paradise Flies, from their males which extrude a fine tuft of glassy wax filaments from the tip of the abdomen. Observations are made and illustrated on this species.

European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization. 2004. Unaspis citri. Bulletin OEPP 34(2): 299-301. [EMPPO2004]. Notes: Unaspis citri is a serious pest widely distributed on citrus throughout the main citrus-growing areas of the world. It is often detected on consignments of citrus fruits in international trade. It has been reported to attack plants of 12 different genera belonging to 9 families, but it seems to prefer Rutaceae. Other hosts include: Annona muricata, Musa paradisiaca, Cocos nucifera, Psidium guajava, Ananas comosus, Artocarpus heterophyllus and Tillandsia usneoides. The origin of U. citri is in South-East Asia and it is now present in Australia, North, Central and South America, Pacific Islands, Egypt, Syria and China. Topics covered include synonymy, taxonomic position, detection, identification, and comparisons to similar species.

Fan, Q.H. 2004. A catalogue of the genus Eupalopsellus Sellnick (Acari: Prostigmata, Eupalopsellidae) with the description of a new species from China. Biologia (Bratislava) 59(5): 533-545. [Fan2004]. Notes: Eupalopsellid mites (Prostigmata) play a role in the biological control of spider mites (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) and armoured scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea, Diaspididae). In this paper I review the genus, list all described taxa with relevant habitat, feeding and distribution data, and provide a key to the species. Eupalopsellus is recorded from China for the first time and a new species, Eupalopsellus deformatus, is described from leaves of an unidentified grass (Gramineae) in Fujian Province, China.

Félix, A.P., Vasconcelos, J., Brazão, C.I., Aguiar, A.M.F. & Rocha, P. 2004. [Bio-ecological aspects of Hyperaspis pantherina Fürsch (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) a predator of the Lantana Bug, Orthezia insignis Browne (Homoptera: Ortheziidae). (In Portuguese; Summary In English). Boletín de Sanidad Vegetal, Plagas 30(2): 347-354. [FelixVaBr2004]. Notes: Hyperaspis pantherina is a specific predator of the jacaranda or lantana bug, Orthezia insignis. Imported from Kenya to Madeira Island, Portugal to be used as a biological control agent, it has been reared since July 2002 in a laboratory and adults are being released on O. insignis infested Jacaranda mimosifolia trees in sidewalks and gardens of the downtown capital city (Funchal) of Madeira Island. In this paper, the life cycle and some bio-ecological aspects of this predator are redescribed as a result of careful observations made during the rearing process of this ladybird.

Flores, A. 2005. Mealybugs may have met their match: Insect predators and parasites home in on this growing menace. Agricultural Research Magazine 53(4). [Flores2005]. Notes: [http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/apr05/bugs0405.htm?pf=1] This species of mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, has spread throughout the Caribbean region since first being detected on the island of Grenada in 1994. It later spread to Mexico, Central America, and in 2002, Florida. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services responded together to the Florida infestation by releasing two effective parasites (Anagyrus kamali and Gyranusoidea indica) and a predatory ladybug (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri) to control the mealybug, which has resulted in over 98 percent reduction in PHM population density. Despite these efforts, plants from an infested ornamental nursery in Florida were shipped last year to 36 other U.S. states -- and PHM may have been hiding in some of these shipments and may become established in these states. APHIS is therefore expanding production of PHM natural enemies in preparation for release in other states.

Foldi, I. 2005 (2004). The Matsucoccidae in the Mediterranean basin with a world list of species (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea). Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 40(2): 145-168. [Foldi2005]. Notes: The matsucoccoid scale insects inhabit the northern hemisphere, feed exclusively on Pinus spp., and some are very serious pests. This taxonomic revision of the Mediterranean species supports their status as valid species, despite the wide variation of certain morphological characters caused by environmental factors. For the genus redescription and illustrations, Matsucoccus matsumurae Kuwana, the type species of the genus from Japan is used. The Mediterranean species, M. feytaudi, M. pini and M. josephi are redescribed and illustrated. A key for their identification is provided using morphological characters and quantitative features. In M. feytaudi, all stages of development of both the male and female are described and illustrated. Lectotypes of M. feytaudi and M. pini are designated. Some information on the biology, host plants, economic importance, natural enemies and distribution of all species is given. A world list of extant and fossil species of Matsucoccidae is provided along with some pertinent (host plant, feeding site, distribution) information.

Foldi, I. 2005a. Ground pearls: a generic revision of the Margarodidae sensu stricto. (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea). Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 41: 81-25. [Foldi2005a]. Notes: The ground pearls comprise the scale insect family Margarodidae s. str., and are subterranean plant sucking parasites on roots of a wide variety of plants. Some ground pearls are serious destructive pests of grape vines, sugar cane, oil palms, cotton or lawn grass around the world. Both female and male development is characterised by an apodous, feeding 2nd-instar nymph, called a cyst. The cyst is primarily circular and often colourful, shiny, metallic or pearl-like, from which the common name "ground pearls" is derived. Other unique features are the strongly developed prothoracic legs for digging, the construction of a protective test from their own liquid excreta in which the cyst is enclosed and a behavioral adaptation by modification of their life-cycle to survive in adverse environmental conditions. The 10 genera, currently include 105 species, form a monophyletic group with a worldwide distribution - First-instar nymphs and cysts are feeding instars; however, adults male and females lack mouthparts and do not feed. Species of ground pearls reproduce either bisexually or parthenogenetically, parthenogenesis is facultative in Eurhizococcus brasiliensis. Females undergo three, four or five developmental stages, while male have five. During the cyst stage, one, two or three molts may occur. Most species have a single generation each year, although development in Margarodes vitis requires three years including three instars of cysts. This revision redescribes and illustrates the type species of each genus, including Margarodes vitis (Philippi) and provides a key to the genera based on the morphology of adult females. Lectotypes of Dimargarodes mediterraneus (Silvestri), Heteromargarodes americanus Jakubski, Promargarodes sinensis Silvestri and Termitococcus carratoi Silvestri are designated. A nomenclatural change is proposed, the genus Sphaeraspis Giard, 1894 is considered to be a synonym of Margarodes Guilding, 1829. This work also provides information on the history of the group of Archaeococcoids; on the biology, economic importance and distribution of the margarodids.

Franco, J.C., Suma, P., Borges da Silva, E., Blumberg, D. & Mendel, Z. 2004. Management strategies of mealybug pests of citrus in Mediterranean countries. Phytoparasitica 32(5): 507-522. [FrancoSuBo2004]. Notes: Six mealybug species are reported as citrus pests in the Mediterranean basin: the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri, the citriculus mealybug Pseudococcus cryptus, the long-tailed mealybug Pseudococcus longispinus, the citrophilus mealybug Pseudococcus calceolariae, the obscure mealybug Pseudococcus viburni and the spherical mealybug Nipaecoccus viridis. Some of these species were recently introduced in the region and are still expanding their distribution, e.g., N. viridis. Mealybugs are usually occasional or potential pests of citrus. However, some species are considered key pests in certain situations. Pest status may change with pest management systems and/or other ecological alterations. Management strategies of mealybug populations in citrus orchards have been generally based on biological control (mostly as classical biological control and to a lesser extent as augmentative releases). However, chemical controls are widely used mainly due to low adaptation of the principal natural enemies to the climatic conditions in the Mediterranean. The application of pheromones is still restricted to the monitoring of the citrus mealybug, whose sex pheromone is commercially available. Mass trapping and mating disruption should be considered for use in IPM programmes as an alternative to the supplementary chemical control. Enhancement of biological control through the management of ant populations is another possible control measure. The management strategies of mealybug pests of citrus and the possible levels of integration of different tactics based on the pest status are discussed.

Franke-Whittle, I.H., O'Shea, M.G., Leonard, G.J. & Sly, L.I. 2004. Molecular investigation of the microbial populations of the pink sugarcane mealybug, Saccharicoccus sacchari. Annals of Microbiology 54(4): 455-470. [FrankeOSLe2004]. Notes: In an attempt to better understand the microbial diversity and endosymbiotic microbiota of the pink sugarcane mealybug (PSMB) Saccharicoccus sacchari Cockerell (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae), culture-independent approaches, namely PCR, a 16S rDNA clone library, and temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) were used. Previous work has indicated that the acetic acid bacteria Gluconacetobacter sacchari, Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus, and Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens represent only a small proportion of the microbial community of the PSMB. These findings were supported in this study by TGGE, where no bands representing G. sacchari, G. diazotrophicus, and G. liquefaciens on the acrylamide gel could be observed following electrophoresis, and by a 16S rDNA clone library study, where no clones with the sequence of an acetic acid bacterium were found. The dominant band in TGGE gels found in a majority of the mealybug samples was most similar, according to BLAST analysis, to the ß-symbiont of the craw mealybug Antonina crawii and to "Candidatus" Tremblaya princeps, an endosymbiont from the mealybug Paracoccus nothofagicola. Mealybugs collected from different areas in Queensland, Australia, were found to produce similar TGGE profiles, although there were a few exceptions. A 16S rDNA clone library based on DNA extracted from a mealybug collected from sugarcane in the Burdekin region in Queensland, Australia, indicated very low levels of diversity among mealybug microbial populations.

Fuester, R.W., Kozempel, M.F., Forster, L. D., Goldberg, N., Casillas, L.I. & Swan, K.S. 2004. A novel nonchemical method for quarantine treatment of fruits: California red scale on citrus. Journal of Economic Entomology 97(6): 1861-1867. [FuesteKoFo2004]
Notes: A process for removing or killing California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), from citrus fruit as a postharvest treatment was evaluated. The process subjects the fruit to vacuum, steam, and vacuum that physically removes red scale from the fruit and kills those scales that are not removed from the fruit. Different numbers of cycles and steam temperatures were compared for efficacy in removing scale from lemons or killing those that remained. Multiple (two to three) cycles removed up to 96% of first moult scales on the fruit, but they were much less effective in removing other stages, especially those that had advanced beyond the second instar. However, it was extremely effective in killing the scales remaining on the fruit. Although this process does not eliminate cosmetic damage caused by scale presence, it might be used in combination with high-pressure washers currently used in packing houses to allow importers and exporters to meet the most stringent quarantine requirements. Because of its killing power, this technique should be tried on other insects and commodities to see whether it can be substituted for certain uses of methyl bromide.

Gautam, R.D. 2004. Sorrel - a lesser-known source of medicinal soft drink and food in India. Natural Product Radiance 3(5): 338-342. [Gautam2004]. Notes: This paper focuses on the chemical composition and utilization of sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa var. sabdariffa) as a source of medicinal soft drink and food in India. Details are also given of the toxicity of sorrel extract to humans as well as the use of the plant as animal feed or as a host of the predatory beetle Cryptolaemus montrouzieri for use in the biological control of the mealy bug Maconellicoccus hirsutus.

Germain, J.-F. & Kreiter, P. 2004. [Note on Unaspis yanonensis (Kuwana), citrus armoured scale insect, new for Corsica (Hem. Diaspididae).] Note sur Unaspis yanonensis (Kuwana), Cochenille des Agrumes, nouvelle pour la Corse (Hem., Diaspididae). (In French). Bulletin de la Societe Entomologique de France 109(5): 484. [GermaiKr2004]. Notes: N/A

Germain, J.-F. & Matile-Ferrero, D. 2005. [Scale insects from greenhouses in France: an illustrated survey. III - Diaspididae.] Les cochenilles sous serres en France: inventaire illustré. III - Les Diaspididae. (In French; Summary In English). Phytoma No. 583: 32-35. [GermaiMa2005]. Notes: This article is the third part of a survey of the scale insects present in amenity greenhouses in France (the two others were about Asterolecaniidae, Coccidae, Eriococcidae and Pseudococcidae). Here presented are 21 species of Diaspididae: Aspidiotus nerii, Aspidiotus destructor, Chrysomphalus aonidum, Chrysomphalus dictyospermi, Diaspis boisduvalii, Diaspis bromeliae, Diaspis echinocacti, Fiorinia coronata, Fiorinia fioriniae, Furchadaspis zamiae, Hemiberlesia cyanophylli [Abgrallaspis cyanophylli], Hemiberlesia lataniae, Hemiberlesia rapax, Ischnaspis longirostris, Opuntiaspis philococcus, Pinnaspis aspidistrae, Pinnaspis buxi, Pinnaspis strachani, Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona and Rutherfordia major.

Gertsson, C.A. 2005. [New species and new province records of scale insects from Sweden (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) up to the year 2004.] (In Swedish; Summary In English). Entomologisk Tidskrift. Stockholm 126: 35-42. [Gertss2005]. Notes: This survey is an exploration of the scale insect fauna of Sweden. Trionymus perrisii, Pulvinaria floccosa and Carulaspis juniperi are newly recorded species in Sweden. P. floccifera, previously only recorded in greenhouses, is now established as an outdoor species in Sweden. Furthermore, 30 new province records are reported. Several species were rediscovered after more than 50 years. The total known species in Sweden is now 75.

Gertsson, C.A. & Hodgson, C. 2005. Four new species of mealybug (Pseudococcidae) and a new species of soft scale (Coccidae: Coccoidea: Hemiptera) from Greenland and redescriptions of a mealybug and a soft scale from Arctic Canada. Zootaxa 897: 1-34. [GertssHo2005]. Notes: The adult females of four new mealybug species are described from Greenland (Atrococcus groenlandensis, Chorizococcus multiporus, Trionymus bocheri and T. elymus) and a key is provided for all mealybug species known from Greenland; a new species of Coccidae is also described from Greenland (Pulvinaria glacialis). In addition, the adult females of the mealybug Atrococcus altoarcticus Richards and the soft scale Pulvinaria ellesmerensis Richards from arctic Canada are redescribed and compared with their close relatives from Greenlands.

Ghahhari, H., Shojai, M. & Bayat-Asadi, H. 2004. Report of Encarsia lounsburyi (Hym.: Aphelinidae) from Iran. (In Persian; Summary In English). Journal of Entomological Society of Iran 23(2): Pe121-Pe122. [GhahhaShBa2004]. Notes: Three species of parasitoid wasps, E. berlesei, E. citrina and E. lounsburyi, were collected from Parlatoria ziziphi, Aonidiella citrina and Parlatoria pergandii in citrus fields in Mazandaran Province, Iran, in 2001-02. E. lounsburyi is a new record for Iran. E. lounsburyi and E. citrina are quite similar to each other and differs in the number of setae on the submarginal vein (one for E. lounsburyi and two for E. citrina).

Girón P., K., Lastra B., L.A., Gómez L., L.A. & Mesa C., N.C. 2005. [Observations on the biology and natural enemies of Saccharicoccus sacchari and Pulvinaria pos elongata, two homopterans associated with the crazy ant in sugar cane.] The crazy ant Observaciones acerca de la biología y los enemigos naturales de Saccharicoccus sacchari y Pulvinaria pos elongata, dos homópteros asociados con la hormiga loca en caña de azúcar. (In Spanish; Summary In English). Revista Colombiana de Entomología 31(1): 29-35. [GironLaGo2005]. Notes: (Paratrechina fulva) is an insect that becomes economically important to agriculture when it establishes symbiotic relationships with sap sucking insects. In sugarcane, it is associated with Saccharicoccus sacchari and Pulvinaria pos elongata. When infestation levels are very high, Pulvinaria, in association with the ant, can induce severe losses in both sugar concentration and tonnage of cane. To understand the life cycle of each species, experiments were set up under laboratory and greenhouse conditions and the incidence of natural enemies was determined in the field in Colombia. S. sacchari had a mean life cycle of 54.8 days, passing through two instars and the adult stage; mean progeny per female was 219; they are gregarious and concentrate on the stem internodes. Two species of unidentified Encyrtidae parasitized S. sacchari, with a parasitism rate of 47%. A species of Diadiplosis (Cecidomyiidae) eats eggs of the mature females, and a fungus identified as Aspergillus pos parasiticus affected 53.2% of individuals in the field. Pulvinaria sp. had a mean life cycle of 77 days and passed through two instars and the adult. Mean progeny per female was 179; they are located on the underside of the leaf and are not very mobile. In the greenhouse, Diadiplosis coccidivora (Cecidomyiidae) fed on eggs of Pulvinaria sp. females at rates up to 85%. In the field, a wasp (Encyrtidae) was found emerging from second instar individuals of Pulvinaria sp.

Golan, IK. & Gorska-Drabik, E. 2004. [Pest control in glasshouses of the Lublin botanic garden.] Zwalczanie szkodnikow w szklarniach ogrodu botanicznego w Lublinie. (In Polish). Ochrona Roslin 49(11): 30-32. [GolanGo2004]. Notes: Chemical, biological and mechanical control of pests from the Coccoidea, Aphidoidea, Aleyrodidae family and Thysanoptera order in glasshouses of the botanic garden in Lublin, Poland, is discussed. Observations and pest counts revealed that while application of insecticides (Actellic 500 EC [pirimiphos-methyl] and Confidor 200 SL [imidacloprid] once a week in three cycles) resulted in a rapid drop of pest populations, these quickly recovered. The most effective control was achieved with a combination of all three control methods, using Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and once monthly washing with water and denaturised alcohol in addition to chemical sprays.

Gonzalez, M., Lobo, M.G., Mendez, J. & Carnero, A. 2005. Detection of colour adulteration in cochineals by spectrophotometric determination of yellow and red pigment groups. Food Control 16(2): 105-112. [GonzalLoMe2005]. Notes: N/A

González, R.H. & Volosky F., C. 2004. [Mealybugs and fruit moth: quarantine problems affecting fresh fruit exports.] Chanchitos blancos y polillas de la fruta: Problemas cuarentenarios de la fruticultura de exportación. (In Spanish; Summary In English). Revista Fruticola 25(2) (Separata): [41-62]. [GonzalVo2004]. Notes: The economic impact and the detrimental effects in Chilean fruit agroecosistemas due to the escalating insect quarantine restrictions imposed by several import markets are reviewed in the light of current most restrictive cases. The goal is viewed as mandatory zero tolerance and, therefore, integrated pest management is dismissed and chemical control is emphasized. Species discussed and illustrated includes Aspidiotus nerii, Diaspidiotus perniciosus, Ferrisia meridionalis, Phenacoccus parvus, Planococcus citri, P. ficus, Pseudococcus calceolariae, P. longispinus, P. maritimus and P. viburni.

Goolsby, J.A. & Kirk, A. 2005. Pseudococcus goodeniae Williams (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and its parasitoids in the Pilbara of Western Australia. Australian Entomologist 32(1-3): 1320-6133. [GoolsbKi2005]. Notes: Pseudococcus goodeniae Williams, previously known only from the Erskine Range in northern Western Australia, is recorded from Karijini National Park in the Pilbara region. The mealybug was observed at high densities on its host plant Goodenia stobbsiana (Goodeniaceae). Several hymenopteran parasitoid species were reared from P. goodeniae, including Xenanusia pulchripennis Girault, Cheiloneurus Westwood sp., two unidentified species of Encyrtinae (all Encyrtidae) and Euryischia Girault sp. (Aphelinidae). This is the first published host association for a species of Xenanusia Girault.

Grafton-Cardwell, E.E., Gu, P. & Montez, G.H. 2005. Effects of temperature on development of vedalia beetle, Rodolia cardinalis (Mulsant). Biological Control 32(3): 473-478. [GraftoGuMo2005]. Notes: The effect of temperature on the development of the vedalia beetle, Rodolia cardinalis (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), fed Icerya purchasi Maskell (Homoptera: Margarodidae) was studied under controlled laboratory conditions. Adults exposed to temperatures of 25, 28, 31, 34, and 37(deg)C for 72 h showed 95-100% survival, however egg production was significantly reduced at 34 and 37(deg)C. In addition, eggs maintained at 34(deg)C showed reduced hatch and survival of larvae, and eggs held at 37(deg)C failed to hatch. The duration of each developmental stage and survival of each stage were measured at 10, 14, 18, 22, and 25(deg)C. There was no egg eclosion at 10(deg)C. The developmental time from egg to adult emergence decreased from 79 to 18 days for temperatures from 14 to 25(deg)C. The sex ratio was unaffected by these temperatures. The lower developmental temperature threshold of R. cardinalis was estimated to be 10.8(deg)C and the degree-day accumulation was calculated as 279 for development from egg to adult eclosion. These results will guide further research designed to optimize management of vedalia populations in the San Joaquin Valley of California.

Grissell, E.E. 2004. A new species of Torymus (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) associated with Dactylopius (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 77(4): 639-643. [Grisse2004]. Notes: Torymus evansi Grissell, new species, is described, illustrated, and compared to other Nearctic species of the genus. Morphologically it is intermediate between the various tubicola species groups. Torymus evausi is associated with rearings of Dactylopius sp. (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) on Opuntia sp. (Cactaceae), and although its true host remains unknown, the association with this host-complex is unique for the genus.

Gupta, J., Pramanik, A. & Mukhopadhyay, A.K. 2004. A new species of Ferrisicoccus (Ezzat and McConnell) (Homoptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) from India with description of adults and nymphal instars. Proceedings of the Zoological Society (Calcutta) 57(2): 71-81. [GuptaPrMu2004]. Notes: The adult female of Ferrisicoccus kalyanensis n. sp. is described from Kalyani, West Bengal, India on Lannea coromandelica (Anacardiaceae). The adult female possesses 16 pairs of cerarii, some of the abdominal cerarii with more than 2 cerarian setae, body setae flagellate, 6 anal ring setae and absence of oral rim ducts. Oral collar tubular ducts produce cottony puparia in male nymphs and waxy fibres in the venter of ovipositing female. Description of adult male and different nymphal instars of Ferrisicoccus kalyanensis along with a key to the identification of the instars has also been provided.

Hara, A.H. & Jacobsen, C.M. 2005. Hot water immersion for surface disinfestation of Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 98(2): 284-288. [HaraJa2005]. Notes: Mealybug Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) adults, nymphs, crawlers, and eggs were tested for their susceptibility to hot water immersion at 47, 48, and 49 Degree C. Eggs inside ovisacs were found most tolerant with prolonged survival compared with other stages at all temperatures. Ovisacs required an average of 1.38, 1.46, and 1.62 times longer treatment duration than adults, nymphs, and crawlers, respectively, for 99.9% predicted mortality at 47, 48, and 49 Degree C. Lethal time estimations were calculated from inverse predictions of regressions derived from logit-transformed data as well as those created using a kinetic model. LT 99.9 estimations were 47.0, 21.2, and 11.9 min at 47, 48, and 49 Degree C, respectively, by using regressions with logit transformations. The kinetic model predictions were 43.9, 19.6, and 11.1 min at 47, 48, and 49 Degree C, respectively. During the study no emergence from eggs inside ovisacs was found after treatments of 52, 24, and 14 min at 47, 48, and 49 Degree C, respectively. Results from this study provide efficacious temperature-time treatments.

Heckroth, H.-P., Fiala, B., Malsch, A.K.F., Hashim, R.B. & Maschwitz, U. 2004. Limits of protection against non-specific scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) in myrmecophytic and non-myrmecophytic species of Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae). Entomologia Generalis 27(1): 1-13. [HeckroFiMa2004]. Notes: In Malaysia, myrmecophytic three-partner associations of several species of Macaranga (Thouars 1806) are colonised by specific mutualistic Coccidae living in the interior of the stem. These Coccidae are tended by symbiotic species of the ant-genus Crematogaster (Lund 1881) and cause no damage to the plant. In addition to these regular coccid associates, facultative infestations by epigaeic and subterranean scale insects occur on the surface of stems, leaves, and roots. The effects of several species of exophytic Coccoidea on M. bancana (Muell Arg 1866) and M. hullettii (King ex Hook 1887) were investigated. Exophytic epigaeic non-mutualistic Coccidae led to the death of all infested M. bancana seedlings after 8 months. Myrmecophytic Macaranga species do depend on the mutalistic ant-partners as a biotic defense against Coccoidea. This may become disadvantageous when ant presence is reduced, e.g. in young plants. A high degree of subterranean colonisation by ant tended Pseudococcidae and other scale insects on Macaranga plant roots has also been found. While myrmecophytic species are damaged by epigaeic non-specific Coccoidea in the absence of their ant partners, root Pseudococcidae show no detrimental effects on the trees. Associated with various ant partners, especially with several species of the genus Pseudolasius Emery 1887, root Pseudococcidae represent a non-protective, second ant-Coccoidea mutualism, living facultatively next to the obligate mutualistic myrmecophytic three-partner association.

Henderson, R.C. & Hodgson, C.J. 2005. Two new species of Umbonichiton (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea: Coccidae) from New Zealand. Zootaxa 854: 1-11. [HenderHo2005]. Notes: The Coccidae of New Zealand were revised recently and the genus Umbonichiton introduced to include five species, four of which were described as new. This paper describes another two new species, Umbonichiton bispinatus Henderson & Hodgson and Umbonichiton rimu Henderson & Hodgson, both of which are known only from the podocarp Dacrydium cupressinum. The two species appear to be closely related. The genus Umbonichiton is re-diagnosed and a key is presented for the separation of the adult females.

Hodges, G.S. & Braman, S.K. 2004. Seasonal occurrence, phenological indicators and mortality factors affecting five scale insect species (Hemiptera: Diaspididae, Coccidae) in the urban landscape setting. Journal of Entomological Science 39(4): 611-622. [HodgesBr2004]. Notes: Proper timing of pesticide applications is paramount when attempting to control scale insects that are important pests of landscape plantings. Use of degree-days and phenological indicators can better time the applications and reduce the number of treatments. Seasonal appearance of five species of scale insects in the urban landscape along with flowing phenology of 40 plant species were systematically monitored during 1997, 1998 and 2000 in Athens, GA. Scale insects discussed in some detail are Ceroplastes ceriferus, Fiorinia theae, Melanaspis obscura, Parthenolecanium corni, and Unaspis euonymi. Other species for which degree-day information and limited life history data were collected included Acanthococcus quercus, Icerya purchasi, Pulvinaria acericola, P. floccifera, P. innumerabilis, and Toumeyella liriodendri.

Hodgson, C. 2005. The adult males of Coccoidea (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha) known from Greenland. Zootaxa 907: 1-48. [Hodgso2005]. Notes: The males of nine of the eleven species of Coccoidea known from Greenland are described: six species of Pseudococcidae (Atrococcus groenlandensis Gertsson & Hodgson, Chorizococcus multiporus Gertsson & Hodgson, Peliococcus balteatus (Green), Trionymus bocheri Gertsson & Hodgson, T. elymus Gertsson & Hodgson, and T. thulensis (Green), two species of Eriococcidae (Eriococcus munroe (Boratynski) and E. pseudinsignis (Green), and one of Coccidae (Pulvinaria glacialis Gertson & Hodgson). The question of their correct identification is discussed and a key is provided.

Hodgson, C.J., Goncalves, S.J.M.R., Miller, D.R. & Isaias, R.M.S. 2004. A key to genera of Eriococcidae (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) from the Neotropical region and a revision of Pseudotectococcus Hempel (Eriococcidae), a gall inducing scale insect genus from Brazil, with a description of a new species. Lundiana 5(1): 51-72. [HodgsoGoMi2004]. Notes: A key is provided to the adult females of 16 of the 17 genera of Eriococcidae known from tropical South America. The adult female and first instar nymph of the type species of Pseudotectococcus, P. anonae, is redescribed, and a lectotype and paralectotypes are designated. In addition, the adult female and male, first instar nymph, second instar female and male nymphs, prepupa and pupa of Pseudotectococcus rolliniae sp. nov., discovered inducing leaf-galls on Rollinia laurifolia in the Zoo-Botanic Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, are described. The differences between Pseudotectococcus and other South American genera are discussed.

Hollingsworth, R.G. & Armstrong, J.W. 2005. Potential of temperature, controlled atmospheres, and ozone fumigation to control thrips and mealybugs on ornamental plants for export. Journal of Economic Entomology 98(2): 289-298. [HollinAr2005]. Notes: Ozone (O SUB 3) fumigation is a potential quarantine treatment alternative for controlling stored-product pests and surface insect pests on fresh agricultural commodities. We explored the effects of temperature, treatment time, controlled atmospheres, and vacuum in combination with O SUB 3 to control two important pests of ornamental crops: western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), and longtailed mealybug, Pseudococcus longispinus Targioni Tozzetti. Treatment parameters tested were O SUB 3 concentrations from 0 to 3,800 ppm, treatment durations were from 30 to 120 min, vacuums were from 0 to 0.41 bar below ambient, temperatures were from 32.2 to 40.6 Degree C, and controlled atmospheres were composed primarily of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or breathing air (BA). Treatment efficacy was enhanced by higher O SUB 3 concentration and temperature, lower oxygen, and longer treatment times. Reduced pressure was not an important factor. Mealybugs were more difficult to kill than thrips. A 30-min treatment of O SUB 3 at 200 ppm in 100% CO SUB 2 at 37.8 Degree C killed 47.9 and 98.0% of mealybugs and adult female thrips, respectively. All of the ornamentals tested were damaged to some degree by O SUB 3 treatments. However, crops with thick leaves such as orchids exhibited little damage, and the waxy portions of certain flowers were not damaged. The results suggest that O SUB 3 has potential as a quarantine treatment to control thrips and mealybugs on selected commodities.

Howard, F.W., Pemberton, R., Hamon, A., Hodges, G.S., Steinberg, B., Mannion, C.M., McLean, D. & Wofford, J. 2004. Paratachardina lobata (Chamberlin) (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea: Kerriidae). Bulletin (University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service) EENY-276. [HowardPeHa2004]. Notes: [http:// creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/scales/lobate_lac.ht ] Description and biology, the Lac Scale family, effects on host plants, host range, potential expansion in distribution and pest management prospects are discussed and species illustrated in this bulletin. This report is linked to a Spanish version.

Hu, J.S., Sether, D.M., Metzer, M.J., Pérez, E., Gonsalves, A., Karasev, A.V. & Nagai, C. 2005. Pineapple mealybug wilt associated virus and mealybug wilt of pineapple. Acta Horticulturae (ISHS) 666: 209-212. [HuSeMe2005]. Notes: [IV International Pineapple Symposium, A. Rebolledo Martinez, Ed.) The long-term goals of our research on MWP are to understand the interactions between viruses, vectors and host plants, and to use this information to develop strategies to manage this important disease. Our recent work shows that pineapple mealybug wilt associated virus (PMWaV) is a complex of closteroviruses. We have produced specific monoclonal antibodies against two distinct PMWaVs. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay was developed to detect and distinguish these two viruses. The entire genome of PMWaV-2 was cloned and its sequence determined. The genome contains 10 open reading frames and is typical of the monopartite closteroviruses. PMWaV-1 has also been cloned and ten kilobases have been sequenced. The two PMWaVs are distinct and share less than 50% nucleic acid homology with each other based on available sequences. Both PMWaVs can be acquired and transmitted by mealybugs (Dysmicoccus spp.). We have shown in transmission experiments that the presence of PMWaV-2 and mealybug exposure are necessary for the induction of MWP. Mealybug feeding on pineapple plants in the absence of the PMWaVs, or the presence of the PMWaVs in the absence of mealybug feeding, does not induce MWP symptoms. Meristem propagation through tissue culture has been shown to produce PMWaV-free plant material. Constructs of selected PMWaV-2 genes are being introduced into pineapple to develop MWP-resistant transgenic plants by inducing gene-silencing mechanisms.

Imtiaz, A., Khan, M.F.U. & Rehana, A. 2005. Injection measures with systemic insecticides on fruit trees for leaf miner and sucking pests management. Journal of Experimental Zoology 8(1): 221-223. [ImtiazKhRe2005]. Notes: Injections with systemic insecticides have been found economically cheap, environmentally safe and comparatively effective for the control of leaf miner and sucking pests (i.e. aphids, leaf hoppers and mealy bugs-Pseudococcidae). Different pesticides were soaked in small pieces of sponge and placed into the tree via a hole (1-2 cm diameter) made into the tree trunk. A maximum of two rounds of treatment were required for sufficient control. In a single application, 8-12 ml of 40% monocrotophos, methamidophos or dimethoate was used for sucking pest control, while 16-20 ml of the insecticides were required for sufficient leaf miner control. Approximately 80% control of the pests were observed within a week following the treatment.

Jactel, H. & Menassieum, P. 2005. [The maritime pine bast scale Matsuccocus feytaudi (duc.): new epidemiological data and perspectives for protection.] La cochenille du pin maritime Matsuccocus feytaudi: nouvelles données epidemiologiques et perspectives de lutte. (In French; Summary In English, Italian). Forêt Mediterranéenne 26(1): 37-46. [JactelMe2005].

Japoshvili, G.O. 2005. A new species of encyrtid (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Encyrtidae) from Turkey. (In Russian; Summary In English). Zoologicheskii Zhurnal 84(4): 524-526. [Japosh2005]. Notes: The new species, Psilophrys ghilarovi sp. n. is described and illustrated. Characteristics of the species, which differ it from a related species, P. parvulus Guerrieri et Viggiani, are given. The host is Kermes palestiniensis Balachowsky on Quercus coccifera in the Mediterranean region of Turkey.

Jiang, G.Z. 2004. [A new species of genus Formosaspis (Homoptera: Diaspididae) from China.] (In Chinese; Summary In English). Entomotaxonomia 26(3): 171-174. [Jiang2004]. Notes: Four species of the genus Formosaspis have been recorded from China up to now. They are F. formosana from Taiwan; F. nigra from Hongkong; F. stegana from Yunnan; and F. wanglangensis from Sichuan. Their hosts are bamboos. A new species collected on bamboo (F. guilinensis sp. nov.) is described.

Kaneko, S. 2004. Within-plant vertical distributions of the scale insect Nipponaclerda biwakoensis and its five parasitoids that exhibit frequent successful multiparasitism on the common reed. Entomological Science 7: 331-339. [Kaneko2004]. Notes: Within-short vertical distributions of the scale insect Nipponaclerda biwakoensis, five species of gregarious parasitoid wasps attacking the scale, and successful multiparasitism (emergence of multiple parasitoid species from a single host) by the parasitoids on the common reed were investigated. Each reed shoot collected was longer than 2.0 m, and was divided into pieces of 0.5 m each from the base of the shoot. The mean number of adult female scales per 0.5 m of shoot increased with height, but the mean rate of overall parasitism of the female scales decreased with height. The five parasitoids showed species-specific within shoot distribution patterns, with respect to the rate of parasitism: Astymachus japonicus, Boucekiella depressa and Encyrtidae sp. 2 showed the greatest rates of parasitism at heights of 0-0.5, 0.5-1.0 and 1.0-1.5 m, respectively. The parasitism rate by Aprostocetus sp. was higher at the lower half of the shoots, whereas that by Encyrtidae sp. 1 was higher at the central positions. The distribution of the five parasitoids largely overlapped with each other at the level of scale aggregations. Nevertheless, successful multiparasitism occurred frequently only in several types of species combinations that involved two parasitoid species showing similar within-shoot distribution patterns. The rate of successful multiparasitism by B. depressa with A. japonicus or Aprostocetus sp. and that by Encyrtidae sp. 2 with Encyrtidae sp. 1 was constantly high at different vertical positions on the shoots. This may be because B. depressa and Encyrtidae sp. 2 preferentially oviposit into scales previously parasitized by these other species.

Karapanagiotis, I., Danilia, S., Tsakalof, A. & Chryssoulakis, Y. 2005. Identification of red natural dyes in post-byzantine icons by HPLC. Journal of Liquid Chromatography & Related Technologies 28(5): 739-749. [KarapaDaTs2005]. Notes: A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methodology, combined with UV-Vis Diode Array Detection, is developed for the separation and identification of five reddish natural dyestuffs: cochineal, madder, lac dye, dragon blood, and brazilwood. The method is used for the identification of organic dyes in extracts originating from five icons, four of which are representative for the post Byzantine era (15th to 19th century) and one is typical for the Byzantine coloring technology (created at the 14th century). The origin and the nature of the coloring content of Mediterranean art objects, created in these historical periods are not well known. Carminic acid, the main active, coloring, ingredient of cochineal was identified in four icons, including the one of the 14th century. Brazilwood was found to be the only organic colorant in one icon of the post Byzantine era. It was also present, in addition to cochineal, in the icon of the Byzantine period. Further discussion, associated with the dyestuff origin, is provided based on the analytical results and the available historical data.

Kato, H., Hata, T. & Tsukada, M 2004. Potentialities of natural dyestuffs as antifeedants against varied carpet beetle, Anthrenus verbasci. JARO, Japan Agricultural Research Quarterly 38(4): 241-251. [KatoHaTs2004]. Notes: We studied damage to wool fabrics dyed with different natural and chemical dyestuffs by the larvae of varied carpet beetle, A. verbasci, as part of a study on the functions of natural dyestuffs. Eight of ten natural dyestuffs showed an antifeeding effect against A. verbasci. Strength of the antifeeding effect of natural dyestuffs in a feeding preference test was in the order lac dye, gallnut, catechu, red cabbage, Cricula cocoon extract > cochineal, indigo, Amur cork tree extract > chemical dye.

Kondo, T. & Gullan, P.J. 2004. A new species of ant-tended soft scale of the genus Cryptostigma Ferris (Hemiptera: Coccidae) associated with bamboo in Peru. (In English; Summary In Portuguese). Neotropical Entomology 33(6): 717-723. [KondoGu2004]. Notes: Soft scale insects of the genus Cryptostigma occur only in the Neotropical region and usually live in the nests of ants, or rarely bees, inside plant stems, or feed on plant roots. Here we provide the first report of Cryptostigma from Peru. We describe Cryptostigma guadua sp. nov. based on the adult female and the first-instar nymph. These coccids have been collected only from the nests of Camponotus (Myrmostenus) longipilis, Camponotus (Myrmostenus) mirabilis and Camponotus (Pseudocolobopsis) sp. from inside live bamboos of Guadua sp. in lowland tropical forests in Parque Nacional del Manu, in southeast Peru. The adult female and the first-instar nymph (crawler) of Cryptostigma guadua sp. nov. are compared to closely related species.

Kondo, T. & Gullan, P.J. 2005. A new lac insect from Colombia, with revised keys to lac insect genera and to species of Austrotachardiella Chamberlin (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Kerriidae). (In English; Summary In Portuguese). Neotropical Entomology 34(3): 395-401. [KondoGu2005]. Notes: A new lac insect pest, Austrotachardiella colombiana sp. n. (Kerriidae), is described and illustrated based on the adult female. This species was reported causing dieback on the twigs and branches of two cultivars of Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) in Santander de Quilichao, Cauca, Colombia. Revised taxonomic keys to the genera of the family Kerriidae and to separate the species of Austrotachardiella Chamberlin are provided. No previous records of lac insects from Colombia were found.

Kondo, T. & Williams, M.L. 2004a. Redescription of the myrmecophilous soft scale insect: Aztecalecanium colimae (Cockerell), new genus and new combination (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae). TIP Revista Especializada en Ciencias Quimico-Biologicas 7(1): 5-9. [KondoWi2004a]. Notes: A myrmecophilous soft scale, Akermes colimae Cockerell is transferred to the new genus Aztecalecanium Kondo and Williams. The adult female and first-instar nymph are redescribed and described respectively. Diagnostic morphological characters of the species are given. This is the first time the insect has been illustrated.

Kondo, T. & Williams, M.L. 2005. Description of a new pest species of Hemilecanium Newstead (Hemiptera: Coccidae) on mango from Thailand, and a key to species of the genus. Zootaxa 1045: 25-37. [KondoWi2005]. Notes: The adult female and first-instar nymph of a new species of soft scale insect, Hemilecanium mangiferae Kondo & Williams sp. nov., are described and illustrated. This species was collected on the trunk and branches of mango, Mangifera indica L., in Nakhon Pathom and Sukhothai Provinces, Thailand. The insect can cause serious damage by depleting the host sap and by producing large amounts of honeydew on which sooty molds grow. Damage was severe on the local mango cultivar, Nam DokMai. Also included are a revised diagnosis of the genus, a revised key to the adult females of the five species currently placed in the genus, and a key to the known first-instar nymphs.

Kondo, T., Gullan, P.J. & Miller, D.R. 2004. A new hypogeal species of Oregmopyga Hoy (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae) from southern California, U.S.A., and a key to species of the genus. Zootaxa 784: 1-12. [KondoGuMi2004]. Notes: A new species of Oregmopyga viscose Kondo, species new, is described and illustrated based on the adult female and the second-instar male and female. This species is known from Inyo, Kern, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties in southern California, where it lives just below the soil surface on the crown of its host, probably always Hymenoclea salsola Torr. & Gray (Asteraceae). A revised key to the adult females of all nine species of Oregmopyga is included.

Kondo, T., Gullan, P.J., Ventura, J.A. & Culik, M.P. 2005. Taxonomy and biology of the mealybug genus Plotococcus Miller & Denno (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Brazil, with descriptions of two new species. (In English; Summary In Portuguese). Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 40(3): 213-227. [KondoGuVe2005]. Notes: Two new species of Brazilian mealybugs, Plotococcus capixaba is a newly recognized pest from the leaves of the jaboticaba tree, Myrciaria jaboticaba (Vell.) O. Berg (Myrtaceae), from Espíritu Santo and from Leandra erinacea Cogn. (Melastomataceae) from São Paulo. Plotococcus hambletoni was collected in São Paulo on a myrtaceous plant. A revised key to the species of Plotococcus Miller & Denno, and a key to the different growth stages of P. capixaba are provided. All female instars are described for P. capixaba, but only the adult female is known for P. hambletoni. The biology of Plotococcus is discussed, with emphasis on P. capixaba.

Kondo, T., Williams, M.L. & Gullan, P.J. 2005. Taxonomic review of the genus Xenolecanium Takahashi and description of the new genus Takahashilecanium Kondo (Hemiptera: Coccidae; Coccinae, Paralecaniini). Entomological Science 8: 109-120. [KondoWiGu2005]. Notes: The genus Xenolecanium Takahashi is reviewed and transferred from the subfamily Myzolecaniinae to the Coccinae (tribe Paralecaniini). The type species Xenolecanium mangiferae Takahashi is redescribed, and Xenolecanium takahashii Kondo sp. nov. from Indonesia is described based on the adult female and first instar nymph. A taxonomic key is provided to separate adult females of the two species of Xenolecanium. Xenolecanium rotundum Takahashi is transferred to become the type species of a new monotypic genus, Takahashilecanium Kondo, which is also placed in the Paralecaniini. The morphological justification for placing Xenolecanium and Takahashilecanium in the Paralecaniini is discussed, and we provide a taxonomic key for separating both genera from all other members of the Paralecaniini.

Kontodimas, D.C., Eliopoulos, P.A., Stathas, G.J. & Economou, L.P. 2004. Comparative temperature-dependent development of Nephus includens (Kirsch) and Nephus bisignatus (Boheman) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) preying on Planococcus citri (Risso) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Environmental Entomology 33(1): 1-11. [KontodElSt2004]. Notes: The effect of temperature on the development of the predators Nephus includens and Nephus bisignatus [Nephus georgei] was studied. The duration of the development of immature stages and the preoviposition period of the two predators, reared on Planococcus citri were recorded at eight constant temperatures.

Kozár, F. & Foldi, I. 2004. Description of new genera and species in the tribe Rhizoecini (Homoptera, Coccoidea, Pseudococcidae). Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 50(2): 153-182. [KozarFo2004]. Notes: Two new genera and nine new specie are described. Benedictycoccina gen. n. includes four species; three of them are new. Hambletonia gen. n. with one new species. The genus Coccidella Hambleton, 1946 is re-established, including eight species, among them five are new. A new morphological character, the structure of female genital organ is described. A review for the tribe and a key for the genera, and species are given.

Kozár, F. & Konczné Benedicty, Z. 2004. New species and a key of the species of the Ripersiella genus (Homoptera, Coccoidea, Pseudococcidae, Rhizoecini), with zoogeographic and phylogenetic considerations. (In English; Summary In Italian). Bollettino di Zoologia Agraria e di Bachicoltura (Milano) 36(3): 303-334. [KozarKo2004]. Notes: Eight new species (Ripersiella hambletoni, R. kaydoni, R. loksae, R. madagascarella, R. monticola, R. ruandaensis, R. salvatorei and R. seychelliella) are described, R. periolana redescribed and 15 new combinations proposed. The internal structure of female genital organ was studied in some species and the rate and shape of chitinisation are also used as a specific character. A review of the genus, a key for the 73 species, a map of distribution, with some phylogenetic and zoogeographic comments are given.

Kozár, F. & Konczné Benedicty, Z. 2004a. Effects of the extreme cold winter in 2001/2002 on Pseudaulacaspis pentagona, and new data of distribution in Central Europe. IOBC/WPRS Bulletin 27(5): 19-24. [KozarKo2004a]. Notes: In recent years Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti, 1886) has become established in several new localities in Central Europe, however, in some places it has been absent in recent years. Mortality was close to 100% with great fluctuation from one part of the country to another. Mortality in winter correlated with absolute minimum temperatures of December. The absolute minimum below 20 Celsius caused very high mortality, however even winter this cold did not eliminate populations from most of the infested regions. The pheromone trap catches during the second generation reveal that this species can reestablish high density very quickly. Density has been increasing in the Budapest area since 1991.

Kozár, F., Kiss, B., Samu, F. & Konczné Benedicty, Z. 2004. New data to the scale insect (Homoptera: Coccoidea) fauna of some national parks, nature reserves in Hungary. Folia Entomologica Hungarica 65: 55-64. [KozarKiSa2004]. Notes: 139 species of scale insects are reported from three protected areas, collected in 1999-2003. The highest number of species was found in the Kiskunság National Park (89), 54 in the Sashegy, 44 in the Balaton National Park (Szentgyörghegy), 39 in the Fertö-Hanság National Park, and 33 in the Nagykovácsi (Kecskchát). From these data 1 to 4 were new for the Hungarian fauna and 31 to 39 were new for the given locality.

Kreiter, P., Germain, C., Visserot, X., Capy, A., Fave, C., Thaon, M., Giuge, L., Gory, P., Hantzberg, H., Chabriere, C., Leyre, J.M., Fournier, C., & Rodriguez, F. 2005. [Trials for biological control of Pseudococcus viburni in tomato greenhouses in France.] Essais de lutte biologique contre la cochenille farineuse P. viburni en serre de tomates. Phytoma 579: 48-52. [KreiteGeVi2005]. Notes: Studies on the biological control of P. viburni, infesting soil-less tomatoes in greenhouses in France, using a parasitoid wasp from Chile were presented.

Laflin, H.M. & Parrella, M.P. 2004. Developmental biology of citrus mealybug under conditions typical of California rose production. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 97(5): 982-988. [LaflinPa2004]. Notes: The developmental biology of citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), was studied at constant and varying temperatures on roses, Rosa hybrida L. Mealybug populations were sampled daily to determine thermal constants and day-degrees (DD) at 18.3 deg C, 26.6 d/15.5 deg C night and a fluctuating temperature averaging 20.3 deg C. The thermal constant at 18.3 deg C was 289 DD for females and 346 DD for males; the median number of days from egg to adult was 39 for females and 47 ( plus or minus 1 SEM) mean days for males. At fluctuating temperatures averaging 20.3 deg C, the thermal constant for females was 365 DD and 421 DD for males; the median number of days from egg to adult for females was 39, and 45 ( plus or minus 2.0 SEM) mean days for males. For females reared at 26.6 deg C during the day and 15.5 deg C during the night, the thermal constant was 326 DD, and the median days to egg hatch, second instar, third instar, and adulthood were 6, 17, 26,and 32, respectively. The lower developmental threshold was determined to be 10.9 deg C for the egg stage. Information about development of the citrus mealybug on roses is discussed in terms of effective pest management.

Lagowska, B. 2005. Spinococcus morrisoni (Kirichenko, 1936) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) - new to the fauna of Poland. Polskie Pismo Entomologiczne 74(1): 39-42. [Lagows2005]. Notes: S. morrisoni, as a second member of this genus, has been found in Poland for the first time, in the Sandomierz Lowland. Numerous adult females were collected on 18 August 2002 from the stems of Carpinus betulus, in a deciduous forest near Przedborz. Information on its morphology, distribution, host plants and life history is given.

Li, H.M., Han, H.X. & Xue, D.Y. 2005. [Prediction of potential geographic distribution areas for the pine bark scale, Matsucoccus matsumurae (Kuwana) (Homoptera: Margarodidae) in China using GARP modeling system. (In Chinese). Acta Entomologica Sinica 48(1): 95-100. [LiHaXu2005]. Notes: The pine bark scale, Matsucoccus matsumurae (Kuwana), is a major invasive pest of Pinus trees. Based on the genetic algorithm for rule-set prediction modeling system (GMS), the potential geographic distribution of the scale in China were analyzed. The results indicated that the spreading of the scale in China under-went three main phases, i.e., sporadic distribution phase, gradually spreading phase and rapidly spreading phase. It was predicated that the population of the pine bark scale could be established in 27 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China, especially in the northeast and the eastern coastal areas, and the expanding direction is upcountry in China. Further predictive analysis with Liaoning and Jilin provinces confirmed the precision of the method, and showed that the expanding direction was consistent with that of the countrywide, and 6 grand risk areas and 13 key areas for subsequent dispersion were further defined for the region.

Liu, Z.M. 2004. [The control of powdery scale in the apple orchards in the western part of Henan province.] (In Chinese). China Fruits No. 5: 43-44. [Liu2004]. Notes: In recent years the powdery scale (Pseudococcus comstocki) has become an important pest for apple orchards in China. The infected trees usually reach 2.3-9.7%, but reaching 17.6%. Its first generation nymphs usually attack the young tissues of the tree, the second and third generation nymphs mainly attack the fruit. The bagged fruit could be attacked by 30%. The nymphs often cause yellow, white and green marble spots with red brown or yellow brown circles. It has three generations a year. Its eggs hibernate in cracks in the bark or in the soil. The destructive period for the first generation nymphs is in mid- to late May. Practice showed spraying 1500x dilution solution of 40% Lorsban emulsion or 1500x dilution of 52.25% Nurelle-D505 emulsion in mid- to late May controls the pest.

Lo Bue, P. & Colazza, S. 2005. [Diaspis echinocacti (Bouché) a dangerous pest of cactus.] Diaspis echinocacti (Bouché) un temibile fitofago delle cactacee. (In Italian; Summary In English). Informatore Fitopatologico 5: 34-37. [LoBueCo2005]. Notes: During the period 2002-2003, investigations on insect pests of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller) in Sicily were carried out. Diaspis echinocacti (Homoptera: Diaspididae), the common Cactus Scale, was the pest of this crop; it can produce serious damage resulting in death and desiccation of their hosts. It is now a cosmopolitan pest and is found in each country where Opuntia spp. are cultivated. Recently it's becoming a problem on prickly pear and ornamental cactus on some specialist farms in Sicily, requiring specific measures of control. This pest is mainly located on aerial portions of the plant, especially on basal pads and fruits. During research some natural enemies were found, among them Plagiomerus diaspidis (Crawford) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) showed higher impact on prickly pear cactus populations. P. diaspidis is a specific solitary internal parasite of cactus scale and it is the most effective natural enemy in Sicily.

Lo Bue, P., Forster, L.D., Millar, J.G., Colazza, S. & Luck, R.F. 2004. Responses of Metaphycus sp. nr. flavus to semiochemicals released from a scale host, Coccus hesperidum. Chemoecology 14(3/4): 151-156. [LoBueFoMi2004]. Notes: Metaphycus flavus is a parasitoid species collected from the Mediterranean region which lays its eggs in the immature stages of several economically important soft scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccidae), including brown soft scale, C. hesperidum (host insect). Preliminary tests suggested that the parasitoid is most successful in producing offspring when it oviposits in the younger stages of brown soft scale. In Y-olfactometer bioassays measuring wasp choices and residence times, naive parasitoids were significantly more attracted to yucca leaves infested with 26-, 27- or 28-day-old scale than to uninfested leaves, whereas leaves with older (29- to 30-day-old) scale were no more attractive than uninfested leaves. Parasitoids also spent significantly more time in the arm with yucca leaves infested with 26-day-old scale than in the arm with uninfested leaves. These results are consistent with observations of the parasitoid's reproductive success on scale of different ages, whereby older scale are more likely to encapsulate the developing eggs of M. flavus females than are younger scales. Further bioassays determined that yucca leaves that had been infested with 26-day-old scale but from which the scale had been removed were as attractive as infested leaves. In contrast, infested yucca leaves from which scale had been removed and the leaves subsequently washed with distilled water were less attractive than infested leaves. Furthermore, the wash water containing scale residues was attractive to female wasps. In total, these results suggest that M. flavus females utilize volatile, water soluble compounds produced by brown soft scale as cues to locate suitable hosts.

Macanawai, A.R., Ebenebe, A.A., Hunter, D., Devitt, L.C., Hafner, G.J. & Harding, R.M. 2005. Investigations into the seed and mealybug transmission of Taro bacilliform virus. Australasian Plant Pathology 34(1): 73-76. [MacanaEbHu2005]. Notes: Investigations were conducted into the transmission of Taro bacilliform badnavirus (TaBV) by seed and mealybugs. Seed transmission was investigated by artificially pollinating TaBV-infected taro. Seeds derived from four successfully pollinated plants tested positive for TaBV by PCR. Twenty seeds derived from each pollinated plant were also germinated; 2/80 seedlings showed TaBV-like symptoms and tested positive for TaBV by PCR. Pollen samples taken from TaBV-infected plants also tested positive for the virus. Mealybug transmission was investigated by exposing 51 healthy taro plants to Pseudococcus solomonensis that had been reared on TaBV-infected taro plants. Typical virus symptoms developed on 17 plants between 24 and 36 days after feeding; all these plants, in addition to 13 symptomless plants, tested positive for TaBV by PCR. This is the first report of TaBV transmission by P. solomonensis and the first report of P. solomonensis in Samoa.

Mackay, W.A., Arnold, M.A. & Parsons, J.M. 2005. Nerium oleander L. 'Cranberry Cooler', 'Grenadine Glace', 'Pink Lemonade', 'Peppermint Parfait', 'Raspberry Sherbet' and 'Petite Peaches and Cream'. HortScience 40(1): 265-268. [MackayArPa2005]. Notes: A project to develop cultivars that are tolerant to -12 deg C was initiated in 1991 in Texas, USA, to extend the landscape use of oleanders. Seeds from cultivars Hardy Red, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Professor Parlatorre, which are considered to be more winter hardy, were used as parental lines. Cranberry Cooler, Grenadine Glace and Pink Lemonade cultivars originated from Hardy Red seeds irradiated with 45 rads. Peppermint Parfait originated from Hardy Red control seeds (0 rad). Raspberry Sherbet was obtained from Professor Parlatorre control seeds (0 rad), while Petite Peaches and Cream was obtained from Professor Parlatorre seeds irradiated with 30 rad. Data are presented on the morphological characters and field performance of each cultivars. Aphis nerii, Aspidiotus nerii, Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli and Asterolecanium pustulans are possible pests for these new cultivars but are more likely in humid climates. The plants can also be attacked by Syntomeida epilais. Recently, Homalodisca coagulata has been identified as a vector of bacterial leaf scorch (Xylella fastidiosa) in oleander.

Madar, Z., Solel, Z. & Kimchi, A. 2005. Enhancement of Sphaeropsis canker of aleppo pine by the Israeli pine bast scale. Phytoparasitica 33(1): 28-32. [MadarSoKi2005]. Notes: An interaction between the fungal pathogen Sphaeropsis sapinea (Fr.) Dyko & Sutton, causal organism of Sphaeropsis canker, and the Israeli pine bast scale Matsucoccus josephi (Homoptera: Margarodidae), causal agent of pine decline, was studied, since both were prevalent on Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) stands. Sphaeropsis sapinea was isolated from larvae (stage II) and molts of the Israeli pine bast scale collected in four Aleppo pine stands. When Aleppo pine saplings were infested with pine bast scale and subsequently inoculated with S. sapinea most plants died, whereas mortality of seedlings inoculated with S. sapinea alone without previous scale infestation was negligible. Scale infestation of saplings without subsequent fungal inoculation caused the death of one third of the plants. Wounding of pine shoot apices by removal of needle fascicles enhanced infection by S. sapinea. The results support the assumption that M. josephi can play an important role in transmitting the fungal inoculum to the host tree as well as enabling its penetration to the shoots through wounds in the bark.

Malumphy, C.P. 2005. Eulecanium excrescens (Ferris) (Hemiptera: Coccidae), an Asian pest of woody ornamentals and fruit trees, new to Britain. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 18(1): 45-49. [Malump2005]. Notes: Eulecanium excrescens (Ferris) is reported causing serious damage to ornamental Wisteria plants in Greater London, England. This is the first record of this polyphagous Asian pest in Europe. In China, it is a pest of apple, pear and peach trees although in the USA it does not cause economic damage. The host range, biology, geographical distribution and economic importance of E. excrescens are reviewed. Coccophagus obscurus Westwood (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) is recorded parasitising the scale for the first time.

Mani, M. & Krishnamoorthy, A. 2004. Role of predators in the control of horticultural crop pests of India. 297-327 In: Sahayaraj, K. (Ed.), Indian Insect Predators in Biological Control. Daya Publishing House, Delhi, India. xvi + 336 pp. [ManiKr2004]. Notes: This paper discusses the role of predators in controlling the pests of horticultural crops in India. It provides a list of predators used for the biological control of pests of temperate fruits, tropical fruits (citrus, grapevine, guava, mango), arid zone fruits (pomegranate, ber [Ziziphus mauritiana], custard apple [Annona reticulata], litchi, phalsa, jackfruit, star gooseberry), vegetables (tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, aubergine, chili, onion, chow-chow [Sechium edule]) and ornamental crops, and identifies future research prospects for the introduction of these predators in horticultural systems and their utilization in integrated pest management programmes. Host species include Aonidiella aurantii, Aspidiotus destructor, Aulacaspis tubercularis, Coccus viridis, Ferrisia virgata, Icerya purchasi, Chloropulvinaria polygonata, C. psidii, Chrysomphalus ficus, Coccidohystrix insolita, Coccus viridis, Cornuaspis (=Lepidosaphes) beckii, Drepanococcus (=Ceroplastodes) chiton, Drosicha stebbingi, Hemiberlesia lataniae, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, Nipaecoccus viridis, Pinnaspis strachani, Planococcus citri, P. lilacinus, P. longispinus, P. minor, P. pacificus, Rastrococcus iceryoides, R. invadens and Saissetia coffeae.

Mani, M., Krishnamoorthy, A. & Pattar, G.L. 2004. Efficacy of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant in the suppression of Rastrococcus invadens Williams on sapota. Journal of Biological Control 18(2): 203-204. [ManiKrPa2004]. Notes: The mealybug Rastrococcus invadens was recorded in serious form on sapota (Manilkara zapota) in May 2002 at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research Farm, Bangalore, India. The coccinellid predator, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri was released for its suppression on sapota. The population of the mealybug declined from initial infestation of 507.6/shoot to 0.00 in 2 months time. No other natural enemy except C. montrouzieri was observed on R. invadens. The maximum temperature, minimum temperature, morning relative humidity and evening relative humidity ranged from 27 to 36 deg C, 18 to 22 deg C, 52 to 91% and 30 to 76%, respectively. There was no marked influence of these abiotic factors on the mealybug population during the study period. The decline in the mealybug population on sapota was due to the predatory activity of C. montrouzieri.

Martins, D. dos S., Culik, M.P. & Wolff, V.R. dos S. 2004. New record of scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) as pests of papaya in Brazil. (In English; Summary In Portuguese). Neotropical Entomology 33(5): 655-657. [MartinCuWo2004]. Notes: The occurrence of Coccus hesperidum L., 1758 and Aonidiella comperei McKenzie, 1937 was registered for the first time on papaya in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Also A. comperei and Selenaspidus articulatus (Morgan, 1889) were registered on papaya in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. This is the first record of A. comperei and S. articulatus on papaya in Brazil, and the first record of S. articulatus on papaya in the world.

Masner, L., Sun, J.H., Clarke, S., & Berisford, C.W. 2004. Description of Allotropa oracellae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), a parasitoid of Oracella acuta (Heteroptera: Pseudococcidae). Florida Entomologist 87(4): 600-602. [MasnerSuCl2004]. Notes: [http://www.bioone.org/bioone/?request=get-document&issn=0015-4040&volume =087&issue=04&page=600] The parasitoid Allotropa oracellae Masner sp. nov. (Platygastridae) is described. This species was collected in Georgia (United States) and is an endoparasitoid of the mealybug, Oracella acuta (Lobdell). New character states for the genus were used, including the pilosity of metapleuron and the microsculpture of mesoscutum.

Matadha, D., Hamilton, G.C., Lashomb, J.H. & Zhang, J.X. 2005. Ovipositional preferences and functional response of parasitoids of euonymus scale, Unaspis euonymi (Comstock) and San Jose scale, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock) (Homoptera: Diaspididae). Biological Control 32(3): 337-347. [MatadhHaLa2005]. Notes: Laboratory studies were carried out to investigate the ovipositional preference for host species and host age, and the functional response of parasitoids of euonymus scale, Unaspis euonymi (Comstock) and San Jose scale, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock) (Homoptera: Diaspididae) on San Jose scale in temperature controlled cabinets at 25(deg)C and 16L:8D photoperiod. The introduced parasitoids, Encarsia sp.nr. diaspidicola (Silvestri) and Aphytis proclia (Walker) (Aphelinidae: Hymenoptera) which have been reared continuously on San Jose scale for augmentative release programs against euonymus scale were evaluated for host scale preference between euonymus and San Jose scales to determine if their rearing history had changed their host preference. Recently collected field strains of Encarsia citrina Craw (Aphelinidae: Hymenoptera) and E. sp. nr. diaspidicola were also evaluated for host scale preference. Both laboratory strains of E. sp. nr. diaspidicola and A. proclia have lost the ability to parasitize euonymus scale and developed a preference for San Jose scale. We attribute this variation in preference to genetic changes resulting from long term rearing of the parasitoids on the alternate host. In contrast, the field strains of E. citrina and E. sp. nr. diaspidicola successfully parasitized both euonymus and San Jose scales. The host age preference for oviposition by E. citrina, E. sp. nr. diaspidicola (lab strain) and A. proclia was examined by exposing them to 5-45-day-old San Jose scales. E. citrina significantly preferred 11-day-old scales, E. sp. nr. diaspidicola (lab strain) preferred 5-9-day-old scales and A. proclia preferred scales aged between 23 and 25 days old. To compare potential efficiency of each species we studied the functional responses of females exposed to 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 or 128 scales for 24 h. E. citrina exhibited a type I response and E. sp. nr. diaspidicola (lab strain) and A. proclia exhibited type II responses to host density. E. sp. nr. diaspidicola (lab strain) attacked greater number of scales per day compared to E. citrina and A. proclia.|

Matsumoto, T., Itioka, T., Nishida, T. & Inoue, T. 2004b. A test of temporal and spatial density dependence in the parasitism rates of introduced parasitoids on host, the arrowhead scale (Unaspis yanonensis) in stable host-parasitoids system. Journal of Applied Entomology 128(4): 267-272. [MatsumItNi2004b]. Notes: In 1980, two species of parasitoid wasps Aphytis yanonensis DeBach et Rosen and Coccobius fulvus Compere et Annecke) were introduced to Japan from China as biological control agents to combat the arrowhead scale (Unaspis yanonensis Kuwana). These introductions represent one of the most successful projects in the history of biological control in Japan. To examine whether density dependent parasitism was inevitable for success of biological control, we tried to detect temporal and spatial density dependence in parasitism rates using time-series data of scale density, as well as parasitism, over a 16-year period. The work was conducted in a Satsuma mandarin orange (Citrus unshiu Marc.) orchard in which we previously demonstrated that the system appeared to have stabilized after a decline in scale density following the introduction of the parasitoids. Earlier work also indicated that C. fulvus contributes most to the reduction in, and the stability of, scale density. In this study, we examined: (1) the relationship, on a whole-orchard basis, between scale density and the rates of parasitism by A. yanonensis, C. fulvus, and a combination of the two species; (2) whether parasitism was positively correlated to scale density on a single-tree basis among generations and (3) whether spatial density dependence was detectable within generations on an individual-tree basis. Parasitism by A. yanonensis was temporally density-dependent on scale population density at the whole-orchard level, while parasitism by C. fulvus was not. Parasitism by A. yanonensis or by C. fulvus was rarely positively correlated to scale density at the single-tree level, and spatial density-dependence was hardly detected at all at this level. Most analyses of combined parasitism rates were similar to rates of parasitism by C. fulvus alone. Contrary to conventional wisdom of biological control theory, this study demonstrates that density dependence is not necessarily detected, even in a system in which a natural enemy has long held pest density stable at low levels.

Mehta, S.K., Bhatt, D.C., Mitaliya, K.D. & Ant, H.M. 2004. Experiences of Saurashtra farmers on biopesticides for pest control. Advances in Plant Sciences 17(2): 447-450. [MehtaBhMi2004]. Notes: A brief account on biopesticide is given. Here we have enumerated 39 plant taxa which are being used as a biopesticides by some farmers of Saurashtra. Plant material of various plant species is employed by farmers as decoction or in extract form to control insect pests on crops viz. Heliothis, leaf miners, mealy bugs, thrips, leaf hopper, aphids, termites, white flies and beetles etc.

Mestre, N., Ramos, T., Hamon, A.B. & Evans, G. 2004. [The scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) present in Soroa orchids garden, Pinar del Rio, Cuba.] Los insectos escama (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) presentes en el Orquideario de Soroa, Pinar del Rio, Cuba. (In Spanish; Summary In English). Fitosanidad 8(3): 25-29. [MestreRaHa2004]. Notes: Scale insects are considered to be among the principal pests of orchids. However, in Cuba, little is known about these insects on orchids. A list of the scale insects found on orchids and other ornamental plants in the Soroa orchid garden, Pinar del Rio, Cuba is presented. Samples were taken from orchids and other ornamental plants in orchid nurseries. Seventeen species of scale insects were found belonging to 13 genera and five families including: Asterolecaniidae, Coccidae, Diaspididae. Plants of the scale insect species were determined, resulting in several new host plant records for the various species.

Miller, D.R., Gimpel, M.E. & Rung, A. 2005. A systematic catalogue of the Cerococcidae, Halimococcidae, Kermesidae, Micrococcidae, Ortheziidae, Phenacoleachiidae, Phoenicococcidae, and Stictococcidae (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of the world. Intercept Limited, Wimbourne, UK. 554 pp. [MillerGiRu2005]. Notes:This publication provides systematic catalogues of 8 scale insect families of the world. Cerococcidae (ornate pit scales) including 72 valid species in 3 genera; Halimococcidae (pupillarial palm scales) including 21 valid species in 5 genera; Kermesidae (gall-like scales) has 91 species in 10 genera; Micrococcidae (Mediterranean scales) with 8 species in 2 genera; Ortheziidae (ensign scales) has 196 species in 20 genera; Phenacoleachiidae with 2 species in 1 genus; Phoenicococcidae (palm scale) with 1 species in 1 genus; and Stictococcidae with 15 species and 3 genera. Several scale insects in these families are serious agricultural pests and others pose a threat when (if) they are introduced into areas outside of their natural habitats. This book is a synthesis and catalogue of all of the taxonomic information published on these families worldwide up to May 2003, plus a few major works in 2004. It gives information on their scientific names, common names, synonyms, host plants, distribution, biology, economic importance, diagnostic features, keys for identification, and published references. This information will benefit all who are interested in the control, ecology, life history, pest exclusion, and pest management of these scale insects including homeowners, nurserymen, quarantine specialists, extension agents, and state and university researchers.

Miller, D.R., Miller, G.L., Hodges, G.S. & Davidson, J.A. 2005. Introduced scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of the United States and their impact on U.S. Agriculture. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 107(1): 123-158. [MillerMiHo2005]. Notes: We provide information on 255 species of scale insects that are considered adventive or introduced in the United States. Included for each species, where applicable, is reference to: the state and earliest collection date in which the invader was first discovered; whether it is currently established in the United States; its pest status in the United States along with a validation citation; its principal hosts; and its zoogeographical region of origin.

Miller, L. 2004 (2003). Importation of Fresh Commercial Citrus Fruit. DRAFT Importation of Fresh Citrus Fruit from Peru, . [Miller2004]. Notes: [Subtitle: Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi Macfad.); Lime (C. aurantiifolia [Christm.] Swingle); Mandarin Orange or Tangerine (C. reticulata Blanco); Sweet Orange (C. sinensis [L.] Osbeck); Sweet Orange (C. sinensis [L.] Osbeck); Tangelo (C. x tangelo J.W. Ingram & H.E. Moore); from Peru into the United States. A Pathway-Initiated Plant Pest Risk Analysis.] Pest species listed include Aonidiella aurantii, Aspidiotus destructor, A. nerii, Asterolecanium sp., Aulacaspis tubercularis, Ceroplastes cirripediformis, C. floridensis, Chrysomphalus aonidum, C. dictyospermi, Coccus hesperidum, C. viridis, Diaspidiotus perniciosus, Dysmicoccus brevipes, Ferrisia virgata, Hemiberlesia lataniae, Icerya purchasi, Lecanium corni, Lecanodiaspis sp., Lepidosaphes beckii, L. gloverii, Nipaecoccus nipae, Orthezia citricola, O. olivicola, O. praelonga, Parlatoria cinerea, P. pergandii, P. ziziphi, Parthenolecanium corni, Phenacoccus madeirensis, Planococcus citri, P. minor, Pinnaspis aspidistrae, P. strachani, Protopulvinaria pyriformis, Pseudaonidia trilobitiformis, Pseudaulacaspis sp., Pseudococcus longispinus, Pulvinaria sp., Saissetia coffeae, S. oleae, Selenaspidus articulatus, Unaspis citri and Vinsonia stellifera.

Mishra, D.N., Kamlesh Kumar & Singh, L.R. 2004. Efficacy and economics of some insecticides against scale insect Melanaspis glomerata G. infesting sugarcane ratoon crop under mid western plain zone of UP. Environment & Ecology 22(Spl-4): 752-754. [MishraKaSi2004]. Notes: The efficacy of different insecticides, viz. imidacloprid (25 ml a.i./ha), dimethoate (800 ml a.i./ha), cypermethrin (400 ml a.i./ha), monocrotophos (750 ml a.i./ha), methylparathion [parathion-methyl] (700 ml a.i./ha) and neem oil (2 litres/ha) sprayed on sugarcane was evaluated against the scale insect pest, M. glomerata in Nagina, Uttar Pradesh, India in 2000-2002. Imidacloprid was the most effective, followed by cypermethrin during both years. However, additional gain per rupee invested was higher with monocrotophos than imidacloprid.

Moghaddam, M. 2004. Insects of Iran: The list of Coccoidea in the Insect Museum of Hayk Mirzayans in Plant Pests and Diseases Research Institute. (In English; Summary In Farsi). Publications (Plant Pests & Diseases Research Institute, Insect Taxonomy Research Dept.) No. 11: 55 pp. [Moghad2004]. Notes: 106 species from 40 genera (10 families) are listed with distributions within Iran and hosts. An index is provided to host plants with their pests.

Moghaddam, M., Hatami, B., Zibaii, K. & Sabzalian, M.R. 2004. [Report of Phenacoccus solani (Hom.: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) from Iran.] (In Persian; Summary In English). Journal of Entomological Society of Iran 24(1): 135-136. [MoghadHaZi2004]. Notes: Mealybug specimens, collected from Esfahan and Shiraz, Iran, were studied and identified as Phenacoccus solani. Adult females are oval-shaped covered by white, powdery waxes with short marginal filaments. P. solani was isolated from the lower leaves and roots of host plants (i.e. Festuca sp. and Chrysanthemum morifolium [Dendranthema morifolium]). It is polyphagous with a broad host spectrum. This species has been reported from the Nearctic, Ethiopian, Neotropical, Australian and Pacific zoogeographical regions. P. solani is newly reported from Iran.

Moog, J., Saw, L.G., Hashim, R. & Maschwitz, U. 2005. The triple alliance: how a plant-ant, living in an ant-plant, acquires the third partner, a scale insect. Insectes Sociaux 52(2): 169-176. [MoogSaHa2005]. Notes: Mutualistic associations between ants and plants often involve a third partner, scale insects (Hemiptera, Coccoidea). In southeast Asia, plant-ants of the genus Cladomyrma live together with coccoids in hollowed twigs of a wide range of ant-plants (myrmecophytes). Established colonies never lack sap-sucking scale insects and the ants appear to be dependent on the honeydew excretions of their trophobionts. Acquisition of scale insects thus seems to be an important step in the successful establishment of a new colony on a host plant. Coccoids may either be transported by a foundress ant on her nuptial flight (vertical transmission via co-dispersal) or ant and coccoid disperse on their own and associate anew during colony initiation (horizontal transmission). Here we test the assumption that founding gynes of Cladomyrma do not transport scale insects during their dispersal flight, and we determine when and how trophobionts are acquired. The results obtained in this study show that although coccoids are not carried by foundresses, their numbers within founding chambers of Cladomyrma increased with the founding stage. In all Cladomyrma species, colony-founding is claustral and the entrance hole into the nest chamber is first plugged with pith debris and later grows over by wound callus. However, access of trophobionts into hollow twigs is facilitated either by additional small openings ('secondary slits') produced by the foundress ant after hollowing out a nest chamber or by the maintenance of an orifice at the entrance hole during the founding period. Immature pseudococcids experimentally placed onto twigs close to a Cladomyrma foundation readily entered these slits. Exclusion experiments suggest that foundresses of C. petalae are less successful in rearing their first offspring if entry of coccoids into founding chambers is prevented.

Moore, S.D. & Hattingh, V. 2004. Augmentation of natural enemies for control of citrus pests in South Africa. A guide for growers. South African Fruit Journal 3(4): 45-47. [MooreHa2004]. Notes: This paper briefly discusses the principle of augmentation and describes the current status of augmentative biological control of citrus pests such as Aonidiella aurantii and Planococcus citri in South Africa. Only natural enemies which are currently available to growers are discussed in this article, i.e. the parasitoids Coccidoxenoides perminutus, Trichogrammatoidea cryptophlebiae and Aphytis lingnanensis and the predator Cryptolaemus montrouzieri.

Mukhopadhyay, A.K. 2005. Study on the biology of the mealybug, Ferrisicoccus psidii. Annals of Plant Protection Sciences 13(1): 239-240. [Mukhop2005]. Notes: A new mealybug was observed infesting guava in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. The pest was identified as Ferrisicoccus psidii. Daily observations were made on the ecdysis of nymphs, waxy secretions, sex ratio, preoviposition and oviposition period, fecundity and incubation period of eggs. The crawlers, sexes of which were indistinguishable at that stage completed their moulting at the age of 4-11 days, being 72.0% at 7-9 days. The second and third instar female nymphs completed their moulting at the age of 10-24 (15.5 plus or minus 2.80) and 17-29 (21.35 plus or minus 2.60) days, being 66.8 and 60.0% at the age of 13-17 and 19-22 days, respectively. The second, third and fourth instars of male moulted at the age of 10-20 (13.28 plus or minus 2.02), 11-19 (14.71 plus or minus 2.0) and 15-23 (18.69 plus or minus 1.80) days, being 69.4, 62.4 and 68.5% at the age of 11-14, 13-16 and 17-20 days, respectively. The colour of the crawlers and last 3 instars of female were rosy, creamy pink, pinkish chocolate and chocolate; waxy dusts are found on their dorsum, quantity being progressively increased with the progress of development and stage. The last 3 instars of female secreted 7-8 pairs and 13 pairs of marginal waxy tassels, mostly abdominal. All the instars of female and the second instar of male secreted a tubular waxy anal process. The normal preoviposition and oviposition period and fecundity of the species are also discussed. This is thought to be the first record of F. psidii in the Indian subcontinent.

Narendran, T.C., Anitha, P.V. & Kumar K.K. 2004. On a new species of Anastatus motshulsky (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) associated with lac insects in Bihar, India. Journal of Advanced Zoology 25(1/2): 16-18. [NarendAnKu2004]. Notes: The new species Anastatus biharensis Narendran, sp. nov. can be distinguished from the only other species reported from Lac insects Anastatus colemani Crawford in having face metallic green; mesoscutum and scutellum not bronzy; gaster brownish blacks forewing with two separated hyaline patches and in many other features.

Nassar, N.M.A. 2004. Cassava: some considerations on its ecology and improvement. Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment 2(3/4): 167-173. [Nassar2004]. Notes: Cassava is the principal food for poor people in the tropics. India leads the world by productivity of 26 t/ha. Cassava reproduces by cuttings which accumulates pathogens. Apomixis represents an alternation to avoid this contamination. Apomixis was discovered in the wild cassava and transferred successfully to the cultivated one. Wild cassava relatives offered sources for its improvement for tolerance to bacteria blight and mosaic. More than 2 million hectares in Nigeria are now planted by cultivars from cassava hybrids with Manihot glaziovii. The species is potentially used for breeding cultivars tolerant to mealy bug and offers the safest way to control this pest if the artificial ecosystem of biological control has broken down. Cassava diversity in unmanaged ecosystems is highly affected by both the environment and human pressures.

Nikitenko, Yu.V. 2004. [Forecasts are justified.] (In Russian). Zashchita i Karantin Rastenii 7: 12. [Nikite2004]. Notes: Reasons for an increase in the spread of locust species, particularly the Italian [Calliptamus italicus] and the Asian locust, and a decrease in the danger of the beet webworm [Loxostege sticticalis] on crops, including sugarbeet, sunflower and perennial grasses, in southern Russia are considered. The occurrence of mouse-like rodents and San Jose scale [Diaspidiotus perniciosus], and the volume of pesticide use are outlined. Damage caused by the most important disease of winter cereals, i.e. Septoria, is considered.

Noyes, J.S. 2004. Encyrtidae of Costa Rica (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), 2. Metaphycus and related genera, parasitoids of scale insects (Coccoidea) and whiteflies (Aleyrodidae). Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 73: 439 pp. [Noyes2004]. Notes: An index to hosts reveals numerous species from the families of Asterolecaniidae (2), Cerococcidae (1), Coccidae (75), Diaspididae (6), Eriococcidae (7), Kermesidae (2), Kerriidae (1) and Pseudococcidae (1).

Nweke, F. 2004. New challenges in the cassava transformation in Nigeria and Ghana. EPTD Discussion Paper -- Environment and Production Technology Division, International Food Policy Research Institute 118. [Nweke2004]. Notes: The cassava transformation involves a shift from production as a low-yielding, famine-reserve crop to a high-yielding cash crop increasingly prepared and consumed as gari. This paper documents the four key factors that are driving the cassava transformation in Nigeria and Ghana. First, the IITA's new high-yielding Tropical Manioc Selection (TMS) varieties boosted cassava yield by 40% without fertilizer application. Second, high consumer demand for cassava by rural and urban households fuelled the producer incentive to plant more land with cassava. Third, the use of the mechanical grater to prepare gari released labour, especially female labour, from processing for planting more cassava. Fourth, the Africa-wide biological control programme averted the devastating cassava mealybug epidemic (Phenacoccus manihoti). Challenges to enhancing the value of cassava as a powerful poverty-alleviating crop in Africa are identified.

Ortu, S. & Cocco, A. 2004. [Within-tree spatial distribution of California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), on orange trees.] Distribuzione spaziale di Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) su piante di arancio. (In Italian; Summary In English). Informatore Fitopatologia 54(11): 54-58. [OrtuCo2004]. Notes: Specific surveys on within-tree spatial distribution of California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii, on orange trees were conducted in 2002-03 in Italy, to determine the most infested parts of canopy from where the insect spreads throughout the tree. The following plant organs were sampled: fruits, leaves, green twigs and 3- to 4-year-old branches from each canopy quadrant (north, east, south, west). Population density of each sample was determined using a microscope. The results were analysed using analysis of variance. Population distribution did not differ significantly among the four quadrants of the canopy. The highest population density occurred on twigs, followed by fruits and then by leaves. The highest insect density observed during the first generation, on 2- to 3-year-old twigs, indicated a slow movement of California red scale from lignified to green twigs. Therefore, pruning the heavily infested twigs allows to reduce the centres of infestation of A. aurantii population, to create unfavourable microclimatic conditions for population development and to reduce population density using low environmental-impact insecticides.

Palacios Mendoza, C., Nieto Hernández, R., Llanderal Cázares, C. & Gonzalez, H.H. 2004. [Biological effectiveness of biodegradeable products in the control of the prickly pear cochineal Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) (Homoptera: Dactylopiidae).] Efectividad biólogica de productos biodegradables para el control de la cochinilla silvestre Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) (Homoptera: Dactylopiidae). (In Spanish). Acta Zoologica Mexicana Nueva Serie 20(3): 99-106. [PalaciNiLl2004]. Notes: Two classes of biodegradable products were evaluated against nymphs I, nymphs II, and mature females of the wild cochineal Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) under laboratory conditions: a domestic detergent (Roma(R)) and a new unclassified product (Peak Plus, in registration). Each was sprayed on directly infested prickly pear cladodes. Concentrations tested for both products were 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 6.0%. Replicated applications of the same concentrations, also were evaluated from 0.5 to 3.0% over the same development stages. Higher susceptibility of nymphs I was observed, showing mortality of nearly 50% with 6% Roma(R), while nymphs II and mature females were more susceptible to Peak Plus, achieving approximately 50% control with concentrations of 1.5 and 3.0%, respectively. In repeated applications, the highest mortality was observed in mature females for both products.

Palmeri, V., Benfatto, D., Mazzeo, G. & Leo, A. di 2005. [Observations on the yellow scale on citrus in Italy.] Indagini sulla cocciniglia gialla degli agrumi in Italia. (In Italian; Summary In English). Informatore Fitopatologia 55(3): 54-58. [PalmerBeMa2005]. Notes: The current presence and activity of yellow scale (Aonidiella citrina) in citrus trees in Italy were investigated during 1999-2001 in Calabria and Sicily. Pheromone traps were used to assess pest population composition and the composition of useful entomofauna. Aonidiella citrina was limited in the area where it was first sighted 10 years ago. Three insect generations were completed and overwintering was observed at different developmental stages (mainly during the second instar stage). Three intense flight periods were observed (April, July and September), each formed by 2 cohorts. The most active predators were Aphytis melinus and Encarsia citrina.

Pan, X.Q., Ushio, H. & Ohshima, T. 2005. Effects of food colorants on photooxidation of lipids added to Alaska pollack Theragra chalcogramma surimi. Fisheries Science 71(2): 397-404. [PanUsOh2005]. Notes: Food colorants including rose bengal, erythrosine B, phloxine B and cochineal extracts were added to Alaska pollack Theragra chalcogramma surimi which was previously added with methyl linoleate (MeLe) or ethyl eicosapentaenoate (EPA Et). All the surimi were exposed to a 100-watt light tungsten bulb (4500 lux) in a cold room at 5 deg C. Four isomeric hydroperoxides, including 13-cis,trans-, 13-trans,trans-, 9-trans,cis- and 9-trans,trans-MeLe hydroperoxides, were generated by oxidation of MeLe added to surimi with and without cochineal extracts after exposure to light for several hours. For the surimi containing rose bengal, erythrosine B and phloxine B, extracted lipids contained not only the above four hydroperoxide isomers but also 12-cis,trans- as well as 10-trans,cis-MeLe hydroperoxides. EPA Et added to surimi which contained rose bengal, erythrosine B and phloxine B generated characteristic isomeric hydroperoxides, including 6-cis,trans- and 17-cis,trans-EPA Et hydroperoxides due to 1O2 mediated oxidation. The pro-oxidative potentials of four food colorants in surimi against added EPA Et or MeLe increased as the order of cochineal extracts < phloxine B < erythrosine B < rose bengal. These results clearly demonstrated that the addition of certain food colorants to surimi accelerated 1O2 mediated lipid oxidation to result in the generation of characteristic hydroperoxide isomers.

Pan, Z.P., Zeng, L., Chen, M.R. & Fang, T.S. 2004. [Studies on pupae and puparium characteristics of three parasitoids of Oracella acuta (Lobdell).] (In Chinese; Summary In English). Natural Enemies of Insects 26(3): 101-104. [PanZeCh2004]. Notes: The pupae and puparium characteristics of two exotic parasitoids of Oracella acuta, Zarhoplus debarri and Acerphagus coccois, and a native parasitoid Anagyrus dactylopii (Howard) were studied. It was concluded that pupae and puparium of three parasitoids could be easily distinguished, based on their shape, color, surface structure and other characteristics.

Pandey, A.K. 2004. First record of a predator, Chilocorus bipustulatus (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), of willow scale insect, Chionaspis salicis (L.), in