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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Lauderdale, Florida » Invasive Plant Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #159110
Title: LOBATE LAC SCALE, PARATACHARDINA LOBATA LOBATA (HEMIPTERA: STERNORRHYCHA: COCCOIDEA: KERRIIDAE).

Author
item HOWARD, FOREST - UF - DAVIE, FL
item Pemberton, Robert
item HAMON, A - FL DIV OF PLANT INDUSTRY
item HODGES, G - FL DIV OF PLANT INDUSTRY
item MANNION, C - UF - HOMESTEAD, FL
item MCCLEAN, DAVID - BROWARD COMM. COLLEGE
item WOFFORD, J - COOPER CITY, FL

Submitted to: Internet Web Page
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/20/2003
Publication Date: 12/20/2003
Citation: Howard, F.W., Pemberton, R.W., Hamon, A., Hodges, G., Mannion, C., Mcclean, D., Wofford, J. 2003. Lobate lac scale, paratachardina lobata lobata (hemiptera: sternorrhycha: coccoidea: kerriidae).. Internet Web Page.

Interpretive Summary: This web page has been developed for the University of Florida Featured Creatures Website to provide information on a dangerous new invasive insect pest in Florida. The insect is a scale insect and is potentially one of the most devastating pests of trees and shrubs in Florida's history. The lobate lac scale, Paratachardina lobata lobata (Chamberlin) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Kerriidae), a scale insect native to India and Sri Lanka, was found for the first time in Florida in August 1999 by personnel of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. No male stages are known and the mature females are about 1.5-2 mm long and have two pairs of prominent lobes. The scale attacks many diverse woody shrubs and trees. As of October 2002, more than 120 species in 44 families of woody plants have been determined to be hosts of P. lobata lobata in Florida. These include 39 plant species native to Florida. Most of the exotic host plants are grown as ornamental shrubs or trees, or as fruit trees. Some of these are extremely important in the urban landscape as shade trees, specimen trees, or hedges. Some plant families, notably bean family (Fabaceae), myrtle family (Myrtaceae), and fig family (Moraceae) are especially well represented by species that serve as hosts, but this may be related to their abundance in the landscape or other biases. Certain species appear to be highly susceptible, including certain natives, e.g., wax-myrtle (Myrica cerrifera), cocoplum (Chrysobalanus icaco), buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus), strangler-fig (Ficus aurea), Myrsine (Myrsine guianensis), red bay (Persea borbonia), and wild-coffee (Psychotria nervosa); popular exotic ornamental plants, e.g., black-olive (Bucida buceras), Indian laurel (Ficus microcarpa), Benjamin fig (F. benjamina); and fruit trees, e.g., lychee (Litchi chinensis), mango (Mangifera indica), and star-fruit (Averrhoa carambola). Unpublished results of research conducted at the University of Florida Fort Lauderdale Research & Education Center indicate that a root drench with the systemic insecticide imidacloprid (Bayer Corporation) effectively controlled P. lobata lobata. Further studies are being conducted to refine this method, and to test horticultural oils and additional chemical control methods. Because it is predicted that a very large percentage of trees and shrubs in both the urban and natural areas of Florida will become infested with this scale insect, we are investigating biological control as the only viable option for control in the long term.

Technical Abstract: No Tech. abstract