scholarly journals Biological Control of Armored Scale Insects in Mexico

1968 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 1086-1088 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. L. Maltby ◽  
Eteazar Jimenez-Jimenez ◽  
Paul DeBach
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Scale Insects ◽  
Armored Scale

scholarly journals Biology of an Adventive Population of the Armored Scale Rhizaspidiotus donacis, a Biological Control Agent of Arundo donax in California

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 588
Author(s):  
Charles A. Braman ◽  
Adam M. Lambert ◽  
A. Zeynep Özsoy ◽  
Ellen N. Hollstien ◽  
Kirsten A. Sheehy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Arundo Donax ◽  
Giant Reed ◽  
Aphytis Melinus ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Armored Scale ◽  
Riparian Systems

Arundo donax (giant reed) is invasive in Mediterranean, sub-, and tropical riparian systems worldwide. The armored scale Rhizaspidiotus donacis is approved for biocontrol in North America, but an adventive population was recently discovered in southern California. We documented this population’s distribution, phylogeny, phenology, potential host spillover to Phragmites spp., and potential for parasitism by a common biocontrol parasitoid of citrus scale. The adventive scale was found within a single watershed and is genetically closest to Iberian scale genotypes. Rhizaspidiotus donacis developed on Phragmites haplotypes but at much lower densities than Arundo. The adventive population is univoltine, producing crawlers from March-June. Aphytis melinus parasitoids exhibited sustained interest in R. donacis during choice and no-choice trials and oviposition resulted in a small second generation. Rhizaspidiotus donacis appears limited in distribution by its univoltinism and sessile adult females. This presents challenges for broad biocontrol implementation but allows for targeted application. The genetic differentiation between imported biocontrol samples and adventive populations presents an opportunity for exploring benefits of hybrids and/or alternative genotypes where establishment has been difficult. While unlikely to occur in situ, spillover to vulnerable endemic Phragmites or deleterious parasitoid effects on scale biocontrol agents warrants consideration when planning use of R. donacis.

scholarly journals A mutualism without honeydew: what benefits forMelissotarsus emeryiants and armored scale insects (Diaspididae)?

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Peeters ◽  
Imre Foldi ◽  
Danièle Matile-Ferrero ◽  
Brian L. Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Building Material ◽  
Malpighian Tubules ◽  
Host Tree ◽  
Scale Insects ◽  
Suitable Host ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Armored Scale ◽  
Plant Hosts ◽  
Armoured Scale Insects ◽  
Harmful Effects

Mutualisms between ants and sap-sucking insects generally involve clear benefits for both partners: the ants provide protection in exchange for honeydew. However, a single ant genus associates with armoured scale insects (Diaspididae) that do not excrete honeydew. We studied three colonies ofMelissotarsus emeryiants from two localities in Mozambique. Vast numbers of the diaspididMorganella conspicuaoccupied galleries dug by the ants under the bark of living trees. Unlike free-livingM. conspicuaand other diaspidids,M. conspicualiving with ants are known to lack shields, likely because they gain protection against enemies and desiccation. Nevertheless, we documented the occurrence of rare individuals with shields inside ant galleries, indicating that their glands continue to secrete wax and proteins as building material. This is likely to constitute a significant portion of the ants’ diet, in addition to diaspidid exuviae and excretions from the Malpighian tubules. Indeed,Melissotarsusworkers cannot walk outside the galleries due to modified middle legs, forcing them to obtain all nourishment within the tree.Melissotarsusfounding queens, however, must locate a suitable host tree while flying, and acquire diaspidid crawlers. This mutualism involves ants that are highly specialised to chew through living wood, and diaspidids that can also live freely outside the bark. It is extremely widespread in Africa and Madagascar, recorded from 20 tree families, and harmful effects on plant hosts require rapid study.

Heterochromatization and euchromatization of whole genomes in scale insects (Coccoidea: Homoptera)

Development ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 29-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uzi Nur
Keyword(s):  
Scale Insects ◽  
Congeneric Species ◽  
Maternal Origin ◽  
Paternal Origin ◽  
Whole Genomes ◽  
Armored Scale ◽  
Males And Females

In several families of scale insects (coccids), the sex of an embryo is determined by the number of genetically active genomes present (one=males, two=females). In mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), both males and females develop from fertilized eggs but, in the embryos that develop into males, the set of chromosomes (genome) of paternal origin (PG) becomes heterochromatic (H) and genetically inactive and is not transmitted to the offspring. The mechanism that reduces the number of active genomes in male embryos may vary between families and even between congeneric species. Thus, in male embryos of most armored scale species (Diaspididae), the PG is eliminated, while in a few species it becomes H. In two genera of soft scales (Coccidae), males develop from unfertilized eggs when one of two identical genomes of maternal origin becomes H. In most male tissues, one genome remains H. However, in several tissues that become polyploid by endoreduplication, the PG becomes E and genetically active. The tissues in which the PG becomes E often vary between species and the analysis of hybrid males demonstrated that whether the PG becomes H or remains E is determined by the genome of maternal origin. The euchromatization of the PG in the haploid sector of mosaic male embryos and the presence of spermatocytes with two E genomes (instead of one E and one H), following the irradiation of young mealybug males, strongly suggest that the maintenance of the H state requires the presence of a genetically active genome.

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