To the fauna and biology of new alien insect pest species of woody plants in humid subtropics of Russia

Фитосанитарный мониторинг в насаждениях влажных субтропиков России (г. Сочи) выявил новые чужеродные виды вредителей древесных растений. К уже обнаруженным в 2010–2014 гг. двадцати новым для региона видам насекомых в 2015–2016 гг. добавилось еще шесть: Ceroplastes ceriferus F. (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae), Glyphodes pyloalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Dasineura gleditchiae Osten Sacken (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), Lamprodila (Palmar) festiva L. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Phyllonorycter robiniella Clemens (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), Halyomorpha halys Stål (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), из них C. ceriferus – новый для России вид, а малая тутовая огнёвка G. pyloalis отмечена впервые в Европейской части России. Наиболее опасными вредителями для декоративных насаждений являются L. (P.) festiva и C. ceriferus. В настоящее время во влажных субтропиках России развиваются три очага C. ceriferus. Этот вредитель отмечен на широком круге растений-хозяев. Glyphodes pyloalis встречается повсеместно на территории Адлерского, Хостинского и Центрального районов г. Сочи. Наиболее сильно вредит третье его поколение. Lamprodila (P.) festiva стала причиной массового усыхания кипарисовых летом 2016 г. (отмечена на семи видах семейства кипарисовые). Halyomorpha halys, повреждающий как декоративные, так и плодовые насаждения, наиболее опасен для плодовых культур. Из декоративных культур вредитель предпочитает Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud., Catalpa speciosa (Warder) Warder ex Engelm., Rosa spp. cult., Pittosporum spp. и Brugmansia sp. Основной причиной появления новых чужеродных видов в энтомофауне региона предположительно является антропогенный фактор (интродукция насекомых, непреднамеренно ввезенных с посадочным материалом растений, усилившиеся транспортные потоки). Биология вышеперечисленных видов в исследуемом регионе нуждается в дополнительном изучении. Phytosanitary monitoring of vegetation of humid subtropics in Russia (Sochi, Krasnodar Region) revealed appearance of new alien species of arboreal pests. In addition to twenty species that were recorded in 2010–2014, six more pest insect species were newly recorded in 2015–2016: Ceroplastes ceriferus F. (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae), Glyphodes pyloalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Dasineura gleditchiae Osten Sacken (Diptera: Cecidomiidae), Lamprodila (Palmar) festiva L. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Phyllonorycter robiniella Clemens (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), Halyomorpha halys Stål (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Among them C. ceriferus is a new species for Russia and G. pyloalis is new species to the European part of Russia. The most dangerous pests for decorative planted vegetation are L. (P.) festiva and C. ceriferus. There are currently three mass propagation loci of C. ceriferus in humid subtropics in Russia. This pest species has been recorded on a wide range of host plants. Glyphodes pyloalis has been recorded all over three districts of Sochi (Adler, Hosta and Central districts). The third annual generation of this species seems to cause the most significant damage. Lamprodila (P.) festiva has been recorded on seven species of Cupressaceae and this species caused mass death of cypresses in summer 2016. Halyomorpha halys, which damages both decorative and fruit plants, is more hazardous to fruit crops. Of ornamental plant species, this pest prefers Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud., Catalpa speciosa (Warder) Warder ex Engelm., Rosa spp. cult., Pittosporum spp., and Brugmansia sp. The main cause of the appearance of these species in the region is assumed to be due to the anthropogenic factor (unintended introduction of insects with planting material, the amplified traffic). Biology of the listed species in the humid subtropics in Russia needs to be studied urgently.

DNA barcoding of common soft scales (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae) in China

The soft scales (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae) are a group of sap-sucking plant parasites, many of which are notorious agricultural pests. The quarantine and economic importance of soft scales necessitates rapid and reliable identification of these taxa. Nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene (barcoding region) and 28S rDNA were generated from 340 individuals of 36 common soft scales in China. Distance-based [(best match, Automated Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD)], tree-based (neighbor-joining, Bayesian inference), Klee diagrams, and general mixed Yule coalescent (GMYC) models were used to evaluate barcoding success rates in the data set. Best match showed that COI and 28S sequences could provide 100 and 95.52% correct identification, respectively. The average interspecific divergences were 19.81% for COI data and 20.38% for 28S data, and mean intraspecific divergences were 0.56 and 0.07%, respectively. For COI data, multiple methods (ABGD, Klee, and tree-based methods) resulted in general congruence with morphological identifications. However, GMYC analysis tended to provide more molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs). Twelve MOTUs derived from five morphospecies (Rhodococcus sariuoni, Pulvinaria vitis, Pulvinaria aurantii, Parasaissetia nigra, and Ceroplastes rubens) were observed using the GMYC approach. In addition, tree-based methods showed that 28S sequences could be used for species-level identification (except for Ceroplastes ceriferus – Ceroplastes pseudoceriferus), even with low genetic variation (<1%). This report demonstrates the robustness of DNA barcoding for species discrimination of soft scales with two molecular markers (COI and 28S) and provides a reliable barcode library and rapid diagnostic tool for common soft scales in China.

The adult male and male nymphal instars of Ceroplastes rusci (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae)

The morphology of the adult male and male nymphal instars of C. rusci are described and illustrated. A key to the adult males of the described Ceroplastes and Waxiella male species (Ceroplastes ceriferus (Fabricius), C. cirripediformis Comstock, C. japonicus Green, Waxiella berliniae (Hall) and Waxiella sp.) is provided and their taxonomic affinities discussed.

Susceptibility of Ilex Species, Hybrids and Cultivars to Florida Wax Scale (Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock)

Susceptibility of 231 holly species, hybrids and cultivars to Florida wax scale (Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock) were evaluated on field grown plants in Tifton, Georgia. Florida wax scale have two generations/year in this region. Population ratings on different parental lines were grouped as either low populations (&lt;10 scales/60 second count), moderate populations (11–20 scales/60 second count), high populations (21–40 scales/60 second count) and very high populations (&gt;40 scales/60 second count). Taxa from the study rated as being least preferred (low populations) by the Florida wax scale included those with I. crenata, I. buergeri, I. glabra, I. myrtifolia, I. verticillata and I. vomitoria within parental lines. Those prone to heavy infestations were I. aquifolium, I. × attenuata, I. cassine, I. ciliospinosa, I. cornuta, I. × koehneana, I. latifolia, I. × meserveae, I. opaca, I. purpurea, I. rugosa and I. serrata. Other scale insects noted on the hollies included: Barnacle wax scale (Ceroplastes cirripediformis Comstock), Indian wax scale (Ceroplastes ceriferus (Fabricius)), European fruit lecanium (Parthenolecanium corni Bouche), Brown soft scale (Coccus hesperidum Linneaus), Tea scale (Fiornia theae Green), Latania scale (Hemiberlesia lataniae (Sign.)), and a pit scale (Asterolecanium puteanum Russell).

The current distribution and geographical origin of the scale insect pest Ceroplastes sinensis (Hemiptera: Coccidae)

Ceroplastes sinensis Del Guercio is a pest of commercial citrus in Australia and has been recorded from New Zealand, southern Europe, northern Africa, North America and Mexico. Its distribution is mainly temperate and it is more restricted climatically than previously believed. Uncertainty concerning the place of origin of C. sinensis has thwarted previous attempts at biological control. In the present study, a novel and cost-effective approach using cladistic estimates is demonstrated to determine the place of its origin. Cladistically derived phylogenies are commonplace for many organisms, but the method has not been used before to predict the area of origin of a cosmopolitan pest. Cladistic analysis of the wax scales predicts a native range for C. sinensis within Central or South America. This prediction appears to have been confirmed by the recent discovery of heavily parasitized individuals of C. sinensis in Argentina. The cladistic analysis also allows prediction of the geographical origin of three other widespread wax scale speries:Ceroplastes ceriferus (Fabricius) may be of Neotropical origin, C. rubens Maskell and C. rusci (Linnaeus) are probably native to the Afrotropical region. The approach used has wide implications because the native areas of many other economically important pests are still unknown or uncertain.

Taxonomy of the wax scales (Hemiptera : Coccidae: Ceroplastinae) in Australia

A comprehensive taxonomic treatment of the wax scales in Australia is presented. Seven species are included; of these, six [Ceroplastes ceriferus (Fabricius), C. destructor Newstead, C. floridensis Comstock, C. insulanus De Lotto, C. rubens Maskell, C. sinensis Del Guercio] were known in Australia previously, and one [Vinsonia stellifera (Westwood)] is recorded from Australia for the first time. The adult females of C. destructor, C. insulanus and C. sinensis, and the immature stages of males and females of C. sinensis are described and illustrated. Keys to the adult females of the seven species known in Australia and to both sexes and different stages of C. sinensis are provided.