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 (<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 (>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).