Investigations on the Genus Rhizoecus (Hemiptera: Rhizoecidae) with Description of Two New Species from South America

Neotropical species of the scale insect genus Rhizoecus Kunckel d'Herculais (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Rhizoecidae) found in soil sample material of the Hungarian Natural History Museum were studied. Two new Rhizoecus species, Rhizoecus kontschani Kaydan and Konczne Benedicty sp. n., and Rhizoecus granaradewillinkae Kaydan and Szita sp. n., are described and illustrated based on the adult females. Also, the adult females of Rhizoecus keysensis Hambleton and Rhizoecus pseudocacticans Hambleton are illustrated. An identification key and new additional locality records for the currently known Rhizoecus species are provided

Integrative taxonomy methods reveal high mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) diversity in southern Brazilian fruit crops.

The Serra Gaúcha region is the most important temperate fruit-producing area in southern Brazil. Despite mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) infesting several host plants in the region, there is a lack of information about the composition of species damaging different crops. A survey of mealybug species associated with commercial fruit crops (apple, persimmon, strawberry and grapes) was performed in Serra Gaúcha between 2013 and 2015, using both morphology and DNA analyses for species identification. The most abundant species were Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret), found on all four host plant species, and Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell), infesting persimmon, vines and weeds. The highest diversity of mealybug species was found on persimmon trees, hosting 20 different taxa, of which Anisococcus granarae Pacheco da Silva & Kaydan, D. brevipes, Pseudococcus sociabilis Hambleton and Ps. viburni were the most abundant. A total of nine species were recorded in vineyards. Planococcus ficus (Signoret) and Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni Tozzetti) were observed causing damage to grapes for the first time. A single species, Ps. viburni, was found associated with apples, while both Ps. viburni and Ferrisia meridionalis Williams were found on strawberry. Four of the mealybug species found represent new records for Brazil

Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) associated with persimmon Diospyros kaki L. (Ebenaceae) in Southern Brazil.

Temperate fruit production is an important economic activity in Southern Brazil. In this region, persimmon Diospyros kaki L. (Ebenaceae) is grown in small farms for domestic consumption and internal market. Mealybugs are o*en found in at least 50% of the orchards causing damages on fruits due to the honeydew secretion. However, there is a lack of informatin about species composition damaging orchards in Southern Brazil. In this work, we present a survey of mealybugs associated with persimmon trees in the Serra Gaúcha Region, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Scale insects (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha: Diaspididae, and Pseudococcidae) found on Myrciaria dubia in Pará State, Brazil

The present study aimed to report the occurrence of scale insects, namely Chrysomphalus aonidum (Linnaeus, 1758), Ischnaspis longirostris (Signoret, 1882), Pinnaspis aspidistrae (Signoret, 1869) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), and Nipaecoccus filicis Williams & Granara de Willink, 1992 (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on plants of Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) McVaugh (Myrtaceae) in the experimental fields of Embrapa Amazônia Oriental in the municipalities of Belém and Tomé-Açu, Pará State, Brazil. This is the first report of these species on M. dubia, as well as of N. filicis in Brazil

Soft scale insect (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) species of Eastern Anatolia of Turkey

This study aimed to identify soft scale insect species in five provinces (Ağrı, Bitlis, Hakkari, Iğdır and Van) in Eastern Anatolia. Species of the family Coccidae were collected from natural and cultivated plants between 2005 and 2008. In total, 31 species in 17 genera were found, including fifteen new species records for the Turkish scale insect fauna, namely: Didesmococcus unifasciatus, Eulecanium caraganae, Eulecanium ficiphilum, Lecanopsis subterranea, Lecanopsis taurica, Pulvinaria tremulae, Rhizopulvinaria armeniaca, Rhizopulvinaria dianthi, Rhizopulvinaria grandicula, Rhizopulvinaria hissarica, Rhizopulvinaria megriensis, Rhizopulvinaria turkmenica, Rhizopulvinaria variabilis, Rhodococcus turanicus and Vittacoccus longicornis

Development and Life Table Parameters of Phenacoccus madeirensis Green (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on Four Ornamental Plants

PubMedID: 26951150The development, reproduction, and life table parameters of the Phenacoccus madeirensis Green (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on four ornamental plant species, namely Pelargonium zonale (Geraniaceae), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Hibicus syriacus (Malvaceae), and Cestrum nocturnum (Solanaceae) were investigated under controlled conditions (25 ± 2°C, 60 ± 10% R.H., and 16 h photophase). Life table data were analyzed by using an age-stage two-sex life table. The shortest total immature developmental time of females and males for P. madeirensis was obtained on C. nocturnum (20.42 and 21.90 days, respectively). The highest fecundities were 233 and 232 eggs on C. nocturnum and H. syriacus, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (r = 0.1511 day-1) and finite rate of increase (? = 1.1631 day-1) were the greatest when mealybugs were reared on C. nocturnum. Net reproductive rate (R0 = 129.5 offspring) was the greatest when reared on H. syriacus, but this value was not statistically different from that on C. nocturnum. The shortest mean generation time (T = 31.3 days) was calculated on C. nocturnum. These results indicate that C. nocturnum and H. syriacus are more suitable hosts than H. rosa-sinensis and P. zonale for P. madeirensis. © 2016, Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil

Field catches of oxythyrea cinctella using visual and olfactory cues

Diurnal flower-visiting scarabs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae) use visual and olfactory stimuli when locating possible feeding sites. In field trapping experiments in Turkey, testing different colours and floral volatile compounds, a combination of fluorescent yellow colour and a blend of 2-phenylethanol and (+/-)-lavandulol leads to the highest number of Oxythyrea cinctella (Schaum) being caught. Trap catches of O. cinctella with respect to the individually presented visual or olfactory cues are significantly lower than to a combination of the two. The closely-related O. funesta, a sibling species in the Oxythyrea genus, is also known to be caught by the same colour-volatile combination. When applied together in a high capture-capacity trap, the fluorescent yellow colour and the binary floral odour blend may provide a suitable means of monitoring population changes of O. cinctella, which indicates their potential use in agriculture

Development and Life Table Parameters of Phenacoccus madeirensis Green (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on Four Ornamental Plants

The development, reproduction, and life table parameters of the Phenacoccus madeirensis Green (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on four ornamental plant species, namely Pelargonium zonale (Geraniaceae), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Hibicus syriacus (Malvaceae), and Cestrum nocturnum (Solanaceae) were investigated under controlled conditions (25 +/- 2A degrees C, 60 A +/- 10% R.H., and 16 h photophase). Life table data were analyzed by using an age-stage two-sex life table. The shortest total immature developmental time of females and males for P. madeirensis was obtained on C. nocturnum (20.42 and 21.90 days, respectively). The highest fecundities were 233 and 232 eggs on C. nocturnum and H. syriacus, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (raEuro dagger aEuro parts per thousand= 0.1511 day(-1)) and finite rate of increase (lambda aEuro dagger aEuro parts per thousand= aEuro dagger 1.1631 day(-1)) were the greatest when mealybugs were reared on C. nocturnum. Net reproductive rate (R (0)aEuro dagger aEuro parts per thousand= aEuro dagger 129.5 offspring) was the greatest when reared on H. syriacus, but this value was not statistically different from that on C. nocturnum. The shortest mean generation time (TaEuro dagger aEuro parts per thousand= aEuro dagger 31.3 days) was calculated on C. nocturnum. These results indicate that C. nocturnum and H. syriacus are more suitable hosts than H. rosa-sinensis and P. zonale for P. madeirensis

Feeding behavior of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri mealybugs parasitized by Anagyrus pseudococci

The citrus mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso) and the vine mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are two worldwide polyphagous pests of citrus, vineyards and ornamental plants in greenhouses. Biological control of these pests may rely on the combined release of parasites and predators, which can be affected by intraguild predation (IGP). This Study investigated the feeding behavior of different stages of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on mealybugs parasitized by Anagyrus pseudococci (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days. The study was conducted in a climate-controlled room at 28 +/- 1 degrees C, 16L:81), and 65 +/- 10% r.h. The highest consumption values for all stages of C. montrouzieri occurred with 2- and 4-day parasitized mealybugs, whereas the predator did not feed on either species of mealybug parasitized for longer periods, due to the onset of mummification