The scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of the Maltese Archipelago

Past works on scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) from the Maltese Archipelago are reviewed. Based on the literature and contemporary collections, a total of 93 species of scale insects belonging to 12 scale insect families are here reported (Aclerdidae 1 species; Asterolecaniidae 4; Coccidae 17; Diaspididae 46; Eriococcidae 5; Kermesidae 1; Margarodidae 1; Micrococcidae 1; Monophlebidae 2; Pseudoccocidae 11; Putoidae 2 and Rhizoecidae 2). Of these, 17 species represent new distribution records. Ten species are excluded from the scale insect fauna of the Maltese Islands. Of the 93 species present, only 29 (31.18%) are probably indigenous and the rest (68.82%) represent established introductions from elsewhere. More than 65% of the indigenous species are typical Mediterranean in distribution, with a few species having a mainly European chorotype. A quarter of the established aliens originate from Eurasia, followed by an East Asian/ Oriental component (20.31%); European (14.06%); Neotropical (14.06%); cryptogenic (14.06%); African (7.81%) and Australasian (4.70%). Movement of live fruit trees and ornamental plants into the Maltese Archipelago from nearby countries is probably the main route for entry of alien scale insects into the country. Some possible future introductions are discussed.peer-reviewe

Learning experience of students from low-income families

This paper examines, in a preliminary fashion, how the learning experiences of students from The Smith Family’s Learning for Life (LFL) program compare with those of other students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The analysis reported here is based on data from a survey of 462 Year 11 LFL students conducted in 2001. The LFL program provides financial and educational support to disadvantaged families and their children. It aims to help students take part in mainstream school activities, such as excursions and school electives, so that their opportunities to participate more fully in the life of the school is enhanced (see Zappalà & Parker 2000). A key objective of LFL is to improve the ‘life opportunities and self-esteem’ of students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds so that ‘they will have a better chance of not falling into a cycle of disadvantage’ (Smyth, Zappalà & Considine 2002a:1)

Introduced sap-feeding insect pests of crop plants in the Maltese Islands

Sap-feeding insects within Hemiptera and Thysanoptera are some of the most important crop pests world-wide. Apart from the loss of yield they cause by sap depletion, saliva toxicity and soiling of the leaves, some species transmit serious plant virus diseases. Important sap-feeding species that have been introduced to the Maltese Islands include the whitefly Bemisia tabaci; the scale insects Pseudo coccus !ongispinus, Planococcus citri and lcerya purchasi; the aphids Aphis gossypii, Aphis spiraecola, Myzus persicae and Viteus viti/oliae; and the thrips Frankliniella occidentalis and Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis. For each of these pests information is provided on area of origin, present distribution, host-plant range and virus disease transmission. Control strategies undertaken in the Maltese Islands are described where relevant. Some general considerations on quarantine measures are discussed.peer-reviewe

Aphids associated with shrubs, herbaceous plants and crops in the Maltese Archipelago (Hemiptera, Aphidoidea)

A survey of the aphids associated with Maltese shrubs, herbaceous plants and crops was carried out. Sixty six aphid species were recorded from more than 90 species of host plants. Forty eight aphids were recorded from the Maltese islands for the fi rst time bringing the total number of aphid species known from these islands to 99. New records include: Acyrthosiphon lactucae, A. pisum, Anoecia vagans, Aphis alienus, A. euphorbiae, A. hederae, A. lambersi, A. multifl orae, A. nasturtii, A. parietariae, A. picridicola, A. ruborum, A. sedi, Aulacorthum solani, Brachycaudus helichrysi, Capitophorus sp. nr. similis, Clypeoaphis suaedae, Cryptomyzus korschelti, Dysaphis apiifolia, D. foeniculus, D. pyri, D. tulipae, Hyadaphis coriandri, H. foeniculi, H. passerinii, Hyperomyzus lactucae, Idiopterus nephrelepidis, Macrosiphoniella absinthii, M. artemisiae, M. sanborni, Macrosiphum euphorbiae, Ma. rosae, Melanaphis donacis, Metopolophium dirhodum, Pterochloroides persicae, Rectinasus buxtoni, Rhopalosiphum maidis, R. padi, R. rufi abdominale, Schizaphis graminum, Semiaphis dauci, Sipha maydis, Sitobion avenae, S. fragariae, Therioaphis alatina, Uroleucon inulae, U. hypochoeridis and U. sonchi. Of these 99 aphid species, 58 are of economic importance and 16 are alien introductions. For 15 of the aphid species, a total of 22 new host-plant records are made. Ten species of ants were found attending 18 aphid species.peer-reviewe

Platform urbanism, smartphone applications and valuing data in a smart city

Recent scholarship on smart cities and platform urbanism has explored the very wide range of data harvested from urban environments by digital devices of many kinds, analysing how not only efficiencies but also profits are sought through the extraction, circulation, transformation, commodification, integration, and re‐use of data. Much of that data is generated by smartphone applications. This paper looks at the design of a group of eight smartphone apps by a range of different actors in Milton Keynes, a small UK city with a large number of smart city initiatives. The apps are understood as a co‐constitutive interface between data circulations and embodied users. The paper focuses specifically on the data that the apps generated and shared and on how the app designers anticipated that the data would create different kinds of value for embodied app users. While some data circulations were understood as ways of generating financial value, the paper argues that a number of other forms of value were assumed in the app design. The paper identifies two of these, which it terms normative values and interactive values. It examines how the data mobilised by the smart city apps enacts particular versions of these values, and how those values co‐constitute specific kinds of bodies, agencies, and geographies in digitally mediated cities

NEW INDONESIAN COUNTRY RECORDS AND SPECIES INFORMATION FOR MEALYBUGS (HEMIPTERA PSEUDOCOCCIDAE) IN WIRJATI’S HISTORIC COLLECTION

Between 1955 and 1960, a collection of slide-mounted mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) was prepared by Mrs Wirjati, using samples collected between 1916 and 1960 from a variety of hosts in Indonesia. The collection is a record of which species were established in the country in 1960. The slides, deposited at the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture in Java, are the earliest material in the national mealybug collection. There are 181 temporary slide mounts of unstained, waxy mealybugs mounted in agar or gum chloral media that have dried out to varying degrees. Specimens were retrieved from 50 representative slides and re-mounted as stained, archival mounts in Canada balsam. The method used to retrieve the specimens from the old mounts is described. The re-mounted specimens were re-identified using up-to-date, published identification keys, resulting in new identities for most of the  specimens. Fifteen species belonging to 12 genera were identified, however specimens from four of the slides  could not be identified beyond genus level. The Wirjati slides of Antonina thaiensis Takahashi, Hordeolicoccus nephelii (Takahashi) and Paraputo corbetti (Takahashi) are new country records. The differences between the fauna in Wirjati’s collection and that found in Indonesia today are discussed

A taxonomic update of Takahashi’s historic collection of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) from Malaysia and Singapore

Dr. Ryoichi Takahashi collected mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) from Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore in 1943–1944, and mounted them in 39 permanent slide mounts using Canada balsam. The slides are deposited in the Department of Agriculture, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The objective of this research was to update the identification of Takahashi’s specimens using recent taxonomic keys. Some preparations on cavity slides were re-mounted to facilitate identification. The re-mounted specimens, and those on the original slides, were re-examined and 12 species were identified. The Takahashi samples of Pseudococcus comstocki (Kuwana) and Rastrococcus mangiferae (Green) are the earliest records of these species from Peninsular Malaysia

Cycad Aulacaspis Scale, a Newly Introduced Insect Pest in Indonesia

Cycad aulacaspis scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi (Hemiptera: Diaspididae)) is native to Thailand and Vietnam. Since the early 1990s it has been spreading around the world due to the trade in cycad plants for ornamental use. Infestation by this scale can kill cycads in only a few months. Its accidental introduction to Florida endangered the ornamental cycad-growing industry; and in Guam and Taiwan, endemic cycads (Cycas micronesica and C. taitungensis, respectively) are currently threatened with extinction by cycad aulacaspis scale. In November 2011, an introduced scale was discovered damaging cycads in the Bogor Botanic Garden. Samples from Bogor were taken for identification of the scale, and the material was kept for some time to rear out any insect parasitoids that were present. Both the scale insects and parasitoids were prepared on microscope slides and studied microscopically for authoritative identification. The scale was confirmed as A. yasumatsui. The parasitoid Arrhenophagus chionaspidis Aurivillius (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and the hyperparasitoid Signiphora bifasciata Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Signiphoridae) were identified from the samples. Unless immediate remedial measures are taken, several endemic species of cycad in Indonesia may be endangered by infestation by cycad aulacaspis scale

New distribution and host records for white coconut scale, \u3ci\u3eParlagena bennetti\u3c/i\u3e Williams (Hemiptera: Diaspididae)

The white coconut scale, Parlagena bennetti Williams, 1969 (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) is reported for the first time on New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax J.R. Forst. & G. Forst. (Xanthorrhoeaceae), coconut, Cocos nucifera L., Manila palm, Veitchia merrillii (Becc.) H.E. Moore, oil palm, Elaeis guineensis Jacq. and an oil palm hybrid OxG: E. oleifera x E. guineensis (Arecaceae) in continental Colombia, and on coconut from Venezuela. Previously, P. bennetti was known only on the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and San Andres, causing serious damage to coconut, its only known host until now. A brief characterization of P. bennetti and an updated list of 23 species of scale insects of the family Diaspididae reported worldwide on Elaeis spp. is provided. Se reporta por primera vez la presencia de la escama blanca del cocotero Parlagena bennetti Williams, 1969 (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) sobre lino de Nueva Zelanda, Phormium tenax J.R. Forst. & G. Forst. (Xanthorrhoeaceae), palma de coco Cocos nucifera L., palma Manila Veitchia merrillii (Becc.) H.E. Moore, palma de aceite Elaeis guineensis Jacq. y un hibrido de palma de aceite OxG: E. oleifera x E. guineensis (Arecaceae) en Colombia continental y sobre cocotero en Venezuela. Hasta ahora P. bennetti solo se conocía en la isla de Trinidad y en San Andrés, en el Caribe, causando graves daños al cocotero, el único hospedero conocido hasta ahora. Se provee una breve caracterización de P. bennetti, y un listado actualizado de 23 insectos escama de la familia Diaspididae reportadas sobre Elaeis spp. en el mundo