Report of new invasive scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea), Crypticerya multicicatrices Kondo and Unruh (Monophlebidae) and Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Pseudococcidae), on the islands of San Andres and Providencia, Colombia, with an updated taxonomic key to iceryine scale insects of South America

Authors

Takumasa Kondo, Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (CORPOICA)Follow
Penny Gullan, Australian National University, CanberraFollow
Andra Amalia Ramos Portilla, Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA)Follow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

12-7-2012

Citation

Insecta Mundi 0265: 1–17 (2012)

Comments

Published in 2012 by Center for Systematic Entomology, Inc. P. O. Box 141874 Gainesville, FL 32614-1874 USA http://www.centerforsystematicentomology.org/
Copyright held by the author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons, Attribution Non-Commercial License.

Abstract

Abstract. The multicicatrices fluted scale, Crypticerya multicicatrices Kondo and Unruh (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Monophlebidae) is reported from the islands of San Andres and Providencia, Colombia, as a recent invasive species. This scale insect is polyphagous, and attacks numerous plants of economic importance such as avocado, breadfruit, mango, papaya and tropical ornamental plants. A compiled list of 95 host plant species of C. multicicatrices is given. A diagnosis of the adult female of C. multicicatrices and a revised taxonomic key to the species of the tribe Iceryini (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae) known from South America is provided. The pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae), also is reported for the first time from the island of San Andres, where it is found commonly on Hibiscus spp. and Malvaviscus arboreus Cav. The need for the implementation of a classical biological control program in the archipelago in order to control invasive scale insect pests is discussed.

Resumen. Se reporta la cochinilla acanalada Crypticerya multicicatrices Kondo and Unruh (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Monophlebidae) en la Isla de San Andrés, Colombia, como una reciente especie invasora. Este insecto escama es polífago y ataca numerosas plantas de importancia económica como el aguacate, árbol del pan, coco, mango, papaya y plantas tropicales ornamentales. Se provee una lista de 95 plantas hospederas de C. multicicatrices. Se provee una diagnosis de la hembra adulta de C. multicicatrices y se incluye una clave taxonómica revisada para las especies actualmente incluidas en la tribu Iceryini (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae) de Sur América. Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) también se reporta por primera vez para la isla de San Andrés, donde se encuentra comúnmente sobre Hibiscus spp. y Malvaviscus arboreus Cav. Se discute la necesidad de implementar un programa de control biológico clásico en el archipiélago para el control de insectos escama plagas invasores.