Aspidiotus rigidus Reyne (Hemiptera: Diaspididae): a devastating pest of coconut in the Philippines. (23rd July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Watson, Gillian W.; Adalla, Candida B.; Shepard, B. Merle; Carner, Gerald R.
• Is Part Of: Agricultural and forest entomology. Volume 17:Number 1(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 8
• Publication Date: 2014-07-23
• Subjects: Insect pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Agricultural pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Forest insects -- Control -- Periodicals; 632.7
• DOI: 10.1111/afe.12074
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-9555

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="afe12074-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p id="afe12074-para-0001"> <list id="afe12074-list-0001" list-type="order"> <list-item> <p>The Philippines is the second largest producer of coconut products and, in some areas, coconut farming is the main source of livelihood.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>A damaging armoured scale insect (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) infesting coconut palms was first found in the Philippines on Luzon Island (Batangas province) in 2009, and is now affecting most of the provinces of southern Luzon.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>The scale pest is still spreading in the Visayan Islands and Mindanao.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Infestation stops photosynthesis; the leaves yellow and dry; fruits form less nutmeat and the coconut‐water is sour; weak new leaflets bend over or break off; and the tree dies in 6 months or less.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>The scale pest is identified in the present study as <italic>Aspidiotus rigidus</italic> Reyne; it presents a significant quarantine threat to coconut‐producing countries worldwide.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Characters enabling the identification of <italic>A. rigidus</italic>, its host range and distribution are given.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Some literature on the natural enemies and control of <italic>A. rigidus</italic> is reviewed briefly.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> </abstract>