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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #192268
Title: IRRADIATION AS A PHYTOSANITARY TREATMENT FOR ASPIDIOTUS DESTRUCTOR (HOMOPTERA: DIASPIDIDAE)

Author
item Follett, Peter

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/13/2006
Publication Date: 8/1/2006
Citation: Follett, P.A. 2006. Irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment for Aspidiotus destructor (Homoptera: Diaspididae). J. Econ. Entomol. 99: 1138-1142.

Interpretive Summary: Coconut scale, Aspidiotus destructor Signoret (Homoptera: Diaspididae), is a quarantine pest of banana and many tropical crops. Irradiation was examined as a potential phytosanitary treatment to control coconut scale. Dose response tests were conducted with 2nd stage nymphs, adult females without eggs, and adult females with eggs at a series of irradiation doses between 60-200 Gy to determine the most tolerant stage. The adult female with eggs was the most tolerant stage. In large-scale confirmatory tests 28,989 adult female scales with and without eggs irradiated with doses between 100-150 Gy produced no F1 adults. An irradiation treatment of 150 Gy should provide quarantine security for coconut scale on exported commodities.

Technical Abstract: Coconut scale, Aspidiotus destructor Signoret (Homoptera: Diaspididae), is a quarantine pest of banana and many tropical crops. Irradiation was examined as a potential phytosanitary treatment to control coconut scale. Dose response tests were conducted with 2nd stage nymphs, adult females without eggs, and adult females with eggs at a series of irradiation doses between 60-200 Gy to determine the most tolerant stage. The adult female with eggs was the most tolerant stage. In large-scale confirmatory tests 28,989 adult female scales with and without eggs irradiated with doses between 100-150 Gy produced no F1 adults. An irradiation treatment of 150 Gy should provide quarantine security for coconut scale on exported commodities.