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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 #218547
Title: First Record of the Hawaiian Endemic Scale, Colobopyga pritchardiae (Hemiptera: Halimococcidae), on the Big Island

Author
item NEUMANN, GABOR - RCUH
item Hollingsworth, Robert
item Follett, Peter

Submitted to: Hawaiian Entomological Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/30/2007
Publication Date: 12/31/2007
Citation: Neumann, G., R.G. Hollingsworth, P.A. Follett. 2007. First Record of the Hawaiian endemic scale, Colobopyga pritchardiae (Hemiptera: Halimococcidae), on the Big Island. Proc. Hawaiian Entomol. Soc. 39: 39-41.

Interpretive Summary: Colobopyga pritchardiae, an endemic Hawaiian scale insect associated with Pritchardia palms, was recorded for the first time on the Big Island. We began searching for palm scales on the Big Island to include in a host range testing program in quarantine for Encarsia diaspidicola. This parasitoid wasp is a hard scale insect specialist and a prospective biological control agent for the white peach scale, a serious pest on papayas. C. pritchardiae was found at two different locations in wet forests near Hilo on mature Pritchardia beccariana palms. (Location 1: GPS: N 19o 34.558’ W 155o 11.166’, Elevation: 851 m; Location 2: GPS: N 19o 35.125’ W 155o 09.680’, Elevation: 681 m). Examination of a total of 13 fruiting branches at the two sites, where C. pritchardiae was found, confirmed earlier reports that C. pritchardiae is only found associated with the fruiting structures. In all cases, we observed scales only on the stems of the fruiting branches underneath the leaf sheaths, and not on the fruits or exposed parts of the fruiting structures. The insects were observed in tight groups with approximately 40-60 individuals per group. Four attempts were made to transfer C. pritchardiae crawlers onto Pritchardia palm seedlings. The crawlers did not settle on the seedlings.

Technical Abstract: Colobopyga pritchardiae (Stickney 1934) (Hemiptera: Halimococcidae), an endemic Hawaiian scale insect associated with Pritchardia sp. was recorded for the first time on the Big Island. We began searching for palm scales on the Big Island to include in a host range testing program in quarantine for Encarsia diaspidicola (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). This parasitoid is a diaspidid specialist and a prospective biological control agent for the white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), a serious pest on papayas. C. pritchardiae was found at two different locations in wet forests near Hilo on mature Pritchardia beccariana (Arecales: Arecaceae) palms. (Location 1: GPS: N 19o 34.558’ W 155o 11.166’, Elevation: 851 m; Location 2: GPS: N 19o 35.125’ W 155o 09.680’, Elevation: 681 m). Examination of a total of 13 fruiting branches at the two sites, where C. pritchardiae was found, confirmed earlier reports that C. pritchardiae is only found associated with the fruiting structures. In all cases, we observed scales only on the stems of the fruiting branches underneath the sheathing bracts, and not on the fruits or exposed parts of the fruiting structures. The insects were observed in tight groups with approximately 40-60 individuals per group. Four attempts were made to transfer C. pritchardiae crawlers onto Pritchardia sp. seedlings. The crawlers did not settle on the seedlings.