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Title: A NEW SPECIES OF ARMORED SCALE (HEMIPTERA: COCCOIDEA: DIASPIDIDAE) PREVIOUSLY CONFUSED WITH HEMIBERLESIA DIFFINIS (NEWSTEAD)

Author
item Miller, Douglass
item DAVIDSON, JOHN

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/14/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Armored scales are important pests in agricultural systems particularly on fruit trees, woody ornamentals, and in greenhouses. The purpose of this research is to describe an armored scale that is new to science and has been reported as a pest of tulip poplar, linden, and lilac. The species has been confused with the diffinis scale which actually is tropical in distribution and is found in Central and South America, the Caribbean Islands, and Mexico. The new species is known only from the eastern and midwestern United States and occurs on many different kinds of ornamental plants. This research will have important implications on plant quarantine inspection and will clarify the status of this species as a pest in the United States.

Technical Abstract: A new species of armored scale, Hemiberlesia neodiffinis Miller and Davidson, is described and illustrated. It occurs in the eastern and midwestern United States and parts of Mexico and has been reported as a pest of tulip poplar and lilac. It previously has been misidentified as H. diffinis (Newstead), which is a tropical species from the Caribbean Islands, Central America, South America, and Mexico. Lectotypes are designated for Aspidiotus diffinis Newstead, Aspidiotus jatrophae Townsend and Cockerell, and Aspidiotus jatrophae var. parrotti Newell. Aspidiotus fabernii Houser is transferred to Quadraspidiotus (new combination).