African Entomology (2015) 23, 196-206

R. Nesamari, I.M. Millar, T.A. Coutinho and J. Roux (2015)
South African cycads at risk: Aulacaspis yasumatsui (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Diaspididae) in South Africa
African Entomology 23 (1), 196-206
Abstract: The scale insect Aulacaspis yasumatsui is native to Southeast Asia and a major pest of cycad (Cycadales) plants. Due to an increase in worldwide trading of cycads, A. yasumatsui has spread globally and has become a major threat to many cultivated and native cycads worldwide. In this study we report formally, for the first time, A. yasumatsui infesting cycads in South Africa. This scale insect was observed infesting cycads in three provinces in South Africa, namely, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. Its identification was based on morphology and nucleotide sequences of three gene regions. Although more common and damaging on non-native Cycas species, its presence on some native South African Encephalartos species is of concern and effort should be made to control the spread and impact of this pest in the country.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Jolanda Roux, Teresa A. Coutinho

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
new introduction of pest
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aulacaspis yasumatsui		South Africa