HortScience (2010) 45, 837-839

Thomas E. Marler and Aubrey Moore (2010)
Cryptic scale infestations on Cycas revoluta facilitate scale invasions
HortScience 45 (5), 837-839
Abstract: The cycad aulacaspis scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi) has invaded numerous geographic regions in the past 15 years. The sequential invasions have decimated many Cycas nursery and landscape industries and threatened C. micronesica K.D. Hill and C. taitungensis C.F. Shen, K.D. Hill, C.H. Tsou and C.J. Chen within their native habitats. The majority of the international cycad trade is dominated by Cycas revoluta Thunberg. We removed dense tomentum that characterizes C. revoluta cataphylls and excised intact leaf bases from stems of landscape C. revoluta plants to expose hidden surfaces. Additionally, we removed the root system from containers on nursery plants to reveal enclosed roots. All three organs were infested with cycad aulacaspis scale on tissue surfaces that cannot be detected during thorough visual inspection of intact plants. These unique concealed infestations allow this species to vector scale insects in a cryptic manner on cataphyll, stem, and root surfaces. This information lends support for a policy of strict prohibition of imported C. revoluta plants from countries known to have cycad aulacaspis scale infestations.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Aubrey Moore

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
transmission/dispersal of plant diseases
quarantine treatments/regulations/aspects

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aulacaspis yasumatsui	Cycad (Cycas)