Journal of Insect Science (2009) 9 (47), 1-6

V.M. Walton, K. Krüger, D.L. Saccaggi and I.M. Millar (2009)
A survey of scale insects (Sternorryncha: Coccoidea) occurring on table grapes in South Africa
Journal of Insect Science 9 (47), 1-6
Abstract: Increasing international trade and tourism have led to an increase in the introduction of exotic pests that pose a considerable economic threat to the agro-ecosystems of importing countries. Scale insects (Sternorryncha: Coccoidea) may be contaminants of export consignments from the South African deciduous fruit industry to the European Union, Israel, United Kingdom and the United States, for example. Infestations of immature scale insects found on South African fruit destined for export have resulted in increasing rates of rejection of such consignments. To identify the risk posed by scale insect species listed as phytosanitary pests on table grapes to the abovementioned importing countries, a field survey was undertaken in 2004-2005 in vineyards throughout all grape-producing regions in South Africa. Coccoidea species found during the current field survey were Planococcus ficus (Signoret), Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni Tozzetti), Coccus hesperidum L. and Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead). With the exception of Pl. ficus, which has only been collected from Vitis vinifera (Vitaceae) and Ficus carica (Moraceae) in South Africa, these species are polyphagous and have a wide host range. None of the scale insect species found to occur in vineyards in South Africa pose a phytosanitary risk to countries where fruit are exported except for Ferrisia malvastra (McDaniel) and N. viridis that have not been recorded in the USA. All scale insects previously found in vineyards in South Africa are listed and their phytosanitary status discussed. The results of the survey show that the risk of exporting scale insect pests of phytosanitary importance on table grapes from South Africa is limited.
(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): Vaughn Martin Walton, Kerstin Krüger

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution
quarantine treatments/regulations/aspects

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Coccus hesperidum	Grapevine (Vitis)	South Africa
	Pseudococcus longispinus	Grapevine (Vitis)	South Africa
	Nipaecoccus viridis	Grapevine (Vitis)	South Africa
	Planococcus ficus	Grapevine (Vitis)	South Africa
	Ferrisia malvastra	Grapevine (Vitis)	South Africa