Neotropical Entomology (2001) 30, 479-481

Iracilda M.M. Lima and Noêmia S. Gama (2001)
Registro de Plantas Hospedeiras (Cactaceae) e de Nova Forma de Disseminação de Diaspis echinocacti (Bouché) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), Cochonilha-da-Palma-Forrageira, nos Estados de Pernambuco e Alagoas
[Record of host plants (Cactaceae) and new dissemination strategy of Diaspis echinocacti (Bouché) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), prickly-pear-scale, in the States of Pernambuco and Alagoas, Brazil]
Neotropical Entomology 30 (3), 479-481
Abstract: Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. and Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Lyons (Cactaceae) are alternative food sources for cattle in drought areas of the Northeastern Region of Brazil. Diaspis echinocacti (Bouché) is the unique pest of these Cactacea species and it was previously detected on the following native host plants: Cereus jamacaru DC., Melocactus sp., Opuntia dillenii Haw. and O. inamoena K. Schum. The new record of native hosts are Cereus gounellei (Weber) Luetzelb., C. squamosus Gërke. and the exotic C. hildemannianus K. Schum., from drought areas; Pereskia grandifolia Haw. and Epiphyllum oxypetalum Haw., native species from tropical forest used as ornamental plants. D. echinocacti has not infested O. monacantha Haw. in the field and in laboratory bioessays. The dissemination of the neonate scale insect transported on the body surface of the predators Chilocorus nigrita (Fabricius) and Zagreus bimaculosus (Mulsant) Coccinellidae: Chilocorinae) was registered for the first time.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: Portuguese)
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
population dynamics/ epidemiology
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Diaspis echinocacti	Prickly pear (Opuntia)	Brazil (NE)
Chilocorus nigritus (predator)	Diaspis echinocacti	Prickly pear (Opuntia)	Brazil (NE)