Distribution and Known Host Records for Planchonia stentae (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Asterolecaniidae)

Abstract

With the current emphasis on international travel, free trade agreements, and extensive importation of products such as lumber, ornamental plants, fruits, and vegetables, invasions by exotic species such as scale insects into new areas of the world can significantly impact the local flora. The South African pit scale, Planchonia stentae (Brain), has recently become a major pest in Florida on both introduced and native plant species (A. Hamon, personal communication). This species has now spread from its native range in South Africa into North and South America (Table 1). Planchonia stentae was initially described from specimens on Caralluma caudata N.E.Br., Huernia transuaalensis Stent, and Stapelia sp. in South Africa by Brain (1920) and assigned to the genus Asterolecanium. Later, Russell (1941) illustrated the adult female from specimens on Asclepias fruticosa L., C. caudata, Caralluma sp., Huernia bicampanulata Verdoorn, H. transvaalensis, Huernia sp., and Stapelia sp. from South Africa and Kenya (Table 1). Borchsenius (1960) then placed the species into the genus Planchonia based on the presence of marginal 8shaped pore bands, quinquelocular pore bands, and a marginal row of simple disk pores on both the dorsum and venter. Gill (1993) reported this species (as Asterolecanium stentae) from California and cited plants in the families Euphorbiaceae and Asclepiadaceae as hosts. We also obtained specimens on Euphorbia sp. and Lantana sp. from California. In a study of material from the Florida State Collection of Arthropods, we identified P. stentae on a variety of host plants in Florida (Table 1). Also, we discovered specimens of this species on Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) from Colombia. This exotic tropical vine was imported into South America to reduce soil erosion. In addition, we identified P. stentae on Chamaesyce hirta (L.)Millsp. from material collected in Puerto Rico. Damage to the host plant is in the form of open galls (pits) on the host plants (Gill 1993), which is typical for species in the family Asterolecaniidae. This pest species has a potential to cause serious problems on tropical and subtropical ornamental plants grown in the U.S.