Lobate scale Paratachardina pseudolobata

Fig. 1 Lobate lac scales in Grand Bahama © C. Malumphy

A lac (: Kerriidae), originally identified as Paratachardina lobata , was first recorded in Florida (USA) in 1999. It subsequently became a serious pest, in part due to its polyphagy, feeding on more than 300 of mostly woody assigned to 69 families. Kondo & Gullan (2007) published a comprehensive review of the genus Paratachardina in which they determined on the basis of morphological and molecular data that the lac insect scale occurring in Florida (and and ) was a new species, which they named P. pseudolobata Kondo & Gullan. This pest is commonly known as the ‘lobate lac scale’. Within the United Kingdom Overseas Territories P. pseudolobata has only been recorded from the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). It was first collected in TCI in 2012 by Bryan “Naqqi” Manco.

Geographical distribution Paratachardina pseudolobata is likely to be native to Asia (since all of the other eight described species of Paratachardina are reported from Asia), and has been introduced to the , North America, and the Caribbean. North America : USA (Florida, since 1999). Caribbean : Bahamas (since 1992), Cayman Islands (New record), (since 2005), Puerto Rico (since 2010), and Turks and Caicos Islands (New record). It is likely to be more widespread in the Caribbean than currently reported. Australasian : Christmas Island (since 2002).

1

Host plants Paratachardina pseudolobata is polyphagous, feeding mostly on woody dicotyledonous plants. It shows a preference for plants assigned to the families’ Fabaceae, Myrtaceae and Moraceae. The host range of P. pseudolobata was studied in detail by Howard et al . (2006). Acanthaceae : Graptophyllum pictum , Justicia brandegeana , Pachystachys lutea , Ruellia brittoniana . Aceraceae : Acer rubrum . : Mangifera indica , Metopium toxiferum , Pseudospondias microcarpa , Rhus copallinum , Schinus malle , S. terebinthifolius , mombin , . Annonaceae : Annona cherimola, A. glabra , A. muricata , A. reticulata , A. squamosa , Cananga odorata . Apocynaceae : Trachelospermum jasminoides . Aquifoliaceae : Ilex cassine , I. vomitoria . Araceae : Phoenix roebelenii . Araliaceae : Schefflera elegantissima , S. getinophylla . Arecaceae : Chrysobalanus icaco . Asteraceae : Ambrosia artemisifolia , Baccharis halimifolia , Bidens alba , Flaveria linearis , Montanoa grandiflora , Pluchea carolinensis , Tridax procumbens , Verbesina virginica . Begoniaceae : Begonia . Bignoniaceae : Amphitecna latiforia , Dolichandrone spathacea , Tecoma capensis , T. stans . Burseraceae : Bursera simaruba . : timorensis . Capparaceae : Capparis cynophallophora . Caprifoliaceae : Viburnum sp. Casuarinaceae : Casuarina cunninghamiana , C. equisetifolia . Celtidaceae : Celtis laevigata , Trema micrantha . Chrysobalanaceae : Licania tomentosa . Clusiaceae : Calophyllum brasiliense , C. calaba , C. inophyllum , Clusia lanceolata , C. rosea , Garcinia mestonii , G. prainiana , Mesua ferrea , Rheedia acuminata , R. aristata , R. edulis , R. marcophylla . Combretaceae : Bucida bucceras , B. spinosa , Combretum acuminatum , C. obovatum , Conocarpus erectus , Eombretum aubletii , Laguncularia racemosa , L. racemosa , Terminalia catappa , T. muelleri . Cupressaceae : Juniperus virginiana . Ebenaceae : Diospyros digyna , D. mespilliformis . Elaeocarpaceae : Elacocarpus decipiens . Erythroxylaceae : Erythoxylu, reticulatum . Euphorbiaceae : Acalypha godseffiana , A. hispida , A. wilkesiana , Antidesma bunius , A. dallachyanum , A. platyphyllum , Bischofia javanica , Bridelia monoica , Chamaesyce hyrta , Codiaeum variegatum , Euphorbia leucocephala , Fluggea acidoton , Jatropha integerrima , Mallotus philippinensis , Sauropus androgynus . Fabaceae : Acacia auriculiformis , A. choriophylla , A. farnesiana , Albizia lebbek , Amorpha herbacea , Archidendron lucyi , Bouhinia , Brya ebenus , monosperma , Caesalphinia violacea , C. pulcherima , Calliandra surinamensis , Cassia pendula , Dalbergia ecastaphylum , D. sissoo , Dalea carthegenensis , Gigasiphon macrosiphon , Inga affinis , I. edulis , Leucaena leucocephala , Lonchocarpus , Lysiloma latisiliqua , L. sabieu , Parmentiera aculeata , Peltophorum pterocarpum , Pithecellobium flexicaule , P. keyense , Pongamia pinnata , Pseudosamanea cubana , Samanea saman , Wallaceodendron celebicum . Fagaceae : Quercus geminata , Q. hemisphaerica , Q. incana , Q. laurifolia , Q. virginiana . Flacourtiaceae : Banara vanderbiltii , Casearia arguta , Dovyalis herbecarpa .

2

Guttiferae : Garcinia intermedia . Lamiaceae : Leonotis leonurus , L. nepetifolia , Ocimum , Rosmarinus officinalis , Salvia coccinea , Solanstemon scutellarioides . Lauraceae : Cinnamomum zeylanicum , Laurus noblis , Licaria triandra , Ooteca coriacea , Persea americana , P. borbonia , P. palustris . Lecythidaceae : Lecythis minor . Lythraceae : Ginoria glabra , G. nudiflora , Lagerstroemia indica , L. speciosa , Lawsonia inermis . Magnoliaceae : Magnolia champaca , M. virginiana , Michelia . Malvaceae : Abutilon , Durio testudinarium , Heritiera littoralis , Hibiscus rosa-sinensis , H. schizopetala , Hibiscustiliaccus , Malvaviscus penduliflorus , Pavonia bahamensis , P. paludicola , Ruizia cordata , Trichospermum mexicanum , Urena lobata . Melastomataceae : Tetrazygia bicolor , T. bicolor . Meliaceae : Aglia odorata , Lansium domesticum . Moraceae : Artocarpus heterophyllus , Brosimum allcastrum , Ficus aspera , F. aurea , F. benjamin , F. capensis , F. citrifolia , F. deltoidea , F. elastica , F. microcarpa , F. natalensis , F. nota , F. pertusa , F. pumila , F. racemosa , F. rubiginosa , F. rumphii , F. salicifolia , F. subcordata , F. virens , Morus . Myricaceae : Merciaria vexator , Myrica cerifera , M. cerifera , Pimenta dioica . Myrsinaceae : Ardisia escallonioidea , A. hirtella , A. revoluta , A. sieboldii , Ropanea punctata . Myrtaceae : Callistemon viminale , Calyptranthes pallens , C. thomasiana , C. zuzygium , Eucalyptus gella , Eugania axillaris , E. aggregata , E. brasiliensis , E. confusa , E. confusa , E. foetida , E. luschnathiana , E. uniflora , Marliera edulis , Melaleuca bracteata , M. decora , M. quinquenervia , M. vinifera , Mosiera longipes , Myrcianthes fragrans , M. cauliflora , Pimenta racemosa , Psidium androsianum , P. guajava , P. littorale , Syzygium cumini , S. cuminii , S. grande , S. jambos , S. malaccense , S. paniculatum , S. samarangense . Nyctaginaceae : Bougainvilea , Osmanthus fragans . Oleaceae : Jasminum gracillimum . Onagraceae : Ludwigia peruvian. Orchidaceae : Dendrobium aphyllum . Oxalidaceae : Averrhoa bilimbi , A. carambola . Piperaceae : Piper . Poaceae : Bambusa vulgaris , Phyllostachys nigra . Polygalaceae : Polygala cowellii . Polygonaceae : Antipogon leptopus , Coccoloba uvifera , Triplaris cumingiana . Proteaceae : Macadamia integrifolia , M. tetraphylla . Rhamnaceae : Krugiodendron ferreum , Ziziphus mauritiana . Rhizophoraceae : Rhizophora mangle . Rosaceae : Eriobotrya japonica , Malus sylvestris , Pyrus , Rosa . Rubiaceae : Euthalis fruticosa , Gardenia jasminoides , G. thunbergia , Hamelia cuprea , H. patens , Ixora coccinea, Ixora sp., Mussaenda erythrophylla , Pentas lanceolata , Psychotria ligustifolia , Psychotria nervosa , P. nervosa , P. punctata , P. sulzneri , P. viridis , Rondeleria leucophylla , Rondia aculeata , Spermacoce verticillat. Rutaceae : Amyris balsamifera , A. elemifera , Citrus , Citrus paradisi , C. sinensis , Clausena lansium , Evodia ridleyi , Fortunella japonica , Murraya paniculata , Zanthoxylum fagara . Salicaceae : Salix caroliniana. Sapindaceae : Alectryon coriaceus , Allophylus cominia , Blighia sapida , Cupaniopsis anacardioides , Dimocarpus longan , Dodonaea viscosa , Exothea paninculata , Filicium decipiens , Harpullia arborea , Hypelate trifoliata , Koelreuteria elegans , Litchi sinensis , Melicocca bijuga , Talisia olivaeformis .

3

Sapotaceae : Bumelia celastrina , Calvaria inermis , cainito , C. oliviforme , Manilkara jaimiqui , M. kauki , M. plecana , M. roxburghiana , M. zapota , Mimusops balata , M. caffra , M. elengi , Pouteria caimito , Sideroxylon americanum , S. foetidissimum , S. salicifolium , Synsepalum dulcificum . Solanaceae : Brunfelsia lactea , B. nitida , B. nitida , Cestrum diurnum , C. nocturnum , Solanum diphyllum , S. tampicense , S. torvum . Sterculiaceae : Pterospermum acerifolium , Sterculia ceramica . Taxodiaceae : Taxodium distichum . Theophrastaceae : Jacquinia aurantiaca , Jaquinia armillaris . Tiliaceae : Grewia occidentalis , Trumfetta semitriloba . Urticaceae : Pouzolzia zeylanica . Verbenaceae : Avicennia germinans , Callicarpa americana , Citharexylum spinonum , Duranta erecta , Petrea volubilis . Vitaceae : Parthenocissus quinquefolia , Vitis rotundifolia . Zygophyllaceae : Guaiacum officinale , G. sanctum .

Description The lac test (scale cover) is purplish red to dark reddish brown, but often appears brown or black due to a covering of sooty mould (Figs 1-3). The scales smother infested twigs and branches of the host. The test has four marginal rounded lobes; the anterior lobes are smaller than the posterior lobes (Fig. 4). The first-instar test is incorporated into the adult test on mid-dorsum, with a circular opening on an elevated area just posterior to first-instar test for the excretion of honeydew (Fig. 4). The adult female test is 1.2–2.0 mm long, 0.7-2.0 mm wide, and 1.0–1.5 mm high. The lac texture is very hard, brittle, and shiny.

Fig. 2 Lobate lac scales © C. Malumphy

4

Fig. 3 Typical resinous cases (test) of Paratachardina Fig. 4 Paratachardina pseudolobata adult female pseudolobata © Fera showing the hole through which honeydew is ejected and the "fat bow tie" appearance © Fera

Fig. 5 Sooty mould growing on the foliage of a Ficus heavily infested with lobate lac scales © C. Malumphy

Kondo & Gullen (2007) provide detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations of the adult female, second and first instars of Paratachardina pseudolobata , and a key to the nine species assigned to the genus Paratachardina . Paratachardina pseudolobata can be diagnosed by the following features: (i) test of the adult female X-letter or bow tie-shaped with each of the four lobes of the test rather smooth, purplish red to dark reddish brown, often black due to sooty mould (Fig. 4). (ii) ventral duct clusters totalling 4 pairs, with clusters of most anterior pair well separated and each usually with 20–45 (41–86 combined) micro-ducts (see Kondo & Gullen, 2007).

5

Pest biology, dispersal and detection Paratachardina pseudolobata is parthenogenetic, lays eggs and has two nymphal instars. The life cycle is relatively long taking 8-12 months. The scales feed on the bark and often occur in dense colonies. They produce honeydew which serves as a medium for the growth of sooty moulds. The first instar (which is bright red) is the main natural dispersal stage and either crawls over the host in search of a suitable feeding site or may be carried in air currents or on other . They may also be dispersed over long distance in plant trade. The resinous scale covering is light to dark reddish brown although old individuals will frequently appear black because of the sooty moulds. The shape is globose with four lobes, and young individuals generally appear more lobed than mature adults. Individuals in close proximity will frequently coalesce forming masses of several individuals. Young individuals often appear like a fat bow tie. Paratachardina pseudolobata can be difficult to detect (or at least be recognised) in the field, due to their small size, dark colour and unusual appearance, particularly when occurring on plants with dark bark.

Economic importance and damage Dense infestations are associated with branch dieback of some plant species, and in severe cases, highly infested shrubs and small trees have died. However, the lobate lac scale has not been a major economic pest in commercial plant nurseries in Florida and the Caribbean but it is considered to be a common landscape pest. It frequently occurs on native plant species in natural habitats and its potential environmental impact is unknown.

Selected references Hamon, A. B. & Hodges, G. S. 2013. Pest Alert. Lobate lac scale, Paratachardina pseudolobata Kondo & Gullan (Hemiptera: Kerriidae). http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Plant- Industry/Plant-Industry-Publications/Pest-Alerts/Pest-Alerts-Lobate-Lac-Scale-Paratachardina- Pseudolobata . Accessed 25 March 2014. Howard, F. W. & Pemberton, R. W. 2003. The lobate lac scale, a new pest of trees and shrubs in Florida: implications for the Caribbean Region. Proc. Caribbean Food Crops Soc . 39 : 91-94. Howard, F. W., Pemberton, R. W., Hodges, G. S., Steinberg, B., McLean, D. & Liu, H. 2006. The host plant range of lobate lac scale, Paratachardina lobata , in Florida. Proc. Florida State Hort. Soc. 120 : 308-408. Kondo, T. & Gullan, P. J. 2007. Taxonomic review of the lac insect genus Paratachardina Balachowsky (Hemiptera: Coccoidea), with a revised key to genera of Kerriidae and description of two new species. Zootaxa 1617 : 1-41. Pemberton, R. W. 2003. Invasion of Paratachardina lobata lobata (Hemiptera: Kerriidae) in South Florida: a snapshot sample of an infestation in a residential yard. Florida Entomol . 86 : 373-377.

Author: Chris Malumphy Address: The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, UK. Email: [email protected] Date: 13/06/2014 Version 2 The production of this datasheet was partly funded by the Biodiversity Programme of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

6