ISSN 1019-6226 No. 12 26 October 1994 OUTBREAK OF COCONUT SCALE IN TUVALU A state of emergency has been declared by the Government of Tuvalu following the outbreak of coconut scale, Aspidiotus destructor Signoret (Diaspididae : Homoptera) on Nanumanga Island, Tuvalu. Relatively dry conditions have favoured the outbreak which began in Tokelau Village in March 1994 and is spreading rapidly towards the new settlement at Toga Village. Breadfruit trees are most severely affected, but coconut, banana and frangipani are equally damaged. Local treatments have included removing affected parts from plants, and burning or dumping them in the lagoon. This does not appear to have controlled the pest. The Island Council has banned the movement from Nanumanga of live plants, green and mature coconuts and food baskets made from green coconut leaves in an attempt to prevent the spread of the insect pest to neighbouring islands. Biological control organisms have been recommended and efforts are being made to obtain the predatory coccinellid beetles, Chilocorus nigrita Fabricus and Cryptognatha nodiceps Marshall, which will be released to achieve permanent control. The use of these coceinellids in Fiji has been successful. Coconut scale is recorded as having entered the Pacific Islands region in 1892 (Yap). It has occurred in an epidemic form in American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, and Western Samoa The coconut scale has not been reported from Cook Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Tokelau and Tonga. Source: Sandbu, G.S. (Sept 1994). Report of the consultancy of scale outbreak in Tuvalu, 1994: a report to the South Pacific Commission. 8 p. This publication contains information on new agricultural pest and disease outbreaks or other topical information on animal health and plant protection. Please contact the source given for further information on the specific report. New reports should be sent to the Animal Health Officer or Plant Protection Officer, South Pacific Commission, Private Mail Bag, Suva Fiji. Tel: (+679)370733;Fax: (+679) 370021; Telex: FJ 2385..