3 Park Place, Suite 307 Phone: 301-731-4535 [email protected] Annapolis, MD 21401-3722 USA Fax: 301-731-4538 www.entsoc.org Entomological Society of America Proposal Form for new Common Name or Change of ESA-Approved Common Name Send comments to to Katherine Parys, the committee chair, at [email protected]. 1. Proposed new common name: crapemyrtle bark scale 2. Previously approved common name (if any): None 3. Scientific name (genus, species, author): Acanthococcus (=Eriococcus) lagerstroemiae (Kuwana) Order: Hemiptera (Sternorrhyncha) Family: Eriococcidae Supporting Information 4. Reasons supporting the need for the proposed common name: This is a new exotic pest of crapemyrtle, first reported on commercial crapemyrtle plantings in Richardson, TX in 2004. Its identity was initially confused with azalea bark scale due to misidentification by scale experts at the USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory. However this past year genetic evidence by two of our colleagues (Norman Barr USDA/APHIS, and Amber Tripodi USDA/ARS), together with morphological comparisons by taxonomist Greg Evans (USDA/SEL), have shown that this is indeed an exotic species of Acanthococcus previously known from China, India, Japan, Mongolia, South Korea, and the United Kingdom (García et al. 2016, Kwan and Han, 2003). A paper is currently in preparation to present evidence for its identity. It is important to establish a uniform common name for this pest as it becomes more widespread throughout the U.S. It is also important to have a unique common name to distinguish it from the azalea bark scale, Acanthococcus (=Eriococcus) azaleae (Comstock), with which it was initially confused and still continues to be confused. The name crapemyrtle bark scale aptly describes this pest, as its preferred host so far in the U.S. appears to be crapemyrtle (see section on other reported hosts). As for bark scale, the family Eriococcidae is variously referred to as the eriococcids, felt scales, and bark scales (Johnson and Lyon 1988, Stehr 1990, Gill 1993). The name crapemyrtle bark scale follows a naming precedent set by azalea bark scale and is descriptive of its preferred settling location on crapemyrtle plants. 5. Stage or characteristic to which the proposed common name refers. The name refers to a preference of all life stages of the scale to associate with peeling and rough bark areas of trunk and branches of its host plants. We have not observed it on leaves and there are no reports of it on roots. Figure 1. Male and female scale cover the mid-level branches of a crapemyrtle tree in Dallas, Texas. Figure 2 Female ovisacs are more common under and on rough areas of bark on crapemyrtle. 6. Distribution (include references): In China, CMBS is found as far north as Liaoning, and to the south as far as Guangdong (Jiang and Xu, 1998; Luo et al., 2000(Jiang and Xu 1998, Luo QingHuai et al. 2000, Chen and Zhang 2012), corresponding to U.S. latitudes ranging from north of Chicago, IL to south of Brownsville, TX. It is also reported from India, Japan, Mongolia, South Korea, and the United Kingdom (García et al. 2016, Kwan and Han, 2003). A website for reporting sightings of the scale in the U.S. has been established (http://www.eddmaps.org/CMBS/) showing that the scale has been confirmed throughout many of the southern states including TX, AR, LA, MS, GA, AL, TN. It has also been verified from VA, NM and most recently Seattle, WA. 7. Principal hosts (include references): Other plants with which it has been associated in Asia and Europe include plants from 16 genera in 13 families, including: Buxaceae: Buxus; Cannabaceae: Celtis sinensis; Combretaceae: Anogeissus, Anogeissus latifolia; Ebenaceae: Diospyros kaki; Euphorbiaceae:Mallotus japonicas; Fabaceae: Dalbergia eremicola, Glycine max; Lythraceae: Lagerstroemia indica, L. speciose, L. japonica, L. flosreginae and Punica granatum; Moraceae: Ficus carica; Myrtaceae: Myrtus; Oleaceae: Ligustrum obtusifolium; Pentaphylacaceae: Ternstroemia japonica; Phyllanthaceae: Glochidion puberum; and Rosaceae: Malus pumila, Rubus (Kwon and Han 2003, García et al. 2016). In its native range in East Asia, CMBS appears to be a significant pest principally on crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.), persimmon (Diospyros kaki) and pomegranate (Punica granatum). Several other important plant genera in the U.S. have also been reported as hosts for this scale, however, including: Buxus (boxwood), Glycine max (soybean), Ficus carica (fig), Myrtus (myrtle), Ternstroemia japonica (cleyera), Malus pumila (apple), Rubus (brambles) and Celtis sinensis (hackberry). We have little evidence that these will be significant host plants in the U.S. and have only received one report of this scale on a non-crapemyrtle host. Last year we confirmed an infestation of the scale on an American beautyberry, Callicarpa americana, which was found growing next to an infested crapemyrtle. 8. References containing previous use of the proposed common name: Crapemyrtle Bark Scale: A New Insect Pest (FSA7086). Robbins, J., J. Hopkins, M. Merchant, and G. Mengmeng. 2014. University of Arkansas, Agriculture and Natural Resources. 4 pp. Crape myrtle bark scale: A new exotic pest. Gu, Mengmeng, M. Merchant, J. Robbins, J. Hopkins. 2014. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service publication EHT-049. 5 pp. http://www.agrilifebookstore.org/Crape-Myrtle-Bark-Scale-p/eht-049.htm Crape myrtle bark scale: A new insect pest revisited. Mengmeng Gu and Mike Merchant. TNLA Green magazine. May-June 2014. Texas Nursery and Landscape Association. http://www.tnlagreen.org/tnlagreen/may_june_green#pg16 Crape myrtle bark scale. New pest spreading quickly across the Southeast. James Robbins, John Hopkins, Mike Merchant, Mengmeng Gu. Nursery Management. pp 37-38. Feb. 2014. http://www.nurserymag.com/digital/201402/files/36.html Crape myrtle bark scale. Ricky Kilpatrick, Allen Owings, Dale Pollet and Dennis Ring. LSU Ag Center publication. Online fact sheet: http://www.lsuagcenter.com/MCMS/RelatedFiles/%7B84F4324A-45E7-4D09-8F2A- A51D127149F5%7D/Crape-Myrtle-Bark-Scale-Fact-Sheet.pdf Crape myrtle bark scale identification and control. Blake Layton. Mississippi State University Extension publication 2938. https://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/publications/publications/p2938.pdf What is the crapemyrtle bark scale? Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System. A cooperative pest mapping site developed by the U of GA Center for Invasive Species and Ecosyst. Health. http://www.eddmaps.org/cmbs/ Observation of crapemyrtle bark scale. Jiang, N. and H. Xu. 1998. Journal of Anhui Ag. Univ. 25(2):142-144. 9. References using common names (give names) other than that proposed: Given the newness of this pest insect, there is little history of alternate, competing common names in the U.S. In China it is known as the pomegranate mealybug, pomegranate felt scale, crapemyrtle felt scale, and crapemyrtle scale (Zhao YangMin et al. 1998, Cai and Zhu 2003, Son et al. 2009). Initially in Texas we referred to it by the (now known to be) incorrect name of azalea bark scale, a name that persists online to some extent among home gardeners and landscape professionals (e.g., http://yaleparkhoa.com/nl/extension_19.htm) The New Pest Advisory Group (NPAG) in USDA/APHIS/PPQ simply referred to the scale as the “crapemyrtle scale” (Millar 2014). If there is any controversy over the proposed common name, it may be the spelling of the host plant. Originally we ourselves spelled crapemyrtle as two words “crape myrtle” following most common usage. The common name for Lagerstroemia is also sometimes spelled “crepe myrtle” as in Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagerstroemia). In at least one forum, “crepe myrtle” is called the traditional Southern spelling because the plant’s delicate flowers resemble crepe paper http://www.garden.com/garden-articles/is-it-crape-myrtle-or-crepe-myrtle/140/) noting that in other parts of the country the spelling “crape myrtle” is more common. In fact, the Hortus III plant list lists Lagerstroemia as “crape myrtle”. However, we are now persuaded by grammatical convention, and use by some respected authorities, that the better spelling is probably crapemyrtle. Our reasons are as follows: • Lagerstroemia (family Lythraceae) not a true myrtle (family Myrtaceae), hence most often biological convention requires a single name be used (e.g., dragonfly vs. dragon fly) for taxonomically inaccurate common names. This also follows Rules and Guidelines for Proposing a Common Name for insects. • The use of the one-word name is also common among respected authorities: o The National Arboretum (home of the principal breeding program for crapemyrtles in the U.S.) uses "crapemyrtle" as the common name in their publications and websites. See the following examples: . http://www.usna.usda.gov/Research/Herbarium/Lagerstroemia/ . http://www.usna.usda.gov/Newintro/natchez.pdf . http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/faqs/crapemyrtlefaq2.html o Arbor Day Foundation https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=824 o At least some Extension sites http://www.clemson.edu/extension/horticulture/landscape_ornamentals/crapemyr tle/ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep399 https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-451/430- 451.html https://www.uaex.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/crape-myrtle/ http://www.aces.edu/ucf/crapemyrtles.php http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/publications/crapemyrtle-flower-the- south o Plant breeder preference. (Pooler 2006) We realize that for all likelihood, the two-part name is not likely to go away anytime soon; however for these reasons, especially the grammatical one, we prefer the common name crapemyrtle bark scale, over the two part name. 10. Other insects or organisms to which the proposed common name might apply: None 11. Steps you have taken to consult with other workers who are familiar with the insect or organism as to suitability of and need for the proposed common name: A working group of horticulturalists and entomologists has been established to study and evaluate the impact of this scale on crapemyrtle.