A new record of the genus Froggattiella Leonardi (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Diaspididae) in South Korea.

Background: The genus Froggattiella Leonardi, 1900 belongs to the family Diaspididae, and five species of Froggattiella have been recorded worldwide. In this study, Froggattiellapenicillata (Green, 1905), which attacks bamboos, is newly recorded in South Korea. The colonies of F.penicillata were collected on a bamboo forest located in Gajwa-dong, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea (35.1599, 128.1029). Description of the adult female, host plant, adult female illustrations, and global distribution of this species are provided. New information: Froggattiellapenicillata (Green, 1905) is reported for the first time in South Korea. This species occurrs under sheathing bases of the leaves and is observed attached on the stem and not on the leaf.

A new species of Aulacaspis and a revived combination of Diaspididae (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha) from China.

A new species of armored scale insect, Aulacaspisfanjingshanensissp. nov. is described and illustrated based on adult female specimens collected on Rosaceae plants in China. A key to the Aulacaspis species known from Guizhou Province of China is provided. Our molecular study suggests that Aulacaspisschizosoma (Takagi, 1970) is not a true member of the genus Aulacaspis; the genus Superturmaspis Chen, 1983 is revived and A.schizosoma is transferred to it as Superturmaspisschizosoma (Takagi, 1970), revived combination, based on a molecular phylogeny.

Four new species of Aspidiotini (Hemiptera, Diaspididae, Aspidiotinae) from Panama, with a key to Panamanian species.

Four new species of armored scale insect, Clavaspis selvatica sp. nov., Clavaspis virolae sp. nov., Davidsonaspis tovomitae sp. nov., and Rungaspis neotropicalis sp. nov., are described and illustrated from Panama. We also transfer two previously described species of Panamanian Aspidiotini to new genera, Hemiberlesia crescentiae (Ferris) comb. nov. and Rungaspis rigida (Ferris) comb. nov., and report the first record of Selenaspidopsis browni Nakahara in Panama. A key to the species of Aspidiotini occurring in Panama is provided.

Taxonomic and identification review of adventive Fiorinia Targioni Tozzetti (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Diaspididae) of the United States.

This work provides general descriptions, illustrations, molecular diagnostic data, taxonomic keys, slide mounting recommendations, and Florida distribution records for Fiorinia Targioni Tozzetti species occurring in the USA. Species treated are F.externa Ferris, F.fioriniae (Targioni Tozzetti), F.japonica Kuwana, F.pinicola Maskell, F.phantasma Cockerell & Robinson, F.proboscidaria Green, and F.theae Green. New descriptions of second-instar males and females of all seven species in addition to first-instar nymphs and adult females of F.phantasma and F.proboscidaria are presented. Taxonomic keys to second-instar males and females are developed for the first time and previously available taxonomic keys to first-instar nymphs and adult females are improved. DNA sequences were used to further evaluate the monophyly of Fiorinia and provide additional diagnostic tools for Fiorinia species. Multigene phylogenetic analyses, COI barcoding methods, and examination of type material indicate that F.yongxingensis Liu, Cai & Feng, 2020, syn. nov. is a junior synonym of F.phantasma. A morphological survey of the genus demonstrates, for the first time, the utility of second-instar males for diagnostics. This study will help inform regulatory and pest management decisions by facilitating morphological and molecular identification of adventive Fiorinia species occurring in the USA.

Native and Edible Ornamental Plant Congeners Enhance Ecosystem Services Through Key Pest Avoidance and Multifunctionality in Residential Landscapes.

Tea scale, Fiorinia theae Green (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), has long been one of the most important pests of Ilex and Camellia plants, particularly in the southeastern United States. This exotic armored scale insect reduces host plant health and function, and often requires insecticide use, which poses risks to nontarget organisms. While the use of Ilex (Aquifoliales: Aquifoliaceae) and Camellia (Ericales: Theaceae) spp. as landscape ornamentals for aesthetic function is firmly established, we have a poor understanding of species-level susceptibility to F. theae. Additionally, two species, Ilex vomitoria Ait. and Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze are emerging tisane- and tea-producing commodities in the region, respectively. We propose that these consumable plants may be well-suited alternatives to their traditionally used ornamental congeners in residential landscapes where they may provide enhanced ecosystem services. However, the potential impact of key pests, like F. theae, on these species should be evaluated to anticipate pest pressure that may undermine or offset benefits. In this study, we examine six species within the known host range of tea scale, comparing nonnative I. cornuta Lindl. 'Dwarf Burford,' C. japonica L., C. sasanqua Thunb., and C. sinensis, along with native I. opaca Ait. and I. vomitoria. We found that plant species show a wide range of susceptibility to F. theae and associated damage, with the two native Ilex species and tea-producing C. sinensis displaying the least susceptibility. By reducing the impact of a key pest and considering other ecosystem service traits, these results may help guide more sustainable plant selection decisions where the goal is to integrate native and edible plants into residential landscapes.

Five new species of Aspidiotini (Hemiptera, Diaspididae, Aspidiotinae) from Argentina, with a key to Argentine species.

Five new species of armored scale insect from Argentina are described and illustrated based upon morphological and molecular evidence from adult females: Chortinaspis jujuyensis sp. nov., Clavaspis patagonensis sp. nov., Hemiberlesia ozolita sp. nov., Melanaspis lilloi sp. nov., and Melanaspis targionoides sp. nov. The genera Chortinaspis and Melanaspis are recorded for the first time from this country. An identification key to all recorded species from tribe Aspidiotini occurring in Argentina is provided.

An online interactive identification key to common pest species of Aspidiotini (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Diaspididae), version 1.0.

Aspidiotini is a species-rich tribe of armored scale insects that includes several polyphagous and specialist pests that are commonly encountered at ports-of-entry to the United States and many other countries. This article describes a newly available online interactive tool that can be used to identify 155 species of Aspidiotini that are recognized as minor to major pests or that are potentially emergent pests. This article lists the species and features included with a description of the development and structure of the key. The interactive key is free to access at https://idtools.org/id/scales/aspidiotini/about_index.php.

Two new species of the genus Unaspis MacGillivray, 1921 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) from China.

Two new species of Unaspis (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) from China, U. menglunensis sp. n. and U. fanjingensis sp. n., are described and illustrated. A key to the world fauna species of Unaspis is provided.

Developmental duration and predation rate of the coccidophagous coccinellid Rhyzobius lophanthae (Blaisdell) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on Aspidiotus nerii Bouche.

The consumption rate, survival, and developmental duration of the coccidophagous coccinellid Rhyzobius lophanthae (Blaisdell) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a predator of the armored scale insect, Aspidiotus nerii Bouche (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) were studied under laboratory conditions at two temperature regimes of 25 ± 1 and 30 ± 1°C, 50-65% RH, and 16L:8D. Developmental time (egg to adult) significantly decreased with increase in the temperature. It lasted 27.5 days at 25 ± 1°C and 21.3 days at 30 ± 1°C. The development threshold of R. lophanthae immature stages was 7.823°C, while the thermal constant was 472.379 degree-days. No mortality was recorded during the incubation period. The total mortality rate amongst the larval instars was with 3.33% at 25 ± 1°C and 6.77% at 30 ± 1°C. The sex ratio male to female was 1:1.06. The consumption rate significantly increased with increasing temperatures and within the larval instars. The four larval instar consumed 24.3 and 33.5 adults of A. nerii at 25 ± 1 and 30 ± 1°C, respectively. Overall, micro-climate temperature had a significant impact on the biological parameters of R. lophanthae.

Molecular phylogenetics of Aspidiotini armored scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) reveals rampant paraphyly, curious species radiations, and multiple origins of association with Melissotarsus ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

The armored scale insect tribe Aspidiotini comprises many pest species that are globally invasive and economically damaging. The taxonomy of scale insects is based almost solely upon morphological characters of adult females, and little prior work has been done to test the classification of aspidiotines against molecular evidence. To address these concerns, we reconstruct a molecular phylogeny for aspidiotine armored scales that expands greatly upon taxonomic and character representations from previous studies. Our dataset includes 127 species (356 terminal taxa) and four gene regions: 28S, EF-1α, COI-COII, and CAD. Nearly 50% of the species treated are identified as pests and several more may represent emerging pests. Phylogenetic data were analyzed in a Bayesian framework using MC3 iterations. The majority of sampled aspidiotine genera are not monophyletic as currently defined. Monophyly constraints for 'worst offenders' were imposed on the phylogeny and stepping-stone MCMC was performed to calculate marginal likelihood scores. Comparisons of marginal likelihoods from runs with constrained vs. informative priors support the interpretation that pest-rich genera are not monophyletic. We use character mapping to illustrate signal and convergence for selected traits that have been used to define or recognize genera and evaluate consistency and retention indices for these traits. The phylogeny illustrates a pervasive pattern in which extremely polyphagous pests - typically having large populations and wide geographical distributions - are frequently intertwined with range-limited specialists on the phylogeny. Finally, the phylogeny recovers three origins of ant association among the Aspidiotini. The history of ant/diaspidid symbioses involves periods of sustained partner fidelity, spanning multiple speciation events, which have been punctuated by opportunistic switches to novel partners.

Five new species of the armored scale genus Andaspis MacGillivray (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Diaspididae) from New Caledonia.

New Caledonia is home to many endemic species of plants and animals. Here, we improve our grasp on that biota by describing five new species of armored scale insects in the genus Andaspis: Andaspis brevicornutasp. n, A. conicasp. n., A. nothofagisp. n., A. novaecaledoniaesp. n., and A. ornatasp. n. Each is known exclusively from collections on southern beeches (Nothofagus spp.) in New Caledonia. A key to the species of Andaspis of New Caledonia is provided.

A new species of Octaspidiotus (Hemiptera, Diaspididae) from China.

Adult females of a new species of armored scale insect, Octaspidiotus shanghaiensis sp. n. are described and illustrated from specimens collected in China. A key is provided for the all described species of Octaspidiotus.

Molecular Identification of Diaspididae and Elucidation of Non-Native Species Using the Genes 28s and 16s.

Armored scale insects pose a serious threat to habitat conservation across the globe because they include some of the most potent invasive species in the world. They are such a serious concern because their basic morphology, small size, and polyphagous feeding habits often allow them to exist undetected by growers and quarantine experts. In order to provide a potential solution to the problem, we have attempted to elucidate the effectiveness of molecular identification techniques using ribosomal 28s and endosymbiotic 16s rRNA. Sequence data was obtained from many field-collected insects to test the feasibility of identification techniques. A protocol for quick species determination based on sequence data is provided.

Corroborating molecular species discovery: Four new pine-feeding species of Chionaspis (Hemiptera, Diaspididae).

The genus Chionaspis (Hemiptera, Diaspididae) includes two North American species of armored scale insects feeding on Pinaceae: Chionaspis heterophyllae Cooley, and Chionaspis pinifoliae (Fitch). Despite the economic impact of conifer-feeding Chionaspis on horticulture, the species diversity in this group has only recently been systematically investigated using samples from across the group's geographic and host range. This paper provides morphological recognition characters for four new species that were recently hypothesized to exist on the basis of molecular evidence. The new species, here described, are Chionaspis brachycephalon Vea sp. n., Chionaspis caudata Vea sp. n., Chionaspis sonorae Vea sp. n. and Chionaspis torreyanae Vea sp. n.  One of the new species, Chionaspis caudata Vea, has a gland spine at the apex of the pygidium, between the median lobes, unlike any other species of Chionaspis. An identification key to the species of Chionaspis feeding on pine in North America is provided.

A new species of Pseudaulacaspis MacGillivray, 1921 from China (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Diaspididae) with a key to Chinese species.

A new species of armored scale, Pseudaulacaspis zhenyuanensis Wei & Feng, sp. n. is described and illustrated from specimens collected on Spermadictyon suaveolens in China. A key to armored scale species known from China is provided.

Two new species of Megacanthaspis Takagi (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Coccoidea, Diaspididae) from China.

Two new species of armored scale, Megacanthaspis hangzhouensis Wei & Feng, sp. n. and Megacanthaspis hainanensis Wei & Feng, sp. n. are described and illustrated from specimens collected from China. A key to adult female of Megacanthaspis species is provided.

Revision of Poliaspis (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Diaspididae), with descriptions of 8 new species from Australia.

Eight new Australian species of Poliaspis are described and illustrated: Poliaspis alluviasp. n., Poliaspis araucariaesp. n., Poliaspis ceraflorasp. n., Poliaspis naambasp. n., Poliaspis nalbosp. n., Poliaspis narungga sp. n., Poliaspis ozothamnaesp. n., and Poliaspis waibenensissp. n. Two described species are transferred into Poliaspis and are redescribed and illustrated: Lineaspis callitris (Laing) originally described by Laing as a species of Poliaspis, is transferred back into Poliaspis as Poliaspis callitris Laing, comb. rev., and Leonardaspis wilga (Leonardi) is transferred to Poliaspis as Poliaspis wilga (Leonardi), comb. n. Descriptions and illustrations are also provided for six of the fourteen previously-named Poliaspis species, including five from Australia: Poliaspis attenuata Brimblecombe, Poliaspis elongata Brimblecombe, Poliaspis exocarpi Maskell, Poliaspis nitens Fuller, and Poliaspis syringae Laing. Both Poliaspis cycadis Comstock and Poliaspis gaultheriae Green become junior synonyms of Poliaspis media Maskell. The species not treated here are Poliaspis intermedia Fuller (the location of the types is unknown and Fuller's description is inadequate), Poliaspis casuarinicola Lindinger (missing types), Poliaspis incisa Takagi and de Faveri (recently, and well described in Takagi and de Faveri 2011), and the six New Zealand species recently revised by Henderson (2011). In addition, Laingaspis lanigera (Laing), the adult female of which has 8 clusters of perivulvar pores - as in Poliaspis species - is redescribed and illustrated. Lectotypes are designated for Laingaspis lanigera, Poliaspis callitris, Poliaspis exocarpi, Poliaspis media, and Poliaspis wilga. A key is provided to the species of Poliaspis, excluding Poliaspis casuarinicola and Poliaspis intermedia butincluding Poliaspis incisa and the New Zealand species: Poliaspis chathamica Henderson, Poliaspis floccosa Henderson, Poliaspis lactea (Maskell), Poliaspis media Maskell, Poliaspis raouliae Henderson and Poliaspis salicornicola Henderson.

Temperatura no desenvolvimento e na reprodução de cochonilhas criadas sobre abóboras / Temperature in the development and reproduction of scales reared on squash

O desenvolvimento de insetos é dependente da temperatura. Nesta pesquisa, foi verificada a influência da temperatura no desenvolvimento e na reprodução de Chrysomphalus aonidum (L.) em câmaras climatizadas com UR do ar 70±10 por cento, fotofase de 12h e temperaturas constantes de 17, 19, 21, 23, 25 e 27 ± 1°C, tendo como substrato abóboras "cabotiá" (Curcubita maxima x Curcubita moschata var. Tetsukabuto). Foi observada a influência da temperatura nos parâmetros biológicos da cochonilha, sendo que temperaturas entre 23 e 27°C foram as mais adequadas ao inseto, propiciando menor duração do período ninfal e maior produção diária de ninfas por fêmea. Temperaturas entre 17 e 19°C provocam maior duração na fase ninfal, maior longevidade das fêmeas e menor produção diária de ninfas por fêmea.

The development of the insects is dependent on the temperature. In this research, it was verified the influence of the temperature in the development and reproduction of the Chrysomphalus aonidum under climate controlled conditions (RH 70±10 percent, photophase of 12h), and seven constant temperatures of 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, and 27 ± 1°C); on "cabotiá" squash (Curcubita maxima x Curcubita moschata var. Tetsukabuto) substrate. The temperature had influence in the biological parameters of the scale. The temperatures between 23 and 27°C were the most adequate to the scale, causing smaller duration of the nymphal period, and higher daily production of nymphs per female. At the temperatures between 17 and 19°C, the scale presented higher duration in the nymphal phase, and longevity of the females and smaller daily production of nymphs per female.