First report of Pseudaulacaspis brimblecombei in Italy
In Italy, Pseudaulacaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) was discovered in the province of Pistoia (Toscana region) in September 2012. P. brimblecombei was found in a nursery on 20 plants belonging to 2 varieties of Telopea spp. (Proteaceae). Scales were observed on the stems and leaves; damage was limited and mainly cosmetic. These plants had been imported from Australia in March 2011 and were grown in a glasshouse for breeding purposes. Chemical treatments were applied to eliminate the pest. Interestingly, an incursion of this scale was detected in September 2012 on 2 Telopea cv. ‘Golden Globe’ plants in a commercial glasshouse in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The infested plants had been imported from Italy six months earlier.
P. brimblecombei was originally described in 1973 in Australia on Macadamia sp. (Proteaceae). This scale also occurs in New Zealand (North and South Islands), and Hawaii (US). Its known host plants are Telopea speciosissima (waratah), Macadamia sp., and Embothrium sp. (Chilean firebush - Proteaceae).
Sources
NPPO of Italy (2013-07).
Charles JG, Henderson RC (2002) Catalogue of the exotic armoured scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Diaspididae) in New Zealand. Journal of The Royal Society of New Zealand 32(4), 587–615.
Malumphy C, Halstead AJ (2012) First incursions in Europe of four Australasian species of armoured scale insect (Hemiptera: Diaspididae). British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 25(4), 193-197 (abst.).
INTERNET
New and emerging pests in landscapes and nurseries, presentation by Arnold H Hara (dated 2012-05-18). http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/haraa/CPS