Coccidology. The study of scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea)

Abstract

<p class="Corpoica">A brief introduction to the science of coccidology, and a synopsis of the history, advances and challenges in this field of study are discussed. The changes in coccidology since the publication of the <em>Systema Naturae </em>by Carolus Linnaeus 250 years ago are briefly reviewed. The economic importance, the phylogenetic relationships and the application of DNA barcoding to scale insect identification are also considered in the discussion section. </p><p class="Corpoica"> </p><p class="Corpoica"><strong>Coccidología. El estudio de insectos escama (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) </strong></p><p class="Corpoica">Se presenta una breve introducción a la ciencia de la coccidología y se discute una sinopsis de la historia, avances y desafíos de este campo de estudio. Se hace una breve revisión de los cambios de la coccidología desde la publicación de <em>Systema Naturae </em>por Carolus Linnaeus hace 250 años. También se discuten la importancia económica, las relaciones filogenéticas y la aplicación de códigos de barras del ADN en la identificación de insectos escama. </p>

Impact of scale insect infestation on the content of photosynthetic pigments and chlorophyll fluorescence in two host plant species

“…Coccus hesperidum L. (Sterrnorhyncha; Coccoidea; Coccidae) is one of the most common pests with a host range that includes many field crops worldwide (citrus crops, fruit trees, ornamentals in fields and greenhouses) (Zimmerman 1948;Ebeling 1959;Ben-Dov and Hodgson 1997;Kondo et al 2008). It damages plants directly and indirectly by excreting more honeydew on the leaves and fruit of the host plants than any other species (Copland and Ibrahim 1985).…”

Key scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of high economic importance in a Mediterranean area: host plants, bio-ecological characteristics, natural enemies and pest management strategies - a review

“…The most commonly encountered families are those with the most species, namely the Diaspididae, Pseudococcidae, and Coccidae (Kondo et al 2008). Among the 8000 scale insect species described worldwide, 2000 are known to occur in the Palearctic region (Foldi 2003).…”

“…Scale insects have been reported as serious pests attacking a huge number of host plants around the world (Miller et al 2002;Miller 2005;Germain 2008; Kondo et al 2008;Franco et al 2009;Pellizzari & Germain 2010;Mazzeo et al 2014). These insects are found on various parts of their hosts, and may infest leaves, twigs, branches and roots, and some live inside plant domatia (Kondo et al 2008).…”

“…These insects are found on various parts of their hosts, and may infest leaves, twigs, branches and roots, and some live inside plant domatia (Kondo et al 2008). They feed almost exclusively on the phloem of their host plants to which they cause direct damage, but they can also cause indirect damage by transmitting plant pathogens through injection or through the build-up of honeydew, promoting the attack of plant pathogens (Ross et al 2010).…”

“…They feed almost exclusively on the phloem of their host plants to which they cause direct damage, but they can also cause indirect damage by transmitting plant pathogens through injection or through the build-up of honeydew, promoting the attack of plant pathogens (Ross et al 2010). However, some species feed on the parenchyma tissue by directly feeding on the contents of parenchyma cells (Kondo et al 2008). Identification of scale insects is mainly based on morphological characters of adult females (Pellizzari & Germain 2010).…”