Scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) associated with arabica coffee and geographical distribution in the neotropical region

Abstract

Coffee is one of the most important Brazilian agricultural commodities exported, and Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo States are the main coffee producers. Scale insects are important coffee pests, and 73 species of Cerococcidae (3), Coccidae (18), Diaspididae (6), Eriococcidae (1), Ortheziidae (3), Pseudococcidae (21), Putoidae (2) and Rhizoecidae (19) have been associated with roots, branches, leaves, flowers and fruits of Arabica coffee in the Neotropics. Eight species were found associated with Arabica coffee in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo States in this study, and Coccidae was the most frequent family. Coccus alpinus, Cc. celatus, Cc. lizeri, Cc. viridis, and Saissetia coffeae (Coccidae) were found in both states; Alecanochiton marquesi, Pseudaonidia trilobitiformis (Diaspididae), and Dysmicoccus texensis (Pseudococcidae) were only found in Minas Gerais. Alecanochiton marquesi and P. trilobitiformis are first reported in Minas Gerais, and Cc. alpinus in Espírito Santo, on Arabica coffee. All scale insect species were associated with coffee leaves and branches, except D. texensis, associated with coffee roots. Fourty seven scale insect species have been found occurring in Brazilian Arabica coffee, and in Espírito Santo (28) and Minas Gerais (23). Widespread and geographical distribution of each species found are discussed.

Scale Insects and Natural Enemies Associated with Conilon Coffee (Coffea canephora) in São Paulo State, Brazil

“…Phytophagous species that feed on coffee plant, such as scale insects, are well known. These insects are one of the main coffee pests, mainly because they reduce crop yields as a result of the injuries caused by their attack [31,32]. Allied with this, their respective natural control agents, such as parasitoids and predators, should be investigated, highlighting the complex trophic interactions present in conilon coffee plants.…”

“…The insect is ovoviviparous and reproduces by thelytokous parthenogenesis, having three nymphal instars and an adult instar [41]. Its occurrence has been recorded on different continents [32] and affects many plant species of economic importance [17,40].…”

Interactions between ants and mealybugs in sugarcane: species and effects on insect pests

“…Mealybugs can be found in different plant parts because they can live under leaf sheaths, calyxes, and roots; they can cause direct damage to plants at different development stages by sucking the sap and indirect damage by introducing toxic substances and pathogens into the plants (SANTA-CECÍLIA; REIS; SOUZA, 2002;, thus reducing the yields of the attacked plants (FORNAZIER et al, 2017). Furthermore, their sugary liquid excretions favor the development of sooty mold, a fungus that impairs the photosynthetic process of plants and, consequently, the agricultural production (GARCIA MORALES et al, 2016).…”

The synergistic effects of rosehip oil and matrine against Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) and the underlying mechanisms

“…Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas) is a highly polyphagous and widespread scale insect, and it is known to feed on 123 species of plants belonging to 49 plant families 3 . Adult females usually remain stationary on the host plant, continuously secreting honeydew and causing sooty patches that inhibit photosynthesis and, 4 in severe cases, lead to plant death 5 . Because of the good hydrophobicity of the wax shell on the surface of I. aegyptiaca , insecticides can not easily penetrate the shell, leading to poor insecticidal effects 6–8 .…”