Ceroplastes japonicus (Green, 1921)

Cvetkovska-Gjorgievska, Aleksandra, Dedov, Ivailo, Hristovski, Slavcho, Langourov, Mario, Lazarevska, Stanislava, Prelik, Dana & Simov, Nikolay, 2019, New records of allochtonous, invasive and pest invertebrate species from the Republic of Macedonia, Ecologica Montenegrina 20, pp. 56-70 : 62-63

Ceroplastes japonicus (Green, 1921) - Japanese wax scale ( Hemiptera , Coccidae )

Record: Valandovo, on individual trees of persimmon ( Diospyros kaki L., Ebanaceae), 2016, leg. S. Lazarevska.

Origin: Eastern Asia ( China, Japan, Korea) ( Ben-Dov et al. 2010).

Comments: This scale species is present in Europe since 1930 in France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria ( Germain 2008; Pellizzari & Camporese 1994; Jančar et al. 1999; Masten-Milek at al. 2007; Pencheva 2007; Pencheva & Yovkova 2016).

C. japonicus has been recorded in Macedonia since 2016 on persimmon trees in southern part of the country Marvinci, Balinci, Brajkovci close to Valandovo on individual persimmon trees, also in locality Nov Dojran, close to Dojran in persimmon orchards ( Lazarevska et al. 2017) .

C. japonicus is polyphagous species predominantly found on perennial plants and occasionally on annual hosts. According to Pellizzari & Camporese (1994) the most common host plants are Citrus, Diospyros, Ilex, Hedera. Nowdays C. japonicus is reported on more than 100 plant species from 38 different families. The scale is a pest of soft and hardwood trees, fruit trees, citrus and ornamentals in urban environments (USDA-APHIS 2015). According to Xie et al. (2008) the scale is destructive pest in many forests, fruit orchards and ornamental plants in China. Forest of D. kaki and Ziziphus jujuba Mall. are so heavily damaged by this scale in north China that fruit loss is about 70%.

C. japonicus develops one generation per year. The oviposition begins in the middle of May and continues until the end of June. The pest reaches maturity in the beginning of September ( Jančar et al. 1999). After mating males die, but fertilized females overwinter Pellizzari & Camporese (1994).

Infestations of C. japonicus occur on foliage, stems and branches. This results in reduced vigor, but heavy infestations may result in chlorotic spotting, the premature shedding of leaves, wilting and the dieback of the stem. Honeydew, a sweet substance excreted by the scale insect, deposited on the leaves and fruits and serves as a medium for the growth of black sooty molds, which screen light from leaves and impair gas exchange and photosynthesis ( Demirözer et al. 2004).

C. japonicus spreads mainly with plants for planting. Natural spread to very short distances is possible with neonate larvae in summer time. Overwintering as a young female and can survive outdoors at temperature several degrees below zero ( Pellizzari & Camporese 1994).

Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni Tozzetti, 1886) MacGillivray, 1921 - mulberry scale ( Hemiptera , Diaspididae )

Record: Gevgelija, on mulberry 1950/51, leg. Bekirov , 1958.

Origin: Eastern Asia ( China and Japan) where is pest on Prunus and Morus ( MacLeod 2007).

Comments: P. pentagona has spread widely to all warmer regions of the world. The scale was accidentally introduced to Italy in the nineteenth century and within Europe it now occurs in Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine. In the past 20 years, it has spread northwards outdoors in Europe, perhaps because of the climate change. In colder countries e.g. Sweden, P. pentagona only lives in protected environments i.e. glasshouses ( MacLeod 2007).

First report in Macedonia is on 4 ha mulberry trees in Gevgelia in 1953, but the author estimated that the appearance of the pest began in early the 50’s of twentieth century (Atanasov 1958).

P. pentagona is one of the most polyphagous scale, being recorded from well over 100 plant genera, including numerous crop and ornamental plants species. The Mulberry scale has between 1 to 4 generation per year, depending upon climate. In Macedonia it develops 3 generations (Atanasov 1958). It overwinters in cold winter countries as fertilized female and can survive temperature as low as -20° C. Oviposition starts during mid-May or earlier depending on the climate. Crawlers, the first larval instar, appear after 1-2 months and actively search for a suitable feeding site. The females have three larval instars and male five. The generation can be completed for 25-54 days during the summer or 80-90 days during the winter. Each female lаys between 38- 220 eggs ( Atanasov 1959) .

P. pentagona spreads mainly with plants for planting. Natural spread on very short distances is possible with neonate larvae in summer time before fixing on permanent place.

In the beginning of 1950’ of the twentieth century in Macedonia P. pentagona has caused severe damages to mulberry, but very soon in 1957/58 after introduction of its natural enemy Prospaltela berlesei How (Atanasov 1960) the pest has been put under control since to 2008-2009 when economically significant outbreaks occurred on peach in Rosoman, Kavadarci ( Postolovski & Lazarevska 2010) .