Pseudoparlatoria parlatorioides (Comstock)

Lázaro-Castellanos, Carlos, González-Hernández, Héctor, Nápoles, Jesús Romero-, Ortega-Arenas, Laura D., Equihua-Martínez, Armando & Ochoa-Ascencio, Salvador, 2023, Armored scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) associated with avocados (Persea americana) in México’s main production areas, with keys for identification and natural enemies, Zootaxa 5357 (2), pp. 241-269 : 262

Pseudoparlatoria parlatorioides (Comstock)

Aspidiotus parlatorioides Comstock 1883: 64‒65 .

Pseudoparlatoria parlatorioides (Comstock) ; Cockerell 1897b: 383.

Pseudoparlatoria pusilla Green, 1922: 1010‒1011 .

Field diagnosis. Adult female scale cover circular or slightly oval, flat to slightly convex, about 1.0 mm in diameter, semi-transparent and thin, white, with marginal exuviae yellow or slightly brown. According to Watson (2002), the exuviae can be sub-marginal and the scale cover measures 0.75‒1.5 mm in diameter. Body of live adult female membranous, pyriform, white, about 0.7 mm long.

Discussion. In field or laboratory, the color and shape of the scale cover of P. parlatorioides may vary; to the naked eye, it could be confused with D. near coccois , although when the scale cover is lifted, absence of the typical Diaspis apical pygidial notch can be seen.

Habits on the hosts. Pseudoparlatoria parlatorioides was found mainly on leaves, also on branches, in large groups or individually; on leaves it was observed on both adaxial and/or abaxial surfaces, and on some occasions, it was the most abundant species on such substrates. It was observed associated with other diaspidid scales such as D. near coccois , H. cyanophylli , H. diffinis , H. lataniae and Ho. biclavis .

Hosts. The scale is a polyphagous species that attacks members of 142 genera belonging to 54 plant families, among which there are several economically important species such as cocoa, coconut, papaya, avocado, peach, and vanilla, among others ( Watson 2002; García Morales et al. 2016). In this study, it was found associated with the varieties of avocado Hass, Mexicano 1 and Mexicano 2.

Distribution. Pseudoparlatoria parlatorioides has been recorded from 31 countries, mainly in the Americas and Europe, but it is also found in Africa and Oceania ( Watson 2002; García Morales et al. 2016). In México it has been reported for Baja California Sur, Coahuila, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Jalisco, Nayarit, and Sonora ( García Morales et al. 2016), as well as on Hass avocado in Tingambato, Michoacán (González Hernández, pers. comm., 2019). In the present study it was recorded in the following states and orchards: Nayarit: Camino Cerro San Juan and El Aguacate; Querétaro: La Estancia; and Guanajuato: M1Gto.

Natural enemies. Reported natural enemies of P.parlatorioides are: Aphelinidae : Encarsia citrina ( Watson 2002; García Morales et al. 2016) and Encyrtidae : Cheiloneurus sp. ( Noyes 2019) . In the present study, four parasitoids were found parasitizing the scale, identified as: Aphelinidae : Aphytis lepidosaphes (2F), Aph. lingnanensis (1F) and Aph. melinus (1F).