First report of the lanzones scale, Unaspis mabilis Lit and Barbecho (Hemiptera:Diaspididae), as a pest of cacao
2019
Lit, I.L., Jr | Caoili, B.L. | Caasi-Lit, M.T. | Lucañas, C.C. | Abenis, K.O. | Alvarez, V.K.I. | Latina, R.A.
The lanzones scale, Unaspis mabilis Lit and Barbecho (Hemiptera:Diaspididae), has been known since 2008 to infest lanzones leaves exclusively. It has demonstrated aggressive spread throughout almost all lanzones plantations from North Cotabato and Davao in Mindanao [Philippines] to various provinces in Luzon and, more recently, in Mindoro and Panay Islands. In 2017, mussel scales collected from cacao trees in Caticlan, Aklan, showed field characteristics that were quite similar to lanzones scales. Examination of slide-mounted specimens showed that they were indeed conspecific with those infesting lanzones. DNA extracted from the cacao-infesting scale insects matched the DNA barcode generated from a complementary study (GenBank Acc. Nos. MN114099, MN14101, and MN114102), and hence, supported the species identity based on morphological characters. The need for pest management R and D for U. mabilis is emphasized considering that cacao is a high value crop.
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