Red-Striped Soft Scale

Hymenopterous endoparasitic parasitoid (right) (Photo: RN Candano & MdP Javier)

National Crop Protection Center College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna

09310571496/ 09763028205

https://ncpc.cafs.uplb.edu.ph/

ncpc.uplb@up.edu.ph

Entomopathogenic fungi

REFERENCES:

CHARACTERIZATION OF Pulvinaria tenuivalvata (Newstead) (HEMIPTERA: COCOMORPHA: COCCIDAE), ITS DAMAGE, ENDOPARASITOIDBRIDGING HOSTS, AND ENDOPARASITOID BRIDGING HOSTS, AS A NEW AND EMERGING PEST OF SUGARCANE IN LUZON ISLAND, PHILIPPINES. Manuscript in Review.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT: The authors extend their gratitude to Engr. Laverne Olalia, Manager III of Research Development and Luzon and Mindanao, Sugar Regulatory Administration (RDE, L&M, SRA), for extending the invitation to the Quick Response the NCPC CAFS UPLB Rizal Oguan, Jr of NCPC is also acknowledged for assisting in the collection of pest samples in the field

Pulvinaria tenuivalvata (Newstead)

Sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum L., holds significant agricultural importance in the Philippines.

Recently, infestation of a red-striped soft scale pest was reported in sugarcane in Tarlac, Pampanga, Laguna, and Batangas.

Initial detection of this insect pest occurred in Bacolor, Pampanga in June 2022 with reports from various municipalities in Pampanga, Calaca in Batangas, and Capas in Tarlac.

Detection sites of red-striped soft scale of sugarcane

Field assessment in SRA-LAREC screenhouse and sugarcane fields were jointly conducted by NCPC-CAFS, UPLB and SRA-LAREC

Identification: Morphological and molecular characterization conforms to the redescription of P. tenuivalvata by Abdel-Razak et al. (2017).

P. saccharia is a junior synonym of P. tenuivalvata due to the overlapping character traits observed in both species.

Habitus and slide-mounted specimens of teneral (A, C) and mature (B, D) adult females of the red-striped soft scale insect collected from Pampanga. (Photo: NM Barbecho.)

Infestation & Symptomatology: Colonies were located on the lower leaf surfaces in the middle leaf portion predominantly consisting of nymphs. Some colonies were also found at the upper leaf surfaces. Yellowing and drying of leaves as well as sooty mold were observed in infested plants.

Progression of damage of P. tenuivalvata starting from (A, G) healthy leaves. (B) leaf infested with soft scale, (C, H) presence of sooty mold, (D, I) start of yellowing, (E) drying of chlorotic part of leaf, and (F) drying of infested leaves. (Photo credit: RMandac, JSerraon & JMPerez)

Bridging Hosts: Three (Megathyrsus maximus, Rottboellia cochinchinensis, and Sida acuta) out of 31 weed species in 30 genera and 17 families in the sugarcane fields in Pampanga are potential bridging hosts of P. tenuivalvata.

Other Pest Concerns: Aphids and mealybugs were observed. Red rot, scorch, and leaf spots were evident in sugarcane fields.