PITTOSPORUM PIT SCALE, PLANCHONIA ARABIDIS (HEMIPTERA: ASTEROLECANIIDAE) AND ITS LEAF GALLS INDUCED ON PITTOSPORUM TOBIRA IN SOUTHERN ITALY

Authors: Alessio Volvas, Chris Malumphy, David Misfud

Corresponding: David Mifsud (david.a.mifsud@um.edu.mt)

Keywords: Pit scales, Mediterranean, Histopathology

Doi: http://dx.medra.org/10.7423/XJENZA.2013.1.02

Issue: Xjenza Online Vol. 1 Iss. 1 - March 2013

Abstract:
The morphology of the adult female pittosporum pit scale, Planchonia arabidis, a commonly encountered sap-feeding insect in Europe, is described and illustrated, based on material collected from southern Italy on Pittosporum tobira. Histopatholog- ical observations are made for the rst time on the aforementioned host-plant on which typical pit galls are induced by P. arabidis. Distribution and host-plant data is also provided for this species at a global level.

Download Article: