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   Toumeyella parvicornis (insect)
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         Interim profile, incomplete information
         General Impact

    Toumeyella parvicornis has been found to reduce the vigour of Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis, cause dieback, reduce seed production, and often lead to mortality of the tree. T. parvicornis also secretes a sugary honeydew which encourages growth of a sooty mould which now covers most of the understory in the P. caribaea var. bahamensis pineyards of The Turks and Caicos Islands and inhibits their growth.

    The introduction of T. parvicornis has seen a 90% mortaility rate of P. caribaea var. bahamensis on the Turks and Caicos Islands (Hamilton, 2007; KEW, 2010). This amount of deceased dry material also increases the likelihood of forest fires within the pineyards, causing not only damage to Pine populations but surrounding populations also (Hamilton, 2007). These effects coupled with proposed sea-level rise are likely to have detrimental impacts on P. caribaea var. bahamensis (Ross et al, 2009). P. caribaea var. bahamensis is now currently threaten within its home range, which is not only detrimental ecologically but also culturally as it is considered the national tree of the Turks and Caicos Islands (Hamilton, 2007).

    Current data from the Pine Recovery Project has shown that all areas on The Caicos Islands with live trees have scale insect, with an average infestation of 3 (5 being completely infested) and an average canopy decline of 3-4 (5 being completely dead). An average of 44-50% of the 140 plots sampled by the project had no seedlings present and an average of 50% of the trees within the plots were dead. (Sanchez, 2008).




         Location Specific Impacts:
    Pine Cay (Turks and Caicos Islands) English 
    Ecosystem change: Decreased numbers of Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis is bound to have the follow-on effect of ecosystem change due to the alteration of canopy structure, potentially allowing other, more competitive exotics to establish

    Modification of successional patterns: Decreased amounts Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis will also modify successional patterns in the Pine forests on the Turks and Caicos Islands by decreasing the overarching canopy cover, selecting for the early successional species to establish in areas that should/were once later successional forest.

    Physical disturbance: Although not a direct result of Toumeylla parvicornis physical disturbance in pine forests could increase in areas of infestation due to the increased amount of dead trees. These areas are likely to increase in lightning-induced fires, leading to further increases in Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis loss.

    Reduction in native biodiversity: The impact caused by Toumeyella parvicornis is severe. In some areas it desecrates all trees and seedlings of Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis whereas in others some live trees are still found
    Middle Caicos (Turks and Caicos Islands) English 
    Ecosystem change: Decreased numbers of Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis is bound to have the follow-on effect of ecosystem change due to the alteration of canopy structure, potentially allowing other, more competitive exotics to establish

    Modification of successional patterns: Decreased amounts Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis will also modify successional patterns in the Pine forests on the Turks and Caicos Islands by decreasing the overarching canopy cover, selecting for the early successional species to establish in areas that should/were once later successional forest.

    Physical disturbance: Although not a direct result of Toumeylla parvicornis physical disturbance in pine forests could increase in areas of infestation due to the increased amount of dead trees. These areas are likely to increase in lightning-induced fires, leading to further increases in Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis loss.

    Reduction in native biodiversity: The impact caused by Toumeyella parvicornis is severe. In some areas it desecrates all trees and seedlings of Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis whereas in others some live trees are still found
    North Caicos (Turks and Caicos Islands) English 
    Ecosystem change: Decreased numbers of Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis is bound to have the follow-on effect of ecosystem change due to the alteration of canopy structure, potentially allowing other, more competitive exotics to establish

    Modification of successional patterns: Decreased amounts Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis will also modify successional patterns in the Pine forests on the Turks and Caicos Islands by decreasing the overarching canopy cover, selecting for the early successional species to establish in areas that should/were once later successional forest.

    Physical disturbance: Although not a direct result of Toumeylla parvicornis physical disturbance in pine forests could increase in areas of infestation due to the increased amount of dead trees. These areas are likely to increase in lightning-induced fires, leading to further increases in Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis loss.

    Reduction in native biodiversity: The impact caused by Toumeyella parvicornis is severe. In some areas it desecrates all trees and seedlings of Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis whereas in others some live trees are still found



ISSG Landcare Research NBII IUCN University of Auckland