Management Information
Integrated management: Research has indicated that maintaining Aulacaspis yasumatsui (cycad aulacaspis scale (CAS)) populations at a rate that does not threaten the health of plants requires multiple control measures (Wiese and Mannion, undated). The long-term solution may lie in biological control, however, in the short term it is necessary to control the pest on as many plants as possible by treating plants and preventing further spread (IFAS, 2005).
Please follow this link for management information and control options compiled by the ISSG.
The Cycad Aulacaspis Scale Pest Alert notification released by the IUCN SSC Cycad Specialist Group gives details on description, mode of attack, range, vulnerable species, images and control options.
Location Specific Management InformationCalifornia
Imicide (imidacloprid) has been used to control a recent outbreak of Aulacaspis yasumatsui (cycad aulacaspis scale (CAS)) in California (Tattar, 2004). Cycad Gardens
A trunk injection with a long-lasting systemic insecticide, imidacloprid, has so far proven successful at treating the Aulacaspis yasumatsui (cycad aulacaspis scale (CAS)) infestation. Florida (USA)
One article recommends the removal of infested sagos wherever possible and their replacement with a species which is resistant to the scale (Haynes, undated).
The initial management of the cycad scale was attempted as if it were magnolia white scale (Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli), a common scale on cycads in Florida, using pesticides and oils, but these did not prove as successful as was expected. Horticultural oils, fish oils and acephate did control cycad scale when good spray coverage was possible, and plants were sprayed frequently (Mannion and Glenn, unpubl. data; in Wiese and Mannion, undated). Neither insecticidal soap nor thiamethoxam (Flagship) controlled the scale (Wiese and Mannion, undated).
A parasitic wasp Coccobius fulvus and the predaceous beetle Cybocephalus binotatus were collected from Thailand, and released in Florida in 1998 as potential biological control agents (Baranowski and Glen, unpubl. note; in Muniappan, 2005; Hodges et al. 2003). 200 C. fulvus were released at the Tropical Research and Education Center. They quickly established, and became the source for the future releases at 22 further sites (Glenn, pers. comm., in Wiese et al. 2005). As of 1999, the wasp was dispersing away from the original release sites, and had been found more than three miles away (Glenn, pers. comm., in Wiese et al. 2005). A further 15 000 C. fulvus were released by DPI (Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services) between February and April of 2002 in Brevard, Broward, Dade, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Manatee, Martin, Orange, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Sarasota, and St Lucie counties. These natural enemies appear to control the scale very well during some periods, but the scale undergoes outbreaks of varying severity (Hodges et al. 2003). USDA entomologists released the C. fulvus at Montgomery Botanical Center in 2004, and have begun an evaluation of its effectiveness. Preliminary observations indicate that the scale is being parasitised by the wasp (Wiese and Mannion, undated).
Eradication of the cycad scale is no longer considered possible in Florida (Wiese and Mannion, undated).
The Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services (FDACS) in its 2004 annual report gives this update on the status of the Asian cycad scale in Florida, ".. This pest of cycads has since spread to at least 25 Florida counties, and heavy infestations have been reported from Alachua County to Miami-Dade County. During February 2002, the Division of Plant Industry collected the parasitoid Coccobius fulvus from infested cycads in the Naples area and released about 11,000 of these parasitoids in about 15 infested counties extending from the Orlando area to the south. Unfortunately, surveys during the past two years have indicated that C. fulvus has not provided sufficient control of Asian cycad scale populations. A search for other parasitoids in China is currently under way". France
CAS has been included in the European and Mediterreanean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) Alert List. Guam
Please follow these links Smith, 2007 and Marler, 2010 for recent updates on the management of the CAS in Guam. CAS is currently contained on Guam, but there is concern that it may spread to other nearby islands (Haynes & Marler, 2005). As a precaution, nearby Palau has already stopped all importations of cycad plants (J. Miles, Office of Environmental Response & Coordination, Republic of Palau, pers. comm.).
CAS on ornamental cycads in Guam is currently being controlled using pyriproxifen (Distance) (Moore, 2005). The treatment of large numbers of wild fadang plants with insecticides may not be feasible (Moore, 2005). Management efforts are focusing on the use of dinotefuran (Safari, a growth regulating pesticide made by Valent, which was recently approved for use on Guam) to assist in the control of CAS in some areas (Haynes & Marler, 2005).
The lady beetle, Rhyzobius lophanthae (Blaisdell) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), was released at sites in Ritidian (Moore, 2005) and Andersen Air Force Base in February 2005 (A. Brooke, Guam National Wildlife Refuge, pers. comm.), after being introduced from Maui, Hawaii. It has become well established at the initial release sites, having multiplied and moved several hundred metres to other infected plants. There appears to be much less scale on plants which have the beetles (A. Brooke, pers. comm.). Efforts are being made to spread the beetle around the island to areas with infected plants (Haynes & Marler, 2005), and the spread of both CAS and the beetle are being mapped using GIS techniques.
Haynes and Marler (2005) recommended the following efforts be implemented immediately:
- Formulate an immediate salvage plan for affected populations and both short-term and long-term conservation plans for the species on Guam.
- Alert the residents, governments, and conservation organizations of the region via print and other media of the importance of controlling this invasive insect pest on Guam and keeping it from spreading to other nearby islands where Cycas micronesica also resides.
- Mount an expedition to collect seeds from the various C. micronesica habitats and populations on Guam and the surrounding islands for the purpose of establishing a population-based ex-situ conservation germplasm collection at Montgomery Botanical Center.
- Quickly upgrade the conservation status of C. micronesica via the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the IUCN Red List.
- Continue to release the predatory beetle in infested populations throughout the island.
- Send an expert biocontrol entomologist to Asia to collect additional predatory insect species that may be useful in continuing biocontrol efforts. This will then need to be followed by intensive experiments aimed at determining the effectiveness of control and the prey specificity of each new potential insect predator.
- Test various insecticides for effectiveness of suppression of the CAS population in the urban environment and the urban-wildland interface.
- Continue GIS mapping of CAS and predatory beetle populations on Guam and the neighbouring islands of Rota and Saipan.
- Survey additional islands for CAS—including Tinian, Yap, and Palau—and increase the frequency of surveys on Rota. (Rota carries the highest risk of secondary invasion by CAS for two reasons: [1] it is the closest island to Guam and the many daily flights are just a few minutes in duration; [2] it has the second largest population of C. micronesica.)
Hawaii
The lady beetle Rhyzobius lophanthae, introduced to Hawaii from California in 1894 to control scale insects, has been found in association with CAS on Oahu. Where this beetle is plentiful, many individual scales were found to have been fed upon and destroyed. New Zealand
Aulacaspis yasumatsui (cycad aulacaspis scale (CAS)) is not present in New Zealand. It was detected on cycad plants in post-entry quarantine. All plants associated with CAS were destroyed. The detection of CAS in New Zealand is outlined in Paice et
al. 200 Additional Information on CAS in New Zealand.
Upon notification of the detection of this scale to Biosecurity New Zealand, incursion investigators visited the importer's facility and intensively examined all cycads on the property. Live CAS was detected on Chinese cycads in the heated quarantine facility. However, cycad scales outside the heated environment were all dead. The incursion investigators also learnt that 4 cycads from the shipment had been sold to two members of the public. These cycads were examined and found to have CAS on them, but all scale were dead.
The importer voluntarily incinerated (under Biosecurity New Zealand supervision) all cycads from the affected shipment, and the four specimens that had been sold were collected by Biosecurity New Zealand staff, double-bagged and incinerated. The importer also implemented a spray regime on the property and
withdrew from selling his product for a period of several months while these treatments were applied (to control Furchadaspis zamiae, another scale
species associated with imported cycads). Biosecurity New Zealand staff did not detect any CAS (live or dead) on any other cycad at the importers, or on
cycads at the private residences that had received cycads. Biosecurity New Zealand staff inspected remaining cycads at one of the two private residences (the
other had no further host material) at the end of summer February 2005. No CAS were detected.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) suspended the importation of Cycas plants into New Zealand, following the incursion of CAS in August 2004. A March 2005 document from Biosecurity New Zealand restricts the importation of Cycads from Australia, Cayman Islands, China, Guam, Italy, Puerto Rico,
Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, US Virgin Islands and the USA (Florida and Hawaii) (Biosecurity New Zealand, 2005). The following revision has been made with regard to the import of hosts of CAS in October 2005: ‘Hosts (Cycas, Dioon, Encephalartos, Macrozamia, Stangeria, and Zamia) of Cycad scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui) have been prohibited from Costa Rica and Vietnam due to the suspected presence of this pest in those countries.’ Oahu Is.
The lady beetle Rhyzobius lophanthae, introduced to Hawaii from California in 1894 to control scale insects, has been found in association with CAS on Oahu. Where this beetle is plentiful, many individual scales were found to have been fed upon and destroyed. Palau
The Palau Bureau of Agriculture has requested Dr. Moore from the University of Guam, to establish a biological control program (similar to the one implemented in Rota) to deal with the cycad scale infestation on their islands. With funding from the USDA Forest Service, Moore and his technician, Bob Bourgeois, will collect Rhizobius lophanthae beetles on Guam for the project. They will hand carry the beetles to Palau on March 1 2009. Half of the beetles will be released directly onto infested plants in the field and the other half will be used to start a lab colony for rearing additional beetles for release (Moore, 2009). Puerto Rico
The parasitic wasp Coccobius fulvus has been introduced to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands from Florida (D. Meyerdirk, USDA-APHIS, pers. comm.). Rota Is.
The cycad Aulacaspis scale was first detected on the island of Rota in 2007, predatory Rhyzobius beetles were released in May 2007. A westward spread of about 1 km was recorded by January 2008. A second outbreak was discovered in April 2008 in Alaguan Bay, Rhyzobius beetles were released immediately. Please follow this link for more details Marler, 2009 Taitung Cycad Nature Reserve
Chemical control options are difficult to implement due to the terrain and concerns of pollution to the environment. Two biocontrol agents Cybocephalus binotatus (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and Coccobius fulvus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), are being trialled for release. Taiwan
Two biocontrol agents Cybocephalus binotatus (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and Coccobius fulvus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), are being trialled for release. Taoyuan County
Two biocontrol agents Cybocephalus binotatus (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and Coccobius fulvus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), are being trialled for release. Virgin Islands, USA
The parasitic wasp Coccobius fulvus has been introduced to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands from Florida (D. Meyerdirk, USDA-APHIS, pers. comm.).
Management Resources/Links
4. Broome, T. 2004. Horticulture: the Asian cycad scale.
Summary: This article discusses the effects of the cycad scale on cycad plants, and outlines some management options.
Available from: http://www.plantapalm.com/vce/horticulture/asiancycadscale.htm [Accessed 21 July 2005] 11. Emshousen, C., Mannion, C. and Glenn, H. 2004. Management of cycad aulacaspis scale, Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society. 117: 305-307.
Summary: This evaluation of the management options examines the different methods of chemical control for cycad scale in Florida. 13. Gill, George, pers. comm., Jan 2006 Senior Adviser - Surveillance & Incursion Response, Post-clearance Directorate, Biosecurity New Zealand. 16. Haynes, J.L. Undated. Cycads in the South 'Florida Landscape'. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.
Summary: This paper gives information about the types of cycads found in Florida, and gives basic details about the pests and diseases which afflict them, including A. yasumatsui. 17. Heu, R.A., M. Chun & W.T. Nagamine. 2003. Sago palm scale, Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi (Homoptera: Diaspididae). State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture New Pest Advisory No. 99-01. 19. Howard, F.W., Hamon, A., McLaughlin, M., Weissling, T. and Yang, S-L. 1999. Aulacaspis yasumatsui (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Diaspididae), a scale insect pest of cycads recently introduced into Florida. Florida Entomologist. 82 (1): 14-27.
Summary: This paper covers some general information about the biology of A. yasumatsui, as well as outlining its spread in Florida in the late 1990s, and some possible management options.
Available from: http://www.fcla.edu/FlaEnt/fe82p14.pdf [Accessed 26 July 2005] 23. Mannion, C. Undated. Community Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Commercial landscape. Management of cycad aulacaspis scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui).
Summary: This paper evaluates some of the insecticide treatment options for the control of cycad scale. 27. Marler, T. March 13 2004. Alien insect attacking Guam's native flora. Pacific Daily News, Lifestyle section, p 20.
Summary: This newspaper article was written to publicise the arrival of the cycad scale in Guam 28. Moore, A. 2005a. Evaluation of emergency insecticide treatments for conservation of Guam's endemic cycad, Cycas micronesica, during invasion by the Asian cycad scale, Aulacaspis yasumatsui. Draft proposal.
Summary: This proposal for further research outlines the background of the cycad scale in Guam, and discusses some management options. 29. Moore, A. 2005b. Cycad scale, Aulacaspis yasumatsui (Homoptera: Diaspididae). Micronesian Invasive Insect Survey website. 32. Muniappan, R. 2005. Foreign exploration for natural enemies of the cycad scale, Aulacaspis yasumatsui (Homoptera: Diaspididae). University of Guam.
Summary: A proposal for the exploration for natural enemies of the cycad scale in its native Southeast Asia. 35. Palmer, D. & J. Hoffman. 2005. Asian cycad scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui) information page. University of Florida/Hillsborough County Extension website. 41. Tattar, T.A. 2004. Asian cycad scale: new threat to cycads.
Summary: This article outlines a recent incursion of A. yasumatsui in California, and describes the treatment method which was undertaken. 43. University of Florida IFAS Extension, 2005. Collier County Horticulture Cycad Scale 45. Wiese, C. and Mannion, C. Undated. Managing cycad aulacaspis scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi) at Montgomery Botanical Center, USA.
Summary: This document discusses the outbreak of cycad scale at Montgomery Botanical Center, and discusses an integrated management plan. 46. Wiese, C., Amalin, D., Coe, R. and Mannion, C. 2005. Effects of the parasitic wasp, Coccobius fulvus, on cycad aulacaspis scale, Aulacaspis yasumatsui, at Montgomery Botanical Center, Miami, Florida. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc.
Summary: This research article reports on the effectiveness of the parasitic wasp Coccobius fulvus in controlling the cycad scale. 47. World Trade Organization. 2004. Notification of Emergency Measures document: Import requirements for Cycas in New Zealand.
Summary: This document states the emergency measures put in place following an incursion of A. yasumatsui in New Zealand. Results Page: 1
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