Planchonia stentae (Brain)

Matsunaga, Janis N., Howarth, Francis G. & Kumashiro, Bernarr R., 2019, New State Records and Additions to the Alien Terrestrial Arthropod Fauna in the Hawaiian Islands, Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 51 (1), pp. 1-71 : 7

Planchonia stentae (Brain)

NEW STATE RECORD

In 2009, stems of Hoya imperialis var. rauchii from Keaau, Hawaii, were found to be infested with pit scales. Specimens were then identified by D.R. Miller as Planchonia stentae (Brain) , the South African pit scale. Following this 2009 verification, previously unidentified specimens (Waimea, 2007) were found in HDOA’s reference collection, reexamined, and consequently identified as P. stentae . This species has now been collected on Hawaii, Maui, and Oahu.

This South African pit scale, also known as the Euphorbia pit scale, has been recorded in California and Florida, where it has become a major pest of at least 49 introduced and native plant species (Stumph and Lambdin 2000). This species can severely weaken small and young plants, causing major stem deformation, especially at apical tips .

Collection records: HAWAII, Keaau , 22.IV.2009 , ex. Hoya imperialis var. rauchii , coll. C. Noel, det. D.R. Miller, 3.IX.2009; Waimea , 19.XI.2007 , ex. Sophora chrysophylla stems, coll. J. Higashino, det. J.N. Matsunaga, 28.IX.2009.

MAUI, Pukalani , 12.III.2013, ex. Asclepias physocarpa stems, coll. M. Fukada, det. J.N. Matsunaga, 25.III.2013. OAHU, Honolulu, Pawaa , 12.VII.2014, ex. Heliotropium anomalum var. argenteum stems, coll. J.N. Matsunaga, det. J.N. Matsunaga, 25.VIII.2014. Vouchers at HDOA.