Pinnaspis buxi | Pest Rating Proposals and Final Ratings

California Pest Rating for

Pinnaspis buxi (Bouché): Boxwood Scale

Hemiptera: Diaspididae

Pest Rating: A

PEST RATING PROFILE

Initiating Event:

Pinnaspis buxi is frequently intercepted by CDFA. A pest rating proposal is required to support its permanent pest rating.

History & Status:

Background: Pinnaspis buxi is a widespread, polyphagous armored scale insect that feeds on a wide variety of hosts. Known hosts include Apocynaceae: Nerium odorum^1,2; Aquifoliaceae: Ilex vomitoria^1,2; Araceae: Aglaonema philippinensis^1,2, Alocasia sp.^1,2, Anthurium magnificum^1,2, Anthurium crystallinum^1,2, Anthurium grandi^1,2, Anubias sp.^1,2, Colocasia esculenta^1,2, Epipremnum sp.^1,2, Homalomena philippinensis^1,2, Monstera deliciosa^1,2, Monstera sp.^1,2, Philodendron sp.^1,2, Philodendron pertusum^1,2, Pothos seemanii^1,2, Rhodospatha sp.^1,2, Scindapsus sp.^1,2, Scindapsus aureus^1,2, Spathiphyllum sp.^1,2; Arecaceae: Acrocomia sp.^1,2, Acrocomia media^1,2, Areca lutescens^1,2, Areca catechu^1,2, Areca sp.^1,2, Calamus sp.^1,2, Chamaerops sp.^1,2, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens^1,2, Cocos nucifera^1,2, Daemonorops lewisianus^1,2, Dictyosperma sp.^1,2, Dictyosperma album^1,2, Howeia forsteriana^1,2, Howeia belmoreana^1,2, Licuala grandis^1,2, Neodypsis^1,2, Phoenix sp.^1,2, Pinanga kuhlii^1,2, Raphia sp.^1,2, Rhapis sp.^1,2, Tachycarpus sp.^1,2, Thrinax excelsa^1,2, Trachycarpus sp.^1,2, Veitchia joannis^1,2; Asteraceae: Chrysanthemum morifolium^1,2; Bromeliaceae: Tillandsia sp.^1,2, Vriesea polonia^1,2; Burseraceae: Canarium commune^1,2; Buxaceae: Buxus sp.^1,2, Buxus sempervirens^1,2; Celastraceae: Siphonodon celastrineus^1,2; Cucurbitaceae: Momordica charantia^1,2, Momordica sp.^1,2; Cupressaceae: Cunninghamia sp.¹; Cyperaceae: Cyperus alternifolius^1,2; Ebenaceae: Diospyros sp.^1,2, Diospyros oleoides^1,2; Euphorbiaceae: Aleurites montana^1,2, Hevea brasiliensis^1,2; Fabaceae: Cassia fistula^1,2, Hardwickia binata^1,2, Inocarpus fagifer^1,2, Kentia sp.^1,2, Phaseolus vulgaris^1,2, Tamarindus indica^1,2; Heliconiaceae: Heliconia bihai^1,2, Heliconia sp.^1,2; Iridaceae: Dietes bicolor², Moraea bicolor¹; Juncaceae: Prinonium sp.^1,2; Lecythidaceae: Barringtonia edulis^1,2; Liliaceae: Aloe sp.^1,2, Cordyline terminalis^1,2, Cordyline fruticosa^1,2, Dracaena sp.^1,2; Lythraceae: Punica granatum¹; Magnoliaceae: Magnolia glandiflora^1,2, Michelia chambaka^1,2; Malvaceae: Gossypium barbadense^1,2, Hibiscus arnottianus^1,2, Hibiscus sp.^1,2, Sida sp.², Theobroma cacao¹; Marantaceae: Maranta sp.^1,2; Meliaceae: Dysoxylum sp.², Sandoricum sp.^1,2, Trichilia sp.^1,2; Moraceae: Artocarpus integrifolia^1,2, Artocarpus heterophyllus^1,2, Ficus glomerata^1,2; Musaceae: Musa sp.^1,2; Ochnaceae: Schuurmansia sp.^1,2; Oleaceae: Olea cuspidata^1,2, Olea sp.^1,2; Orchidaceae: Dendrobium sp.^1,2, Epidendrum sp.^1,2; Pandanaceae: Pandanus sp.^1,2, Pandanus conideus^1,2, Pandanus hornei^1,2, Pandanus odoratissimus^1,2, Pandanus seychellarum^1,2, Pandanus upoluensis^1,2, Pandanus utilis^1,2; Pinaceae: Pinus sp.^1,2; Piperaceae: Piper sp.^1,2; Polypodiaceae: Asplenium sp.^1,2; Proteaceae: Helicia sp.^1,2; Pteridaceae: Adiantum aethiopicum^1,2; Rubiaceae: Coprosma laevigata^1,2, Morinda citrifolia^1,2; Rutaceae: Citrus sp.^1,2; Smilacaceae: Smilax sp.^1,2; Solanaceae: Lycopersicon esculentum^1,2; Strelitziaceae: Strelitzia sp.^1,2, Strelitzia reginae^1,2; Thymelaeaceae: Daphne oleoides²; Ulmaceae: Celtis philippinensis^1,2; Verbenaceae: Lantana commersoni^1,2. The scale can spread long distances when infested plants or plant products are moved in commerce.

Worldwide Distribution: Pinnaspis buxi is widespread in Afrotropical, Australasian, Nearctic, Neotropical, Oriental, and Palearctic regions². In the United States it can be found in Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico & Vieques Island, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Hawaiian Islands².

Official Control: Pinnaspis buxi is listed as a quarantine pest by Costa Rica, Japan, New Zealand, and Seychelles.

California Distribution: Pinnaspis buxi has never been found in the environment of California.

California Interceptions: Pinnaspis buxi is commonly intercepted. Between January 1, 2000 and December 4, 2014 the scale was intercepted 857 times. Interceptions were typically on plants or plant material imported from Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Florida.

The risk Pinnaspis buxi (boxwood scale) would pose to California is evaluated below.

Consequences of Introduction:

1) Climate/Host Interaction: Pinnaspis buxi is highly polyphagous and feeds on a wide variety of plants, many of which are grown in California. The scale is likely able to establish wherever host plants are grown. Boxwood scale receives a High(3) in this category.

Evaluate if the pest would have suitable hosts and climate to establish in California. Score:

– Low (1) Not likely to establish in California, or likely to establish in very limited areas.

– Medium (2) may be able to establish in a larger but limited part of California.

– High (3) likely to establish a widespread distribution in California.

2) Known Pest Host Range: Pinnaspis buxi feeds on a wide variety of plants in at least 44 families. It receives a High(3) in this category.

Evaluate the host range of the pest. Score:

– Low (1) has a very limited host range.

– Medium (2) has a moderate host range.

– High (3) has a wide host range.

3) Pest Dispersal Potential: Scale insects have high reproductive rates. They may spread long distances when host plants are moved. Furthermore, they may spread by wind or by hitchhiking on clothing, animals, or equipment. Pinnaspis buxi receives a High(3) in this category.

Evaluate the natural and artificial dispersal potential of the pest. Score:

– Low (1) does not have high reproductive or dispersal potential.

– Medium (2) has either high reproductive or dispersal potential.

– High (3) has both high reproduction and dispersal potential.

4) Economic Impact: Despite the worldwide distribution and polyphagous nature of Pinnaspis buxi it does not appear to be documented as causing economic damage. Nevertheless, it is listed as a quarantine pest by several nations so it has the potential to trigger a loss of markets. Furthermore, it may increase production costs in citrus and in nursery industries as growers may treat to ensure fruit or plant cleanliness. Pinnaspis buxi receives a Medium(2) in this category.

Evaluate the economic impact of the pest to California using the criteria below. Score:

A. The pest could lower crop yield.

B. The pest could lower crop value (includes increasing crop production costs).

C. The pest could trigger the loss of markets (includes quarantines).

D. The pest could negatively change normal cultural practices.

E. The pest can vector, or is vectored, by another pestiferous organism.

F. The organism is injurious or poisonous to agriculturally important animals.

The organism can interfere with the delivery or supply of water for agricultural uses.

– Low (1) causes 0 or 1 of these impacts.

– Medium (2) causes 2 of these impacts.

– High (3) causes 3 or more of these impacts.

5) Environmental Impact: Pinnaspis buxi is not expected to lower biodiversity, disrupt natural communities, or change ecosystem processes. It is not expected to directly affect threatened or endangered species or disrupt critical habitats. The scale may trigger additional chemical treatment programs by the citrus and nursery industries and by residents who find infested plants unsightly. It is not expected to significantly impact cultural practices, home/urban gardening, or ornamental plantings. Boxwood scale receives a Medium(2) in this category.

Evaluate the environmental impact of the pest on California using the criteria below.

A. The pest could have a significant environmental impact such as lowering biodiversity, disrupting natural communities, or changing ecosystem processes.

B. The pest could directly affect threatened or endangered species.

C. The pest could impact threatened or endangered species by disrupting critical habitats.

D. The pest could trigger additional official or private treatment programs.

E. The pest significantly impacts cultural practices, home/urban gardening or ornamental plantings.

Score the pest for Environmental Impact. Score:

– Low (1) causes none of the above to occur.

– Medium (2) causes one of the above to occur.

– High (3) causes two or more of the above to occur.

**Consequences of Introduction to California for Pinnaspis buxi (Boxwood Scale): High(13)**

Add up the total score and include it here.

–Low = 5-8 points

–Medium = 9-12 points

–High = 13-15 points

6) Post Entry Distribution and Survey Information: Pinnaspis buxi has never been found in California and receives a Not established (0) in this category.

Evaluate the known distribution in California. Only official records identified by a taxonomic expert and supported by voucher specimens deposited in natural history collections should be considered. Pest incursions that have been eradicated, are under eradication, or have been delimited with no further detections should not be included.

–Not established (0) Pest never detected in California, or known only from incursions.

–Low (-1) Pest has a localized distribution in California, or is established in one suitable climate/host area (region).

–Medium (-2) Pest is widespread in California but not fully established in the endangered area, or pest established in two contiguous suitable climate/host areas.

–High (-3) Pest has fully established in the endangered area, or pest is reported in more than two contiguous or non-contiguous suitable climate/host areas.

Final Score

The final score is the consequences of introduction score minus the post entry distribution and survey information score: High(13)

Uncertainty:

Pinnaspis buxi is commonly intercepted. It is likely that the scale has entered California many other times and escaped detection. There have been no formal surveys for this scale in the state. It is therefore possible that it could be present in some locations in California.

Conclusion and Rating Justification:

Pinnaspis buxi is a polyphagous scale that may has never been found in the environment of California. If it were to enter the state, it could be expected to have economic impacts in the nursery and citrus industries. It may also have environmental impacts by triggering new chemical treatments. An “A”-rating is justified.