{"id":1246,"date":"2015-10-21T13:18:09","date_gmt":"2015-10-21T20:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=1246"},"modified":"2022-05-16T09:47:20","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T16:47:20","slug":"acutaspis-agavis-townsend-cockerell-agave-scale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=1246","title":{"rendered":"Acutaspis agavis (Townsend & Cockerell): Agave scale"},"content":{"rendered":"
California Pest Rating for<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Acutaspis agavis<\/em><\/strong> (Townsend & Cockerell):\u00a0 Agave scale<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Hemiptera:\u00a0 Diaspididae<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Pest Rating: \u00a0B<\/h5>\n
\n
PEST RATING PROFILE<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Initiating Event: <\/strong><\/h5>\n

On March 21, 2014, Dr. Gillian Watson identified the armored scale Acutaspis agavis<\/em> from a sample collected from plants growing outdoors at a school in La Jolla, San Diego County.\u00a0 A heavy infestation was reported at the site on the adaxial leaf surfaces of Agave tequilana<\/em>.\u00a0 Tissue dieback was reported on the most infested leaves and there was no evidence of parasitism or predation.\u00a0 The insect is currently Q-rated, so a pest rating proposal is needed to determine future direction.<\/p>\n

History & Status:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Background<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 Acutaspis agavis<\/em> is host specific to Agave<\/em> spp.\u00a0 The primary pathway for spread of the scale is likely the movement of infested agave plants.<\/p>\n

Worldwide Distribution<\/u><\/strong>: Acutaspis agavis<\/em> is probably native to Mexico.\u00a0 It has also been reported from Costa Rica, Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago.\u00a0 In the United States it has been found in Arizona, Florida, and Texas.<\/p>\n

Official Control<\/u><\/strong>: Acutaspis agavis<\/em> is not known to be under official control in any other states or nations.<\/p>\n

California Distribution<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 Acutaspis agavis<\/em> is only known from an incursion at a school in La Jolla.<\/p>\n

California Interceptions<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 The only instance of an Acutaspis agavis<\/em> detection in a regulatory situation was in a nursery in El Cajon in 2012.<\/p>\n

The risk Acutaspis agavis<\/em> (Agave scale) would pose to California is evaluated below.<\/p>\n

Consequences of Introduction:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n

1) Climate\/Host Interaction<\/span>:<\/strong> Agave <\/em> are commonly grown as ornamental plants in California and the scale is expected to be able to establish wherever they are grown. Acutaspis agavis<\/em> receives a High(3)<\/strong><\/span> in this category.<\/p>\n

Evaluate if the pest would have suitable hosts and climate to establish in California.\u00a0 Score:<\/p>\n

– Low (1)<\/strong> Not likely to establish in California; or likely to establish in very limited areas.<\/p>\n

– Medium (2)<\/strong> may be able to establish in a larger but limited part of California.<\/p>\n

– High (3)<\/strong> likely to establish a widespread distribution in California.<\/span><\/p>\n

2) Known Pest Host Range<\/span>:<\/strong> Acutaspis agavis<\/em> is specific to Agave<\/em>\u00a0 The scale receives a Low(1)<\/strong><\/span> in this category.<\/p>\n

Evaluate the host range of the pest. Score:<\/p>\n

– Low (1)<\/strong> has a very limited host range.<\/span><\/p>\n

– Medium (2)<\/strong> has a moderate host range.<\/p>\n

– High (3)<\/strong> has a wide host range.<\/p>\n

3) Pest Dispersal Potential<\/span>:<\/strong> Evidence suggests that Acutaspis agavis<\/em> has two generations per year2\u00a0<\/sup>and each female is presumably capable of laying hundreds of eggs.\u00a0 Adult female armored scales are immobile, but populations may be transported long distances through commerce in infested plants.\u00a0 Acutaspis agavis<\/em> receives a High(3)<\/strong> <\/span>in this category.<\/p>\n

Evaluate the natural and artificial dispersal potential of the pest. Score:<\/p>\n

– Low (1)<\/strong> does not have high reproductive or dispersal potential.<\/p>\n

– Medium (2)<\/strong> has either high reproductive or dispersal potential.<\/p>\n

– High (3)<\/strong> has both high reproduction and dispersal potential.<\/span><\/p>\n

4) Economic Impact<\/span>:<\/strong> Acutaspis agavis<\/em> has the potential to increase production costs of Agave<\/em> plants in the nursery industry.\u00a0 The scale is not expected to lower crop yield, trigger lost markets, alter cultural practices, vector other organisms, injure animals, or interfere with water supplies.\u00a0 Agave scale receives a Low(1)<\/strong> <\/span>in this category.<\/p>\n

Evaluate the economic impact of the pest to California using the criteria below. Score:<\/p>\n

A. \u00a0The pest could lower crop yield.<\/p>\n

B<\/strong>. \u00a0The pest could lower crop value (includes increasing crop production costs).<\/span><\/p>\n

C. \u00a0The pest could trigger the loss of markets (includes quarantines).<\/p>\n

D. \u00a0The pest could negatively change normal cultural practices.<\/p>\n

E. \u00a0The pest can vector, or is vectored, by another pestiferous organism.<\/p>\n

F. \u00a0The organism is injurious or poisonous to agriculturally important animals.<\/p>\n

G. \u00a0The organism can interfere with the delivery or supply of water for agricultural uses.<\/p>\n

– Low (1)<\/strong> causes 0 or 1 of these impacts.<\/span><\/p>\n

– Medium (2)<\/strong> causes 2 of these impacts.<\/p>\n

– High (3)<\/strong> causes 3 or more of these impacts.<\/p>\n

5) Environmental Impact<\/span>:<\/strong> Acutaspis agavis<\/em> has the potential to trigger new chemical treatments in the nursery industry and by residents who find infested plants unsightly.\u00a0 Agave plants are popular and widely grown, especially in southern California.\u00a0 In the absence of natural enemies agave scale has the potential to significantly impact these cultural practices.\u00a0 Agave scale is not expected to lower biodiversity, disrupt natural communities, or change ecosystem processes.\u00a0 The scale is also not expected to affect threatened or endangered species or disrupt critical habitats.\u00a0 Agave scale receives a High(3)<\/strong><\/span> in this category.<\/p>\n

Evaluate the environmental impact of the pest on California using the criteria below.<\/p>\n

A. \u00a0The pest could have a significant environmental impact such as lowering biodiversity, disrupting natural communities, or changing ecosystem processes.<\/p>\n

B. \u00a0The pest could directly affect threatened or endangered species.<\/p>\n

C. \u00a0The pest could impact threatened or endangered species by disrupting critical habitats.<\/p>\n

D<\/strong>. \u00a0The pest could trigger additional official or private treatment programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

E<\/strong>. \u00a0The pest significantly impacts cultural practices, home\/urban gardening or ornamental plantings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Score the pest for Environmental Impact. Score:<\/p>\n

– Low (1)<\/strong> causes none of the above to occur.<\/p>\n

– Medium (2)<\/strong> causes one of the above to occur.<\/p>\n

– High (3)<\/strong> causes two or more of the above to occur.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consequences of Introduction to California for Acutaspis agavis<\/em> (Agave scale):<\/strong>\u00a0 Medium(11)<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

Add up the total score and include it here.<\/p>\n

–Low<\/strong> = 5-8 points<\/p>\n

–Medium<\/strong> = 9-12 points<\/span><\/p>\n

–High<\/strong> = 13-15 points<\/p>\n

6) Post Entry Distribution and Survey Information<\/span>:<\/strong> Acutaspis agavis<\/em> is only known from an incursion at a school in La Jolla. It is unknown if the scale has spread to other agave plants in the area.\u00a0 Agave scale receives a Low(-1)<\/strong><\/span> in this category.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

–Not established (0)<\/strong> Pest never detected in California, or known only from incursions.<\/p>\n

–Low (-1)<\/strong> Pest has a localized distribution in California, or is established in one suitable climate\/host area (region).<\/span><\/p>\n

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

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

Final Score:<\/h5>\n

The final score is the consequences of introduction score minus the post entry distribution and survey information score: Medium(10)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Uncertainty: <\/strong><\/h5>\n

Agave plants are popular landscape plants, especially in southern California.\u00a0 There have been no surveys for Acutaspis agavis<\/em> and it may be present in other locations.<\/p>\n

Conclusion and Rating Justification: <\/strong><\/h5>\n

Economic impacts of Acutaspis agavis<\/em> should be limited to possible increases in production costs of agave plants in the nursery industry.\u00a0 However, the entry of agave scale into California may have significant environmental impacts due to the popularity of the plant and the absence of its natural enemies.\u00a0 A B-rating is justified.<\/p>\n

References:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

1<\/sup>Systematic Entomology Laboratory.\u00a0 http:\/\/www.sel.barc.usda.gov\/catalogs\/diaspidi\/Acutaspisagavis.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

2<\/sup>Salas-Araiza, M.D., R.W. Jones, G. Montesinos-Silva, E. Salazar-Solis, L.A. Parra-Negrete, O. Martinez-Jaime, R. Ramirez-Malagon, and S. Flores-Mejia.\u00a0 2008.\u00a0 Population dynamics of the agave scale, Acutaspis agavis<\/em> (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), on Agave tequilana<\/em> var. azul<\/em> (Agavaceae) in Central Mexico.\u00a0 Southwestern Entomologist 33(4):289-298.\u00a0 http:\/\/www.bioone.org\/doi\/abs\/10.3958\/0147-1724-33.4.289<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
Responsible Party:<\/h5>\n

Jason Leathers, 1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA, 95814, (916) 654-1211, plant.health[@]cdfa.ca.gov.<\/p>\n

\n

Pest Rating: \u00a0B<\/h3>\n
\n

Posted by ls<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

California Pest Rating for Acutaspis agavis (Townsend & Cockerell):\u00a0 Agave scale Hemiptera:\u00a0 Diaspididae Pest Rating: \u00a0B PEST RATING PROFILE Initiating Event: On March 21, 2014, Dr. Gillian Watson identified the armored scale Acutaspis agavis from a sample collected from plants growing outdoors at a school in La Jolla, San Diego County.\u00a0 A heavy infestation was … Continue reading Acutaspis agavis (Townsend & Cockerell): Agave scale<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[18,5],"tags":[215,175,52],"class_list":["post-1246","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hemiptera","category-entomology","tag-acutaspis-agavis","tag-hemiptera-diaspididae","tag-insects-and-mites"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5l8vQ-k6","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5166,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=5166","url_meta":{"origin":1246,"position":0},"title":"Gray Scale | Pseudoparlatoria ostreata","author":"Kyle Beucke","date":"April 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"California Pest Rating for Gray Scale | Pseudoparlatoria ostreata Cockerell Hemiptera: Diaspididae Pest Rating: A \u00a0 PEST RATING PROFILE Initiating Event: Pseudoparlatoria ostreata was reported to be established on the island of Oahu, Hawaii (J. 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