A new species of armored scale (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Diaspididae) found on avocado fruit from Mexico and a key to the species of armored scales found on avocado worldwide

摘要

A new species of armored scale, Abgratlaspis aguacatae Evans, Watson, and Miller spec. nov. is described and illustrated from specimens collected on avocado fruit from Mexico. This species has caused considerable concern as a quarantine issue in the United States. A key to the armored scale species known to feed on avocado worldwide is provided. Avocado (Persea americana Mill., Lauraceae), known as aguacate or palta in Spanish, is a tree native to Mexico and Central America. Evidence suggests that itmay have been cultivated in Mexico for as long as 10,000 years (Barry, 2001). It has been cultivated in South America since at least 900 A.D, because an avocado-shaped water jar was found in the pre-Incan city of Chan Chan in Peru (Barry, 2001). The fruit has become very popular around the world; according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAOSTAT, 2008), nearly 3.45 million metric tons of avocados were produced worldwide in 2004. Mexico is the largest producer; it accounted for33.2% (an estimated 1.14 million tons) of global production and 27.6% of the export market in 2004 (Evans & Nalampang, 2006).