New data on the scale insect pests of Ephedra foeminea in Greece

Abstract

Summary The dioecious gymnosperm self-sown ornamental plant Ephedra foeminea Forssk (Ephedraceae: Gnetales) has a special interest due to its nutraceutical and pharmaceutical properties. The present study contributes with data about the phenology of the plant in Attica, Greece, and the complex of its scale insect pests (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha), Stotzia ephedrae (Newstead) (Coccidae) (morphology, phenology, biology, natural enemies), Dynaspidiotus ephedrarum (Lindinger) (morphology, natural enemies) and Leucaspis riccae Targioni Tozzetti (Diaspididae) (natural enemies), based on observations made from April 2021 to June 2023. Stotzia ephedrae which was the scale species found in higher numbers on E. foeminea is a univoltine, oviparous and biparental species recorded as settled 1st instar nymph on the shoots of E. foeminea from May to January. The fecundity of the scale fluctuated between 370 and 598 eggs per female. The results on the phenology of S. ephedrae contribute to the knowledge of the critical period for the pest control, i.e. from May to January during which the scale remains in the sensitive first instar. In addition, the records of parasitoids and predators in the colonies of the scale insects infesting E. foeminea provide information on the available natural enemies for potential use in biological control schemes of these pests.