Valid Names Results

Melanaspis deklei Deitz & Davidson, 1986 (Diaspididae: Melanaspis)

Melanaspis deklei Deitz & Davidson 1986: 26. Type data: U.S.A.: Florida, Columbia Co., Santa Fe River, on Sebastiania sp.. Holotype, female, Type depository: Washington: United States National Entomological Collection, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, USA; accepted valid name Illustr.

Families: 8 | Genera: 11

Countries: 2

Structure: Deitz & Davidson (1986) did not describe the scale cover.
Biology: All life stages feed on the twigs (and on leaves during heavy infestations) of wax myrtles, causing the surrounding tissues to die and collapse. The symptoms of the initial infestation include circular purplish necrosis around feeding sites. The majority of M. deklei overwintered as non-reproductive adult females, although second-instar nymphs also were present during the winter months. M. deklei has three overlapping generations per year in South Carolina. In each generation, crawlers of M. deklei were present for more than a month.(Chong & Camacho, 2014)
Economic Importance: If scale insect populations are not managed, the entire wax myrtle shrub may die within months or years, depending on the initial health and size of the infested plants. The loss of shrubs and impairment of aesthetic value are becoming a significant management problem for urban landscapes in coastal communities of South Carolina . (Chong & Camacho, 2014)
General Remarks: Description and illustration of adult female by Deitz & Davidson (1986).