Knight, I.A., Wilson, B.E., Gill, M., Aviles, L., Cronin, J.T., Nyman, J.A., Schneider, S.A., & Diaz, R. 2018 Invasion of Nipponaclerda biwakoensis (Hemiptera: Aclerdidae) and Phragmites australis die-back in southern Louisiana, USA. Biological invasions 20(10): 2739–2744

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diagnosis

distribution

host

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Notes: In the Fall of 2016, while investigating symptoms of die-back of Phragmites stands in the lower marsh in the Mississippi River Deltav(MRD), Louisiana, USA, a non-native scale was found infestingaffected stands in high densities. Identified as Nipponaclerda biwakoensis (Kuwana). This report represents the first recorded population of Nipponaclerda biwakoensis in North America. Given its apparent relationship with the die-back syndrome, the scale may have serious implications for the health and stability of Phragmites marsh communities across coastal Louisiana.