Lima, I.M. de M., & Gama, N.S. 2001 [Record of host plants (Cactaceae) and new dissemination strategy of Diaspis echinocacti (Bouche) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), Prickly-Pear-Scale, in the states of Pernambuco and Alagoas, Brazil]. Neotropical Entomology 30(3): 479-481.

Notes: [Original title: Registro de Plantas Hospedeiras (Cactaceae) e de Nova Forma de Disseminaçao de Diaspis echinocacti (Bouche) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), Cochonilha-da-Palma-Forrageira, nos Estados de Pernambuco e Alagoas.] Opuntia ficus-indica and Nopalea cochenillifera (Cactaceae) are alternative food sources for cattle in drought areas of the Northeastern Region of Brazil. Diaspis echinocacti (Bouche) is the unique pest of these Cactacea species and it was previously detected on the following native host plants: Cereus jamacaru, Melocactus sp., Opuntia dillenii and O. inamoena. The new record of native hosts are Cereus gounellei, C. squamosus and the exotic C. hildemannianus from drought areas; Pereskia grandifolia and Epiphyllum oxypetalum, native species from tropical forest used as ornamental plants. D. echinocacti has not infested O. monacantha in the field and in laboratory bioassays. The dissemination of the neonate scale insect transported on the body surface of the predators Chilocorus nigrita and Zagreus bimaculosus Coccinellidae: Chilocorinae) was recorded for the first time.