Mazzoni, E. 2001 Overwintering of the San José scale on stone fruit in northern Italy.. IOBC/WPRS Bulletin 24(5): 201-206.

Notes: [Proceedings of the IOBC-WPRS Fifth International Conference on Integrated Fruit Protection, Lleida, Spain, 22-26 October, 2000. Avilla, J. & Polesny, F. (Eds.)] A monitoring program was carried out in Emilia-Romagna during winter 1998-99 to establish the developmental stage of overwintering Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock) (Homoptera: Diaspididae) specimens in northern Italy, mainly on stone fruit. Some stone fruit orchards and one pear orchard (used for comparison) were sampled. Samples were collected at the end of autumn and three times during winter. Live San José scale specimens were removed and slide mounted. Microscopic observations were conducted to assess developmental stage and stylet development. According to data collected, most specimens spend the greatest part of the winter in the first stage. Specimens begin to develop quickly toward second and adult stages at the end of winter. No significant differences have been observed between the different crops. Data on the phenology of this pest are very useful in choosing control strategies mainly based on IGR application during winter. Pseudaulacaspis pentagona is also mentioned as one of the major scale insects in northern Italy stone fruit orchards.