Xue, J.L., Xie, Y.P., & Li, Y.F. 2001a The effect of city pollution on VB2 content in twigs and leaves of Sophora japonica and on the population of Eulecanium gigantea.. Scientia Silvae Sinicae 37(2): 65-73.

Notes: Eulecanium gigantea Shinji (Homoptera: Coccidae) is an important pest in the cities of northern China in recent years. Experimental districts were selected in Taiyuan City and Taigu county from 1998 to 1999. Vitamin B2 (VB2) was determined mostly in twigs and leaves of Sophora japonica, the most favorable host of the scale insect. The results showed that the population density and biological rhythm of the scale insect were contrasted with the content of VB2 and the VB2 content in the two pollution districts were significantly higher than that in the cleaning district. Higher pollution was reflected in more VB2 content in the host tree. A positive correlation between density of the scale insect and VB2 content was found. It was concluded that a higher VB2 content in the host plant was beneficial to some degree to scale insects occurring in large populations in a polluted city environment.