Scales (Hemiptera, Superfamily Coccoidea). Chapter 9.3

By

Pellizzari Scaltriti, Giuseppina
Germain, Jean-François

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2010

Original Publication

BioRisk : biodiversity & ecosystem risk assessment

Volume

4

Pages

475-510

Subjects

Europe, Alien, scale insects

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/biorisk.4.45

 

Abstract

Scale insects are frequent invaders. With 129 established species, they numerically represent one of the major group of insects alien to Europe. Scales are usually small insects with wingless females. Due to this small size and concealment, many species, mainly belonging to the families Diaspididae, Pseudococcidae and Pseudococcidae, have been accidentally introduced to Europe, mostly originating from tropical regions and essentially from Asia. The trade of fruit trees and ornamentals appears to be the usual pathway of introduction. At present, alien scales represent an important component of the European entomofauna, accounting for about 30% of the total scale fauna.