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Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

Coconut (false) scale (348)

Photo 1. Masses of adults and nymphs of the coconut (false) scales, Aspidiotus rigidus, on the leaf of a coconut.

Photo 2. Yellowing of mature palms, due to infestation of coconut (false) scale, Aspidiotus rigidus.

Photo 3. Yellowing and drying of leaflets of a coconut frond infested by the coconut (false) scale, Aspidiotus rigidus.

Photo 4. Close-up of female coconut (false) scale, Aspidiotus rigidus, showing the crescent of egg skins at the margins of the armour or scale cover.

Photo 5. Slide-mounted body of the coconut scale, Aspidiotus destructor.

Photo 6. Slide-mounted body of the coconut (false) scale, Aspidiotus rigidus.

Photo 7. Adults and nymphs of the coconut scale, Aspidiotus destructor. Note that the egg skins are around the margin in contrast to those of the coconut (false) scale, which are in a crescent on one side of the cover.

Summary

Narrow distribution. Not in Oceania. A scale of coconut, banana, mangosteen, and ornamentals. Since 2009, a serious outbreak in the Philippines.
Sucking causes leaves to yellow, wilt and dry out, nuts have less "meat" and "milk" is sour. Heavy infestations kill seedlings and young palms.
Eggs in crescents under the cover or "armour"; "crawlers" (nymphs) hatch and disperse, settle, moult; females produce yellow to brown transparent armour, up to 3 mm across. Males have wings, but short-lived.
Spread by crawlers walking, or carried by wind, vehicles, animals, birds, on clothing, and trade in plants.
Natural enemies: research into predators and parasitic wasps continues.
IPM recommendations (Philippines): leaf pruning, insecticide trunk injections, and canopy sprays; biocontrol agents (e.g., a Comperiella species), and fertilizer to hasten recovery. [The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (of Philippines) has given approval for growers to use a vegetable oil.]

Common Name

Coconut scale, coconut false scale

Scientific Name

Aspidiotus rigidus; previously Aspidiotus destructor rigidus.

AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
Information from Watson GA, Adalla CB, Shepard, Carner GR (2016) Aspidiotus rigidus Reyne (Hemiptera: Diaspididae): a devasting pest of coconuts in the Philippines. Agriculture and Forest Entomology 17:1-8; and from Aspidiotus rigidus Purdue University (https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20153049018). Photo 1-4 Merle Shepard/Gerald Carner, Clemson University, USA. Photos 5-7 Plant Pest Diagnostics Branch, California Department of Food & Agriculture, Sacramento, USA.

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

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