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Systematics and biology of two species of Microcera associated with armoured scales on citrus in Australia

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Abstract

Microcera coccophila has been regarded as an entomopathogen of armoured scales in Australia since the late 1800s. We confirmed its identity and presence in Australia using morphological and molecular data. We also confirmed that a related species, M. larvarum, is an entomopathogen of armoured scales in Australia. M. coccophila was recorded as a parasite of Aonidiella aurantii, A. citrina, Lepidosaphes beckii, L. gloverii and Unaspis citri in citrus orchards on the Central Coast of New South Wales. We recorded M. larvarum in these orchards in association with A. aurantii and one or more hosts that could not be identified due to their condition. The sexual and asexual morphs of both species are described. Genetic variation suggested that the taxa could represent various phylogenetic species. We fulfilled Koch’s postulates for both fungi in separate bioassays with Aspidiotus nerii. Infection was not dependent on the reproductive status of the scale. A laboratory study showed that Iridomyrmex rufoniger, a common ant in Australian citrus orchards, can passively disperse conidia of M. coccophila. Field observations suggested that the prevalence of the two fungal parasites in orchards is influenced by host scale densities, climate, and foraging by I. rufoniger workers on honeydew produced by their sternorrhynchan trophobionts, particularly Saissetia oleae. These foraging activities induced dense populations of A. aurantii by disrupting the activities of the scale’s natural arthropod enemies; this was followed by epizootics of M. coccophila that decimated populations of the scale.

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Acknowledgments

The study was undertaken as part of postgraduate studies funded by an AusAID scholarship awarded to Dao Thi Hang. We thank the owners of study orchards on the Central Coast of New South Wales: Ted and Sylvia Lister, and Ross and Maureen Hitchcock at Kulnura, Max and Kevin Britten at Somersby, Jeromy Wallis and Gerry Whitmont at Lower Portland, Bruce and Phillip Gardiner at Cornwallis, and Deidre Hartog at Castlereagh. Ms Sandra Hardy (formerly Industry Leader Citrus, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries) is thanked for her enthusiastic support and interest. Oleander scale cultures were established from scale-infested butternut pumpkins kindly supplied by Dan Papacek, Bugs for Bugs, Integrated Pest Management Pty Ltd, Mundubbera, QLD, Australia. Typhlodromips montdorensis was also kindly supplied by Dan Papacek.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Protection Research Institute, Chem, Tu Liem, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Hang Thi Dao

  2. University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia

    G. Andrew C. Beattie & Paul Holford

  3. Systematic Mycology & Microbiology Laboratory, USDA-ARS, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA

    Amy Y. Rossman

  4. Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Lester W. Burgess

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  1. Hang Thi Dao
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Correspondence to Hang Thi Dao.

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Dao, H.T., Beattie, G.A.C., Rossman, A.Y. et al. Systematics and biology of two species of Microcera associated with armoured scales on citrus in Australia. Mycol Progress 14, 17 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11557-015-1044-0

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