PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH. 102(3), 2000, pp. 549-560 LIFE HISTORY OF THE PUTNAM SCALE, DIASPIDIOTUS ANCYLUS (PUTNAM) (HEMIPTERA: COCCOIDEA: DIASPIDIDAE) ON BLUEBERRIES iVACCINIUM CORYMBOSUM, ERICACEAE) IN NEW JERSEY, WITH A WORLD LIST OF SCALE INSECTS ON BLUEBERRIES Sridhar Polavarapu, John A. Davidson, and Douglass R. Miller (SP) Blueberry and Cranberry Research Center, Rutgers University, Chats worth, NJ 08019, U.S.A. (e-mail:
[email protected]); (JAD) Department of Entomolo-gy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, U.S.A. (e-mail:
[email protected]); (DRM) Systematic Entomology Laboratory, PSI, Agricultural Re-search Service, USDA, Bldg. 005, BARC-W, Beltsville, MD 20705, U.S.A. (e-mail: dmiller@ sel.barc.usda.gov) Abstract. — Life history of the Putnam scale was investigated during 1997 and 1998 on highbush blueberries in the pine barrens of southern New Jersey. Putnam scale has two generations each year. Crawler emergences in the first and second generations peaked during late May and early to mid-August, respectively. This species overwinters as second instar nymphs, primarily under the bark (cork cambium) of the host. Adult females that occur on or under the bark of blueberries differ morphologically from those on the leaves and fruit. Descriptions of both forms are provided. Nine species of parasitoids were reared from canes containing Putnam scale infestations and peak emergence times of the para-sitoids coincided with the transition between the adult females and crawlers. Key Words: scale insect, life history, armored scale, Putnam scale, blueberry, pest, par-asitoids, lady beetles, Diaspidiotus ancylus Scale insects are frequently cited as pests crete a cover, but the hard, banded structure of blueberries (Marucci 1966, Milholland that is evident on the host plant is the body and Meyer 1984, Antonelli et al. 1992), but of the adult female; Putnam scale is only there often is considerable misinformation known to overwinter as second-instar males about the species that are causing problems, and females (Tinker 1957, Stimmel 1976); Examples of erroneous statements from the Putnam scale is reported to have two gen-literature include: terrapin scale, Mesole-erations each year in Delaware (Bray canium nigrofasciatum (Pergande) secretes 1974); armored scales do not secrete hon-a rigid cover over its body (Milholland and eydew but concentrate the anal secretion Meyer 1984); Putnam scale overwinters as and incorporate it into the scale cover (Fol-fully developed adults (Antonelli et al. di 1989). 1992); all scale insects on blueberries have The purpose of this paper is to provide a single generation each year (Milholland definitive information on the life history of and Meyer 1984); Putnam scale secretes Putnam scale on blueberries in the pine bar-honeydew which covers leaves and fruit rens of southern New Jersey, to provide de-and interrupts normal plant growth (Maruc-tailed illustrations of the leaf and stem ci 1966). In fact, terrapin scale does not se-forms of the species, to give information on
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