Phraotes torvus Marshall, 1956
[Circulionoidae]
Taro spiny weevil
|
Yes – Reported severely chewing taro petioles in Papua New Guinea (French 2006). Adults feed on petioles and leaves (Maddison 1993).
|
No record found.
|
No – Information on this species is scare. Possibly restricted to New Guinea, and not known to be invasive. No quarantine reports of this species (Maddison and Crosby 2009).
|
No – Not considered to be a pest species (Maddison and Crosby 2009).
|
No
|
Propsephus hawaiiensis (Candèze, 1881)
[Elateridae]
Click beetle
|
Yes – Larvae feed on the roots of a number of plants including taro (Watt 1986). No information is available on likelihood of larvae burrowing into the corm, but Elateridae larvae typically feed on live roots and dead plant material (Watt 1986).
|
No record found.
|
Yes – Feeds on dead plant material in the soil, and larvae may feed on live roots of a number of plant species (Watt 1986).
|
No – There are few reports of this species being a pest, but it may have a minor impact on the roots of banana and sugarcane and some vegetables. Not recorded as a pest in the Pacific Islands Pest Database.
|
No
|
Propsephus tongaensis (Candèze, 1878)
[Elateridae]
Click beetle
|
No – Larvae feed on the roots of a number of plants in the Pacific, but Watt (1986) did not report taro as a host. Could be present in soil attached to poorly cleaned corms. Unidentified Elateridae beetles have been occasionally intercepted on taro from Fiji and Vanuatu (AQIS interception data).
|
No record found.
|
|
|
No
|
Propsephus sp.
[Elateridae]
Click beetle
|
Yes – Larvae of an unidentified species of Propsephus were recorded feeding on the roots of a number of plants, including taro in Samoa and Fiji (Watt 1986). Unidentified Elateridae beetles have been occasionally intercepted on taro from Fiji and Vanuatu (AQIS interception data).
|
No record found.
|
Yes – Feeds on dead plant material in the soil, and larvae may feed on live roots of a number of plant species (Watt 1986).
|
No – There are few reports of Propsephus beetles being economic pests. It may have a minor impact on the roots of banana and sugarcane and some vegetables. Not recorded as a pest in the Pacific Islands Pest Database.
|
No
|
Thompsoniella deplanatus (Boheman, 1859)
[Syn.: Atactus deplanatus (Boheman, 1859)]
[Circulionoidae]
Weevil
|
No – Reported to chew holes in taro leaves in Pohnpei (Nafus 1997). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
No record found.
|
|
|
No
|
Tribolium castaneum (Herbst, 1797)
[Tenebrionidae]
Red flour beetle
|
Yes – Eggs can be laid in stored products, where the emerging larvae feed (CABI 2007).
|
Yes. Has been recorded in ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas., Vic. and WA (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Dermaptera (earwigs)
|
Chelisoches morio (Fabricius, 1775)
[Chelisochidae]
Black earwig
|
No – Commonly associated with flowers of taro. Also damages banana flowers. It is a predator of small insects (French 2006). Should be eliminated by normal packing procedures.
|
No record found.
|
|
|
No
|
Hemiptera (aphids, leafhoppers, mealybugs, phyllids, scales, true bugs, whiteflies)
|
Agathyrna praecellens Stål,1861
[Syn.: Astacops flavicollis Walker, 1871]
[Coreidae]
|
No – Arboreal species (Cassis and Gross 2002) unlikely to be found on taro corms or roots.
|
Yes. Found in NE coastal Queensland, and the Iron Range, NW Queensland (Cassis and Gross 2002).
|
|
|
No
|
Aleurodicus dispersus Russell, 1965
[Aleyrodidae]
Spiralling whitefly
|
No – Larvae and adults feed on the sap from foliage (Martin Kessing and Mau 1993). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in Qld (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Aleurodicus destructor Mackie, 1912
[Syn.: Aleurodes albofloccosa Froggatt, 1918; Aleyrodicus destructor Mackie, 1912]
[Aleyrodidae]
Coconut whitefly
|
No – Larvae and adults feed on the sap from foliage (Martin and Gillespie 2009). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT, Qld, Tas., Vic. and WA (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Aleurothrixus antidesmae Takahashi, 1933
[Aleyrodidae]
Whitefly
|
No – Aleurithrixus spp. are leaf sap feeders, both as adults and larvae (CABI 2007). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
No record found.
|
|
|
No
|
Aleurotrachelus trachoides (Back, 1912)
[Aleyrodidae]
Whitefly
|
No – Aleurotrachelus spp. are leaf sap feeders, both as adults and larvae (CABI 2007). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
No record found.
|
|
|
No
|
Aphis gossypii Glover, 1877
[Aphididae]
Cotton aphid
|
No – Leaf feeding species. Aphids move to younger leaves, stems and flowers when populations are high (CABI 2007). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas., Vic. and WA (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Aspidiella hartii (Cockerell, 1895)
[Syn.: Aspidiotus hartii Cockerell, 1895]
[Diaspididae]
Yam scale
|
Yes – Colocasia esculenta is a host. Associated with tubers in storage (Ben-Dov et al. 2010).
|
Yes. Reported from Australia by Watson (2011), and by Soltic and Peacock (2006). Recorded in NSW (Donaldson 2002).
|
|
|
No
|
Aspidiotus destructor Signoret, 1869
[Syn.: Aspidiotus cocotis Newstead, 1893; Aspidiotus lataniae Green, 1980]
[Diaspididae]
Coconut scale
|
No – This pest is usually found in densely massed colonies on the lower surfaces of leaves, except in extremely heavy infestations where it may be present on both sides. It may also be found on petioles, peduncles and fruits (Martin Kessing et al. 2007). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in NT and Qld (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Astacops villicus (Stål,1867)
[Lygaeidae]
|
No – Small bugs causing wilting of taro leaves (French 2006). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
No record found.
|
|
|
No
|
Bemisia leakii (Peal, 1903)
[Syn.: Aleurodes leakii Peal, 1903]
[Aleyrodidae]
Whitefly
|
No – Leaf sap suckers. Members of this group [Bemisia leakii, Bemisia afer and Bemisia hancocki] are not considered to be pests (Ecoport 2011), but they may transmit viruses. Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
No record found.
|
|
|
No
|
Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, 1889) ‘strain B’
[Syn.: Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring, 1994; Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, 1889) (B biotype)]
[Aleyrodidae]
Silver leaf whitefly
|
No – Leaf sap suckers. Adults and juveniles (nymphs) feed by sucking the sap from the host plants (Ecoport 2011). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in NT (APPD 2009), NSW, Qld and Tas. (CABI 2007).
It has been intercepted in WA (CABI 2007).
|
|
|
No
|
Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, 1889) 'Nauru strain'
[Aleyrodidae]
Sweet potato / tobacco / cotton whitefly
|
No – Leaf sap suckers that may transmit viruses (Ecoport 2011). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
No record of this strain in Australia.
|
|
|
No
|
Brachylybas variegatus (Le Guillou, 1841)
[Coreidae]
Brown coreid bug
|
Yes – Reported on taro in Tonga (Ecoport 2011) and Fiji (Mitchell 2000). Coreids are large bugs with repellent odours, mainly feeding on leaves, shoots and fruits (Gross 1991). Listed by Mitchell (2000) as a minor pest, feeding on leaves and petioles of taro.
|
No record found.
|
Yes – This species has limited distribution (Fiji and Tonga), but host plants are common in Australia.
|
No – This species has been reported on crop species such as tomatoes and cucurbits, but is only a minor pest (Mitchell 2000).
|
No
|
Coccus hesperidum Linnaeus, 1758
[Coccidae]
Brown soft scale
|
No – Leaf feeding species (CABI 2007). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas., Vic. and WA (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Coccus longulus (Douglas, 1887)
[Coccidae]
Long shield scale
|
No – The long brown scale, like other soft scales, feeds from the phloem of the host plant and may be found on stems, leaves and green twigs where they are associated with veins (Copland and Ibrahim 1985). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT, Qld and SA (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Cyrtorhinus fulvus (Knight, 1935)
[Miridae]
Mirid
|
Yes – Predatory species that oviposits in the petioles of taro, usually in plants where taro planthoppers (Tarophagus colocasiae) have laid eggs (Wheeler 2001).
|
No record found.
|
Yes – Predator of taro planthopper Tarophagus proserpina, which is present in parts of Australia.
|
No – Cyrtorhinus fulvus is not a plant pest. It is used as a biological control agent against the taro planthopper in parts of the Pacific. Although typically associated with young leaves and petioles, it may occasionally arrive with corms.
|
No
|
Diaspis bromeliae (Kerner, 1778)
[Diaspididae]
Pineapple scale
|
No – Found on the leaves, fruit and stems of hosts (Watson 2011). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in NSW and Qld (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell, 1893)
[Pseudococcidae]
Pineapple mealybug
|
No – Infestations of Dysmicoccus brevipes occur on the foliage, stems and fruit of host plants, but is common on the roots of pineapple (CABI 2007).
|
Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT, Qld, Tas. and WA (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Ferrisia virgata Cockerell, 1893
[Syn.: Ferrisiana virgata (Cockerell, 1893); Helicoccus malvastrus McDaniel, 1962]
[Pseudococcidae]
Striped mealybug
|
No – Infestations remain clustered around the terminal shoots, leaves and fruit of hosts, sucking the sap (CABI 2007). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in NT and Qld (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Geococcus coffeae Green, 1933
[Pseudococcidae]
Coffee root mealybug
|
Yes – Taro is a host. Occurs on the roots of host plants (Ben-Dov et al. 2010).
|
Yes. Recorded in NT (Ben-Dov 1994), SA, Tas., Vic. and WA (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Halticus insularis Usinger, 1946
[Miridae]
Island fleahopper
|
No – Eggs are laid under leaf cuticle. Nymphs and adults feed on sap (French 2006). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
No record found.
|
|
|
No
|
Hemiberlesia lataniae (Signoret, 1869)
[Syn.: Aspidiotus cydoniae Comstock, 1881; Aspidiotus lataniae Signoret, 1869]
[Diaspididae]
Latania scale
|
No – Found on upper and lower leaf surfaces, fruits, and stems of host plants (Tenbrick and Hara 1992a). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in NSW, Qld, Vic. and WA (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Hemiberlesia palmae (Cockerell, 1893)
[Diaspididae]
Scale
|
No – Found on the leaves of hosts (Ben-Dov et al. 2010). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in Qld (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas, 1890)
[Monophlebidae]
Breadfruit mealybug
|
No – Feeds on leaves and stems of hosts (CABI 2007). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT and Qld (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Lamenia caliginea Stål, 1854
[Derbidae]
Derbid bug
|
No – Feeds from leaf tissues. They are often found feeding along the underside midrib of leaves of large-leaved plant hosts (Martin Kessing and Mau 1992). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in NSW (APPD 2009).
|
|
|
No
|
Lepidosaphes carolinensis Beardsley, 1966
[Diaspididae]
Caroline scale
|
Yes – Lepidosaphes spp. are scales usually associated with leaves, stems and fruits of shrubs and trees (CABI 2007). Reported on taro leaf blades and petioles in Micronesia (Nafus 1997).
|
No record found.
|
Yes – Little information is available on this species. It has limited distribution (Federated States of Micronesia and Palau) and restricted host range (Alocasia sp. and Cycas sp.), suggesting only limited ability to establish.
|
No – No reports of significant damage to host plants. Nafus (1997) did not consider it a serious pest or of quarantine concern.
|
No
|
Leptoglossus gonagra (Fabricius, 1775)
[Syn.: Leptoglossus australis (Fabricius, 1775; Fabrictilis australis (Fabricius, 1775)
[Coreidae]
Squash bug
|
No – Feeds on stems, flower buds and developing fruits of hosts (Caetano and Boiça Jr. 2000). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT and Qld (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Melanaspis bromeliae (Leonardi, 1899)
[Diaspididae]
Brown pineapple scale
|
No – Melanaspis spp. are scales usually associated with aerial leaves, stems and fruits of shrubby or tree species (CABI 2007). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
No record found.
|
|
|
No
|
Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776)
[Aphididae]
Green peach aphid
|
No – Typically feeds on older senescing leaves, often along the leaf veins (CABI 2007). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas., Vic. and WA (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Nysius femoratus Van Duzee, 1940
[Lygaeidae]
Chinch bug
|
No – Bugs occasionally reported on taro leaf (French 2006). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
No record found.
|
|
|
No
|
Orosius argentatus (Evans, 1938)
[Cicadellidae]
Common brown jassid
|
No – Leaf feeding species. Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas., Vic. and WA (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Paraputo aracearum Williams, 2005
[Pseudococcidae]
Mealybug
|
Yes – Found on taro corms imported into California from Fiji in 2004 (Williams 2005).
|
No record found.
|
Yes – Evidence does not indicate this is an invasive species, but little is known about it. Taro is the only known host, and it has not spread beyond Fiji (Williams 2005).
|
Yes – Closely related to Paraputo leveri (Williams 2005). Full host range not yet known (only discovered and described in 2005).
|
Yes
|
Paraputo leveri (Green, 1934)
[Syn.: Pseudococcus leveri Green, 1934]
[Pseudococcidae]
Mealybug
|
Yes – Occurs on the roots of host plants and is attended by ants (Ben-Dov et al. 2010). Intercepted in Hawaii on taro imported from Western Samoa (Williams 2005).
|
No record found.
|
Yes – Host plants, including mango, grapevine, coffee, taro and fig, are common in Australia. Considered invasive by Williams (2005).
|
Yes – Host plants include a number of economic crops. A serious pest of coffee in Papua New Guinea (Ben-Dov et al. 2010).
|
Yes
|
Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner, 1861)
[Coccidae]
Nigra scale
|
No – Feeds on leaves and stems (CABI 2007). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT, Qld, Vic. and WA (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Patchiella reaumuri (Kaltenbach, 1843)
[Pemphigidae]
Taro root aphid
|
Yes – Extremely damaging pest of dryland taro in Hawaii. Found on roots and base of leaf sheaths. Spread mainly by planting of infested headsetts, but a hot water dip treatment is available to disinfest (Sato and Hara 1997; Sato 2000).
|
No record found.
|
Yes – Short distance spread is by ants. Long distance spread occurs by movement of planting material, leaves and corms. Aphids feed on the fibrous taro roots, causing them to rot (Carmichael et al. 2008).
|
Yes – Only known in Hawaii on taro roots, and in Europe on Arum roots and on linden (Tilia) shoots. There is quarantine on transport of planting materials from the island of Hawaii to the other Hawaiian islands (Carmichael et al. 2008).
|
Yes
|
Pemphigus sp.
[Pemphigidae]
Root aphid
|
No – Reported on taro in Hawaii but not identified to species (Ooka 1994). Feeding activities injure developing roots and can cause plant death (Ooka 1994). Taxonomy is uncertain at species level (Blackman and Eastop 1984). Over 200 records of Pemphigus from the eastern States of Australia, 25 percent unidentified to species, none on taro (APPD 2009). Not likely to be present on corms that have had the roots removed.
|
Not identified to species. Several Pemphigus species are present in Australia.
|
|
|
No
|
Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel, 1854
[Syn.: Pentalonia caladii Van der Goot, 1917]
[Aphididae]
Banana aphid
|
No – Colonies of the banana aphid are commonly found in the upper leaf sheaths and lower flower bracts of host plants. The entire inflorescence may be infested. Small colonies occasionally occur on the leaf blade (Mau et al. 1994). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT, Qld and WA (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Phenacoccus solani Ferris, 1918
[Synonym: Phenacoccus herbarum Lindinger, 1942]
[Pseudococcidae]
Solanum mealybug
|
No – Colocasia esculenta is a minor or incidental host of this pest. In other species, infestation is mainly in aerial parts and corms are not known as vehicles for dispersal (see for example Phenacoccus hirsutus, Phenacoccus manihoti (CABI 2007); Phenacoccus glomeratus (French 2006)). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway. The related species Phenacoccus citri will attack potato tubers (CABI 2007).
|
No record found.
|
|
|
No
|
Pinnaspis buxi (Bouché, 1851)
[Diaspididae]
Ti scale
|
No – Feeds on both upper and lower surfaces of leaves (Tenbrick and Hara 1992b). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in NT (Ben-Dov et al. 2010).
|
|
|
No
|
Pinnaspis strachani (Cooley, 1899)
[Diaspididae]
Hibiscus snow scale
|
No – Feeds on the stems and leaves of hosts (CABI 2007). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in SA (Ben-Dov et al. 2010).
|
|
|
No
|
Planococcus citri (Risso, 1813)
[Pseudococcidae]
Citrus mealybug
|
No – Reports on taro are likely to be misidentifications. There are no records of Planococcus citri on taro or other edible aroids in the Pacific (Macanawai et al. 2005).
|
Yes. Recorded in ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas., Vic. and WA (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Planococcus minor (Maskell, 1897)
[Pseudococcidae]
Pacific mealybug
|
No – Planococcus minor is a phloem feeder of leaves and stems (Venette and Davis 2004). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in ACT, NSW, NT, Qld and SA (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni Tozzetti, 1867)
[Pseudococcidae]
Long-tailed mealy bug
|
No – Found on the stems, fruits and along the veins on the underside of leaves of host plants (CABI 2007).
|
Yes. Recorded in ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas., Vic. and WA (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Pseudococcus orchidicola Takahashi, 1939
[Pseudococcidae]
Orchid mealybug
|
No – Colocasia esculenta is an incidental host of this pest. In other species (e.g. Phenacoccus calceolariae, Phenacoccus comstocki), infestation is mainly in aerial parts, and corms are not known as vehicles for dispersal (CABI 2007). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
No record found.
|
|
|
No
|
Pulvinaria psidii Maskell, 1893
[Coccidae]
Green shield scale
|
No – Feeds on the leaves and young stems of woody hosts (CABI 2007). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT and Qld (AICN 2011).
|
|
|
No
|
Sophonia rufofascia Kuoh and Kuoh, 1983
[Cicadellidae]
Two-spotted leafhopper
|
No – Primarily a leaf feeder (CABI 2007). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
No record found.
|
|
|
No
|
Steatococcus samaraius Morrison, 1927
[Monophlebidae]
Steatococcus scale
|
No – Mainly confined to aerial parts of plant (Nelson et al. 2006). Only reported on leaves of taro (Nafus 1997). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
|
No record found.
|
|
|
No
|
Tarophagus colocasiae (Matsumura, 1920)
[Delphacidae]
Taro planthopper
|
Yes – Eggs are laid in small holes in the taro leaf midrib, petioles or petiole bases (Matthews 2003).
|
Yes. Recorded in Qld (Matthews 2003).
|
|
|
No
|
Tarophagus persephone (Kirkaldy, 1907)
[Delphacidae]
Taro planthopper
|
Yes – Eggs are laid in small holes in the taro leaf midrib, petioles or petiole bases (Matthews 2003).
|
Yes. Recorded in NT and Qld (Matthews 2003).
|
|
|
No
|
Tarophagus proserpina (Kirkaldy, 1907)
[Syn.: Megamelus proserpina Kirkaldy, 1907]
[Delphacidae]
Taro planthopper
|
Yes – Eggs are laid in small holes in the taro leaf midrib, petioles or petiole bases (Vargo 2000; Matthews 2003).
|
No record found.
|
Yes – Eggs are laid in petiole bases, so can establish via corms used for planting material. Host plants are common in parts of Australia. Other Tarophagus planthoppers have already established in northern Australia (Matthews 2003).
|
Yes – Taro planthoppers are important pests of taro (Matthews 2003), but are not likely to affect other crops.
|
Yes
|
|
|
