Thysanococcus pandani (?scale insects) hala scale insect

The hala scale insect (Thysanococcus pandani) causes yellowing of and serious damage to hala (Pandanus tectorius). Hala is common to abundant in many Hawaiian coastal ecosystems and an extremely important plant species for native Hawaiians, who have traditionally used it for cordage, thatching, healing, decoration, etc.   Much hala in Hawaii is currently (2005) sickly from the hala scale insect with yellowing leaves over much of windward East Maui, though the insect's effects have not yet (2005) reached the Kipahulu section of Haleakala National Park. Hala is an important component of the national parks in the Kona area of Hawaii island. Long-term effects of scale attack on hala populations are likely to be severe, but that is uncertain at this point in time (2005). The South Pacific island of Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands, apparently lost its Pandanus in the 1920s from a similar accidental insect introduction.  Hala scale insect arrived on the island of Maui in 1995, apparently on a shipment of hala brought in to a botanical garden from somewhere in the western/southern Pacific. 

Species description or overview

Bishop Museum citation query result for Thysanococcus pandani   
Citation for original description of Thysanococcus pandani is provided by Bishop Museum arthropod query results.

Taxonomy & nomenclature

Images

Distribution

Pandanus scale on offshore islet Keopuka   
Introduced hala scale (Thysanococcus pandani) was noted in a 2005 survey of Maui's offshore islet Keopuka.

Maui Offshore Islets Botanical Survey (USGS)    
Native and invasive species populate the offshore islets of Maui.

Pandanus scale on offshore islet Mokuhuki   
Yellowing hala trees indicate that the invasive hala scale (Thysanococcus pandani) is present on Maui's offshore islet Mokuhuki.

Pests and diseases of Pandanus (PestNet)   
The spread of Thysanococcus pandani in Hawaii and the Pacific is reviewed.

In the news

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