Golan, K., Lagowska, B., & Goliszek, K. 2010 Pulvinaria floccifera (Westwood) (Hemiptera:Coccoidea): the invasive species of scale insects in Poland. Progress in Plant Protection 50(4):1-4

Notes: In Poland, cottony camellia scale (Pulvinaria floccifera) is recognized as an invasive insect and for the last few years has presented a threat to many ornamental trees and shrubs. During the study involving Ilex aquifolium, the abundance of P. floccifera population developed during a growing season was determined and a potential threat to plants was evaluated in relation to the number of overwintering instars. Under Polish conditions P. floccifera overwinters as a second and third instar nymphs. Based on the plant monitoring, larvae and adult females of P. floccifera were found to prefer the undersides of leaves. Number of the species overwintering forms observed during the study reached the threshold suggesting plant damage in the next growing season. Owing to the abundance of particular life stages, high polyphagism of P. floccifera and the lack of the pest management program for Polish conditions, the species should be considered as a serious threat to ornamental trees and shrubs in Poland.