Schultz, P.B., & Szalanski, A.L. 2019 Hypericum kalmianum (St. Johnswort) Confirmed as a New Host of the Crapemyrtle Bark Scale in Virginia, U.S.A.. Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology 35: 12–14

Keywords:

distribution

host

Notes: Initially thought to be monophagous, A. lagerstroemiae not only attacks crapemyrtle but also other plant species in a number of different families. In the United States for more than 14 years, A. lagerstroemiae had only been observed feeding on crapemyrtle (Gu et al. 2016) until reported from American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana L.; Lamiaceae) in 2015 in Texas and Tennessee (Wang et al. 2016, F. Hale, personal communication). Identifying potential alternate hosts and confirming the species identification of suspect scale insects is critically important for developing an integrated pest management program for this newly invasive pest. Here, we report a new host for A. lagerstroemiae in the United States.