Abstract

The black mulberry tree (Morus nigra L. Moraceae), a perennial shrub, is one of the most abundant species in the urban afforestation of Brasília, Federal District, Brazil. This work records the first occurrence of Crypticerya brasiliensis (Hempel, 1900) (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae) and Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti, 1886) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) infesting M. nigra in the Federal District, Brazil. For this study, 20 specimens of M. nigra trees were inspected during September to October 2019, in two locations of the Federal District, Brazil, and the presence of scale insects were found on the trunks, stems, and leaves. The main damage caused by C. brasiliensis in the sampled trees were dry stems and branches along with yellow leaves, by the insects feeding mainly on the leaf veins. Pseudaulacapis pentagona was observed on the branches and stems of the plant isolated from the second sampling point. Infested branches were dry and leafless, with many scale insects, and some branches displayed small cracks. This is the first time M. nigra has been registered as a host plant of C. brasiliensis, as well as first occurrence of P. pentagona infesting M. nigra in the Federal District, Brazil.

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