White peach scale attack on toon in Puerto Rico.
Whitmore J. L., Medina Gaud S.
Author Affiliation: Institute of Tropical Forestry, Puerto Rico University, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.
Journal of Agriculture of The University of Puerto Rico 58 : 276-278
Abstract : Since the cultivation of cedar (Cedrela odorata) is difficult in the Western hemisphere owing to its specific site requirements and susceptibility to attack by Hypsipyla grandella (Zell.), seeds of the closely related timber tree toon (Toona ciliata var. australis) were introduced in 1971 from Costa Rica into Puerto Rico as a possible substitute. Toon grew rapidly and was not attacked by H. grandella, although this pest was present on nearby cedars [cf. RAE/A 63, 1746]. However, in December 1972 some of the seedlings at Corozal were found to be infested by Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targ.), which is known to attack several tree species in Puerto Rico. Vigorous and weakened toon saplings alike were attacked. By May 1973, P. pentagona had spread to toon saplings in three other localities; the main stem of one of the originally infested seedlings had died and other trees were growing adventitious buds and showing resinous exudations along the stem.