McKenzie, 1949
Diagnosis
In life, scale cover of adult female 1.0-2.0 mm long, narrow, irregularly elongate, fairly flat, tan with bronze or reddish-brown exuviae at the narrow end NEOPHL1.jpg and NEOHAL.jpg . Second instar exuviae of the female with a distinctive reddish-brown spot at the posterior end, like L. gloverii. Males unknown. Body of adult female pink or red. Even heavy infestations of this species can go unnoticed easily because the insects are small and blend into their surroundings (Gill, 1997).
Body of slide-mounted adult female elongate, membranous NEOHAS.jpg . Pygidium with pointed apex formed by large median lobes with their mesal margins contiguous but not fused, and outer margins notched; these lobes are not zygotic, and lack any gland spines or setae between their bases (although heavy sclerotization makes this difficult to see) NEOHAP.jpg .
Host range
Neopinnaspis harperi is a polyphagous species that has been recorded from hosts belonging to 27 plant families (Borchsenius, 1966). Rosaceae and Leguminosae are favoured hosts. Hosts include species of: Ceanothus, Ceratonia, Cotoneaster, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Macadamia.
Affected plant stages: vegetative growing, flowering and fruiting stages
Affected plant parts: on bark NEOPHL1.jpg , especially in cracks
Biology and ecology
The biology and ecology of N. harperi have not been studied (Gill, 1997). Crawlers are the primary dispersal stage and move to new areas of the plant or are dispersed by wind or animal contact. Mortality due to abiotic factors is high in this stage. Dispersal of sessile adults and eggs occurs through human transport of infested plant material.
Economic impact
Neopinnaspis harperi is a 'B'-rated pest in California; it does not appear to cause much if any damage (Gill, 1997).
Detection and inspection methods
Closely examine the bark of the hosts listed above in good light, for long, narrow, irregularly elongate, fairly flat, tan scale covers, each with bronze or reddish-brown exuviae at the narrow end. Even heavy infestations of this species can go unnoticed easily because the insects are small and blend into their surroundings (Gill, 1997) NEOPHL1.jpg .
Phytosanitary protection
Neopinnaspis harperi does not occur in the former USSR, but featured on the list of quarantine pests for the region (Konstantinova, 1976) and was regarded as a very dangerous species.
Natural enemies
The biology and ecology of N. harperi have not been studied.
Distribution
See Neopinnaspis harperi distribution.
Microscopic examination of slide-mounted adult females is required for authoritative identification to species.
Comments
Neopinnaspis harperi is of Far East Asian origin. It has spread to North America, but has not been recorded from Central or South America, the Pacific islands, Australia, most of Asia, Africa, or from Europe. It was listed as present in USA (Hawaii) by Nakahara, 1981, but does not feature on the list of Hawaiian diaspidids provided by Heu, 2002.
Asia
Japan: present, no further details (Kawai, 1980; Nakahara, 1982)
Taiwan: present, no further details (Takagi, 1970; Tao, 1999)
Western Hemisphere
USA
California: restricted distribution (Gill, 1997)
Florida: present, no further details (Nakahara, 1982)
Georgia: present, no further details (Nakahara, 1982)