(Zehntner, 1897)
Diagnosis
In life, scale cover of adult female 1.25-2.6 mm long, ovoid, slightly convex, chalky white with yellow or straw-coloured terminal exuviae, and with a thick ventral scale, forming a bivalved cover (Dekle, 1976; Ben-Dov, 1988) ODSACCL2.jpg and ODSACCL1.jpg . Ben-Dov, 1988, says the male is unknown, but Dekle, 1976, describes the male scale cover as similar to that of the adult female but smaller, with terminal exuviae.
Body of slide-mounted female elongate oval, membranous to lightly sclerotized, with intersegmental folds on abdomen obviously thickened and sclerotized and ducts on dorsum and venter all of similar size, in no fixed arrangement; submarginal duct tubercles present on venter of thorax ODSACS.jpg . Pygidium with two marginal scleroses present on each side; perivulvar pores numbering 80-200, present in three groups (one anterior to, and two lateral to, vulva); gland spines absent. Feeds on Musaceae as well as Gramineae ODSACCP.jpg .
Host range
Odonaspis saccharicaulis has been recorded from hosts belonging to the plant families Gramineae and Musaceae (Borchsenius, 1966; Ben-Dov, 1988), mainly feeding on stems of large grasses including sugarcane and sorghum. Hosts include species of: Anadelphia, Chloris, Cymbopogon, Dendrocalamus, Digitaria, Distichlis, Erianthus, Gramineae, Heliconia, Merostachys, Panicum spp., Paspalum, Pennisetum purpureum, Phragmites spp., Saccharum spp., Schizachyrium, Scleria, Sorghum spp., Uniola, Zoysia and other Gramineae.
Affected plant stages: vegetative growing, flowering and fruiting stages
Affected plant parts: on stems, often beneath leaf sheaths ODSACCL2.jpg and ODSACCL1.jpg
Biology and ecology
Odonaspis saccharicaulis is known to have the diaspidid chromosome system, and to be diploid (with 2n=8) (Nur, 1990). Otherwise, the biology of this species has not been studied.
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 can occur through human transport of infested plant material.
Economic impact
Williams and Williams, 1988, remarked that this species is not usually of any economic importance.
Detection and inspection methods
Closely examine the stems, especially beneath leaf sheaths or other shelter, for ovoid, flat, chalky white scale covers, each with yellow or brown terminal exuviae and a thick ventral scale, forming a bivalved cover ODSACCL2.jpg and ODSACCL1.jpg .
Natural enemies
The natural enemies of O. saccharicaulis have not been studied.
Distribution
See Odonaspis saccharicaulis distribution.
Microscopic examination of slide-mounted adult females is required for authoritative identification to species.
Odonaspis secreta (Cockerell) ODSECS.jpg could be misidentified as O. saccharicaulis, but differs in lacking spiracular pores beside each posterior spiracle, and in lacking rows of ventral ducts on the metathorax that run across the mid-line. In contrast, O. saccharicaulis ODSACS.jpg possesses spiracular pores beside each posterior spiracle, and has a row of ventral ducts on the metathorax that runs across the mid-line. Odonaspis secreta has been recorded from China (Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, Yunnan, Guangdong, Xizang), Japan (Honshu, Kyushu), Bonin Is, Korea, West Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, India, Iran, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Algeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Uganda, France, former Czechoslovakia (under glass), former USSR (South European Territory, Transcaucasus), USA (Louisiana, New Jersey, New York under glass), Cuba, and possibly Samoa and Fiji on the leaf sheaths and stems of Arundinaria, Bambusa, Miscanthus, Phyllostachys, Sasa and other bamboos (Foldi, 2001; Tao, 1999; Wong et al., 1999; Danzig and Pellizzari, 1998; Ben-Dov, 1988; Williams and Watson, 1988; Nakahara, 1982; Kawai, 1980; Beardsley, 1966; The Natural History Museum collection, London, UK). Scale cover of adult female circular to elongate oval, 1.5-4.0 mm long, white with brown terminal exuviae; scale cover of male elongate oval, narrow, about 1.0 mm long (Ben-Dov, 1988). The first instar nymph was described and illustrated by Howell and Tippins, 1977. Pygidium of adult female ODSECRP.jpg ; colony ODOSECL1.jpg
Comments
Odonaspis saccharicaulis was described from Java and has been recorded from many tropical and temperate areas since (Williams and Watson, 1988). It is probably more widespread than indicated, and may be under-collected due to its cryptic lifestyle. It has not been recorded from Europe.
Europe
Portugal
Madeira: present, no further details (Williams and Williams, 1988; Williams and Greathead, 1990)
Asia
China: present, no further details (Danzig and Pellizzari, 1998)
Hainan: present, no further details (Tang, 1984a; Tao, 1999)
India: present, no further details (Williams and Williams, 1988; Williams and Greathead, 1990)
Orissa: present, no further details (Ben-Dov, 1988)
Tamil Nadu: present, no further details (Ben-Dov, 1988)
Indonesia
Java: present, no further details (Williams and Williams, 1988; Williams and Greathead, 1990)
Sumatra: The Natural History Museum collection, London, UK
Malaysia: present, no further details (Ben-Dov, 1988)
Sabah: present, no further details (Williams and Williams, 1988; Williams and Greathead, 1990)
Pakistan: present, no further details (Ben-Dov, 1988)
Philippines: present, no further details (Williams and Williams, 1988; Williams and Greathead, 1990)
Thailand: present, no further details (Ben-Dov, 1988)
Africa
Cameroon: present, no further details (Williams and Williams, 1988)
Cape Verde Is: The Natural History Museum collection, London, UK
Central Africa: present, no further details (Danzig and Pellizzari, 1998)
Guinea: present, no further details (Ben-Dov, 1988)
Kenya: present, no further details (Williams and Williams, 1988; Williams and Greathead, 1990)
Mauritius: present, no further details (Williams and Williams, 1988; Williams and Greathead, 1990)
Mozambique: present, no further details (Ben-Dov, 1988)
Somalia: present, no further details (Ben-Dov, 1988)
Sao Tomé: present, no further details (Williams and Williams, 1988; Williams and Greathead, 1990)
Somalia: The Natural History Museum collection, London, UK
South Africa: present, no further details (Ben-Dov, 1988)
Tanzania: present, no further details (Williams and Williams, 1988; Williams and Greathead, 1990)
Uganda: present, no further details (Williams and Williams, 1988; Williams and Greathead, 1990)
Western Hemisphere
Bahamas: present, no further details (Ben-Dov, 1988)
Brazil
Rio de Janeiro: present, no further details (Claps et al., 2001a)
Sao Paulo: present, no further details (Claps et al., 2001a)
Costa Rica: present, no further details (Ben-Dov, 1988)
Cuba: present, no further details (Williams and Williams, 1988; Williams and Greathead, 1990)
Guatemala: present, no further details (Nakahara, 1982)
Honduras: present, no further details (Nakahara, 1982)
Puerto Rico: present, no further details (Ben-Dov, 1988)
St Croix: present, no further details (Ben-Dov, 1988)
USA
Alabama: present, no further details (Nakahara, 1982)
Florida: present, no further details (Ben-Dov, 1988)
Hawaii: present, no further details (Ben-Dov, 1988)
Maryland: present, no further details (Nakahara, 1982)
Texas: present, no further details (Ben-Dov, 1988)
Venezuela: present, no further details (Ben-Dov, 1988)
Oceania
Fiji: present (Williams and Watson, 1988)
Palau: present (Beardsley, 1966)
Papua New Guinea: present (Williams and Watson, 1988)