For more information about cycad scale on sago palm, call the UH-CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service office in Hilo, 981-5199, or the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) Hilo office, 974- 4140. On other islands, call HDOA at 973-9534 (O‘ahu), 873-3555 (Maui), 274-3069 (Kaua‘i). Authors Arnold H. Hara, 1 Ruth Y. Niino-DuPonte, 1 Christopher M. Jacobsen, 1 Stacey Chun, 1 Ty McDonald 3 University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, CTAHR, 1 Beaumont Agricultural Research Center, Hilo, 2 Kona Extension Office, Kealakekua. Walter T. Nagamine, Ron A. Heu Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, Plant Pest Control Branch, Honolulu Photos by W. Nagamine, A. Hara, S. Chun, and N. Nagata. Caution: Pesticide use is governed by state and federal regulations. Read the pesticide label to ensure that the in- tended use is included on it, and follow all label directions. References Heu, R.A., M. Chun, W.T. Nagamine. 2003. Sago palm scale Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi. New Pest Advi- sory no. 99-01. Revised Sept. 2003. www. hawaiiag.org/ hdoa/npa/npa99-01-spalmscale2.pdf Howard, F.W., A. Hamon, M. McLaughlin, T. Weissling, and S-L. Yang. 1999. Aulacaspis yasumatsui (Hemip- tera: Sternorrhyncha: Diaspididae), a scale insect pest of cycads recently introduced into Florida. Florida Entomologist 82(1):14–27. Stathas, G.J. 2000. The effect of temperature on the development of the predator Rhyzobius lophanthae and its phenology in Greece. BioControl 45:439–451. Published by the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) and issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Andrew G. Hashimoto, Director/Dean, Cooperative Extension Service/ CTAHR, University of Hawai‘i at Mänoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96822. An equal opportunity/affirmative action institution providing programs and services to the people of Hawai‘i without regard to race, sex, age, reli- gion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, arrest and court record, sexual orientation, or status as a covered veteran. CTAHR publications can be found on the Web site www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/freepubs. Publication IP-23, Oct. 2005. Cyad Scale on Sago Palm Cycad Scale on Sago Palm The cycad scale damages sago palm by feeding on the undersides of its leaves, sucking sap. Over several months, the leaves turn yellow, lose pho- tosynthetic ability, and eventually turn brown and die. In se- verely infested plants with yellow or dead foliage, new leaf flushes may be stunted. PEST ALERT C ycad scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui) was first found in the Hawaiian Islands on sago palm on O‘ahu in 1998. It had spread to the Big Island by 2000, Kaua‘i by 2003, and Maui by 2004. Sago palm (Cycas revoluta) is more susceptible than queen sago (C. rumphii). The scale is native to Thailand, where natural enemies keep it under control. It was discovered on sago palm in 1996 in Florida, where it threatened the survival of several endangered cycad species in botanical gardens. Cycad scale infestation on Queen sago Cycad Scale— Not Easy to Control Cycad scale also attacks the sago palm trunk and leaf petioles (left), and roots (left, below). These plant parts are difficult to reach with pesticides and can be a source of scale reinfestation after infested leaves are pruned.