Wellington, New Zealand
Identification request
2019-03-28T03:32:00.0000000Z
2
Identification of scale insects? being tended by yellow crazy ants in Tetiaroa, French Polynesia
Dear colleagues,
Yellow crazy ants are really going crazy on a motu in Tetiaroa! The ants are at very high abundance and likely threatening nesting seabirds.
The abundance of the ants is being driven by plant pests (images attached). I know it can be difficult with just some photos, but can someone give us a tentative identification so that we can look at possible biological controls for them?
Many thanks for your help,
Monica
Responses
1
2019-03-28T04:00:00.0000000Z
Dear Monica
I don't know if you saw my post this week where I mistook Cryptognatha nodiceps for Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, but I think those three insects with white spidery waxy filaments might indeed be Cryptolaemus montrouzieri. I will leave it for others with more knowledge of these things to confirm. I have attached a photo of C. montrouzieri from Bugwood.If it turns out to be C. montrouzieri can I have a high res copy please.
The scale of concern is shown in your second image, a green one of some kind.grahame
Sydney
NSW