First report identifies coccus viridis on salacia crassifolia, suggesting expanded host range and mutualist interactions.
The green scale insect, Coccus viridis (Green, 1889) (Hemiptera: Coccidae), is reported for the first time infesting Salacia crassifolia (Mart. ex Schult.) G. Don (Celastraceae). Infestations of this scale insect were observed on the leaves of an isolated tree located in cerrado sensu stricto fragment, near the urban perimeter of Federal District, Brazil. The individuals were concentrated on the central (main) foliar nervure, and ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were observed in association with the coccids in a mutualistic relationship. This work reinforces the polyphagous nature of the species, expanding its geographic distribution in Brazil and increasing the number of known hosts.
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Castro et al. (2025) studied this question.
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