HOT-WATER IMMERSION AS A POTENTIAL QUARANTINE TREATMENT AGAINST PSEUDAULACASPIS-COCKERELLI (HOMOPTERA, DIASPIDIDAE)

Lethal immersion in water at 47, 48, and 49-degrees-C from 0 to 10 min at 1-min intervals was determined for the crawler, nymph and female adult stages of Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli (Cooley) on bird of paradise, Strelitzia reginae Aiton, leaves. Crawlers appeared more tolerant to hot-water immersion than female adults. Increased exposure time resulted in a linear increase in mortality for all temperatures. Exposure to 49-degrees-C water for 5, 5, and 6 min resulted in 100% mortality of adults, nymphs, and crawlers, respectively. Our proposed quarantine hot-water treatment can be adjusted to any specific risk level, including zero tolerance.