Aulacaspis madiunensis (Zehntner) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) - An additional danger to the endangered Cycas circinalis L.

Armored scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) are major economic pests and are among the world’s most invasive species. Most armoured scale insect pests are invasive and with increased international trade, these concealed and cryptic pests pose a serious threat to the world agricultural economy causing economic losses in the US to be as high as $1 billion annually. Aulacaspis Cockerell is one of the largest genera of armoured scale insects with 151 species known worldwide, and 23 species from India. Five species of Aulacaspis are associated with Cycas spp. throughout the world. Through this correspondence, we report the occurrence and severe infestation of A. maduinensis (Zehntner) on C. circinalis from India, though it has been reported to infest other species of Cycas from elsewhere. We provide information about nature and extent of damage, field and taxonomic diagnostic characters which will be helpful in quick diagnosis of the pest, monitoring its spread to different geographical areas, and generation of awareness about the pest species to avoid further economic loss.