Tectococcus ovatus

Tectococcus ovatus (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae), also called the Brazilian Scale, is a scale insect in the family Eriococcidae.[1] It is most widely known for being a potential biological control agent for Psidium cattleyanum (strawberry guava) in Florida,[2] and Hawaii.[3] Extensive testing has shown that this species is very host-specific.[4]

Tectococcus ovatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hemiptera
Suborder:	Sternorrhyncha
Superfamily:	Coccoidea
Family:	Eriococcidae
Genus:	Tectococcus
Species:	T. ovatus
Binomial name
Tectococcus ovatus Hempel, 1900

References

1. Vitorino, Marcelo D.; Pedrosa-Macedo, José Henrique & Smith, Clifford W. (2000). "The biology of Tectococcus ovatus Hempel (Heteroptera: Eriococcidae) and its potential as a biocontrol agent of Psidium cattleianum (Myrtaceae)". In Spencer, Neal R. (ed.). Proceedings of the X International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. Bozeman, Montana: Montana State University.
2. Wessels, Frank J., James P. Cuda, M. Tracy Johnson and José Henrique Pedrosa-Macedo. 2007. Host specificity of Tectococcus ovatus (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae), a potential biological control agent of the invasive strawberry guava, Psidium cattleyanum (Myrtales: Myrtaceae), in Florida. BioControl. Volume 52, Number 4 / August, 2007.
3. "Strawberry Guava Biocontrol: Restoring natural balance to Hawaii's forests and watersheds with the help of a bug". Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project. 23 June 2010.
4. "Biocontrol of Strawberry Guava by its Natural Control Agent for Preservation of Native Forests in the Hawaiian Islands: draft environmental assessment" (PDF). State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources. June 2010. p. 27.