Resumo

RODRIGUEZ-DELGADO, Josefina Elizabeth et al. Vertical distribution of scale insects (Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) on foliage of Yucca spp. Ecosistemas y recur. agropecuarios [online]. 2026, vol.13, n.2, e4622.  Epub 07-Set-2026. ISSN 2007-901X.  https://doi.org/10.19136/era.a13n2.4622.

This study aimed to analyze the vertical distribution of three families of scale insects (Pseudococcidae, Coccidae, and Diaspididae) across three strata (upper, middle, and lower) of the foliage rosettes of Yucca spp., and to identify the habitat and ground-cover variables associated with their presence. Some environmental variables were recorded, and leaf sampling was conducted to quantify the scale insects. The data were analyzed using observation frequencies, Kruskal-Wallis tests, a multinomial logistic regression model, and poisson regression analysis. Pseudococcidae was the most frequent family, followed by Coccidae and Diaspididae. Pseudococcidae had the highest probability of occurrence across all three plant strata. Each family showed the highest probability of occurrence in different stratum: Pseudococcidae in the upper, Coccidae in the middle, and Diaspididae in the lower. The vertical distribution patterns of the scale insect families did not show statistically significant differences between the strata but did show differences in their distribution within each stratum. Additionally, 14 habitat and ground cover variables were associated with the scale insects. This study provides the first records of these families on Yucca spp. foliage, as well as the first reports of Pseudococcus sp., Coccus hesperidum (L., 1758), and Lindingaspis rossi (Maskell, 1892) in the xeric shrubland of Villa González Ortega, Zacatecas, and establishes a foundation for future research on the interactions between scale insects, Yucca spp. And Liometopum apiculatum (Mayr, 1870).

Palavras-chave : Pseudococcidae; strata use; leaf cutting method; habitat use.

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