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The black pine bast scale, M. thunbergianae, is a major insect pest of black pine and causes serious environmental and economic losses in forests. Therefore, it is essential to monitor the occurrence and population of M. thunbergianae, and a monitoring method using a pheromone trap is commonly employed. Because the counting of insects performed by humans in these pheromone traps is labor intensive and time consuming, this study proposes automated deep learning counting algorithms using pheromone trap images. The pheromone traps collected in the field were photographed in the laboratory, and the images were used for training, validation, and testing of the detection models. In addition, the image cropping method was applied for the successful detection of small objects in the image, considering the small size of M. thunbergianae in trap images. The detection and counting performance were evaluated and compared for a total of 16 models under eight model conditions and two cropping conditions, and a counting accuracy of 95% or more was shown in most models. This result shows that the artificial intelligence-based pest counting method proposed in this study is suitable for constant and accurate monitoring of insect pests.

Matsuone is a well-known sex pheromone of the genus Matsucoccus (Hemiptera: Margarodidae), including species Matsucoccus matsumurae (Kuwana), Matsucoccus resinosae Bean & Goldwin, and Matsucoccus thunbergianae Miller & Park. In this study, we investigated the effects of matsuone dose and trap height on the capture of M. thunbergianae and developed an alternative synthesis of racemic matsuone. In field trapping experiments, M. thunbergianae males showed dose-dependent attraction to (6R,10R/S)-matsuone from 100 μg up to an approximate saturation level of 1,600 μg per rubber septum lure. Traps baited with (6R,10R/S)-matsuone and installed 50 cm above ground level attracted more males than traps 100 and 150 cm above ground level. To reduce synthesis procedures, time, and labor, we developed a new synthetic route to racemic matsuone and conducted field experiments with the product. Although traps baited with the racemic matsuone were less attractive than traps baited with (6R,10R/S)-matsuone synthesized by a previously reported method, the new synthetic route could be an economically favorable alternative to the previous method used in production of lures for field application.

The prevention of the loss of agricultural resources caused by pests is an important issue. Advances are being made in technologies, but current farm management methods and equipment have not yet met the level required for precise pest control, and most rely on manual management by professional workers. Hence, a pest detection system based on deep learning was developed for the automatic pest density measurement. In the proposed system, an image capture device for pheromone traps was developed to solve nonuniform shooting distance and the reflection of the outer vinyl of the trap while capturing the images. Since the black pine bast scale pest is small, pheromone traps are captured as several subimages and they are used for training the deep learning model. Finally, they are integrated by an image stitching algorithm to form an entire trap image. These processes are managed with the developed smartphone application. The deep learning model detects the pests in the image. The experimental results indicate that the model achieves an F1 score of 0.90 and mAP of 94.7% and suggest that a deep learning model based on object detection can be used for quick and automatic detection of pests attracted to pheromone traps.

Wings of Matsucoccus pini males were studied. Using light and scanning electron microscopes, both sides of the wing membrane, dorsal and ventral, were examined. The presence of only one vein in the common stem was confirmed by the cross-section, namely the radius. The elements regarded as subcostal and medial veins were not confirmed as veins. On the dorsal side of the wings, a cluster of campaniform sensilla is shown for the first time in the family Matsucoccidae, through SEM, and two additional sensilla were found on the ventral side. There was a lack of alar setae, microtrichia as well as pterostigma. This is the second cross-section of the wing among scale insects. We propose the following nomenclature for the wings in the family Matsucoccidae: subcostal thickening (sct), radius (R), median fold (med) and anal fold (af).

The biological nature, ultrastructure, distribution, and mode of transmission between generations of the microorganisms associated with three species (Orthezia urticae, Matsucoccus pini, Steingelia gorodetskia) of primitive families (archaeococcoids = Orthezioidea) of scale insects were investigated by means of microscopic and molecular methods. In all the specimens of Orthezia urticae and Matsucoccus pini examined, bacteria Wolbachia were identified. In some examined specimens of O. urticae, apart from Wolbachia, bacteria Sodalis were detected. In Steingelia gorodetskia, the bacteria of the genus Sphingomonas were found. In contrast to most plant sap-sucking hemipterans, the bacterial associates of O. urticae, M. pini, and S. gorodetskia are not harbored in specialized bacteriocytes, but are dispersed in the cells of different organs. Ultrastructural observations have shown that bacteria Wolbachia in O. urticae and M. pini, Sodalis in O. urticae, and Sphingomonas in S. gorodetskia are transovarially transmitted from mother to progeny.

Matsucoccus matsumurae (Kuwana, 1905), commonly known as Japanese pine bast scale, is a destructive pest on pine trees in North America, East Asia, and Northern Europe. The spread of damage to black pine trees, Pinus thunbergii Parl., due to M. matsumurae has been reported throughout Southern and some Eastern and Western coastal regions in Korea, under the name M. thunbergianae, which was described by Miller and Park (1987). Recently, M. thunbergianae was synonymized with M. matsumurae by Booth and Gullan (2006), based on molecular sequences and morphological data. However, M. thunbergianae is still considered a valid species in Korea. Since supporting data for the synonyms are unavailable in any DNA database (e.g., GenBank and BOLD), we performed morphological and molecular comparisons to review the results of Booth and Gullan (2006) using samples of M. matsumurae collected from Japan and topotype materials of M. thunbergianae from Korea. Our study supports the opinion of Booth and Gullan (2006), as the morphological features of the adult female and male of M. thunbergianae are identical to those of M. matsumurae, and DNA sequences (18S and 28S) of M. thunbergianae show identical or very low genetic distances with those of M. matsumurae. Additionally, regional sampling of Korea produced the first documented occurrence of M. matsumurae in Jeju.

According to the associational resistance hypothesis, diverse habitats provide better resistance to biological invasions than monocultures. Host‐plant abundance has been shown to affect the range expansion of invasive pests, but the effect of landscape diversity (i.e. density of host/non‐host patches and diversity of forest habitat patches) on invasions remains largely untested. We used boundary displacement models and boosted regression tree analyses to investigate the effects of landscape diversity on the invasion of Corsica by the maritime pine bast scale Matsucoccus feytaudi over an 18‐yr period. Taking the passive wind dispersal of the scale into account, we showed that open habitats and connectivity between host patches accelerated spread by up to 13%, whereas landscapes with high tree diversity and a high density of non‐host trees decreased scale spread by up to 14%. We suggest a new mechanism for such associational resistance to pest invasion at the landscape level, which we term ‘the pitfall effect’.

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Matsucoccus matsumurae (Hemiptera: Matsucoccidae), the Massonian pine bast scale, for the EU territory. This pest categorisation was initiated following the commodity risk assessment of artificially dwarfed plants from China consisting of Pinus parviflora (Japanese white pine) grafted on P. thunbergii (Japanese black pine) performed by EFSA, in which M. matsumurae was identified as a pest of possible concern. However, its identity is not firmly established due to uncertainty regarding its taxonomic relationship with Matsucoccus pini (Green), a species widespread in Europe. M. matsumurae occurs in western China and has been reported as a pest of P. massoniana (Chinese red pine) and P. thunbergii. These hosts occur in the EU as ornamental/amenity trees. Other scales in the Matsucoccus genus feed on a variety of Pinus species and the host range of M. matsumurae could be wider than is currently recorded. The scale has one or two generations per year. All stages occur on the branches and stems of hosts with developing nymphs and adult females feeding through the bark on host phloem vessels. Symptoms include the yellowing/browning of host needles, early needle drop, desiccation of shoots and bark necrosis. The most serious infestations occur in hosts that are 8–25 years old and there can be some host mortality. In principle, host plants for planting and plant products such as cut branches and wood with bark could provide entry pathways into the EU. However, prohibitions on the import of Pinus from non‐European third countries regulate these pathways. In China, M. matsumurae occurs in regions with temperate humid conditions and hot summers. These conditions are also found in parts of southern EU. Were M. matsumurae to establish in the EU, it is conceivable that it could expand its host range; however, this remains uncertain. Some uncertainty exists over the magnitude of potential impacts. M. matsumurae satisfies the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest, assuming M. pini is not a synonym, which is a key uncertainty.

Aim A historically benign insect herbivore, Matsucoccus macrocicatrices, has recently been linked to dieback and mortality of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.). Previous reports indicated that its native range was restricted to New England, USA and southeastern Canada. Now, the insect occurs throughout an area extending from the putative native range, southward to Georgia, and westward to Wisconsin. Our goal was to evaluate whether its current distribution was due to recent introductions consistent with invasion processes. We considered two hypotheses: (a) if recent expansion into adventive regions occurred, those populations would have reduced genetic diversity due to founder effect(s); alternatively (b) if M. macrocicatrices is native and historically co‐occurred with its host tree throughout the North American range, then populations would have greater overall genetic diversity and a population structure indicative of past biogeographical influences. Location Eastern North America. Methods We developed nine M. macrocicatrices‐specific microsatellite markers de novo and genotyped 390 individuals from 22 populations sampled across the range of eastern white pine in the USA. We assessed genetic variability, relatedness, and population structure. Results There were no signatures of founder effects. The only differences in genetic diversity occurred latitudinally, where the number of rare alleles and observed heterozygosity was highest in the southern range extent. Analyses of population structure indicated three distinct genetic clusters separated by the Great Lakes and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Main Conclusions The seemingly sudden ecological shift from benign herbivore to significant pest led us to suspect that M. macrocicatrices was non‐native. However, our findings suggest that this insect is native and has likely co‐occurred with its host tree since the last glacial maximum. Our study demonstrates the importance of historical biogeographical reconstruction to inform how to approach an emergent pest.

Matsucoccus matsumurae (Kuwana) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Matsucoccidae) is an invasive alien species and a destructive pest of two native Chinese pines, Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. and P. massoniana Lamb., throughout the eastern regions of China. The pathogenicity of three entomopathogenic fungi, Lecanicillium lecanii strain V3.4504 and V3.4505, Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti strain HEB01 and Lecanicillium fungicola strain HEB02, against M. matsumurae was tested in four instars, to evaluate their potential as a biological control agent. The results showed that the four strains caused disease and death of the scale insect, among which the L. lecanii strains V3.4504 and V3.4505 displayed stronger virulence than the F. incarnatum-equiseti strains HEB01 and L. fungicola strain HEB02 to M. matsumurae in the 2nd-instar nymphs and the adult females. Furthermore, L. lecanii V3.4505 was most virulent to M. matsumurae. The adult females and the male 3rd-instar nymphs of M. matsumurae were susceptible to L. lecanii V3.4505; the adult females were more susceptible at LT50 = 1.96 than the 3rd-instar nymphs at LT50 = 5.67. The body surface structure, cuticle thickness and wax secretions of M. matsumurae impacted the fungal infection. L. lecanii is a promising biocontrol agent, and newly emerged male 3rd-instar nymphs and adult females are a crucial period of the insect's life cycle for M. matsumurae biocontrol.