Phantasma Scale

The scale cover excreted by the second instar females of F. phantasma is elongated, about 1.2 mm long and light to dark brown with a weakly developed longitudinal ridge. The body of the adult female inside the 2nd instar exuviae is wide at the thorax, but narrows abruptly at body segment III, tapering to a narrow, almost pointed pygidium at the posterior end. The body of the adult female may be yellowish, reddish or may have reddish transverse stripes. Male scales have a white scale cover like in several other species of Fiorinia.

There are several morphologically similar species of Fiorinia which cannot be separated by their scale covers or their host plants. For example, in North America Fiorinia phantasma is very similar to Fiorinia fioriniae and both commonly infest ornamental palms. However, as of 2024, F. phantasma has been only reported from Florida. For a reliable identification of F. phantasma, a slide mount and microscopic examination of the morphological details are required using the available keys. For routine field surveys, a temporary slide mount may be sufficient.

Fiorinia phantasma was described from the Philippines in 1915, where it had been collected from Neolitsea. The first documented occurrence outside the Philippines and the first case of invasion was reported from the Hawaii Islands, where heavy infestations were reported from Oahu Island on Ligustrum japonicum in 2004, and on Pittosporum tobira in 2008. Subsequently, it was collected from 15 other plants, including a serious infestation on areca palms in 2011 on Maui Island. F. phantasma was again described as Fiorinia coronata from the Solomon Islands in 1988, where it infested coconut palms. It has been subsequently reported as an introduced pest from different parts of the world and seems to spread easily through the international trade with ornamental plants. It is now recorded as widespread in south-eastern Asia (southern China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia), on various Pacific islands from Papua New Guinea in the west to French Polynesia in the east, on several islands in the Indian Ocean (Maldives, Reunion), and on indoor or glasshouse plants from parts of Europe (France, Netherlands, U.K.). In the Americas it has been reported from several Caribbean islands (Saint Martin, Grenada) and has also invaded Florida on the U.S. mainland. …