The invasive barnacle scale, Ceroplastes cirripediformis Comstock (Hemiptera: Coccidae), is a pest native to South America and the Caribbean islands that has recently emerged as a serious threat to agricultural, horticultural, ornamental, medicinal, and aromatic plants. Finding indigenous natural enemies to control the invasive pests is the first step for developing a biological control program. The present study reports Eublemma scitula (Rambur) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) for the first time as a predator of C. cirripediformis in India. The identity of E. scitula was confirmed morphologically based on male genitalia and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mt COI) gene sequences. E. scitula larvae were found as dominant predators of C. cirripediformis. The predatory activity of E. scitula was observed from June to September, with its peak population recorded during mid-July (2.1 larvae per 25 cm of infested shoot). This is the first global record of E. scitula predating on an invasive barnacle scale insects from India. Furthermore, studies on the feeding potential of E. scitula under controlled and field conditions need to be evaluated for utilizing them as a biocontrol agent against C. cirripediformis.

中文翻译：

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Eublemma scitula (Rambur) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae)：入侵藤壶规模捕食者的第一个证据，Ceroplastes cirripediformis comstock (Hemiptera: Coccidae)

侵入性藤壶鳞片 Ceroplastes cirripediformis Comstock (Hemiptera: Coccidae) 是一种原产于南美洲和加勒比岛屿的害虫，最近已成为对农业、园艺、观赏、药用和芳香植物的严重威胁。寻找本土天敌来控制入侵性害虫是制定生物控制计划的第一步。本研究首次报道了 Eublemma scitula (Rambur) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) 作为 C. cirripediformis 在印度的捕食者。E. scitula 的身份基于雄性生殖器和线粒体细胞色素氧化酶 I (mt COI) 基因序列在形态学上得到证实。E. scitula 幼虫被发现是 C. ciripediformis 的主要捕食者。6 月至 9 月观察到 E. scitula 的捕食活动，在 7 月中旬记录的种群数量达到峰值（每 25 厘米受侵染的枝条上有 2.1 只幼虫）。这是 E. scitula 在印度入侵藤壶介壳虫之前的第一个全球记录。此外，需要评估在受控和田间条件下对 E. scitula 的摄食潜力的研究，以将它们用作对抗 C. ciripediformis 的生物防治剂。