UK OVERSEAS TERRITORIES CONSERVATION FORUM
Virtual Tours: Ascension Island
The Full Tour
Map
Introduction
Features of Natural Interest
Features of Other Interest, including Cultural
Threats / Problems / Issues
Projects / Conservation Actions
Opportunities
Organisations and Links
Tour Selection
Threats / Problems / Issues

One threat to some of Ascension’s endemic and native plants is attack by introduced scale insects (including mealybug). This threat was encountered during an Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP) project, “An Ecosystem Approach to Plant Conservation on Ascension Island”. Five new records of scale insects have recently (2014) been identified by the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA), who suspect that these pests could have adverse effects upon the endemic plants of Ascension, as has been the case in other UK Overseas Territories.  

Scale insect pests under the microscope.


© Ascension Island Government Conservation Department
(Threats / Problems / Issues, 1 of 7 - Slide ref. 631)