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IUCN/SSC Cycad Specialist Group

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Global CAS Efforts

As mentioned on the “Priorities” page of this website, the 2005 CSG meeting in Xalapa, Mexico, cycad aulacaspis scale (CAS), Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi, was identified as a critical issue for cycad conservation worldwide and was given priority status. Click here to read a letter and funding plea from CSG Chair Dr. John Donaldson. And click here to go to the Cycad Aulacaspis Scale Information Page, which is a clearinghouse for CAS-related information developed and maintained by the CSG Invasive Pests Subgroup.

Below is a summary of the worldwide efforts being put forth—by the CSG and numerous other organizations and individuals—to raise awareness and funding for CAS research. The list is almost certainly incomplete. Please contact Jody Haynes , leader of the CSG Invasive Pests Subgroup, if you have information to add to this list.

• On 25 May 2006, the Invasive Species Specialist Group updated the "Impacts" page in its CAS entry in the Global Invasive Species Database following the announcement of the new "EN" Red List status for Cycas micronesica. Click here to go to the updated "Impacts" page.

• On 4 May 2006, the IUCN released its 2006 Red List of Threatened Species. This revised list now includes Cycas micronesica, which is listed as EN A3ce (as mentioned above). See the Red List section of the CSG website or the IUCN Red List website for more information.

• On 21 April 2006, CSG Chair Donaldson announced that the IUCN accepted the Red List status of Cycas micronesica as Endangered (EN)—largely due to the detrimental effects of CAS in Guam. The complete assessment of EN A3ce will be updated in the 2006 Red List scheduled to be published in May. Unfortunately, sufficient information regarding the population status of C. taitungensis in Taiwan was unavailable by the deadline, so its official Red List status will remain unchanged until the next revision. However, the provisional status of EN set forth for the latter species by the CSG will remain in effect until further notice.

• In April 2006, Jody Haynes organized and chaired a 2-hour session on CAS at the 5th National IPM Symposium in St. Louis, MO, USA. Five speakers provided great information on CAS; the five presentations were as follows:

  • Jody Haynes, Montgomery Botanical Center – Cycad Aulacaspis Scale: Invasive Pest with Extinction Potential! (5.2 Mb)

  • Dr. Amanda Hodges, University of Florida Department of Entomology & Nematology – Field & Taxonomic Identification of Cycad Aulacaspis Scale (2.7 Mb)

  • Dr. Ron Cave, University of Florida Indian River Research & Education Center – Natural Enemies of Cycad Aulacaspis Scale (2 Mb)

  • Christine Wiese, Montgomery Botanical Center – Development of an IPM Solution for Aulacaspis yasumatsui & Its Impact on Future Scale Control (2.5 Mb)

  • Dr. Joe Chamberlin, Valent USA – Integration of Safari® & Distance® IGR into a Management Program for Cycad Aulacaspis Scale (1.7 Mb)

• The March 2006 issue (No. 85) of Encephalartos—the newsletter of the Cycad Society of South Africa—published brief article on CAS and reprinted the CSG Pest Alert .

• In March 2006, the CSG approved provisional “Endangered” status for Cycas taitungensis due to the rapid rate of decline due to CAS in Taiwan.

• Also in January 2006, the Global Invasive Species Programme published a full-page article on CAS in Issue 5 of their GISPnews. In an e-mail to Jody Haynes, leader of the CSG Invasive Pests Subgroup, GISP Communications & Training Coordinator Sue Matthews stated that the “newsletters flew off our stand at CBD COP-8 in Brazil last month, which should help spread awareness about this pest far and wide.” Click here to read the article.

• In January 2006, CSG Invasive Pests Subgroup leader Jody Haynes was invited to organize and lead a 2-hour session on CAS at the 5th National IPM Symposium being held in St. Louis, MO, USA, in April 2006. Click here for more information on this symposium.

• Also in November 2005, the CSG approved provisional “Endangered” status for Cycas micronesica due to the rapid rate of decline due to CAS in Guam. Click here to read the statement.

• In November 2005, the Association of Zoological Horticulture approved a grant to Dr. Marler and Jody Haynes to establish a backup ex-situ germplasm collection of Cycas micronesica at Montgomery Botanical Center in Miami, FL, USA.

• In October 2005, Dr. Thomas Marler received a grant from the U.S. Navy to develop an ex-situ population-based conservation germplasm collection of Cycas micronesica from Guam on the island of Tinian. Click here to read more about the devastation being wrought on C. micronesica in Guam.

• Also, in the supplement to the September/December 2005 issue of The Cycad Newsletter—which is dedicated solely to CAS—TCS proudly announced the establishment of a new CAS Fund and solicited donations from its members. Click here for TCS President Tom Broome’s announcement and funding plea.

• Following their September 2005 meeting in Santa Barbara, CA, USA, the board of directors of The Cycad Society (TCS) voted to donate $2,500 toward CAS biocontrol research. Click here to read how this funding will be spent (p. 3).

• In September 2005, the Invasive Pests Subgroup produced a report on CAS for the Cycad Specialist Group. Also produced was a two-page Pest Alert document that has now been distributed worldwide. Please feel free to download this alert and send it to any interested individuals, organizations, and/or agencies in your country that are involved in pest control issues. Also, please contact Jody Haynes if you are interested in translating this alert into another language.

• In Summer 2005, Dr. Ronald Cave, University of Florida-IFAS, received funds from the USDA-APHIS to conduct exploration in Asia and screen any new natural enemies discovered. Dr. Cave and his colleague, Dr. R. Nguyen, will begin their exploration for CAS biocontrol organisms in China and Vietnam in Spring 2006. Click here for more on Dr. Cave’s work.

Much more funding and research needs to be dedicated toward CAS control worldwide. Click here to read a recent overview article on global CAS research needs.

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