Abstract
White mango scale (Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead; Hemiptera: Diaspididae) is a major insect pest of mango production threatening production and marketing of mango in Ethiopia. The present study was conducted to determine the current status of the white mango scale (WMS) and to identify the factors contributing to the damage level of the pest. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in ten selected kebeles in Assosa district, western Ethiopia, during 2021/2022 cropping season. Data on infestation level and WMS life-stage abundance were recorded from fifty randomly selected mango orchards. Data on the prevalence of WMS and factors influencing the distribution and damage levels of white mango scale infestations were analyzed using SAS and SPSS software respectively. The results of this study indicate that WMS infestation was prevalent in all assessed mango growing areas of the district. There was a significant (p < 0.05) difference between kebeles and mango orchards in infestation level and WMS life-stage population densities. Poor cultivation, crop husbandry practices, and pest management strategies have been identified as the major contributing factors for high pest infestation. The study indicates that WMS infestations are increasing in the study area; thus, there has to be strong efforts towards the implementation of safe and effective management strategies.
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