Field evaluation of botanicals extracts for suppressing the mango scale insect, Aulacaspis tubercularis (Newstead) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae)

Amany Siam,Etemad Othman

doi:10.1186/s41938-020-00221-4

Abstract

Insecticidal property of aloe, ginger, garlic, and hot pepper extracts were evaluated in the form of alone spray or in combination of two plant sources or as a mixture of all plant extracts in comparison to the insecticide Lambda on the mango scale insect, Aulacaspis tubercularis (Newstead) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae). Field experiments were carried out at Fayoum Governorate, Egypt, in February 2017 and March 2018. Results revealed that Lambda insecticide decreased the population of treated A. tubercularis, and the total reduction rates reached to 62.0 and 72.52% in seasons 2017 and 2018, respectively. Meanwhile, the used botanical mixture caused 83.60 and 72.52% reduction of the scale insects in the respective seasons. Also, results revealed that the combination of garlic and aloe was the most effective one in reducing A. tubercularis in the two successive seasons by 58.71 and 59.93%, respectively. The hot pepper was the least effective one in reducing population with the rates of 19.48% in season 2017 and 21.51% in season 2018.

Highlights

Mango is one of the most economic fruit trees, because its fruits are rich in carbohydrates, natural fibers, vitamins, and minerals (Hassan et al 2012)
The present work dealt with the evaluation of spraying plant extracts either alone or as a mixture on mango trees to suppress the populations of scale insects on mango trees
Controls recorded the highest number of scale insects after 1, 3, and 7 days of the treatments, respectively, with the means of 16.43, 16.33, and 16.6 individuals/30 leaves in season 2017 and 14.27, 14.43, and 13.93 scale insects/30 leaves in season 2018

Summary

Background

Mango is one of the most economic fruit trees, because its fruits are rich in carbohydrates, natural fibers, vitamins, and minerals (Hassan et al 2012). Mango yield has been drastically decreased by the attack of certain diseases and pests. One of those is the scale insect, Aulacaspis tubercularis (Newstead) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), which causes severe problems represented by removal of plant sap, turning of trees to pale green or yellow, and excretion of honey dew the suitable medium for the growth of sooty mold fungi, which cover mango leaves (Tandon and Verghese 1985). (Family: Alliaceae), has a strong odor, which helps in disturbing insects searching potential plant hosts It contains salphone hydroxyl ion, which acts as a poison and repellent for insects including ants, moths, beetles, ticks, and termites in their developmental stages (Teklay et al 2012). The present work dealt with the evaluation of spraying plant extracts either alone or as a mixture on mango trees to suppress the populations of scale insects on mango trees

Materials and methods

Results and discussion

Conclusion

Funding None