METAPHYCUS (HYMENOPTERA : ENCYRTIDAE ) PARASITOIDS AS A BIOAGENTS IN CONTROLLING WAX SCALE INSECTS, CEROPLASTESSPP. (HEMIPTERA: COCCIDAE) ATTACKING SOME ECONOMIC CROPS IN EGYPT

Abstract

Ceroplastes spp. (Hemiptera: Coccidae) are the most important soft scale insects in Egypt. The aim of this work is to study the bionomics of these pests and their Metaphycus parasitoid species ( Hymenoptera Encyrtidae). The results indicated that Genus Ceroplastes in Egypt especially Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock and Ceroplastes rusci (Linneaus) recorded associated with four species of Genus Metaphycus Mercet These are: Metaphycus flaws (Howard), Metaphycus helvolus (Compere), Metaphycus lounsburyi (Howard) and Metaphycus ZeilfatifS (Mercet). The Results also showed that C. floridensis parasitized by M. flavus, M. lounsburyi and Mzebratus and C reset parasitized by M. Paves , M. helvolus and M. zebratus. While the rest of the member of genus Ceroplastes (Ceroplastes sinensis Del Guercio, Ceroplastes cirripediformis Comstock, Ceroplastes rubens Maskel) not parasitized by any species of genus Metaphycus in Egypt. The results indicated that the parasitoids emerged from samples of C. rusci on Mangifera indica in Ismailia were M. flavus and M. helvolus at an average rate of 5.2 and 0.8 5 for first year and 7.9 and 1.0% for the second year, respectively. Parasitoids that emerged from samples of C floridensis on Citrus sinensis in Gharbyia were M. flavus and Metaphycus lounsburyi at an average rate of 4.6 and 6.4% for first year and 4.1 and 4.5% for the second year, respectively. Parasitoids that emerged from samples of C. rusci on Psidiuni guajava in Beni-Suif were M. flavus, N. helvolus and M. zebratus at an average rate of 8.1 , 0.6 and 0.1% for first year and 11.9 , 0.7 and 0.1% for the second year, respectively . It is concluded that the parasitoids Metaphycus app. are the promising bioagents in controlling different species of Genus Ceroplastes. Also keys for Ceroplastesspp. and their parasitoids Metaphycus spp. are included.