Natural enemies of soft scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae) in Australian vineyards

Abstract

Background and Aims There is increasing interest in using natural enemies to control pests in viticulture, but in Australian vineyards, this is often hampered by a lack of information on enemies of particular pest groups. Here we provide an assessment for the first time of the natural enemies of coccids of grapevines. Methods and Results The main coccid pest, Parthenolecanium persicae, was attacked by the parasitoid Metaphycus maculipennis, which constituted 75% of the parasitoids collected from this species. The second most abundant coccid in Australia vineyards, Parthenolecanium pruinosum, was attacked only by one parasitoid, Coccophagus lycimnia. The most common coccinellid predator was Rhyzobius pulchellus, whereas other coccinellids including Cryptolaemus montrouzieri were less common. Several other coleopteran species as well as the moth Mataeomera dubia and several neuroptera are also likely to be important coccid predators. Conclusions These results point to a complex and much wider range of natural enemies attacking vineyard Coccidae than previously appreciated, although P. pruinosum may have few enemies. Significance of the Study Grapevine scale pests have an array of natural enemies including parasitoids, beetles, moth larvae and lacewings, highlighting the importance of maintaining a diverse insect community in vineyards for biological control.