Role of pteromalid parasitoid Scutellista caerulea (Fonscolombe) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) for biological control of the soft scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in Egypt

Abstract

The pteromalid parasitoid, Scutellista caerulea (Fonscolombe) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is one of the most effective parasitoid associated with soft scale insects. This work dealt with the biological role of this parasitoid during 2009 and 2010 in Egypt. The results indicated that the parasitoid, S. caerulea was emerged from 8 species of soft scale insects. The host soft scale insects were Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock, Ceroplastes rusci (L.), Coccus hesperidum L., Kilifia acuminata (Signoret), Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner), Saissetia coffee (Walker), Saissetia oleae (Olivier) and Waxiella mimosae (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Coccidae). Population abundance studies of S. caerulea were carried out on the aforementioned soft scale insects in eight locations in Egypt, being Beni Seuf, Gharbiya, Giza, Ismailia, Marsa Matruh, Northern Coast, Qena and Sharqiya. The highest rate of parasitism attained with S. oleae was found to be 38.2 and 40.9 % during the first and second years, respectively. While average parasitism rates was 21.3 and 23.5 % during the two years under consideration, respectively. The results indicated that S. caerulea was the effective parasitoid attacking some soft scale insects in Egypt. Key worlds: Pteromalidae, Scutellista caerulea, Coccidae, soft scale insect and distribution.