Scale insects (Coccoidae: Hemiptera) infested citrus trees and thier natural enemies, with a key of these pests in Egypt

Abstract

Scale insects (Coccoidae: Hemiptera) are the most important pests infested citrus trees in Egypt. The present work dealt with the scale insects infested citrus trees and thier natural enemies as well as a key of these pests in Egypt . The results indicated that seven species of scale insects were recorded infested citrus trees in Egypt. Also taxonomic key of the seven species of scale insects was included. During the present work the results indicated that the populations of red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) has two peaks one in April and the second one in October. In this work two parasitoids recorded associated with red scale. Theses are Aphytis lingnanensis Compere and Habrolepis aspidioti Compere and Annecke.It is recorded here two peaks for each parasitoid in April and October for A. lingnanensis and in July and November for H. aspidioti in Beni- Suef. Also this work indicated that citrus wax scale, Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock has two peaks the first in May and the second in October. In the present work two parasitoids recorded associated with citrus wax scale. These are Metaphycus helvolus (Compere) and Microterus flavus (Howard). It is recorded here two peaks for each parasitoid in May and October for in Gharbiya .The present work observed , black scale Chrysomphalus aonidum (L.) has two peaks the first in May and the second in November. In the present work two parasitoids recorded associted with the black scale. These are Aphytis chrysomphali (Mercet) and Encarsia citrina (Craw). It is recorded here two peaks for each parasitoid in May and November in Qalyubyia. The present work recorded seychellarum mealybug, Icerya seychellarum (Westwood) infested citurs trees in Demmyat and has two annual peaks one in June and the other in November. Also here Rodalia cardinalis Mulsant associated with seychellarum mealybug, I. seychellarum. During the presnt work the results indicated that he purple scale, Lepidosaphes beckii (Newman) has two peaks on citrus trees in Ismaillia . Also one parasitoid, Aphytis lepidosaphes Compere and one predator Chilocorus bipustulatus L. were recorded. During the present work the results indicated that parlatoria black scale, Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) has two peaks on citrus trees in Cairo. Two parasitoids, A. lingnanensis and E. citrina were recorded. During the presnt work the results indicated that citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso) has two peaks on citrus trees in Behira . Two parasitoids, Anagyrus pseudococci (Girault) and Leptomastix dactylopii Howard .