Suitability of Five Horticulturally Important Armored Scale Insects as Hosts for an Exotic Predaceous Lady Beetle1

Abstract

Abstract Chilocorus kuwanae (Sylvestri) was imported from Korea to the United States for release against the euonymus scale (Unaspis euonymi (Comstock)). Field observations suggest that C. kuwanae feeds on a number of other armored scale insects, including white peach scale (Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targionni-Tozzeti)) and obscure scale (Melanaspis obscura (Comstock)). However, such observations have not been rigorously examined under controlled conditions. Our laboratory investigations indicate that C. kuwanae survives and reproduces well on San Jose scale (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock)), in addition to euonymus scale. Fecundity was reduced in adults fed white peach scale. Few larvae survived to adulthood when fed oleander scale (Aspidiotus nerii (Bouche)). Adults failed to reproduce on obscure scale; none of the larvae fed this host survived to the pupal stage.