SURVEY OF SCALE INSECTS AND MEALYBUGS ON MANGO TREES AND ECOLOGICAL STUDIES OF INSULASPIS PALLIDULA (GREEN) AT GIZA GOVERNORATE

Abstract

asurvey of scale insects and mealybugs on mango trees (Mangifera indica L.) was carried out in a private mango orchard at El-Saff, Giza Governorate, during two successive years 2014 and 2015. The infestation of mango trees with scale insects and mealybugs was determined. The results indicated that, the mango trees were infested by 12 species of scale insects and mealybugs belonging to four families: Diaspididae, Coccidae, Monophlebidae and Pseudococcidae. From the twice monthly collection, the white mealybug, Icerya seychellarum (Westwod) was the most dangerous and abundant of the collected species followed by Insulaspis pallidula (Green) then Kilifia acuminata (Signoret) and Hemiberlesia lataniae (Signoret). The Maskell scale insect, I. pallidula was selected for further ecological studies on four mango cultivars. The selected four mango cultivars are not equally susceptible to I. pallidula infestation. Hendi mango trees cultivar (cv.) were heavily infested and severely damaged, while trees of Fagrikalan cv. are the lowest infestation with I. pallidula. However, the susceptibility levels of mango cultivars to I. pallidula could be arranged in descending order as follows: Hendi >Alphonso-Naser > Dabsha > Fagrikalan. Population of I. pallidula recorded three generations and three activity peaks per year. In the first year of study three peaks of infestation were recorded in 1st-April, mid-July and 1st October, while in the second year 2015, these peaks were recorded during mid-April, mid-August and 1st November. The calculated infestation rates of I. pallidula were high in spring, summer and autumn months, whereas, relatively low rate of infestation were recorded with winter months in both years.