SURVEY OF SUBORDER STERNORRHYNCHA (HEMIPTERA) INFESTING OLIVE TREES AT GIZA GOVERNORATE WITH EMPHASIS ON POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THE SOFT BROWN SCALE, SAISSETIA COFFEAE (HEMIPTERA: COCCIDAE)

Abstract

suborder Sternorrhyncha (Hemiptera) are the major pests infested olive orchards in Egypt. Recently, the soft brown scale, Saissetia coffee (Walker) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) is one of the most important pests on olive trees. The aim of the present work is to study a survey of Suborder Sternorrhyncha infesting olive trees in Egypt with emphasis on population dynamics of the soft brown scale, S. coffee and its natural enemies. A survey of Suborder Sternorrhyncha on olive trees was carried out during 2014 -2016. The results indicate that the olive trees were infested by 22 insect species. Also, population dynamics of the soft brown scale, S. coffeae and it´s natural enemies was carried out at Giza Governorate during 2015 and 2016. During this work the soft brown scale has two activity preiods. Four species of parasitiods and five predators were recorded and collected from concerned specimens under investigation. Parasitiods are Coccophagus scutellaris (Dalman) (Hymenoptera : Aphelinidae), Metaphycus helvolus (Compere), Metaphycus zebratus (Mercet) and Diversinervus elegans Silvestri (Hymenoptera : Encyrtidae) and the species of predators: Chilocorus bipustulatus L. , Exochomus flavipes Thunb and Scymnus syriacus Marseul (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).; Orius laevigatus Fieb. (Hemiptera : Anthocoridae) and Chrysoperlla carnae Steph (Neuroptera : Chrysopidae). The dominant natural enemy, C. scutellaris occurred during all seasons, the maximum parasitism was in October 1st and September 1st during the first and second year, respectively.