Population dynamics and control of masked scale , Mycetaspis personata (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) infesting Ficus nitida hawaii in Alexandria, Egypt

S., Moursi K.; S., Abo-Shanab A.; A., Mesbah H.A; M., Gomaa E.; K., Mourad A.; S., Abdel-Fattah, R.

doi:10.21608/eajbsa.2012.13871

Population dynamics and control of masked scale , Mycetaspis personata (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) infesting Ficus nitida hawaii in Alexandria, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Alexandria, Egypt

² Central Agricultural Laboratory of Pesticides, Agricultural Research Center, Sabahia, Alexandria, Egypt

³ Plant Protection Dept., Fac. of Agric. (Saba Basha), Alexandria, Univ., Egypt

10.21608/eajbsa.2012.13871

Abstract

The performed inspection on the leaves ofFicus nitida hawaii (Moraceae) was carried out in Montazah garden during two successive years (June, 2005 till May, 2007). The observed scale insect infesting leaves is Mycetaspis personata (Comstock) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae). Results concerning the monthly variations in the total monthly counted individuals of the masked scale, M. personata per 5 trees throughout the period of study revealed the presence of five highly variation periods in the first year, one in summer, two during autumn months, one in winter months as well as one took place in late spring. While, in the second year the obtained data revealed that there were six highly variation periods, one in summer, two during autumn months, and two during winter as well as one in late spring. In the first year the number of adult female reached the maximum of total population during July (100% of the total counted insect), then decreased to 68% of the total count during October, increased to 72% in November, decreased again to 66% of total count in December, reincreased slightly to 69% in March then re-decreased to 62% in April and reached the maximum 94% of total count in May. Similar trend of results was also observed in the second year. A field experiment was conducted to control M. personata using tow mineral oils: [Masrona^® (heavy oil) and Super Royal^(R) (light oil)] and an insect growth regulator (IGR), Ropest^®. The data obtained revealed that no significant difference between the tested materials on the reduction of population count of the insect. On the other hand, the light oil, S.Royal gave least reduction percentage of the parasitoid Aphytis mytilaspidis (Le Baron)(Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)while Masrona oil gave a best result on reduction of predacious mite, Tydeus californicus (Banks) (Tydeidae : Acari ).

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