Ecological aspects of Sassetia spp. ( Coccidae: Coccoidae: Hemiptera) and thier natural enemies in Egypt

In Egypt, Saissetia spp. (Coccidae: Coccoidae: Hemiptera) are the most dangerous soft scale insects infesting fruit trees. The aim of this work is to study the ecological aspects of Saissetia spp.and its natural enemies in Egypt. The result indicated that Genus Saissetia Deplanche comprises here by two species These are the soft brown scale, Saissetia coffeae (Walker) and the Mediterranean black scale, Saissetia oleae (Olvier). Genus Saissetia recorded here associated with 14 parasitoid species and 16 predator species.The seasonal abundance of S. coffeae  was studied for two successive years from 2009-2010 on olivetrees in Northern Coast .The obtained results showed that, the insect population  reached maximum during mid September (7728 and 8368/ 60 leaves/30 twigs) in first year and second year, respectively. Numbers by parasitoids Metaphycus lounsburyi (Howard), Microterys flavus (Howard) and Scutellista cyanea Motschulsky and a predator Scymnus syriacus   Mars., reached maximum (31,9,3, and19 /60 leaves/30 twigs) during September, July, September and August, in the first year, respectively and 20,8,2 and 15 during September in the  second year, respectively. The seasonal abundance of S. oleae was studied for two successive years from 2009-2010 on olivetrees in El-Arish. The obtained results showed that, the insect population reached maximum during mid of August (9729/ 60 leaves/30 twigs) in first year and mid of September (6899/ 60 leaves/30 twigs) in the second year. Numbers by the parasitoids, Metaphycus  helvolus (Compere), Microterys flavus (Howard) and the predators, Coccinella undecimpunctata L. and  Exochomus flavipes Thunb., reached maximum (22,5,8 and 28 /60 leaves/30 twigs) during August, August ,September and August, in the first year, respectively and 24,19,4 and 22 during September in the  second year, respectively.