Ornamental plants in the Southern Region of Albania contaminated by entomoparasites of U/Order Coccoinea, Insecta Class
In this paper, one of the most specific groups of plant entomologists, that of the U/Order Coccoinea Class Insecta is taken into analysis. Below it is seen important to identify the problems of infections of a variety of ornamental plants, found in the Southern Region of Albania, precisely by this group of pests. The role of the quality of the natural environment in our health has recently taken tremendous priority in the context of the contamination of all forms in the wild nature and especially those in the air. Precisely, to increase the quality of our life, the establishment of major parks with a truly significant green space per unit of population, is one of the current main objectives of each country. In these conditions, those environments are pretty rich in a variety of plants that, in addition to the functional values of environmental creativity, also have many aesthetic values with relaxing power and positive effects on our physical and mental health This type of plants is represented not only by those that are cultivated directly in the nature, but also by those that are planted and cultivated in greenhouses, which from time to time we take them out to realize the required decorations and compositions, asked to cover the needs of the parks. The healthier these components of this environment are, the more effective is their role on our personal health. For this reason it is equally important to recognize the dangers that threaten this vegetation by disabling its main function, for which we, as citizens, are interested, due to the need of our health, to have it in the highest efficiency. On this basis arose the idea of a comprehensive study on the above group of insects, which in a form or another constitute some of its main pests. These insects, as a specific group of pests that feed on plant lymph, not only dry out the plant, but also transmit to it a series of viral diseases, leading the plant to complete degradation. Most of them spend the winter (one of the most delicate periods for their survival) as parasites on them. We show below, which of these entomophytes is found in this group of plants in the region in question. It is also shown, which of the analyzed plant species emerges as the most frequented by this group of pests. We also identify the prevalence of this pollution in both variety and percentage. On the basis of the analysis, the question is also what is the distribution of plant species encountered, at different altitudes above the sea level? The paper contains, figuratively, a series of morpho-defining characteristics of the representatives, mentioned in this paper. As will be seen in the following material, the truth is that this specific group of ornamental plants, part of the relaxing parks around the world, in our country turns out to be contaminated by a large number of these parasites. This shows that in order to carry out quality work in this direction, we must not leave without considering the role of these pests in this process. Thus, we will be able to control the quality and function of our recreational environments in the role, for which we realize them. For this reason, detailed data are given below. We have identified these parasites in about 15 (fifteen) species of these ornamental plants, taking into account that parks in our country are not valued for the size of the area, as in an inferior and small country. In this material we have identified the number and dynamics of parasites according to each plant and also according to their distribution in areas with different altitudes above the sea level. We also give a comparative report on the frequency of vulnerability of the various plants by representatives of these pests. Summarized in a table, we have given for each pest the plant variety that it frequents, noting, in which plant organ this parasite was most commonly found during our research. As it is a group with annual activity on the plants, we have data for each month that we have met them on this vegetation and for each plant organ, where they were met (in leaves, on stalks or even the fruit itself). Regarding the degree of the damage that they cause to the plants, given the many harmful valences they show, not all belong to the category of the very dangerous pests. Some enter the minor pests that are mostly caused by overlapping other diseases, some others into the normal pests and a more specific group enters the category of very powerful pests, the risk of which is maximized with other additional effects. These and other information are given in table Number 1 (one), with the required symbolism. Since this group of plants is the environmental generator, where we live and work, the work in question takes on practical importance and value
