Predation of Florida red scale Chrysomphalus aonidum (L.) by the metallic blue ladybeetle Curinus coeruleus (Mulsant)

Florida red scale, Chrysomphalus aonidum (L.) is a species of armored scales, which attacks citrus crops. Biological control, particularly ladybeetles, are critical for its management in citrus production systems. We evaluated predation of C. aonidum by adult and larvae (3rd–4th instar) of the metallic blue ladybeetle, Curinus coeruleus. C. coeruleus were tested against C. aonidum in three separate treatments on Valencia orange leaves in Petri-dish arenas (1) individuals with armor intact, (2) individuals with armor removed, and (3) mix of individuals with armor intact or removed, to determine if armor inflicts distraction to predator consumption of scale and impact. Within 24 h of exposure to C. aonidum, adult beetle consumption rate averaged 64–68% in the two treatments containing all or half of the individuals with armor, compared to 100% in the treatment with armor removed. The consumption rate in the former two treatments increased to 83–89% within 72 h. Larval consumption of C. aonidum with armor intact was 25% at 24 h and 41% at 72 h, compared to 92–100% in the treatment with armor removed. The adults resulting from the larvae developed on C. aonidum with the armor intact or between the diets of armor intact or removed consumed more scales without armor than with armor. Significant consumption of C. aonidum by adults and larvae of C. coeruleus indicates that it is an efficient predator of this pest species. These novel findings suggest that this predator could be useful for suppressing C. aonidum populations in citrus production systems, particularly in habitats where both species are established such as Florida.

Scale insect species (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) and their natural enemies, recorded on agricultural, ornamental and forest plant species in the wider area of Messenian Province (Peloponnese, Greece), 2000 – 2020

Summary The scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) recorded on agricultural, ornamental and forest plant species in the wider area of Messenian Province (Peloponnese, Greece) during the years 2000 – 2020 are reviewed. Twenty species were recorded, which belong to four families: Diaspididae: Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), Chrysomphalus aonidum (L.), Diaspis echinocacti (Bouché), Dynaspidiotus abieticola (Koroneos), D. abietis (Schrank), Lepidosaphes beckii (Newman), L. gloverii (Packard), Lineaspis striata (Newstead), Targionia vitis (Signoret); Coccidae: Ceroplastes rusci (L.), Eulecanium sericeum (Lindinger), Nemolecanium graniformis (Wünn), Parthenolecanium corni (Bouché), P. persicae (Fabricius), Physokermes hemicryphus (Dalman), P. inopinatus Danzig and Kozár, Protopulvinaria pyriformis (Cockerell); Pseudococcidae: Phenacoccus madeirensis Green, Planococcus vovae (Nasonov) and Kermesidae: Kermes echinatus Balachowsky. The biology, phenology and natural enemies in Messenia are discussed for fifteen of these scale species.

Seasonal Incidence of Major Sternorrhynchan Insect Pests Infesting Arecanut In South India

Field experiments were conducted during 2019-20 to know the seasonal incidence of three species of sternorrhynchan insect pests infesting in arecanut viz., whitefly, Aleurocanthus arecae, armoured scale, Chrysomphalus aonidum and mealybug, Pseudococcus longispinus in two different locations under southern transitional zone. The study revealed that, all the three species infesting arecanut were active throughout the year. Correlation studies of whiteflies showed that, rainfall was significantly positively correlated and maximum temperature and sunshine hours were significantly negatively correlated. For armoured scales, non-significant positive correlation with minimum temperature and for the mealybug resulted that the maximum temperature was significantly positively correlated whereas the relative humidity was significantly negatively correlated.

Chrysomphalus aonidumas pest of citrus in Greece

The presence of the scale insect Chrysomphalus aonidum (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), (the Florida red scale) is recorded in Greece and some data on its morphology are given. The coccid was found on the ornamental plant Dracaena sp. in Athens in the year 2000 and its rearing on potato tubes (Solanum tuberosum) and Cucurbita maxima is possible in the insectary. In January 2007 C. aonidum was found on heavily infested Citrus limon and Citrus sinensis, as well as on the less infested ornamental bushes Ficus benjamina and Ligustrum japonicum in outdoor conditions in the city of Kalamata (Peloponnese-southern Greece). In the past the presence of C. aonidum was recorded in Greece, but it was considered an occasional pest of citrus due to its difficulty to become acclimatized.

Chrysomphalus aonidum. [Distribution map].

A new distribution map is provided for Chrysomphalus aonidum (Linnaeus). Hemiptera: Diaspididae. Hosts: polyphagous, but especially Citrus spp. and other fruit trees. Information is given on the geographical distribution in Europe (Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Mainland Italy, Sicily, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Madeira, Romania, Spain, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Mainland Spain), Asia (Bhutan, China, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hong Kong, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Nei Mongol, Shandong, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang, India, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, West Bengal, Indonesia, Java, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Lebanon, Malaysia, Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Turkey, Yemen), Africa (Algeria, Burundi, Comoros, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Reunion, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe), North America (Mexico, USA, Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Texas, Virginia, Washington), Central America & Caribbean (Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Panama, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States Virgin Islands), South America (Argentina, Brazil, Amazonas, Bahia, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Chile, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela), Oceania (American Samoa, Australia, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu).