Development of a sampling program for the white mango scale, Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead.
Urías-López M. A., Nava-Camberos U., González-Carrillo J. A., Hernández-Fuentes L. M., García-Álvarez N. C.
Author Affiliation: INIFAP, Campo Experimental Santiago Ixcuintla. Apartado Postal 100, C. P. 63300, Santiago Ixcuintla, Nay., Mexico.
Southwestern Entomologist 41 : 115-126
Abstract : The abundance of the white mango scale, Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead, was recorded on 'Ataulfo' mango (Mangifera indica L.), from 31 May 2012 to 17 January 2013 for a sampling program. On each sampling date, the size of the sample was 80 mango leaves that were visually inspected to count males (colonies) and females. Variance and mean relationships were determined for colonies and females using the Taylor's Power Law, and the optimal sample sizes were determined, respectively. For numerical sampling of colonies and females, it is suggested to count scales on 37 and 31 mango leaves, respectively. Additionally, a strong relationship was found between the proportion of infested leaves and mean number of colonies or females per leave. According to the corresponding lineal regressions, a quick, practical and precise binomial sampling (presence-absence) can be used to estimate abundance of the pest by recording only infested leaves.