Some ecological aspects of the soft scale Lecanium acuminatum Signoret (Coccoidea).
Salama H. S., Saleh M. R.
Author Affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Protection, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt.
Zeitschrift fur Angewandte Entomologie 68 : 98-101
Abstract : The seasonal abundance of Kilifia (Lecanium) acuminata (Sign.) in relation to environmental factors was investigated in a mango orchard in Qualubia Governorate, Egypt. It was observed that the temperature of the microclimate of K. acuminata on leaves of mango fully exposed to sunlight surpassed the general air temperature by amounts up to 9 deg C, whereas on shaded leaves it remained close to the air temperature. The Coccid reaches its peak of seasonal abundance in October-November. From a study of the average annual fluctuation, as calculated by dividing the maximum population by the minimum, and the quotient of increase, which equals the population of each month divided by that of the preceding one, it was inferred that a range of temperature between 23.8 and 25.7 deg C and 63% R.H. provide the best conditions for this species, which passes through two generations annually.