On the bionomics of the guava long scale, Lepidosaphes tapleyi Williams (Hemiptera:Homoptera:Diaspididae).
Swailem S. M.
Author Affiliation: Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Egypt.
Bulletin de la Societe Entomologique d'Egypte 56 : 163-170
Abstract : Insulaspis (Lepidosaphes) tapleyi (Williams) has been observed in many areas of Egypt between Alexandria and Luxor attacking guava and mango as well as other trees and shrubs of economic importance. All stages of the Coccid are described. Observations on its bionomics were carried out in the field and in the laboratory, where rearing was carried out on leaves of guava. Both leaves and fruits are attacked and when infestation is heavy it extends also to the branches, weakening the trees. Infested leaves drop, and heavily infested fruits are small and of poor quality.Females of the overwintered generation began to oviposit in late May and continued to lay eggs until the temperature rose in July and August. Oviposition was resumed when the temperature dropped. Females that began to oviposit in September laid eggs until December, but did not oviposit again until early spring. Females laid 8-35 eggs each (average 20). The crawlers settled mainly on the upper surface of the leaves, especially on the parts of the trees exposed to the sun. After hatching, the two immature female stages averaged 15-35 and 9-26 days, respectively, and the immature stages of the males after hatching averaged 30-52 days. Adult females lived for 55-120 days and adult males for 1-2 days. Males formed 30.8, 42.2, 45.4 and 24.9% of the population in March, June, September and December, respectively.