Use of attractants and nutritional supplements to increase mango white scale's, Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) predators.
Hernández-Fuentes L. M., Urías-López M. A., López Arroyo J. I., López Arriaga J. G.
Author Affiliation: Inifap. Campo Experimental Santiago Ixcuintla, Carret. Internacional México-Nogales, Km. 6, Entronque a Santiago Ixcuintla, C.P. 63300 Santiago Ixcuintla, Nayarit, Mexico.
Acta Zoologica Mexicana 28 : 145-160
Abstract : Mango is an economically important crop in Mexico, important population increases of mango white scale Aulacaspis tubercularis have been observed. The application of attractive nutritional supplements to arrest and/or attract predators of A. tubercularis were evaluated during two seasons. Application of 0.25 m: of methyl salicilate per tree has an effect on the number of eggs of Ceraeochrysa spp. Adults of Pentilia spp. were lured with different doses of methyl salicilate (MS). With 4 mL of MS per tree, 60% fewer groups of A. tubercularis nymphs occurred. In the first year, adults of the predator Chilochorus cacti were no observed, but in the second year, the use of sugar, yeast and powdered milk had an attractive effect. More eggs of Ceraeochrysa spp. were observed when water plus yeast plus sugar treatments were applied. At two sites, nymphs of A. tubercularis decreased in the second year, in the first site decrease reached 65.6% while in the second site it was 93% in comparison to the untreated controls. The observed abatement is attributed to a general increase in predator numbers and their action on pest population.