Survey study on the occurrence, damage and control of the California Red Scale Insect Aonidiella aurantii Mask (Diaspididae: Homoptera) in Abyan and Tuban Deltas, Yemen.
Hariri N. T., Ba-Angood S. A.
Author Affiliation: Department of Plant Protection, El-Kod Research Station, Aden, Yemen.
University of Aden Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences 16 : 1-14
Abstract : This survey study was conducted in the period December 2009-July 2010; with the aim of obtaining information on the occurrence, damage and control of the California Scale Insect Aonidiella aurantii Mask (Diaspididae: Homoptera) on papaya, lemon and mango trees in Abyan and Tuban Deltas, Yemen. A questionnaire was distributed and interviews were conducted with the concerned farmers in these areas. Results were analyzed using the descriptive and analytic method. The results have shown that there are three species of scale insects in the area, namely Aonidiella aurantii, A. citrine and Chrysomphalus aonidum; the third was recorded for the first time in October 2009 on papaya at El-kod Research Station in the area. The pest usually preferred papaya, followed by lemon and mangoes in both Deltas. The farmers' answers the questionnaire revealed that dimethoate, malathion and sevin have been used randomly and frequently for the control of the pest. These insecticides are officially abandoned in Yemen. The pest usually appears in cold months; 6 months after seedlings they are transferred in the field in papaya, and 6 months after planting in lemon. In Delta Abyan, papaya fruits and stems are more preferred for the pest; followed by lemon leaves, and then mango leaves. In Delta Tuban, lemon leaves are preferred for the pest, followed by mango leaves. During our field visits, we noticed that the pest is more available in the southern Deltas near the coastal areas, and is less available when we go away from the coasts to the north.