OBSERVATIONS ON THE OLEANDER SCALE, ASPIDIOTUS NERII BOUCHÉ (HEMIPTERA: DIASPIDIDAE) AND ITS NATURAL ENEMIES ON BLUELEAF WATTLE IN ADANA PROVINCE, TURKEY

Abstract

OBSERVATIONS ON THE OLEANDER SCALE, ASPIDIOTUS NERII BOUCHÉ (HEMIPTERA: DIASPIDIDAE) AND ITS NATURAL ENEMIES ON BLUELEAF WATTLE IN ADANA PROVINCE, TURKEY.

The biology of Aspidiotus nerii Bouché and the overall efficiency of its natural enemies (the aphelinid parasitoid Aphytus melinus DeBach and the coccinellid predators Chilocorus bipustulatus (L.) and Rhyzobius lophantae (Blaisdell)) were studied. Forty leaves were collected at weekly intervals from 5 blueleaf wattle trees (Acacia saligna) from four compass bearings; all live and dead A. nerii and the number and stage of all parasitised scales were counted. There were two population peaks of A. nerii per year, in May/June and July/August. The number of parasitoids, however, fluctuated considerably, especially during the autumn and winter. The scale stage parasitised was primarily the adult female, followed by the pupae and then a few 2nd- instar nymphs. First-instar nymphs were never attacked by parasitoids but predators fed on all stages.

Key words: Acacia cyanophylla, damage, aspect, population density, mortality, shelter, wind breaks.