The Susceptibility of Three Mango Varieties to Infestation with the Mango Shield Scale, Milviscutulus mangiferae in Egypt

Abstract

The mango shield scale, Milviscutulus mangiferae (Green) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) is considered as a serious polyphagous pest of mango trees and many ornamental plants. The impact of leaf anatomy of various mango varieties (Langra, Zebda and Ewais) on infestation with M. mangiferae was also documented. This investigation was carried out to study the susceptibility of some mango varieties to infestation with the mango shield scale insect. The population density of M. mangiferae was assessed during two successive seasons from January 2022 to December 2023 in response to the climatic factors on mango trees at the Horticulture Research Station in El-Qassasin district, Ismailia Governorate. The results obtained showed that during the first season, the population of M. mangiferae on Zebda and Ewais mango varieties had four peaks, whereas Langra recorded three peaks. In the second season, the activity periods of the aforementioned insect varied among mango varieties, where Langra variety showed three peaks, Zebda variety had five peaks and Ewais variety displayed three peaks. There was a pronounced difference in the population density of this insect pest on the tested varieties. Coccophagus scutellaris (Dalman) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) was recorded as a parasitoid associated with M. mangiferae. Data revealed that significant variation in susceptibility to M. mangiferae infestation among the mango varieties. Zebda variety was the most susceptible to this insect, while Langra variety ranked second. In contrast, Ewais variety was resistant to infestation with this pest during the study period. Results also showed that climatic factors, the parasitoid and leaf anatomy of mango varieties had a significant effect on the population density of this insect pest. The present findings can be used for establishing an IPM strategy against this insect pest.

Keywords:

 Susceptibility, Langra, Zebda, Ewais, Milviscutulus mangiferae, mango shield scale.