Seasonal population fluctuations of white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Hemimptera: Diaspididae) and its parasitation in kiwi orchards of northern Iran

Abstract

The economic importance of white peach scale (WPS) Pseudaulacaspis pentagona Targioni-Tozzetti, 1886 (Diaspididae: Hemiptera) is ascribed to its high reproductive potential. The number of generations per year varies in different places of the world. Seasonal population fluctuations of different life stages of WPS were studied from April 30, 2015, to April 29, 2017, on kiwi fruit trees in the Mazandaran province of Iran. In the first year the total population of P. pentagona had five peaks: April, June, August, October, and November. In the second year, the total population of P. pentagona had four peaks: May, August, October and November. The pre-adult stages had four high infestation periods in May, July, August, and October in the first season and also in the second year occurred on May, Jun, September and October. The gravid females began to appear and laying of eggs started from late March in both years. The maximum period of infestation was reached during May. Significant differences were observed among samples in different directions of the tree and most pests were found in the South. The rate of parasitization also varied with the month from 12 to 84% on branches of kiwi fruits. The highest percentage of the parasitation was observed in North and West. Thus, the present results may help in planning a successful control program of WPS on kiwi fruit trees in the Mazandaran province of Iran.