Red scale (Aonidiella auranti, Diaspidida, Homoptera )

• one of the important and serious pest of citrus in citrus growing
• It is the most notorious pest of It is polyphagous species found in citrus, almond, vines, pear and plum.

Damaging stage: Nymph and adult

Damaging symptoms: cause leaf yellowing and drop, dieback of twigs and limbs, and occasionally death of the tree.

Identification:

• Female scales have a roundish cover, about the size of the blunt end of a
• Adult male scales are small, two-winged insects that emerge from the elongated scale covers after four molts.
• Nymph leaves the maternal scale and disperses on the host Hot and dry weather favors for its multiplication.

Management

• Select planting material from scale free
• Encourage building of lady bird beetle population in scale infested
• Pruning of infested branches and twigs during dormant period and destroy
• Augmentative releases of Aphytis melinus have been shown to be effective in controlling red scale
• Dip roots of sapling in 1% solution of fenitrothion or dichlorvos just before planting.
• Spray mineral oil such as Agri – SERVO @ 10 – 15 ml per liter water as foliar spray in apple trees.
• Apply ATSO @ 10 ml / litre water as foliar
• Dip roots of saplings in 1 % solution of dichlorovus just before planting.
• Incorporate Thimet 10% G or Temik 10% G @ 10gm, 40-50gm or 50-100gm per plant in the trench around root zone of small, middle and big sized tree Then cover the trench with soil and then irrigate the field immediately after application of insecticide. This help to suppress the population of scale insect in orchard.
• Spray Roger 30% EC (Dimethoate) @ 2ml/liter